Posted at 10:55 p.m. Sunday, April 13

When last we saw FBI Agent Seeley Booth and forensic anthropologist Temperance “Bones” Brennan in November, they locked lips on the Christmas-themed episode of Fox’s crime series “Bones.”

Don’t expect that kiss to lead to more, says series star David Boreanaz, who plays Booth.

“We’re not going to go to a place where, you know, it’s completely, um, the Whole Nine [Yards],” Boreanaz told reporters during a conference call last week. “I mean, we’ll keep teasing and flirting with audience.”

The flirty show returns at 7 p.m. Monday with the first of six new episodes. As usual with this unsung but satisfying series, it’s dramatic and funny at the same time. Booth and Bones investigate the death of a professional motorcyclist whose body is found in a hot mud spring.

And, as usual, they bicker and work each other's nerves, which explains why they spend more time on FBI psychologist Lance Sweets’ (John Francis Daly) couch in what is basically couples therapy.

As far as Boreanaz is concerned, the interplay between Booth and Bones—not the crime drama aspect—is the basis the show. It sets the show apart from other crime dramas, he said.

“For me, I’ve always maintained that the show was the [Booth-Bones] relationship, maintained that the show was about the characters and I maintained that the show is about the two of us learning through the crimes and that journey that we take,” he said. “That, to me, is the most important part.”

Boreanaz talked about a variety of topics during the interview, showing that he is a lot like his character. That makes complete sense, considering that Boreanaz created most of Booth’s habits and attitudes himself.

Apparently that includes impatience, as you’ll see when you read Boreanaz’s irritated reaction to a reporter who suggested “Bones” is in danger of being canceled. Duck and cover, squints!

Read the full interview after the video below.

It seems like Booth and Bones are inching closer and closer to getting together. What are your thoughts on that?

I think they already are. I don’t think they were necessarily ever apart. The function of their relationship really is the function of the show in a lot of ways. These two characters drive these plotlines; they drive these shows.

They put them in circumstances or in areas that they wouldn’t necessarily think they’d be in. And then that brings them closer together as characters—or it pulls them apart.

You know the kiss, for example, on the Christmas [episode], was a dare. They both knew it was coming and it brought them closer. Obviously, it won’t affect them greatly but they know that that kiss happened—and I think it happened smartly the way [the writers] did it.

I think we’ll start putting ourselves in those situations and those areas but we’re not going to go to a place where, you know, it’s completely, um, the whole nine [yards, as in sex].

I mean, we’ll keep teasing and flirting with audience. I don’t think that’s a problem at all.

You’ve said that because of the writers strike, some of the story lines won’t be attacked this season. Can you tell us about what we’ll miss or if those storylines will come up next season?

Well, I think that the whole aspect of the serial killer, as far as that story line is concerned and what Hart [Hanson] and Stephen [Nathan] wanted to do with it, you would have to ask them more specifically how the dynamics of that is concerned.

But I think obviously that was affected and they we will, pretty much, wrap that up and how we’ll wrap it up. [That’s] pretty much part of a two-parter that we shot before the writers strike.

We shot a potential season ender, which was a big cliffhanger and very dangerous and detrimental to a character and the second part we finish that up in a way that I think will keep the audience guessing and will at the same time will see how the relationship between these two gets better.

Obviously there are stories that we want to tell that we couldn’t because of only getting six [new] episodes in now. As for future plans for other episodes, they may have us shooting in different parts of the world.

Did you like this new approach with the ongoing story line of the serial killer this season?

No, not at all. For me, I’ve always maintained that the show was the [Booth/Bones] relationship, maintained that the show was about the characters and I maintained that the show is about the two of us learning through the crimes and that journey that we take. That to me is the most important part.

How much of Booth is your doing and how much of the character were you given?

Well, I was given the pilot and I read the pilot. And I created everything you’re seeing onscreen as far as that character is concerned and what you see physically. It can’t happen without the words, obviously, but as far as the physicality and as far as the belt buckle—all that stuff that you see—all that stuff I brought to the character.

So what kind of research did you do to find about FBI agents and their personalities and qualifications and things?

Everything that they told me about the FBI I threw out the door in a lot of ways. I respected it. I went through the idea of it. I took the approach of the military aspect of the guy working for the FBI rather than a guy who came right out of Harvard and he’s a penny loafer-pushing guy who gets kicked around, who’s afraid to get his feet wet.

For me it was more interesting from that angle with the military guy who was a blue-collar guy. And from there, everything exploded. I highly, highly respect what they do and when it comes to using any kind of firearms … I don’t mess around with. I do it as cleanly and as professionally as I can the way they would do it.

I work with a great guy, Mike Rosso, on the show. He’s with LAPD and is fantastic. For me that is very, very authentic to a T. But the other stuff is character stuff that I like to bring.

With “Bones” being mentioned by some people as a “bubble” show [one that may be canceled], how are you feeling about Fox moving you to yet another new night? Are you or others in the cast worried that the audience won’t follow you to a new night?

I’m sorry; you say our show is on the bubble?

I’m not, but I’ve read a few things …

Where’d you read that?

I don’t remember …

Well you can’t say that. I you’re saying our show is on the bubble—I’d love to know the source of that one.

OK, um …

I mean you can’t just say to me that the show is on the bubble and you said you read it and that you don’t know where it came from.

I mean, I read, I read a lot of different sources …

It’s a pretty big source to say to, you know, an actor on a show—or for me to say to you that your column’s being canceled—and then you ask me where I read that and I say that I read a lot of things. I don’t get that question.

But to answer your question: I don’t think the show is on the bubble. It’s a very successful show. We’re a different show. We’re a cult show that prides itself on its relationships. And we’ve proven that if we’re on Wednesday or Tuesday or Friday or even Monday that our fans will follow us.

And we pride ourselves in their relationship with the show. And we pride ourselves that we’re with a great network and studio with Fox.

I hear any different, like you’re telling me, I’ll have to investigate, but I’ve never heard that.

My apologies, I …

No, don’t worry about it. I just, you know … I just had an interview with [former Philadelphia Flyer] Dave Schulz and I’m a little fired up right now.

Well I just wanted to know about the show moving around.

It’s difficult. We were also the show they put after “American Idol” and we did better before it than we did after “Idol.”

If there’s a crystal ball for like where… I don’t place the show, or tell them where the show should be placed. That’s not my job. My job is to come in and portray a character and do the best that I can. I can’t get caught up in what time slot it’s at or where they’re moving it to or what it’s paired with.

I do know that the shows are of the best quality and I think the best on television as far as a relationship show is concerned. I think it’s the best.

The new shows that are coming out, especially these six shows that are coming out and you’ll see that relationship just take off.

Unfortunately we had a writers strike that kind of intercepted what I thought was the start of a great, great third season and we’ll finish off just a fantastic third season with what we believe are just unbelievable shows that are going to expand these characters and this relationship.

I mean there’s no show out there that has a therapist that has to deal with a couple in counseling in order for them to deal with each other in the workforce. That’s not on television.

Is it ever hard to keep some of the darker, sadder storylines from affecting you?

I think I kind of tap into the relationship again. I always go back to Booth and Bones and our relationship if it gets too crazy. I think that’s that other flip side of the show, that darkness of the show and the crimes and how horrific they are. Then we cut to the humor of the show, which is the relationship. And we can go and banter over a crimes and as soon as we get there it’s like “Uh oh, this is some pretty heavy stuff that we’re looking at.”

So there’s a fine line there. It’s an interesting balance for our show. And, you know, if it has anything to do with children, you know, I can’t … It’s very difficult, obviously. And, you know the scenes could be horrific but you just have to block that out.

Are there moments where you’re squeamish about the actual bones, the actual gross bodies?

Nah, not me. I kind of know that because I’m so tuned into my relationship with [Bones] … that I sometimes forget about what I’m standing over. Obviously Booth’s perspective is that he’s squeamish to begin with so that helps when I have to go there. So it does work.

You have great comedic timing as we’ve seen in your previous work. The dialogue between you and Emily, is it ad-libbed at all? It seems so natural and well-paced.

We work on every episode on the weekends with Ivana Chubbuck who’s an acting coach out her. Her credits are huge and she’s very respected.

She helps us find a lot of those moments. So we work on the scripts on the weekends for every scene, every moment during the week. So we come in pretty much with an improvisational arc knowing where we’re going to add stuff, knowing where we’re going to take things.

So by the time we show up and rehearse, we throw that down so when we’re shooting we just kind of throw it all on the table and all that stuff comes out. I think that’s the beauty of our relationship: Our chemistry’s really solid and it’s only getting better.

I mean we did a scene yesterday which was just so much fun. We really started pushing each other’s buttons. And it was fun to have the ability to go there a) with a co-star who does that with you. And also, to be in the freedom zone of a third season where instead of thinking “Well, this show has X amount of years left so I don’t have to really work hard because, you know it’s just a show.”

Well it’s quite the opposite because now you have the beauty and the freedom to do stuff as a producer and allow yourself to go to those places that you weren’t allowed to in the first season that makes the show even better.

It is absolutely terrific. I had a request—you were great on the blooper reel for the Season 2 DVD—so please do an episode commentary for Season 3.

I will, I will, definitely.

You’ve said the Booth-Bones relationship is the show’s focus, which makes me wonder if we’ll continue to see the pair in therapy with Dr. Lance Sweets. Is that therapy going to continue?

Yeah, I think having that other perspective, that third eye so to speak, that point on the two counterpoints works in a show like this. And he fills that void perfectly.

We tried it before with a couple other characters that just didn’t really sing. As hard as it could have been, maybe, whether it was a love interest in the past and they’ve just gone on and focused on their characters and where they are.

But I think with Lance Sweets, he just fits perfectly—a) physically, b) what he brings to the table and how it affects their relationship. And I think that’s a strong hold to go through therapy and help brigs us together. I think it’s a great idea.

Is Booth’s mocking of Sweets’ age you or is that something that’s scripted? It seems so genuine.

That’s me. That’s me (Laughs.) It’s funny. We’ll do a lot of improvisation when I’m in that therapy session. And [directors will say] “You got to do one that’s maybe scripted just a little bit.” It’s just so great to be a part of and you’re having so much fun.

A lot of those young comments are—I got to come up with some new stuff. The new arsenal is coming out soon.

There’s been a rumor that you guys would be shooting some episodes in England and/or bringing back Stephen Fry?

I know that there have been some talks about that. I hope that that happens. I’m pretty confident that the trip somewhere will occur for a couple shows. That’s the exciting part as far as that’s concerned.

As far as Stephen Fry’s concerned, I know we’d love to have him back on the show because he was great to work with and it was just a great character. And seeing him even interact with Sweets if that would be possible. That would be great.

You mentioned a cliffhanger ending that you guys had shot before the writers strike. Is that ending still being used for the season?

We’re keeping that show and we’re actually shooting another part to that show. Actually, it serves two purposes pretty much. We had that for the possibility of a wash for the season [because of the strike]. Now we can at least get some episodes in and we can just continue off that love.

You’ve mentioned about your desire to do some directing on the show. Can you talk about that?

It’s just a great opportunity to embrace and you take that for what it’s worth and have fun with an episode. I have no idea what the episode is going to be yet. I have a lot of original ideas that I’ve actually pitched to Hart that I would love to be a part of as far as the fruition of an idea. Even put my pen to paper and do some writing.

Those are the opportunities you have to take advantage of if you’re an artist and in that position. Use it. You’d be foolish not to. I think that if you’re in the medium and you have a possibility or the opportunity then you should go for it.

I heard that you joked about having to write yourself out of those scenes. Do you anticipate problems directing yourself?

I think there’s got to be a balance there. It’s hard to be able to sit down and you’re directing yourself. How do you direct yourself? I don’t know how to do that. … That’s a challenge obviously to be able to act and direct in something that you’re doing. I’ve done it before so I don’t really kind of have a focus on it. I just go and do it and see what happens.

Which has been your favorite “Bones” episode to work on so far?

Uh, you know, I really have enjoyed anything I did with Emily obviously—any scenes. As far one complete episode is concerned, I like the Halloween episode this year. It was a lot of fun. I got to play a nerd. That was fun.

I also like the season opener of Season 2, which was a lot of fun. I loved the pilot. I have to go back to the pilot because that’s like the fresh, new, the possibilities are endless I think. You know what I’m saying? It’s always kind of hard to answer those questions.

Will Booth sing with the “American Idol” stars?

Will I sing with the “American Idol” stars? You’re going to have to find out. I may dance with the “American Idol” stars.

What are some of your favorite things about Booth and your not-so-favorite things about him?

There are a lot of things I do like about him since I work from the inside and my experiences. There are a lot of things I don’t like about him. His stubbornness can be unattractive at times. You know, saying it one way and not the other can be annoying.

I kind of, I don’t like … I mean that’s pretty much it with him. He’s a real blue-collar guy; he’s always been that type of guy and that I’ve really embraced. I keep learning a lot through this character. It’s been an interesting process with him.

I embrace my socks because I wear the same socks. I embrace a lot of the stuff.

Booth is obviously a little bit more Catholic than I am. And I wish I was more of a practicing Catholic, but I’m not. I guess that would be one thing I dislike about myself sometimes. I’m not very religious.

Moderator: Do you have any closing remarks David?

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