We are Joe Mantegna and Esai Morales. You probably know us from the show Criminal Minds. We are honoring America’s heroes this Memorial Day - AUA!

Hey guys, do you mind kidnapping Paget Brewster and bringing her back to Criminal Minds? Much love. Cheers.

Well, there's been talk of - there's a chance Paget may make an appearance now and again. Eric our producer mentioned it in an interview that there's a possibility that Paget may return from time to time.

Hi Mr. Mantegna! I'm a huge fan of yours and even have a Fat Tony figure in my office at home. How did you originally get involved with the Simpsons, and did you know then that you were going to be a recurring character?

No, GODFATHER III had just opened, and so I think The Simpsons were looking for an appropriate voice to be the head of the crime syndicate in Springfield.

I thought it would be 1 episode.

It's been 23 years.

If I recall correctly, Mandy Patinkin ended up leaving Criminal Minds because the show's material got to him and he didn't want to be on it anymore. Has there been an episode that really got to either of you?

I would say this, because Mandy's entitled to his opinion, but no, none of it bothers me, because there are real men & women who do this every day. And so for me to be bothered by it is almost disrespectful for these people. And I'm sorry they have to do this work, but I think it's important to show people the way it happens, because this is a real organization, and this is what they deal with every day. I deal with it on a pretend basis. So no, it doesn't bother me.

I feel that I can understand both perspectives, because the show honors the hard work of people who have to deal with this, because the human race unfortunately has too many people that are twisted and express these acts in real-life. So I totally get Joe's point of view, but to be the Libra here, and try to see what Mandy talks about, I also understand that sometimes it feels like media can focus on the sordid parts of humanity, and I just don't want to feel like I'm exploiting that in any sense. But like Joe is said, this isn't done out of the ether, it's based off of real events -

And our show is different, in that it doesn't glorify shooting, or murder, we just show it as it is, and we show men & women who are combatting it. There's a difference between stylized entertainment and glorified entertainment, where you don't show the impact on the family and others. This show does that. It doesn't make it cool.

Hi Joe, thanks for doing this AMA. Here's my question, How would you describe your daily job routine whenever Matthew Gray Gubler is directing an episode ? He's quite original and certainly could fit the description of "alien living among us", and his episodes are often extremely weird and pushing boundaries further, so, how is it when you're being directed by him ?

It's great.

He's my golden boy. I love 'im.

Hi Esai, thanks for doing this AMA. I’ve noticed a huge push in increasing diversity within the industry over the past couple months, so wanted to ask. Do you think these efforts are sustainable? If so, what part within the business will we see these efforts be most impactful? The actors? Production staff? Writers?

Mom?

All of the above! But mostly, if you really want to increase diversity - it's more about who writes it, and the producers. So I'd say the production staff. Because the more you know people, the less you feel awkward about writing for them? And I think that's happened, because the community can feel sensitive, people get scared to write something wrong, so they just avoid our community altogether - either for lack of thought or too much forethought. So I'd say production staff, because they create the storylines and cast people.

I think we're doing great. With Jane the Virgin and other shows, it's starting to happen. I'd like to see us treat the Latino community the way the Italian-American community has been adopted - so you have leads like David Rossi.

And sometimes you have to ask - I've had to ask to play characters where you weren't necessarily Italian, and you have the opportunity to bring your own ethnicity to the character. So when given the opportunity, I've done it. Whenever I get to play a character like in FIRST MONDAY, or another film where I played a Doctor - exactly. I wanted to show that the same ethnic guy that's played a judge can play a gangster.

To me, it's surprising that you still have to do that.

Sometimes it helps you to do that, to have that opportunity.

Is Shemar as beautiful in real life as he is on the show? Sighhhhhhhh.....

Who?

I'd say yes, though. He's my other golden boy.

I think he is so beautiful it hurts. Seriously, you're like - the guy doesn't have a false skin cell or hair on his body.

I'm good friends with his mother, Marilyn, and she said "I only made one baby. But I sure made a pretty one."

Hi! I was wondering if you guys could wish my brother, Robert, a happy birthday - he's a fan of Criminal Minds. Also, Mr. Mantegna, what was it like filming The Godfather: Part III? Do you have any funny stories from filming it? Thanks for doing this AMA!

Well, happy birthday. And filming THE GODFATHER: PART III was great.

It was like doing the Italian STAR WARS.

Well, just that it was - it's monumental to be part of that trilogy, and I got to shoot a good part of it in Italy, so how bad could that have been?

Why haven't we ever seen the BAU lear jet's pilot? I would think he'd be just as annoyed to be called to other parts of the country on a moment's notice in the middle of the night. Maybe he was being a sarcastic asshole before the show's timeline and they locked him in the cockpit?

We like to keep certain characters a little secret, and maybe someday he'll make another appearance.

Hello and greetings from Germany! I recently began watching Criminal Minds in English and it's really interesting to hear your actual voices. Have you ever seen one of your shows or movies dubbed into another language? If yes, was it confusing to hear yourself speak with a sometimes completely different voice?

Actually, I was in Munich, and there was an episode on, and I taped it because i wanted the actors back home to hear it! I was especially entertained to hear that the guy who played David Rossi sounded like he was 100 years old, and the guy who was doing Shemar's voice sounded like an 18 year old white kid - and my guy was like "Rat-ataata!"

I understand it because each country's going to have their own voices.

For Joe: how come you've never worked with Scorsese?

You'll have to ask him! Hahahaha!

Who is this? Is this Ray Liotta? No, I dunno - you'd have to ask Martin - I'm a huge fan of his, and I'd love to have the opportunity someday.

And Scorsese should be calling Esai.

I am an aspiring actor and you're my inspiration. What would your advice be to aspiring actors wanting to work in the entertainment industry?

I would say just DO IT. I don't know how old you are, but if you're in school, do plays & stuff in school. If you're not in school, go and take classes, try out for local theater things, or if there's film opportunities at local schools, give it a try. It's about doing the work. It's not about getting an agent or anything like that. You have to practice the skill of being an actor. So find the opportunities to do that, and do it.

Hi, Joe! First of all, I am a huge fan! You're great! I have three questions.

1) What is your favorite thing about working on Criminal Minds?

2) Who is the most fun person to work with on Criminal Minds?

3) What is the funniest thing that has happened on the set of Criminal Minds?

1.) The people I work with. ESPECIALLY Esai, hahaha!

2.) It's a pretty fun group. But Matthew's like my, the son I never had.

3.) It might be the time that they - we all rented a live bear, to scare Shemar. Yeah. We rented a live bear, to scare Shemar.

Let them figure out what that's all about.

Simpsons related, Mr. Mantegna. Love hearing you on commentaries for The Simpsons - I'd like to ask: what is a typical day of being Fat Tony like? What's it like going into the studio?

I've enjoyed doing it for 23 years. And I hope to do it for another 23 years.

What's a typical day like? Pretty similar to normal-sized Joe.

Who wants to know?

What would the world be like if it was filled entirely with people like you?

Everybody would be eating a lot more tomato sauce.

Hehehehe! Bada-bing!

Mr. Mantegna - What do you think will be some of the key issues in the 2020 Presidential election?

You know, the same issues that have been in this country for the last 200+ years.

One of the great things about Criminal Minds is character development. "Dave" already dealt with his ex dying and solving that case that haunted him. "Cruz" got to flashback with "Jareau" to Iraq and deal with that issue. The only lingering thing is getting Spencer a relationship that survives... literally. All the main characters seem to have evolved to be where they need to be. Are there any new twists coming for either of your characters? Or are there places you want your characters to go?

I think that when a show's been on so long - I'm directing 2 episodes this season, I've directed one in the last few seasons, and I purposefully try to bring in more personal stories in the scripts I direct. There's always going to be a crime - that's the name of the show, I get it - but there's going to be more character development. As to what that is, you'll have to see. I've been married 3 times, we've dealt with two of my wives so far, so there's a possibility you might find out more about wife number 3.

If you were a regular fan of Criminal Minds, one that's been watching the show on a regular basis for the past ten years, which character would you reckon would objectively be your favorite one, and one you'd most identify yourself with ?

David Rossi would be my first choice. Because it's me though.

But I suppose you must mean if it's not my character?

David Rossi if it includes me. And if not, it'd be Esai.

I have a question for you Joe - what's it like to direct your castmates? Who gives you the most trouble?

I have to say it's sheer joy, otherwise it's trouble!

But this will be my 9th year on the show and if I don't know who these people are by now - it's like directing your brothers & sisters. Sometimes it's not the easiest thing in the world, but you love it.

I purposefully wanted Thomas and Matthew to have their shots at it first. They asked me if I wanted to direct when I joined the show, and I said I would wait, because I wanted to be very comfortable with everybody and it all worked out.

Are there any projects that you've worked on that you felt went under-the-radar?

The film The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, that we made together. We had a wonderful time. Ray Bradbury's wish was that it would've been dubbed in Spanish. And I really wish that would've happened. Only because it deals with Ray's experiences growing up in the barrio of Los Angeles, these 5 Mexican guys, based on a short story of his, and a play, and it was his favorite film of anything he's EVER WRITTEN - it would be nice if someday they dubbed it into Spanish, because I think the Spanish-speaking community would love the spirit of it.

And Esai is the musical relief in the movie! I love that number!

I'd say this movie called Rapa Nui that I did, which is one of the names of Easter Island - the Bellybutton of the World. It was a movie that Kevin Costner produced, and Kevin Reynolds directed, we shot it on Easter Island, it was an epic $25 million movie in the early 90's, it was about the people there, the native tribe there, and how wars and a lack of environmental consciousness used up all the trees in this race for power to create those giant stone heads, Moai's. It was a pretty incredible movie with myself, a bunch of actors from New Zealand, a pretty cool picture that went under the radar.

And Gun Hill Road by the way - that film deserved a lot more attention that it got.

And "Elvis & Annabelle" - it was another film that I did! Max Mangele - his father was Anthony Mangele, and I played Max's father in the film, it was a Romeo & Juliet story that took place in Texas, Max was my son, a goth kid, and I was the town undertaker, and Blake Lively fell in love with Max - a great movie. It was British-produced, and I just don't know what happened. Just one of those things - when it shows on cable, people say it's so heartwarming, so great - we've all done this! What are you gonna do?

Mr. Mantegna, I'm a big fan. I saw you years ago, live, performing with the late great Ron Silver and Madonna in David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW. Do you have any memorable anecdotes from that production?

I think it was the NY POST claimed I saved Madonna's life one performance when a fan jumped onstage who wanted to get up close & personal with her? But I just escorted the man offstage, let the stagehands handle it.

We had crazy fans there every night! Madonna drew her own kind of crowd, and some of 'em were a little eccentric. But it was a positive experience. I liked her. We wound up doing a movie together afterwards, BODY OF EVIDENCE. She's a nice Italian girl from Michigan, that's the way I looked at it.

MR. Morales... love your great works... especially the hard turn in Gunhill Road. Mr. Mantegna, looking at IMDB we see that you started small and grew so big and that is awesome. I have two questions.

1) How hard was it breaking in / becoming part of the team on Criminal Minds? You both replaced or usurped other characters. Was it hard to win over both the cast and the fans?

2) What part will you play in the Memorial Day special?

1.) I was the most recent addition. With the exception of Joe, everybody was a piece of cake, Hahahaha! I had to pass, a...how do I say? I had to get made. No, but the reality was that he actually suggested, I think, me for this character. The Caesar thing? Thumbs up or thumbs down? And thank god he was in a good mood that day. I remember calling Joe when I was very down, and very insecure because I just became a dad, and things weren't really flowing my way, and I will forever be grateful for his ability to listen to me and see if there's something out there. So before they ran the name by him - he's very modest, he ran MY name by them - and now i owe him! Now I gotta sing Sinatra songs at his kid's bar mitzvahs and graduations! Hey, Johnny Fontaine remembers!

1.) Well, I look at a cast like that, it's like the Sports - they were like the pennant-leading Yankees. They were playing excellent baseball, they lost left field, I just replaced this other guy. Different ballplayer, same team. In my heart, I'm more a left-fielder than a pitcher, but that's all it is. When you come into a cast of any play or movie, whatever, you basically create your own slot. you're not emulating that person, you're just filling that slot. So you're bringing your own thing to that.

2.) I was honored to be reading the incredible heroic story of Romy Camargo, who was a Special Forces member who did incredible work leading his men, and took a bullet in the spine, right under his neck, right in the 3rd vertibrae, and lost his mobility under the shoulders. This isn't just his story, it's a love story of him and his wife. And my challenge will be not to start blubbering. Because, listen to Joe, he's done this -

2.) I look forward to talking to Esai after doing this concert, because after the last 13 years of doing this concert, when I talk up to the other actors who've done this - they have this glaze in their eyes, because there's no way to describe what it's like to stand in front of 300,000 people, with the National Symphony Orchestra, reading these accounts - it's an out-of-body experience. Esai already gets it. I look forward to that moment, because it brings a lot of things into focus. It really does.

And Gary Sinise and I co-host the special. The first 3 years I was a participant, Ozzie Davis used to host it, and when he passed away, they asked if I could host it, but then Gary is so active with the military and all the stuff he does, I recommended that he come in with his band & perform, and 10 years ago, the people in charge didn't know who he was, and once he came and played with his band, and they understood his whole impact with the military, it was a perfect fit, so we've been cohosting the show for the past 10 years now.

Can you fellas tell us something about yourselves that we may find surprising?

At my age, nothing is surprising.

I dunno. I'm obsessed with tennis!

And Joe's obsessed with pasta. Tomato sauce.

That's not surprising.

I got one for Joe - that for playing such a tough guy, he's such a teddy bear. Your fans see your heart bleed through all your work.

Oh, I got one - my daughter's an actress. Gia Mantegna. Someday, they're going to say "Oh that's Gia Mantegna's father!"

What do you see yourselves doing in the next 5-10 yrs-goals, career, bucket list...passionate about anything?

I love doing the Memorial Day show, I want to keep doing that. I'm glad Criminal Minds has been renewed for a few years now. My life's pretty good. I don't have any wild, crazy dreams for the future. I feel very grateful that things have gone as well as they have. I'm grateful for the status quo, to tell you the truth.

My top priority on the bucket list is not to kick it.

Very well-said, my brother!

Joe, Have you seen the Red Letter Media video about Baby's Day Out? Or any of the Red Letter Media videos?

I don't know what that means. You're talking to a dinosaur here.

I guess not. No.

I made that movie when I was a child! I don't remember anything about it.

Have you ever had a strange fan encounter?

I'm just glad I haven't had one yet today...YET. I think all of us have them. It just comes with the territory.

Do either of you have any Memorial day family traditions?

Well, I've been doing this concert for 13 years, so it's a Memorial Day tradition for me.

What is the most useless advice someone has ever given you?

I read a quote once by - I dunno if he invented the quote - but it's the bicyclist, Armstrong - in his book, there was a quote that he tries to live by, which I've kind of adopted - "Every day's a good day, some days are great."

Because I see a lot of people who, you know, have it a lot worse off than I do, so I try to live by that as much as I can.