TVSquad

Attention to Hart Hanson and Barry Josephson, the creators of Bones: your search for a new intern for Temperance is over. I know I know, you wanted Dr. Brennan to have a number of interns over this season so she could find a suitable replacement for Zack Addy, who went a bit batty in the season finale. But, why waste any more of the show's budget when you exampled the perfect replacement in this past week's episode.

Michael Badalucco, who portrayed Scott Starret -- Bones' oldest intern, is the man for the job. For one thing, he is the total opposite of Zack...friendly, outgoing, worldly. He is also a near perfect fit for the Squints who are missing something now that Bones spends most of her time in the field with Booth. Think about it: Cam is the organizer and the bureaucrat; Hodgins is now the "geek" of the group since Zack left; Angela is the free spirit. Having Starret added to the team would give the Squints a calming, fatherly and well-rounded figure who could be their stabilizing source.

Plus, let's face it, Michael Badalucco is just so cuddly. Just like he was in The Practice. So, what do you think? Am I way off here or would he be your choice for Zack's replacement?

(S04E02) I have a, er, bone to pick with some of you. I understand that many of you are unhappy about Zack's fate. I also understand more of you are upset that the season premiere of Bones was less than stellar. But, that's no reason to totally rack up the fourth season as a total failure. It's looking bleak, I know, but a finale and a premiere sometimes don't make a season. All I ask is for you to hold off a bit until you judge this season as a total disaster.

(S03E15) Holy. Frikkin. Frak!

You all speculated on it, but you couldn't believe it was true. Heck, even I mentioned it in a previous post. I just didn't realize that Hart Hanson and his writers would actually do it. Some people are going to be happy, some will be sad, and some will be downright angry about who turned out to be Gormogon's apprentice.

Now, I'm not going to reveal who it is on this page, because I would be pulled out of my house and systematically flogged. So, if you have not watched the season finale of Bones DO NOT JUMP AHEAD! If you did watch the episode, then click forward and read on.

Gallery: Bones: The Pain in the Heart

Despite the fact it is tossed around the FOX primetime schedule like a hot potato, Bones remains one of the most popular properties on the network. With its mix of mystery, mayhem, romance, humor, and scientifically big words, the show caters to a broad audience. Some of the success can be attributed to the stars of the show, who have a great on-screen chemistry.

The rest of the drama's success can be placed upon the shoulders of creator Hart Hanson. Hart took the concept of the murder mystery and bent it to his own desires, focusing more on the interactions between the characters rather than the long-dead murder victims. With that, he turned a show that could have been another copy of CSI into something goofy and romantic in nature. Which means something fresh and unique in a world of cookie-cutter series.

With the season finale of Bones coming up on Monday, May 19th (8:00 PM), Hart took time to discuss the ending to the Gormogon saga, what was coming up for next season, and the never ending schedule changes. Highlights of the conversation can be found after the jump.

(S03E13)"Friends don't let friends' fathers go to the electric chair." -- Angela, on why she wouldn't testify against Bones' dad

Doubt. A word that many of us use in some context at least once a day. We don't doubt it, we doubt it happened or, used in a positive manner, we prove that there isn't any doubt about it. In the legal world the word has a much more powerful connotation. Should a shred of doubt exist during a criminal trial, there is always that slim chance that the judge or jury will see past the crime of the defendant and rule in the opposite manner.

Sometimes, the physical evidence that the prosecution provides is the reason for doubt. Other times, it is the testimony of the witnesses that causes the judge or jury to think. Then, there are those times where doubt is seeded by the team of lawyers who are trying to get their client off.

Finally, there are those very rare occasions where the doubt is provided by the client's daughter. Guess which type of doubt was used in this week's episode of Bones?

Gallery: Bones: The Verdict in the Story

(S03E10) Rejoice! New episodes of Bones have finally returned to the FOX schedule. And, despite what others think, this guy, this dude, this muchacho, is very glad for its return. Not happy that FOX is screwing with the schedules of this show and House, mind you, but glad there are new episodes nevertheless.

For those of you new to the series, Bones is one of those unique dramas that can mix gruesome, terrible death with humor and light-heartedness. It is really a story about relationships, friendly or romantic, and the connections that are established by two totally opposite sets of people.

Plus, you get to see maggots crawling around a person's skull. So, it's all good.

Gallery: Bones: The Man in the Mud

Let's get nostalgic for a moment, shall we? Well, as nostalgic as you can get for shows that premiered only three and four years ago. Wouldn't you like to relive the first time you saw Gregory House berate a staffer over at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital? Or, watch one of Temperance Brennan's first
"official" pairings with Seeley Booth? And, rather than watching it on DVD, uninterrupted, wouldn't you like to review these moments on network television, complete with commercials and constant reminders that American Idol is premiering very, very soon?

Well, FOX is giving you that chance on January 8th as it airs "encores" (aka: repeats) of the House and Bones pilot episodes. This will give new and old viewers a chance to see how their beloved characters looked and acted in the very beginning, and how they grew (or not) as their respective series progressed. It's also a chance to watch these two shows in proper Tuesday night order before the schedule is ripped asunder by the monster known as American Idol.

(S03E09) "Christmas and skeletons do not go together." -- Both Max Keenan and Seeley Booth, but not at the same time.

No, this isn't a photo taken from a dream sequence of either Bones or Booth. It is actually Seeley and Temperance locking lips. The kiss was performed under duress and a bit of blackmail due to the puckish nature of Caroline Julian. So, it wasn't as intense as you would think their eventual first kiss would be.

Then again, Booth ended up with the gum Bones was chewing right before the kiss. So, maybe this was the kiss that would lead to the eventually blissful relationship of the FBI Agent and the forensic anthropologist.. Only time and several other successful season will tell.

Gallery: Bones: The Santa in the Slush

(S03E08) We are now a third of the way through the third season of Bones (or, if the strike doesn't end soon, 3/4 of the way through) and so far so good. This week's episode continued the trend of good stories by taking the Widow's Son case up a notch and tying up some loose ends in Temperance's life.

I have to say that this was the most dramatic I have seen Booth, Bones and the Squints in a long time. Even the season premiere where they first discovered the silver skeleton had more lighter moments than tonight's episode. Oh, there were a few smiles here and there, but for the most part it was non-stop action from beginning to end. I have no problem with this since we have had plenty of episodes this season that contained a giant dollop of dark humor (Pony Play, anyone?).

Gallery: Bones: The Knight on the Grid

(S03E06) "Do boys change when they graduate high school?" -- Bones

"Only on the outside" -- Jack

That Guy. You knew him in high school. He was loved by all the women (and some of the men), the teachers, and a good portion of the student body. He was probably very popular, maybe a member of the student governing body, and he pretty much had the school in the palm of his hand. Which meant he could do things that faculty and students alike would turn their heads and look away at.

Special FBI Agent Seeley Booth was That Guy.

Gallery: David Boreanaz

(S03E06) "It's always the suits, baby." -- Jack

"Hey, I wear suits!" -- Booth

"Yes, yes you do." -- Jack

Before we begin this week's review of Bones, a bit of housekeeping from last week's Halloween episode. The results are in and, with fifty-three percent of the vote you, the TV Squad elite, rated Bones' Wonder Woman as the best Halloween costume. Booth was a far second for his nerdy squint costume. Angela and Cam came in a close third and fourth for their Cher and Catwoman costumes, respectively. In last place was Jack's costume as captain of the Titanic.

Gallery: Bones: Cast Photos

(S03E05) Bones -- Who's stronger -- Catwoman or Wonder Woman?

Jack and Zack together -- Wonder Woman.

Bones -- I concur, vehemently.

Before I begin my review of this week's Bones I need to read this message from the Male Chauvinist Pig Association of America. It goes 'To the Producers of Bones . . . Concerning the skimpy and revealing costumes worn by your characters Temperance Brennan, Angela Montenegro, and Camille Saroyan we of the M.C.P.A.A. have one thing to say to you: you rock!' Oh, there's a postscript as well. It says 'Please ignore the saliva stains.'

Um, yeah. Let's move on, shall we?

Gallery: Bones: Mummy in the Maze

(S03E04) Angela -- Is it always this way when you're together?

Bones -- Yes. Booth -- No.

Angela -- It's kinda hot.

Bones and Booth breaking up? Say it ain't so! Well, it ain't so (apologies to all of my English teachers for the double use of the word 'ain't'. Make that the triple use of the word). As long as Seeley and Temperance fill out a few blue books and let Doctor Lance Sweets find out what's going on between them, they'll be able to stay together and Bones will continue its success for years to come. Well, that's a relief.

Or, it ain't.

Gallery: Bones: The Secret in the Soil

(S03E03) Stop! Or I'll kick you in the testicles! -- Bones, when trying to halt someone running away from Booth.

Maggots in the eye sockets! Yay! Three episodes in and we finally get a body that makes one put their fork down and push away that plate of pasta with red sauce. Not only did we have said maggots just pouring out of the body's eye sockets, but we had a pair of feet that were cut nicely and buried several feet away. And, we got to see those feet up close and personal. Fantastic!

Yet, it doesn't compare to the liquefied body of last season for some reason. Go figure.

(S03E02) I've noticed something new about the opening sequences to Bones this season. Rather than starting the scene with Booth and Bones walking into the middle of the investigation we actually see how it all happens. This week we got to see the soccer mom's mini-van blow up. And, what an explosion it was! Did anyone catch the leg that came flying out of of the smoke and flame? How about the fact that her hands were melted onto the steering wheel while the rest of her body went in various directions?

The charred body itself didn't make me queasy. I've watched enough episodes of the series that one charred body is like another charred body. However, when Bones (or was it Cam? I can't remember) pulled out the piece of the victim's tongue as well as a bit of brain matter for additional evidence I got a bit ooged out. All of the insects eating the charred flesh off of the victim's bones to clean them off didn't make me feel too hot either.

This, of course, means that Bones was in fine form this week.