David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz stars with Emily Deschanel in Bones, Tuesdays on Global and Fox.

David Boreanaz can do without the gory details.

Unlike some actors who regale journalists with tales of their off-screen exploits while researching their crime-solving characters — storming doors alongside SWAT teams, chilling in morgues, etc. — Boreanaz says he’s dodged digging around dead bodies, despite starring in a show that is tellingly titled Bones.

"I have no interest in doing that," the 36-year-old actor says during a phone interview from Los Angeles. "It’s not part of my character."

True enough, Boreanaz’s FBI agent Seeley Booth is the Scully to the show’s Mulder, Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist who gleans clues from skeletal remains and assists the skeptical Booth during investigations.

The series, which airs on Fox and Global on Tuesday nights, is inspired by the work of real-life forensic anthropologist and best-selling novelist Kathy Reichs.

But, adds Boreanaz, it is the charged (i.e.: sexually) clashes between Booth and Brennan — whose nickname is "Bones" — that elevates the show from the hordes of forensic-themed CSI clones out there.

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"There are so many (crime) procedurals out there. The real show is the relationship between Bones (Emily Deschanel) and Booth (his character). There’s some exciting character work there," he says, comparing Bones to that archetype of television romantic comedy, Moonlighting.

"We want them to get into bed — with the forensics along for the ride."

So far it’s a ride enough viewers have been along for to merit more episodes. Bones has already received a full-season order from Fox, garnering the highest ratings for the network on Tuesdays since 24 premiered in 2001. "I couldn’t be happier the direction the story is going," he says.

"The chemistry between me and Emily and the characters is really exciting."

As must be the prospect that Boreanaz has avoided a fate some actors might consider worse than death — being typecast as the character he is best recognized as, the brooding vampire Angel of Buffy The Vampire Slayer fame.

Interestingly, he says, he wasn’t besieged with supernatural roles after his spinoff drama Angel got dusted. "It’s a funny thing because I never really got offered roles in special effects pictures or based on science fiction or space age stuff. That’s never happened to me. Quite honestly, the roles I’ve been under consideration for are other genres like romantic comedies."

Not that Boreanaz, who was famously discovered while out walking his dog, says he was ever concerned about being typecast.

"I don’t look at it like that. I don’t believe you can go around trying not to be pigeonholed. ... I’m very fortunate, I just count my blessings every day."

That includes being a father. He and wife Jaime Bergman have a three-year-old son. "It’s the best thing that ever happened to me, being a dad."

What does his son think of his father, the actor? "He recognizes me sometimes on TV or he’ll see me in a magazine. He gets a kick out of it."

As for his career, Boreanaz, who has three feature films in the can awaiting release, reasons, "You’ve got to take it when it’s there because it’s a short business. ... It’d be nice to retire to Italy."