| Bones | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime procedural Comedy-drama |
| Created by | Hart Hanson |
| Starring | Emily Deschanel David Boreanaz Michaela Conlin Eric Millegan T. J. Thyne Jonathan Adams Tamara Taylor John Francis Daley |
| Theme music composer | The Crystal Method |
| Composer(s) | Peter Himmelman Sean Callery |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 134 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Hart Hanson Barry Josephson Stephen Nathan Ian Toynton Carla Kettner |
| Producer(s) | Kathy Reichs Emily Deschanel David Boreanaz |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Fox |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 720p (HDTV) |
| Original run | September 13, 2005 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Finder |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel). The rest of the main cast includes Michaela Conlin, T. J. Thyne, Eric Millegan, Tamara Taylor, and John Francis Daley.
Created by Hart Hanson, the series is very loosely based on the life of author and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs,[1] who also produces the show. Its title character, Temperance Brennan, is named after the protagonist of Reichs' crime novel series. Conversely, Dr. Brennan writes successful mystery novels based around a fictional (in the Bones universe) forensic anthropologist named Kathy Reichs. Bones is a joint production by Josephson Entertainment, Far Field Productions and 20th Century Fox Television.[2]
The series has been renewed for a seventh season,[3] which premiered on November 3, 2011.[4]
Contents |
The premise of the show is based on an unlikely alliance between forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan and FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. Brennan is the central character and team leader of the fictional Jeffersonian Institute Forensic Sciences Department. The show revolves around solving Federal legal cases by examining the human remains of possible murder victims. Dr. Brennan and her team provide scientific expertise and Special Agent Booth provides FBI criminal investigation technique. In addition to the prospective murder cases featured in each episode the series explores the backgrounds and relationships of its recurrent characters. An important ongoing dynamic between Brennan and Booth is their disagreement about science and faith. Brennan argues for science, evidence, atheism. Booth argues for faith, God, and the unproven. The series is also known for its dark comedic undertones to, in essence, lighten the gravity of the show's intense subject matter.
The concept of Bones was developed during the latter part of the pitching season of 2004 when 20th Century Fox approached series creator Hart Hanson with an idea for a forensics show. Hanson was asked to meet with executive producer Barry Josephson, who had purchased the rights to produce a documentary on the forensic anthropologist and author Kathy Reichs. Although Hanson was reluctant about being involved in making a police procedural, he signed on and wrote the pilot episode after having an intensive meeting with Josephson about the show.[6] As the show is based on the works of Reichs, the writers constantly involve her in the process of producing the episodes' storylines. Although the show's main character is also loosely based on Reichs, producers decided to name her Temperance Brennan, after the character in Reichs' novels;[1] Reichs has stated that she views the show as somewhat of a prequel to her novels, with the TV show's Temperance Brennan as a younger version of the novels' Temperance Brennan.[7]
In order to make Bones a unique crime drama in the midst of the multiple procedural dramas that already populated network television like the Law & Order and CSI franchises, Hanson decided to infuse the show with as much dark humor and character development as possible.[8] Another element conceived for the show was the "Angelator", a holographic projector whose use is to replace flashbacks that are often used by other procedural shows. In addition to their expositional purposes, the holographic images, which are created by visual effects, brought a unique visual style to the show that the producers were looking for.[9]
David Boreanaz was the first actor to be cast in Bones. Series creator Hart Hanson described the actors who had auditioned for the role of Seeley Booth as "pretty boy waifs" and immediately responded when the head of the studio, Dana Walden, suggested Boreanaz for the role.[1] Boreanaz was offered the role but was unenthusiastic about getting involved after a difficult meeting with executive producers Barry Josephson and Hart Hanson, even though he thought the script was well written. However, after the producers contacted him again to convince him to accept the role, Boreanaz agreed to sign on and was cast as Seeley Booth.[9][10]
Emily Deschanel was cast in the role of Temperance Brennan just before production began on the Bones pilot.[1] After Deschanel finished the film Glory Road, the film's producer Jerry Bruckheimer recommended that she audition for Bones.[11] Deschanel impressed Hart Hanson at her audition with her assertiveness. In a tense moment in the audition scene, David Boreanaz stepped closer to Deschanel. Deschanel held her ground rather than retreating. Hanson remarked that, in such a situation, "90% of actors would take a step back".[12] Deschanel was subsequently cast in the role.
Beginning with Season 4, Zack Addy (played by Eric Millegan) was replaced by a succession of lab assistants: Wendell Bray (Michael Grant Terry), Colin Fisher (Joel Moore), Vincent Nigel-Murray (Ryan Cartwright), Arastoo Vaziri (Pej Vahdat), Clark Edison (Eugene Byrd) and Daisy Wick (Carla Gallo). One—Scott Starett (played by Michael Badalucco, formerly of The Practice)—is much older than the typical grad student.[13] Marisa Coughlan guest-starred in a few midseason episodes as FBI agent Payton Perotta, who was brought to the Jeffersonian as a temporary substitute for Booth when he was incapacitated.[14]
Most of Bones is filmed in Los Angeles, California, despite the fact that the show is mainly set in Washington, D.C., where the fictional Jeffersonian Institute is located. The external shots are of the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. The interiors of the Jeffersonian Institute were specially built on a large soundstage at the 20th Century Fox lot in Century City, Los Angeles, California.[15] The two-part fourth season premiere was filmed on location in London, United Kingdom.[16]
The soundtrack album titled Bones: Original Television Soundtrack, produced by Maria Alonte McCoy and Billy Gottlieb, was released in 2008. It contains 13 songs recorded by popular artists for the show.[17]
A consistent naming of the episodes occurs. Almost every episode title alludes to how the victim is discovered in said episode, like "The Critic in the Cabernet" and "The Dwarf in the Dirt," or to the main plot device of the episode, like "The Hero in the Hold" and "The Change in the Game."
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Bones.
| Season | Episodes | Timeslot (ET) | Original airing | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | |||||
| 1st | 22 | Tuesday 8:00 pm (2005) Wednesday 8:00 pm (2006) |
September 13, 2005 | May 17, 2006 | 2005–06 | #60[18] | 8.90[18] |
| 2nd | 21 | Wednesday 8:00 pm | August 30, 2006 | May 16, 2007 | 2006–07 | #50[19] | 9.40[19] |
| 3rd | 15 | Tuesday 8:00 pm (2007) Monday 8:00 pm (2008) |
September 25, 2007 | May 19, 2008 | 2007–08 | #51[20] | 8.90[20] |
| 4th | 26 | Wednesday 8:00 pm (2008) Thursday 8:00 pm (2009) |
September 3, 2008 | May 14, 2009 | 2008–09 | #32[21] | 10.81[21] |
| 5th | 22 | Thursday 8:00 pm | September 17, 2009 | May 20, 2010 | 2009–10 | #32[22] | 10.02[22] |
| 6th | 23 | Thursday 8:00 pm (2010) Thursday 9:00 pm (2011) |
September 23, 2010 | May 19, 2011 | 2010–11 | #29[23] | 11.57[23] |
| 7th | 17[24] | Thursday 9:00 pm | November 3, 2011 | 2011–12 | |||
The series premiere of Bones attracted an average of 10.0 million viewers with 6.7% household share and 11% household rating. Bones finished first among the 18 to 49 years old demographic and in total viewers in its Thursday 8:00 pm ET timeslot.[25] New York described the show as "the best drama of the new network season" and a "sexed-up variation of all the CSIs".[26] Regarding the show's procedural structure, Entertainment Weekly notes that Bones has a "pretty standard Crossing Jordan/CSI-style framework" but holds up because of the chemistry between the two lead characters; "that old Sam-and-Diane, Maddie-and-David, Mulder-and-Scully opposites-attract stuff never feels standard when it's done right."[27]
Following the broadcast of the series' third episode, Fox ordered a full season of Bones.[28] It was renewed for a second season after its strong performance in ratings in the timeslot following American Idol and on its own without the American Idol's lead-in audience.[29] Overall, the first season of Bones ranked 60th in viewership among prime-time shows and 53rd among the 18 to 49 year old demographic, with a seasonal average of 8.9 million viewers.[18]
The second season premiere attracted 8.61 million viewers in its Wednesday 8:00 pm timeslot, finishing second among the 18 to 49 years old demographic and first in total viewership with 6.7% household rating and 11% household share.[30] As a lead-in for American Idol, the second season finale of Bones obtained 10.88 million viewers with 3.5% household rating and 11% household share. It tied first in viewership among the 18 to 49 years old demographic with The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular on CBS.[31] In the 2006-07 television season, Bones improved its ranking to 50th place in viewership among prime-time shows with 9.4 million viewers and was ranked 51st among the 18 to 49 year old demographic. The show improved its ranking during its third season, placing 51st overall. However, its overall viewership was down from the previous season, averaging 8.9 million, the same as in the first season. Viewership began to steadily increase with its fourth season.
Bones premiered on September 13, 2005 on the Fox network and was broadcast weekly in the Tuesday 8:00 pm ET timeslot before it was moved to the Wednesday 8:00 pm ET timeslot in 2006. The first season finished on May 17, 2006 with a total of 22 episodes.
The second season premiered on the Fox network on August 30, 2006 and retained its Wednesday 8:00 pm ET timeslot. The second season finale was aired on May 16, 2007, ending its second season with 21 episodes. One episode, "Player Under Pressure", was left unaired, which was originally scheduled to be broadcast as the second season's 19th episode but was pulled by the Fox network in the United States after the Virginia Tech massacre. The plot involved the discovery of the human remains of a college athlete,[32] and eventually aired on April 21, 2008 as a part of the third season.
The third season premiered on September 25, 2007 in its original premiere timeslot, Tuesday 8:00 pm ET. The show went on hiatus on November 27, 2007 because of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike and returned on April 14, 2008 in the Monday 8:00 pm ET timeslot.[33] The shortened third season finished on May 19, 2008 with a total of 15 episodes.
The fourth season premiered September 3, 2008 on the Fox network in the Wednesday 8:00 pm ET timeslot with a two-hour episode that was filmed on location in London.[34] Originally scheduled to return from hiatus on January 15, 2009, Bones instead resumed one week later because of preemption by President Bush's farewell address. As a result, two new episodes, "Double Trouble in the Panhandle" and "Fire in the Ice", were aired back-to-back on January 22, 2009, airing in a new timeslot, Thursday 8:00 pm ET. The fourth season finale aired May 14, 2009 with a total of 26 episodes.
The fifth season premiered September 17, 2009 on the Fox network and retained its Thursday 8:00 pm ET timeslot. It consisted of 22 episodes and ended on May 20, 2010.
Off-network syndication of Bones began the week of October 3, 2009, on TNT.
Fox has released free episodes of Bones and several other primetime series online for viewing on Netflix, Hulu, and its MySpace website, which is owned by the same parent company, News Corporation, that owns Fox. This began on October 3, 2006 but access is restricted to residents from the United States only.[35] Bones is also available on their official website via Fox On Demand, while Canadian viewers may watch recent episodes for free on the GlobalTV website.
In October 2010, it was revealed that Fox was developing a potential spin-off series that would be built around a new recurring character that would be introduced in the sixth season. The potential spin-off series would also be created by Bones creator/executive producer Hart Hanson, and be based on The Locator series of two books written by Richard Greener. The character of Walter is described as an eccentric but amusing recluse in high demand for his ability to find anything. He is skeptical of everything—he suffered brain damage while overseas, which explains his constant paranoia—and known for asking offensive, seemingly irrelevant questions to get to the truth.[36] Production on the episode was scheduled to begin in December 2010, but was delayed to early 2011 due to creative differences.
Creator Hart Hanson posted on Twitter (in a humorous manner) regarding the notes he got from the network, "I received studio notes on the Bones spin-off idea. They want it to be better. Unreasonable taskmasters. Impossible dreamers. Neo-platonists."[37] During Fox's TCA press tour, executive producer Stephen Nathan revealed production on the episode featuring The Finder began in February 2011, with the episode airing in April.
In the episode, Booth and Brennan travel to Key West, Florida, where the spin-off is said to take place. Nathan went on to say regarding the casting of character, "You want to find people you want to see every single week do one unique character. That's why when you have Hugh Laurie, who is essentially playing a very unlikable character, you love to see him. And that is a rare, rare quality to find. And the finder won't be an unlikeable character, but because it is a unique character, it's difficult to find just the right person."[38] Geoff Stults was cast as the lead character with Michael Clarke Duncan and Saffron Burrows cast as the other two lead characters.[39][40][41] The three characters were introduced in episode 19 of the sixth season.
The Finder was picked up for the 2011–2012 season on May 10, 2011 with an order of 13 episodes.[42]
USA Today comments that compared to other crime shows, the show "is built on a more traditional and solid foundation: the strength of its characters" and "what sets Tuesday's Bones premiere apart from the procedural pack are stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, as the season's most appealing new crime fighters."[43] On the other hand, Media Life Magazine says that while Bones has "an amazingly clever notion, brilliant even", its "execution doesn't match the conception" and based on its first episode, the show "fails to evolve into a gripping series. In fact, it quickly becomes so derivative of so much else on television—especially, strangely, X-Files—that one might even call it bone-headed."[44]
Bones was nominated for Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series for the episode "The Hero in the Hold" at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.
Emily Deschanel was nominated for a 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.
The series has also won two Genesis Awards for the episodes "The Woman in Limbo" and "The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken" for raising awareness on the issues of pig slaughtering and industrial chicken farms, while the episode "The Finger in the Nest" received a nomination.
Bones was nominated for two awards at the 37th People's Choice Awards, for Favorite TV Crime Drama and Emily Deschanel for Favorite TV Crime Fighter.[45]
Aside from the television broadcast of Bones, its characters and concepts have also been produced in print, on the internet and in short videos for mobile phones.
Currently, there are two print books related to the series, one a novel and the other an official guide. Buried Deep (ISBN 978-1-4165-2461-8), written by Max Allan Collins, was published by Pocket Star on February 28, 2006. The book is based on the characters in the television series rather than the characters created by Kathy Reichs, who had inspired the concept of Bones. Its plot focuses on Dr. Temperance Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth's investigation into the skeletal remains left on the steps of a federal building and its connection with a Chicago mob family. Bones: The Official Companion (ISBN 978-1-84576-539-2) is written by Paul Ruditis and published by Titan Books, released on October 16, 2007. The book includes cast and crew interviews, episode guides and a background detail on real-life forensics.[46]
Fox has made extensive use of the internet to promote Bones. Prior to the broadcast of the second season episode "The Glowing Bones in the Old Stone House", profiles of the characters involved in the episode were put up on their own MySpace web page. The blog entries of the characters were created to give insight into the potential suspects to be featured in the episode. In the episode, Brennan and her team uses clues from these web pages, which the viewers can also access.[47]
A spin-off series consisting of 26 two-minute episodes, called Bones: Skeleton Crew, was produced by Fox and launched through a partnership with Sprint Nextel in conjunction with MasterCard's sponsorship. It was released to Sprint TV subscribers in November 2006 and released on the official website of Bones on December 4, 2006. The episodes do not feature the show's main cast; its plot revolves around three Jeffersonian Institute lab technicians who use their skills to solve a mystery.[48][49]
Bonus content was posted by Fox on Bones' official site during the third season, which include short videos featuring Booth and Brennan waiting to see Dr. Sweets.
| Season | Discs | Episodes | Release dates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |
| Season 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 22 | November 28, 2006[50] | October 30, 2006[51] | January 11, 2007[52] |
| Season 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 21 | 21 | September 11, 2007[53] | October 15, 2007[54] | December 3, 2008[55] |
| Season 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15+4 | 15+4 | 15 | November 18, 2008[56] | November 17, 2008[57] | March 4, 2009[58] |
| Season 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 26 | 26 | October 6, 2009[59] | October 26, 2009[60] | October 27, 2009 |
| Season 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 22 | October 5, 2010[61] | October 18, 2010[62] | October 27, 2010[63] |
| Season 6 | 6 | 23 | October 11, 2011[64] | ||||||
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