LOS ANGELES (TNA) – Italians are known for their strong family bonds, and Joe Mantegna believes he’s no exception.

In addition to maintaining close ties to his actual family in Italy, the Emmy-nominated actor also forges deep relationships with his co-workers in Hollywood – a trait that helped ease his assimilation into the upcoming season of the CBS series “Criminal Minds.”

Mantegna says he was welcomed with open arms onto the set of “Minds,” and was treated like a regular from the start, despite the fact that veteran cast members Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster and Shemar Moore have worked together for three seasons.

“They really know what they’re doing,” says the self-proclaimed character-actor. “I came onto the set and we all hit the ground running – it was really great.”

Actor Joe Mantegna joins the cast of 'Criminal Minds' this season.

Mantegna will play FBI Agent David Rossi, who comes out of retirement to assist his former colleagues after one of the team members leaves, when the show premieres Sept. 26.

It’s a demanding role both physically and mentally, but Mantegna says he’s up to the challenge. He’s quite comfortable wielding a firearm after portraying countless mobsters, cops and special agents over more than 40 years on-screen.

“As far as that aspect is concerned, it’s nothing too difficult,” Mantegna chuckles. “I’ve definitely been exposed to guns throughout my career, and I used to shoot competitively.”

Nor is he concerned about the sometimes-complex legal lingo that may arise – Mantegna keeps a database filled with the personal phone numbers of cops and FBI agents he can consult for guidance.

He doesn’t anticipate doing much outside research, however, because “the writers have really done their homework on this show,” he says, which is precisely what the 59-year-old actor craves after bouncing from one film set to the next over the past few years.

“Ever since the TV show ‘Joan of Arcadia’ ended, I had to go back to my other lifestyle, which is going from movie to movie,” he explains. “It was like a month of this, two weeks of that – I really like the idea of stability that comes with television.”

While he may enjoy working in television, Mantegna admits he doesn’t actually know much about the boob tube. In fact, he claims to have caught only a few episodes of “Criminal Minds,” since he makes it a point to remain unaware of programming schedules.

“I’ve only watched it a few times, but I really liked it,” he says. “I try never to get too attached to any one show because I don’t want to become a slave to the tube.

“I’m always so behind on what’s on,” he admits. “I just worked with Debra Messing [on the miniseries ‘The Starter Wife’] and I thought she was a fresh face – I didn’t start watching ‘Will and Grace’ until they started coming on as late-night reruns!”

Although certainly no connoisseur of the telly, Mantegna says he knows a smart show when he sees one – even if it is only once or twice. And he’s excited about appearing on the intricate and fast-paced “Minds.”

“Television is one of the most popular pastimes in the U.S. and the whole world,” he says, “and I like what this show does for people.”

In addition to praising “Minds” as a “well-put-together show,” Mantegna appreciates the strict, predictable schedule, one of the project’s primary draws. In fact, after the drama “Arcadia” wrapped following a two-year run, he was struck by how close the cast and crew had grown after working together day in and day out.

“At this point I’m really looking forward to working on a series,” he says.
“I like the lifestyle, I like being able to be with a crew for six months – maybe longer – and I’m comfortable with that. I like being able to go home every night.

“I’d been asked to do a series many times early in my career,” he continues, “and I always said, ‘I’m really enjoying what I’m doing and all the travel, I hope you’re there when I’m looking for you.’

“My good friend Dennis Franz told me that he knew I would like doing a series,” Mantegna adds, “and he was right. He said I would love the bond the cast and crew form, and he should know – he was on ‘NYPD Blue’ for years.”

Although too busy filming to spend much downtime together, the cast of “Minds” is special, Mantegna says, adding that he tries to get the most out of those periods when the group is whole – which is rare.

“The only time I see the whole cast is during our weekly sit-down reading of the script,” he says. “I make sure to introduce myself to everyone, and then we just get right into the flow of things.”

And he can’t wait to add this cast to the ever-growing Mantegna film family.

Besides his TV and Italian clans, he is also fiercely devoted to another tight-knit unit – his “Simpsons” family.

Mantegna has been voicing Springfield’s resident mob boss Fat Tony for more than 17 years, and he admits nothing comes between him and his Simpsons.

“I always find time to do Fat Tony,” he explains, “all I need is a couple of hours.”

He says he was honored to appear in “The Simpsons Movie,” especially since Tom Hanks and the members of Green Day were the only other celebrity cameos in the entire flick.

“I felt so flattered to be in the movie,” he gushes. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed.”

And while he’s unsure whether his role as Agent Rossi will make an episode of “The Simpsons,” Mantegna says he would be in the recording studio in a heartbeat if they ever called on him for a voice-over.

“You never know with that show,” he laughs. “They always throw in little inside jokes with me and Tony. One time they had Tony make a ‘Godfather 3' reference, and it’s just such an in joke for lots of people – I still get e-mails about that one!”

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