Here’s a milestone that might remind you of your own mortality: Jennifer Love Hewitt shot to fame on Fox drama “Party of Five” ... (dramatic pause) ... almost twenty years ago.
We know! It seems like just yesterday that JLH was TV’s new It Girl, gracing magazine covers with then-boyfriend Carson Daly, even cracking the pop charts as a singer.
Her attempt at grown-up movie stardom never really took off, though, beyond the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Garfield” films. Unbowed, she redevoted herself to television long before it became an acceptable landing place for other big-screen refugees.
It was a shrewd choice that paid off: Hewitt has now been rewarded with a regular role on a CBS procedural — “Criminal Minds,” on which she debuts Wednesday night — the closest thing to a steady paycheck in Hollywood. Here’s a look back and a step-by-step guide to how she won the TV industry lottery:
Step 1: Make your mark on a red-hot teen show. (1995 to 2000)
With her role as Sarah on the low-rated but cult favorite “Party of Five,” Hewitt (16 when she joined the cast) became a brand name for a savvy young audience, making her a go-to pick for guest spots on other shows: Her appearance on “Boy Meets World” as Jennifer Love Fefferman is still one of the show’s classic episodes.
Step 2: Attempt a spin-off. (1999)
“Time of Your Life” — where Sarah moves to New York — flamed out quickly but nonetheless established her as the break-out star from "Pof5."
Step 3: Try the pop-princess route. (1999 to 2002)
“How Do I Deal”, “BareNaked” ... not ringing a bell? So, they didn’t become pop standards, but they got radio play at the turn of the century — and during a relatively quiet moment in her acting career, the videos kept one of Hollywood’s most fetching physiques in the public eye. See also her cameos in the LFO (“Girl on TV”) and Enrique Iglesias (“Hero”) music videos.
Step 4: A shot at the big leagues. (circa 1997 to 2002)
She headlined a series of teen-centric movies (“I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Heartbreakers”), but none led to serious grown-up roles or lasting stardom. Time to retrench!
Step 5: Date strategically.
Throughout her career, JLH stayed in the magazines by dating a list of eligible Hollywood bachelors: Joey Lawrence, Patrick Wilson, Jamie Kennedy, John Mayer (supposedly inspiring his hit “Your Body is a Wonderland.”) She finally settled down last year with actor Brian Hallisay and after a much-chronicled pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter, Autumn.
Step 5: Return to the small screen. (2005 to 2010)
Network TV was happy to have her back, and “The Ghost Whisperer” — she starred as the antiques dealer who can communicate with the dead — was a surprise long-running hit for CBS, even when relegated to Friday nights.
Step 6: Go for controversy with an edgy cable drama (2012 to 2013)
Nothing gets buzz like a role as a lingerie-wearing masseuse who goes “the extra mile” to please her male clients. “The Client List,” based loosely on a real-life Texas massage parlor/bordello, did well for the Lifetime network — and hey, if viewers were tuning in for nothing more than titillation, that was hardly a problem. The drama lasted only two seasons, however, reportedly canceled after Lifetime balked when Hewitt, an executive producer, tried to get a bigger role for Hallisay, then her co-star and fiance.
Step 7: Step up to a (hopefully) long-running role on a blue-chip procedural. (2014)
“Criminal Minds” is an aging show in its 10th season, but no matter. CBS signed Hewitt amid much hype to star as Kate Callahan, a top agent joining the FBI’s Behavior Analysis Unit to help crack all kinds of gory cases — starting with the season-premiere killer, a California maniac who leaves his victims unrecognizable.
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