CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION’s Aisha Tyler on the Differences Between Directing the Original Series and Revival

CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION star Aisha Tyler steps behind the camera for the Thursday, January 19 episode of the recently-renewed Paramount+ drama.

Tyler—who directed a couple of episodes of CRIMINAL MINDS during its CBS run, as well as episodes of EVIL and a number of shows within THE WALKING DEAD universe—relished the chance to helm an installment of the show without the natural limitations of network television.

“What’s been really exciting about this about the show coming back is that we just have more time,” she tells reporters in the video below. “We just have more time to tell these stories. You know, as a director…you turn in a movie and then they cut it into a television show. We really get to make movies now. We get to turn in a film and keep it a film.”

“We’ve got those moments to let the characters and the moments breathe,” Tyler, who plays Tara Lewis, continues. “We’ve got more time for silence. We’ve got more time for interior work for these characters. It doesn’t have to be hustle, hustle, hustle, because we only have 42 minutes [to tell our story], and we got to get commercial breaks in…we’ve just had an opportunity to lean into the film craft.”

For Tyler’s episode, though she was mum on the details, she did offer an intriguing tease. “We’ve got this classic horror story that we’re telling,” she previews. “So to be able to give you the long beats of building dread…the jump scares. We just got more time to give the people what they want.”

Check out the video for more from Tyler…

CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION, Thursdays, Paramount+

RELATED:

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• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION Premiere Photos
• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION: Watch the First 4 Minutes of the Premiere
• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION: Aisha Tyler Previews a ‘Tougher, More Hardened’ Lewis
• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION’s Zach Gilford Warns Fans Will Experience ‘Feelings That You Never Thought You’d Feel for an UnSub’
• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION’s Kirsten Vangsness Previews Garcia’s Reluctant Reunion with the BAU
• CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION: Paramount+ Sets a Thanksgiving Launch
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• CRIMINAL MINDS Revival Adds Zach Gilford, Gets New Title
• Paramount+ Revives CRIMINAL MINDS
• CRIMINAL MINDS Series Finale: ‘And in the End’ Photos
• CRIMINAL MINDS: ‘Face Off’ Photos
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• CRIMINAL MINDS: What You Need to Know About the Season Premiere

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