Another Hart Hanson Interview...

Hart Hanson (Executive Producer, 'Bones')

What happens when a sniper-turned-FBI Agent teams up with a brilliant but socially limited forensic anthropologist to solve murders that seem, well, pretty much unsolvable? A smash hit US drama series, that's what. With season three of Bones recently concluding in jaw-dropping fashion, exec producer Hart Hanson tells us what's to come for Agent Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance Brennan in the future.

How are plans coming along for season four?

"They [the US network] started ordering episodes for season four, but we never got the call to say we’d been picked up for it until upfronts week. Now people are starting to talk about season five and I’m thinking, 'Jeez, I hope this show holds.' I don’t want to call the president of the network and ask if it’s true because maybe he’ll say no. Our audience follows us around from timeslot to timeslot – and we’ve been steadily building an audience, so I hope it does."

How closely does the show track the real life of anthropologist Kathy Reichs, on which the character of Brennan is based?

"It doesn’t follow her life too closely. Kathy reads scrïpts and we get notes from her, but it’s not her life. You know what? Somewhere along the line we got rated as the most accurate of the forensic shows, which is something we just laughed at. We do the best we can, but mostly we try to be funny or gross or sad. I guess we’re accurate in what we do, though."

How did the writers’ strike affect the show?

"Actors make enough money that you hope they can get through some rough times,
but you worry about the crew and every writer in town felt that when the strike was going on. Getting the show back up on its feet again seemed as hard as getting season one on air, but it’s all fine now."

What’s the feeling about an impending actors’ strike?

"I’m in denial. I just don’t think it’s going to happen – and I hope it doesn’t happen. Our actors came and walked with us on the picket lines, so we’ll have to do the same thing for them, too. We’ll have to see what happens."

How important is audience feedback to you?

"Our fans are really important to us. One of the things that keeps us on the air is the fact that we are a weird little show and we appeal to a segment of the population, but not everybody. I would have it no other way. The cast have gelled in a way that’s so fun to watch. And although our show is not full of explosions or anything like that, it’s mostly about these people, which is why I think people tune in. These actors are very funny people and funny acting in a drama is nearly impossible. But to return to your question, the audience is obviously very important – and we do check the internet boards for the show from time to time to check up on what’s being said on there."

How do you feel about David Boreanaz directing some of the episodes next season?

"David is going to be great. He’s been asking not to be written out of any scenes in the show before because he’s like that – but we really should write him down a little bit so that he can properly prep his episode. If you see an episode where you don’t see David as much as you’d like to next season, the following episode will be the one that he directs. Keep your eyes peeled."

Were you surprised by the reaction to the mistletoe kiss between Brennan and Booth?

"We couldn’t believe the fuss about the mistletoe kiss, but check out the DVD for the hot, steamy version. That’s the version that didn’t make it to air – but it was recorded and it’s going to go on the DVD for sure."

How long do you think you can keep Booth and Brennan apart in the series? Their chemistry seems to reach fever pitch by the end of every season…

"When you’ve got a romantic, sexual chemistry that you can exploit between characters like Booth and Brennan, people always ask how soon are they going to get together. The answer is always the same. It’s going to take us as long as humanly possible before you start screaming at us, before you start getting very annoyed. We will keep putting them in situations that the audience will like to see, but without getting them all the way together. That’s just the way it is."

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