David Boreanaz

Fox is moving closer to picking up another batch of “Bones.”

The network just ordered six scripts of the 20th Century Fox TV crime drama, with an eye to using the episodes during the 2009-10 season. While not an official renewal, the script order is a good sign that the network plans to greenlight “Bones” for a fifth season later this spring.

“Bones” has long been one of Fox’s best utility players. The network has aired the show in five different timeslots since its 2005 debut, and it’s always managed to draw an audience.

The series has proven to be a particularly potent weapon for Fox this year, helping the network establish a solid presence on Thursday nights. Since relocating to Thursdays in January, “Bones” has boosted Fox’s season-to-date average in the 8 p.m. timeslot by 43% in adults 18 to 49 and by a whopping 74% in overall viewers.

More impressively, “Bones” has scored victories against ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and NBC’s comedies.