Criminal Minds

I think Jason Alexander will always be George Costanza to me…but this week he plays a serial killer. The above picture doesn’t even look like him! Anyway, Newsday.com has a review of the newest Criminal Minds episode, “Masterpiece.” Here’s a little info on the show:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT This episode, entitled “Masterpiece,” opens with a creepy stop-action photo sequence of a woman and children in peril, before the camera is pulled underground, where … the picture fades to black. (Think the opening of David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet,” absent munching beetles.) Then, there’s a collage of drawings and pictures by Leonardo da Vinci, hence “masterpiece” of the title, and then cut to a classroom, where David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and Dr. Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) are lecturing a bunch of snot-nosed FBI-agent-wannabes.
Afterward, both are approached by someone from the class; he’s … yes! … Jason Alexander, playing a shifty dirtball of a serial killer, who tells them he’s already dispatched several women, and that they must act quickly before more of his victims are offed. Why does he tell them about his crimes? Who are these victims? And what exactly is Alexander doing in a show like this?

His assessment of the show:

BOTTOM LINE You will laugh when you first see Alexander, as the notorious Dr. Rothschild, on-screen. In fact, “laugh” doesn’t begin to do justice to the emotion you will feel. It will begin as a tickle in your feet, run up your legs and then - in one outrageous emission of hilarity that will shake the windows and wake the kids - you will bellow until the tears stream down your cheeks. It’s the hair. Upon one of the most famous domes in show biz, “Criminal Minds” producers have placed a wig of long gray flowing locks, flecked with white, and delicately parted down the middle. He looks like Wild Bill Hickok, or maybe Calamity Jane. We’ve seen Alexander in many thespian guises since “Seinfeld” - a doctor, school principal and even Tony Kornheiser - but they’ve all pretty much preserved the Costanzian look. Tonight, a departure. But what the heck: He plays a reasonably good bad guy, though one that may be a little overseasoned with Snidely Whiplash. But still, good.

GRADE B

The hair got me too. I can’t wait to see if Jason Alexander makes a good bad guy. Tune in on Wednesday at nine on CBS.

Note: I had no idea who Snidely Whiplash was. Not a clue. He’s a villain, the archrival of Dudley Do Right. So, now I have yet one more piece of useless knowledge in my head.