David Boreanaz

Rivalry and romance simmer in a TV series pairing detection and dissection. David Boreanaz can do without the gory details.

Some actors regale journalists with tales of their off-screen exploits while researching their crime-solving characters — storming doors alongside SWAT teams, chilling in morgues, etc. — but Boreanaz says he has avoided digging around dead bodies, although he does star in a show that is tellingly entitled Bones.

"I have no interest in doing that," the 36-year-old says 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 Canadian forensic anthropologist and best-selling novelist Kathy Reichs.

But, adds Boreanaz, it is the sexually charged clashes between Booth and Brennan, whose nickname is Bones, that differentiates the show from the many other forensic-themed CSI clones out there.

"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 viewers have joined in on, and 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," Boreanaz says. "The chemistry between me and Emily and the characters is really exciting."

The new show has allowed Boreanaz to avoid a fate some actors might consider worse than death — being typecast as the character for which he is best recognized — the brooding vampire Angel of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame.

He says he wasn’t besieged with supernatural roles after his spinoff drama, Angel, got dusted.

"It’s a funny thing because I didn’t really get 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."

Boreanaz, who was 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 his 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."

IF YOU WATCH

What: Bones

When: Tonight, 8 p.m.

Where: Fox, Global