Watching Bones

Saw the movie My Sister’s Keeper last night - I left the theatre with mixed feelings. The film was beautifully done, and I say that after watching it with skepticism. I pretty much knew the storyline after having read up on it beforehand, but the emotion the movie portrayed was something you couldn’t get from reading reviews. As a parent myself, I understood a lot of the different emotional aspects from both the mom and dad’s view, and also, as a sister I had appreciation for a whole different viewpoint.

I have to admit, I was a bit distracted in the beginning - I kept looking specifically for Emily Deschanel since I knew that she was in the film. But I quickly got caught up in the story and was only a little bit shaken out of the flow of the film when I finally saw her character on screen. As I was afraid, her part was brief, although I was happy with the actor who played the primary care doctor as well, unknown to me as he was… Another character that threw me for a loop was when we met “Taylor.” I looked at the screen and thought, “no, that’s not who I think it is…” but as I got past the bald head, I realized that it was in fact Thomas Dekker - or as I had to explain to my husband later that evening, John Connor from the show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

(I have to admit, there was one line where someone asked his character if he ever thought of dying, or if he was afraid of dying, or something like that. All I could think at that moment was “Of course he does! The machines have been trying to kill him his whole life!” I know, I know, bad, but as I’ve said before, I get a big kick out of seeing different actors I recognize from different shows/movies in projects that are different from their normal.)

Anyway, don’t go see the film just for Emily’s role, (like I said, she’s awesome, but only on screen 3 different times and each time is brief), and certainly don’t go see if it you don’t like emotional movies. But do go see it if you want a good, thoughtful movie. Oh, and pack some tissues just in case…

I haven’t heard much about the movie My Sister’s Keeper - some of my friends have talked briefly about the book and therefore we’re now going to go see it. So I’ll be off to the theater, with a pack of tissues in hand just in case, tonight to check it out. Since I didn’t know too much about it, I checked it out at both commonsense.com and pluggedin.com to see what the reviews had to say. Unfortunately, there’s something to be said for a little bit of ignorance: I now feel like I’ve practically seen the film just by reading the website’s reviews/breakdowns of it!

However, in checking out who was in it, I found out that Emily Deschanel has a role as Dr. Farquad. No idea who the character is or if it’s a big/small role, but that she’s in the film at all is a nice surprise. Oddly enough, one of the first things that came to mind when I read who she was playing was, “she’s a character named after the evil prince-wannabe in Shrek.” Ugh. But if anyone could make that name look good, it’s Emily!

It sounds like the film is going to be a tearjerker, and not exactly a fun or relaxing escape from reality, so I have a feeling I’m going to have to swing by someplace “fun” on the way home and pick up a milkshake or something to make up for it. But hey, that’s okay with me! In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing Emily as a non-anthropologist role, although as a doctor, I’m sure she’s still got the “brainy” character going on. I think sometime I’d like to see her in something goofy…

Fox is really endearing itself to me lately. As a whole, I’m pretty happy with the network’s lineup for this fall. Not only is Fox the home of our beloved Bones, but our family has found a new favorite in the summer’s reality hit So You Think You Can Dance - just about the only reality show I’ll watch (if you can call it a “reality show.”) But, after a first great season, it’s keeping Fringe along with Dollhouse - the brainchild of fan fav Joss Whedon.

Although Dollhouse may not have drawn the viewers like they had hoped - in my opinion due to lack of publicity and a confusing opening (looked more like something risque than the almost sci-fi show it is) - I’m glad to see they’re giving it anther season to prove itself. Fox says that thanks to “having two scripted freshman hits this season - “Fringe” and “Lie to Me” [they had] more flexibility to be choosy and also to be more patient with a slow starter like “Dollhouse.”

(Somehow, I never saw this promo on TV, and after talking to several friends about the show, they had gotten the wrong impression from whatever it was they had seen, so hopefully this next season will draw a better crowd and get better ratings. I’d like to see where they take the show…) Read the rest of this entry »

Hurray for today - it’s David Boreanaz’s birthday! The big 4-0.

We love you David and hope you have an awesome birthday and wish you all the best!

When I first read about this week’s guest star online a few weeks ago, I didn’t believe it. Even after seeing it on a few reputable sources, I was still hesitant to believe it. Call me skeptical. But it’s true, and this week, our honored guest star is none other than baby Stewie Griffin from Family Guy!
Read the rest of this entry »

In late March, early April, TV Guide put out one of their “Sexiest TV Stars” issues. I was thrilled, although not surprised, to see David Boreanaz make the list. (And not just the list, but he got a two-page spread all his own!)

Considering they had to narrow it down to their choice of the top 35, it’s a job I would find hard, although I can’t say I wouldn’t love to give it a try! According to TV Guide’s editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum, they took “hundreds, if not thousands, of photos,” and the issue took months to compile.

Here’s a look at David’s spread, and below that is a look at the photo shoot and a quickie interview with him about the show.

Read the rest of this entry »

Following is David’s latest appearance on Rachel Ray. In addition to the typical interview, David gives us a special treat. He dances. He kind of got suckered into it - after admitting that one of his favorite shows is a dance show, Rachel manipulates a pop and lock routine out of David by offering to plug the show Bones for him…

The interview is worth watching because hey, it’s David Boreanaz, but the dancing really makes it time well spent!

I got a kick out of the part when he talked about how protective his son is of him, and the monkey pulling tissues out of the box… sounds like something my toddler would enjoy! But the dancing, that just makes it! Way to go Rachel!

Oh, and in case you missed it, David’s dancing skills have been showcased before when he was on Angel…

Too, too funny… Now we just need a clip of the rest of the Bones cast getting their groove thing on!

I’m so glad to see actors/actresses who can overcome their personal issues and make it work on the set! Although in this case, I suppose you could have marked up any visible hostility to sibling rivalry, and considering their family history, it may have just added to the character’s dynamics… big brother always covering for little brother who takes advantage of big brother’s kindness, yeah, that could lead to some latent hostility!

In a recent TV Guide magazine, William Keck answered the question “How does David Boreanaz get along with Brendan Fehr, who plays his brother Jared on Bones?” The answer was enlightening. The opening line to his answer is “Better than they used to.” Huh? Apparently the two actors did have a real-life scuffle that started a few years back after they played against each other at a celebrity hockey game. Brendan Fehr shared that “We had a pushing match, and we delved into our book of unflattering words to call each other.” David added that they “ended up getting into a brawl on the ice and things were said. We were pushing each other around, as hockey players to. And then he backed off.” (Good for you Brendan!)

It also sounds like the two hadn’t truly gotten over their scuffle on the ice since Brendan admitted that although he was surprised that David approved of his being cast as his brother, the two of them ended up getting along while on set. Whew, big sigh of relief there! But, with that being said, he also admitted that he would “have no problems punching David in the face,” and expects that David would most likely react the same. Yikes. “And then we’d have a beer after.”

Oh, okay. Must be a guy thing…

This week’s Bones episode reads like it’s going to be a real tearjerker. Not only is there the traditional corpse - what kind of Bones episode would it be without one? - but it’s someone from Cam’s past. I guess that’s kind of putting it lightly. It’s Cam’s ex from 10 years ago, Dr. Andrew Welton, and he wasn’t just any old fling or a high school crush. This was a serious relationship - one where she even raised his daughter for two years before it ended.

Now, with the ex found half-eaten outside of a tiger cage after a charity event at the zoo, Cam joins the rest of the squints to figure out just how the good doctor came to be in such a condition. During the investigation, we meet suspect Brandon Casey (guest star Chad Lowe whom I remember best from the TV show Life Goes On) whom is hypnotized by Sweets and Angela as part of an effort to get him to remember exactly what he saw the night of the murder.

One of the more emotional aspects of this episode will be Cam’s interaction with Dr. Welton’s daughter who is now 16 and who also doesn’t remember Cam in the least. With the daunting task of breaking the news of her father’s death to the girl, coupled with the memory of raising her for two years as a young child, their reunion promises to be a tense one if nothing else.

The team will also be joined once again by intern Dr. Clark Edison, who always adds a little fun to the mix as he expresses his discomfort at the group’s lack of professional and personal separation. Add to his dislike for the team’s habit of providing “TMI,” Angela’s self-imposed celibacy (which is making her just a little - okay, a lot - more obsessed with sexual thoughts than normal) should make him extra uncomfortable…

No one was more surprised than I was to find myself become attached to John Francis Daley’s character on Bones. The concept of them going to “couples therapy” was interesting, but I didn’t see if going too far. Now that the writers have carried the role of Dr. Lance Sweets on for a while, I’ve become attached to him and look forward to seeing him develop. I was a little disappointed to see him hook up with the uber-annoying squint wanna-be, but since she’s not become a regular on the show, I’ll let that pass. Otherwise, his character’s development has been fun to watch and has even had a few interesting twists. Like being from a family of carnies.

In a recent interview, Daley talked about the ongoing development of his character after he was invited to stay on as a recurring character rather than a short guest-star stint. The fact that he and Bones share the common background of being in foster care should (hopefully) come back up in upcoming episodes. We’ve seen in various episodes how Bone’s foster-child status has affected her during a case, so I can imagine it will come up again. Hopefully we’ll learn more about Sweets then too. Also, how can we ignore his carnie connection? (So do they mean that his real parents were carnies and he was left in foster care while they traveled with the circus or that his foster parents were the carnies? Either way, that’s a really interesting story-line to explore!)

Daley also expressed his desire to explore some of his actual interests onscreen - including kung fu and a talent at playing the piano. I can definitely see Sweets playing the piano, but as for the kung fu, well, not so much. Although seeing him attempt to learn kung fu, now that I’ll buy! (Oh, and the recent episode where he posed as a buyer at the Sci-Fi convention for the sword and he dressed in the Trekkie costume that he already had - that was too perfect! So characteristic for Sweets! Loved it!)

Last but not least, Daley addressed the deep, dark secret that his character Sweets has been keeping. You know, the heartbreakingly agonizing secret that Zack isn’t really a murderer? Yeah, that one. He didn’t give us any spoilers or even any real hints, but surely we haven’t heard the last of that…

Holy crap! It keeps getting better and better. I’ve had this video up and open on my computer for I don’t know how long now, but just recently got around to watching it. Between this video and a recent article in TV Guide, we not only get info on upcoming Bones that is tantalizing but also reliable - considering it came from show creator Hart Hanson and producers Barry Josephson and Stephen Nathan!

The video interview also talks about the circus episode where Booth and Bones went under cover as a Russian knife throwing act - kind of funny. But the big news is a real twist in the storyline where Bones considers having a kid. Not only a kid, but a kid with Booth. I’d heard rumblings of this before, but considering the source, this can’t be ignored.

I wonder how much mileage they’ll get out of that story arc and how far they’ll take it? I can’t really see a pregnant Bones working cases - at least not in the field. But in the lab, okay, maybe. But morning-sickness and corpses? I know how some pregnant women feel about raw meat, I can imagine her line of work would be a bit of a handicap for her… But I suppose there’s plenty of time for discussion, arguments, and logic to intervene before a child is actually brought into the picture.

Wow. It gets better and better. And the possibility of getting Emily Deschanel’s sister Zooey to guest star as well as seeing more of Booth’s family, Bone’s family, and Stephen Fry as Booth’s shrink - yay! Sign me up!

Tomorrow night get ready for a salty treat from Bones! Ugh, I know, really bad… The episode, The Salt in the Wounds, finds the corpse of the week to be Ashley, a high school student, and volleyball player, who has been missing for three weeks. Her body is found buried in salt in a de-icing truck. The victim is not only petrified but turns out to have been pregnant at the time of her death (wonder if that will make this a double homicide?). During the investigation, the squints are surprised and the press gets involved when it appears that there is a “pregnancy pact” going on with the girls volleyball team since almost half of the teammates either are currently or have been pregnant.

As a side-note to the main event, we’ll also see how things are going between Angela and Roxie (I’d kind of thought that relationship had been dropped since it’s been so long since we’ve heard about her, but then again maybe I just wasn’t paying attention…). As they discuss getting a dog - which I thought was kind of weird, Angela doesn’t strike me as a dog-owning kind of person - the issue brings up other issues for them to deal with.

Looks like a good one to me. I always enjoy watching the dramatization of the whole teen-angst sort of thing. And am so glad I’m not there any longer. Don’t ever want to relive it…

Wonder who our squint of the week is going to be? The rotating interns are kind of growing on me. Never thought I’d say that! (Still miss Zack though.)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the potential Booth/Bones relationship that we’ve all been jonesing for, but I can’t help but wonder that when they finally DO get together that things will get weird. I have faith in the writers, so I’m hesitantly confident that whatever they come up with won’t suck. However, it IS a little odd, considering that for all the previous seasons we’ve been subtly reminded of workplace relationships gone wrong or the reason they’re a bad idea in the first place. Granted, the only “relationship gone wrong” that we’ve actually seen was Angela and Hodgins, and even they have managed to come to a working friendship (with dare I hope, a possibility of getting back together before it’s all said and done…) Then there’s Cam and Booth - a relationship that was pre-Bones and not technically work-related, but still…. Throughout the varying seasons it seems that the message comes across that Booth and Bones are destined to have an unrequited love relationship. I mentioned in an earlier post about how Booth told Bones that there are some people you just don’t sleep with.

I was watching another re-run just today and saw the same message again. In The Man in the Cell, after Booth pressured Cam to skip protocol and open a skull without doing the proper legwork, she ended up inhaling some toxin and almost died. Booth blamed himself for what happened (and almost happened) to Cam, and here’s the resulting conversation he had with Bones about it:

Booth: you know what happened to Cam happened because we had a personal relationship.
Bones: had?
Booth: yeah. People who work in high risk situations they can’t be involved romantically because it leads to things like what happened.
Bones: high risk situations?
Booth: every single day it’s with us. There’s this line, and we can’t cross it. You know what I’m saying?
Bones: yes. I understand.

I just can’t help but wonder how things would change if Booth and Bones truly get together. Remember how Bones reacted when Booth was kidnapped by the Gravedigger? When they figured out who the Gravedigger was and had them in custody, when they had figured out where Booth was and were about to rescue him, remember what Bones did? She picked up a briefcase and slammed it across the Gravedigger’s head. Not that I can say I’d have done it differently or that she shouldn’t have done it, but if THAT is the reaction she has for someone whom she ISN’T in a relationship with (technically), what would she do if/when they are?

Wasn’t that a great episode though - as good as the one where Bones was buried alive in the car with Hodgins and Booth’s reaction when he spotted the puff of dirt from the airbag explosion they created to signal their location… I may be skeptical about the fallout, but I’m excited. I can’t wait to see them together!

Two more weeks until the next new episode of Bones! March 12th is the next new episode - titled Bones that Foam - and it should be interesting… (not that that’s unusual or anything new…) Picture this: it’s your wedding day and you’re bungee jumping off a bridge, only to discover a body at the bottom of the gorge. Not exactly what you might choose for a wedding-day celebration, but definitely an unforgettable experience! (Wonder if they’re going to jump in their wedding attire… can’t imagine a bridal gown and train would be very convenient for bungee jumping…)

Back at the lab, the bones start to “ooze” an unknown substance that results in a lock-down at the lab (we’ve had several of those over the years…) and the bones begin to disintegrate. With only a short time to determine the why and how of the victim’s death, the team is racing against the clock to crack this case.

Let’s see, the last few times I remember that the lab and the squints have been on lock-down, once it was Christmas, we saw TJ Thyne in a towel, met Zack’s whole family, met Angela’s dad from ZZ Top, got to see the group exchange gifts, and the other time, Cam almost died after inhaling something that made her foam at the mouth. Hmm, not bad for the lock-down episodes! Did I miss any? I’m looking forward to another lock-down! I just hope Booth gets stuck in with everyone else - what fun would it be for him to be left out?

Okay, watching a rerun the other day, “The Truth in the Lye” and I couldn’t help but find this a little ironic. During the episode, Booth hooks up with his ex and although Bones doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal, Booth realizes it was a mistake. Throughout the episode, Bones tries to convince him that it’s normal for him to want/need sex and that if he and his ex are sexually compatible and agree on it, that their occasional trysts are fine. Finally, Booth addresses the issue:

Booth: You know what Bones, it might be all anthropology to you, but there are certain people that you just can’t sleep with. I mean you can pretend that it’s just sex you can lie to yourself and you can say that it’s all good, but there are just too many strings, too much at stake. Too much to lose.
Bones: Yeah, I can see that.

Now, on that note, consider the upcoming fulfillment of our long-awaited dream of Booth and Bones finally getting together themselves - in a sexual way that is. While we’ve finally been told that it is indeed coming (this season even), I can’t help but wonder what kind of “strings” are going to be attached and what kind of backlash we can expect. It’s never as uncomplicated as we’d like it to be, and even Bones with her strictly analytical way of looking at things - sex included - can get away from the fact that a physical relationship doesn’t always mix well with a working relationship…