David Boreanaz

Bones has hit quite a landmark—the show’s 100th episode is set to air this Thursday, April 8 (and on Thuesday, 15 for British Sky1 viewers). Who knew forensic anthropology could be so popular?

Series star David Boreanaz, who plays FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth, directed the episode, which flashes back to Booth and Brennan’s (Emily Deschanel) first case together. We sat in on a conference call with Boreanaz as he discussed "The Parts in the Sum of the Whole."

On directing the 100th episode:

I didn’t necessarily look at it like a hundredth episode. I looked at it as an episode that I was really fortunate to be able to direct, like I did last year... I think that the audience is going to be really pleased. I certainly was... and I think we see both those characters grow from where they came from.... It was entertaining and a lot of fun and I enjoyed the challenges.

On having Eric Millegan back for the occasion:

He worked out really wonderful. It was great to have him back... I think his character is very valuable and has been since the beginning. As the story has evolved, unfortunately he went his own particular way, as far as what the writers wanted to do with him. But he was a great addition to the 100th, and going back and seeing how his relationship with Hodgins evolved was a lot of fun. I thought he did a great job and it was great to see him back in his scrubs.

On whether Booth and Brennan should be together:

They really pretty much are together. How you want to see them and how the fans want to see the two of them together, I have my views on that... I think everybody wants to see them together in a different way, whether that’s as a couple, in a relationship. They work very well together and it’s great to see them solve these crimes. It’s also great to see into their personal lives, but for right now, I still maintain that they should be partners. Let’s see what happens after this season, because it’s a pretty good season ender.

On doing 100 more episodes:

That’s an interesting question. I think that there are plenty more episodes. I started this venture with the pilot and didn’t even think about where it was going... The future’s very bright for the show. I see it as a show that’s really found its legs and can go to some really unique places. We’re now actually shooting the season finale, so I take it episode-to-episode, show-to-show, and don’t set myself up too much for discouragement if it were to end tomorrow.

On the upcoming high-school reunion episode:

It was great to go back to [Brennan’s past] and see the reunion and see how Booth reacted to some of the people that she was in high school with. It was great getting insight into her... early years and how she developed as Bones... Maybe there’s a nice dance between me and her that happens, but I don’t want to spoil anything else.

On seeing more of Brennan and Booth’s family:

We’ll tap into Booth’s family members a little bit more, maybe, in the next season. We got a good insight into Bones’ family characters in the past three seasons. It’s nice that we’ve been able to see Booth’s grandfather. That would be great to tap into his world a little bit, maybe with his mom, and his relationship that he had with his dad, even if his dad’s around. That’s stuff that we’re probably going to move into. It definitely gives some nice flavor to the relationship... and bringing those two closer together.

On the show’s slow build to success:

One of the biggest things you have to have, especially when you start a show, is patience. And you have to pray and hope that the studio and the network have the same patience as you would. The development of the show has spanned from trying to make it procedural, which they wanted in the beginning, and saying that we wanted it to be a relationship-driven show. I think in the long run, you can see that the relationship part of the show won out over the dark procedural that they had in mind...

The work that myself and Emily did to develop these characters and the hard work we do for each scene and moment and episode, that we don’t take for granted. Whether it’s the first show, the 50th, or the 100th, it’s really about making the show better by making the relationship better, and always going back to the relationship. Now, I think it is at a great place and can even get better and bigger. The characters have all developed and they’re in a good place right now and it’s going to be fun to shake a few things up at the end of this season. You can only hope that the characters grow, which I think that they will, and you have to have patience with that as well. We take it one step at a time. We’re the little show that could, and the little show that has, and we’re very fortunate to have succeeded on Thursday nights. It’s a tough lineup.

For me, I think one of the pleasing things about it is, we’re able to take out some of these comedies and look at Bones as almost a dramedy. It would be nice if the show was recognized a bit more [at] the Emmys or the Golden Globes or the People’s Choice, but I say that only for the hard work of the people in the crew.

On his favorite episode:

It’s tough to say... There are so many that I really enjoyed. We had fun doing the Halloween episode. I loved shooting the pilot because it was new and challenging and everybody was like, "Is this show going to go?" I kind of love that fear aspect. Other than that, I loved shooting the 100th. I thought it was great. It was fun to go back in time.

On his ideal guest star:

I always wanted James Garner. It was a nice correlation between what he could bring to the table, obviously, and how it could relate to Booth’s character. It would be nice to have him on board. Brian Dennehy would be a really great choice, too. It would be fun to see him make a mark through Booth’s family somehow. Also, Elaine Stritch, Broadway actress, she would be great. I’m open to anyone, pretty much. Stephen Fry, I loved having him. I guess off the top of my head, that’s about it.

On what’s in Booth’s pockets:

I carry a gold Zippo lighter, which is reminiscent of his training days in the Army as a ranger; he’s got a poker chip to remind him of his gambling issues that we never really tapped into with Booth; some dice in his right pocket that he likes to fiddle around with if he’s interrogating people, again a reference to his gambling days; a St. Christopher medal that he keeps on him, because he’s a religious guy, so he keeps St. Christopher to protect him. And let’s see, what else do I have in my arsenal? I wear a Wittnauer watch on my left wrist. I can’t tell you what’s inscribed because maybe that will come out in an episode one day. That’s pretty much it.