TV characters come and go, but every once in a while, a character we were sure we'd seen the last of comes back. Last week, it was reported that Criminal Minds had rehired A.J. Cook, who played Agent J.J. Jareau since the show's beginning. In the spirit of that great news, we present a few more beloved TV characters that we (and our users) would really like to see back on their shows.

Conrad Shepard (Romany Malco), WeedsWhen we asked you, our beloved readers, who you wanted to see back on TV, the overwhelming favorite was Malco, who played Conrad, Nancy's wisecracking grower/dealer/partner/lover, on the first three seasons of Weeds. While the show still has a raucously sick sense of humor, it’s not nearly as fun as it was when Conrad (and don't forget Heylia!) were around to point out Nancy's privileged, white ways. And as reader RyanDrake reminds us: "Conrad and Nancy have some unfinished business!" In more ways than one.

Always the best-dressed in the Sterling Cooper offices, closeted art director Sal was one of the characters on the period drama that could also speak to 21st century social issues. Whether he was crushing on Ken Cosgrove or making out with a bellboy in a Baltimore hotel, we always cheered his small steps toward liberation … right up until he was fired for resisting a client's come-ons. Now that the client in question has taken its business from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, isn't it time to rehire Sal?

CSI will always be Gil Grissom's show. Fans got a small peek at him during a Season 11 episode in which he Skyped with his wife Sara (Jorja Fox) and his mom (Phyllis Frelich). While it's unlikely we'll ever see Gil back in the lab full-time, we wouldn't mind an in-the-flesh cameo at least once every couple seasons.

The good news about this wish is that it could happen! After being jerked around by CBS before deciding to leave, Brewster still has an option in her contract to return to Minds as a regular next season that CBS could exercise. The bad news: She recently joined the NBC pilot My Life As an Experiment and would stick with it if it goes to series. If Brewster does come back, it would call for a lot of 'splaining since she would presumably need a new identity and everyone (except Hotch and JJ) is led to believe Prentiss is dead.

Don't you ever wonder what could've been between Burke and Cristina had Washington not been fired for his homophobic slur against fellow ex-Grey's cast member T.R. Knight? Would they have gotten married? Would Owen exist? Chances of Washington returning are slim to none — especially since there still seems to be bad blood after he filed a complaint over the show's use of his image in 2008 — but plot-wise, it's completely feasible. The ABC drama hearts its love triangles and what would be more dramatic than Burke reappearing in happily married Cristina's life?

Cameron has already returned once (to get Chase to sign their divorce papers... and then have, uh, bonus night), so it's not totally out of the question that she can drop by Princeton-Plainsboro again. In fact, her sincerity and strong sense of ethics are sorely missed — and needed to counter-balance House's increasingly cynical and bitter outlook. Besides, with Amber Tamblyn gone after this season and Olivia Wilde's bloated big-screen schedule, we need a consistent dose of estrogen on the team.

It's not so much that we dislike Sela Ward's Jo Danville. It's just that Stella's departure came so suddenly after Kanakaredes and CBS failed to reach an agreement over her contract renewal. We're happy to imagine Stella running her own team in New Orleans, but why can't Mac & Co. get called down there to help on a big case? Or, hello — CSI: New Orleans!

Yes, we know Edie was fatally electrocuted and can therefore not ever return to the show, but that doesn’t mean it wasn't a loss to the storytelling. Or as reader tigerlily085 puts it: “Love her or hate her (but mostly hate her), the show is just missing something with her gone.” While Vanessa Williams' Renee Perry was touted as an similarly naughty/nosy neighbor, her take on Housewifery has been somewhat softer, touched as Renee is by (blech) humanity and vulnerability and feelings. We need a b----, any b----, back on the Lane.

Although Izzie Stevens showed some harsh true colors leading up to her departure, viewers never really got a resolution as to why she left and where she went. And lest you forget, Heigl had some of the series' most captivating storylines, including the emotional death of her soul mate Denny. (We'll just forget about the ghost sex part.)

This is nothing more than a pre-emptive plea. It's not that we don't have faith that The Office can continue without Michael Scott, it's just that we don't really want it to. He'll always be the world's best boss… or at least the boss that has that printed on his coffee cup.

Although the CW's reboot decided to focus more on the younger stars, we always enjoyed seeing this West Bev original She's still technically Silver's caretaker, so is it too much to ask for an appearance every once and while? Who better to give sage sisterly advice? After all, Kelly has been through just about everything.

Steve and Sarah Newlin (Michael McMillian and Anna Camp), True Blood We're not the only ones who thought the Season 2 plot line involving the vampire-hating Christians was wrapped up way too easily, are we? Maybe it's because most of their scenes involved the delightfully dim Jason Stackhouse, but the Newlins provided some of the funniest moments in the show's history. Plus: We want to see more of the chemistry between Jason and Sarah.