Watch Clips From Tonight’s ‘Criminal Minds’

Criminal Minds airs a new episode tonight, featuring a tribute to the late Meshach Taylor (Harrison Scott). You can find sneak peeks after the jump, along with quotes, tweets, photos and videos.

Here’s the first sneak peek from “Anonymous”, featuring David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore). (It’s also available on CBS.com, CBS Press Express and SpoilerTV.)

TV Guide shared this second scene, which features Rossi and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness).

This third and final clip features Rossi and his daugther Joy (Amber Stevens). (You can also find it on CBS.com, CBS Press Express and SpoilerTV.)

Mantegna directed “Anonymous”, which allowed him to honor one of his dearest friends. “I was given an opportunity and ability to pay homage to his wonderful, talented man and wonderful human being,” he told TV Guide.

Mantegna and Taylor were friends for nearly 45 years, so paying tribute to his Criminal Minds character was meaningful but difficult. As he told Zap2It:

It was emotional. The last 10 minutes of the episode is basically the burial of Meshach’s character, and it’s one of those times when art imitates life.

I had a lot of personal connections involved in the filming. I had two three-star generals in the Marine Corps, who are dear friends of mine, fly in for it. I also had Lt. Col. (Robert J.) Friend, who was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and is in his 90s, sitting among the mourners. And in a group meant to represent members of (Rossi and Scott’s) platoon, I used real Vietnam veterans. I wanted to personalize that scene, which I did.

Lia Chang did an interview back in November with the episode’s co-writer, Danny Ramm. Here’s an excerpt:

Certain aspects of this episode will be difficult for a lot of us, but it’s important that we do it, for him, for his fans and for us. I don’t really believe in closer, to me that makes it all too final, too in the past. For me Meshach isn’t gone, I see him all the time on TV, laughing, joking, being outrageous. It’s comforting to know that he’s still out there making people laugh, and cry, and think.

Finally, check out these tweets and photos, including some that were shared during the episode’s filming, followed by two videos:

And here are the videos:

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