BONES: Hart Hanson and Carla Kettner Tease What You Need to Know About Season 7 (Part 1)
August 25, 2011 by Marisa Roffman
While most shows will be returning to our televisions in the next month or so, BONES fans still have to wait two-plus months before they get resolution on that little Booth and Brennan baby cliffhanger. However, the delayed start date hasn’t stopped spoilers from leaking out about the upcoming year.
“I think there’s too much stuff out there [about the new season] already,” BONES creator Hart Hanson told me at the recent Fox TCA party. Still, he and BONES writer Carla Kettner were willing to tease a few things fans should know about season 7…
How many episodes will Emily Deschanel (Brennan) appear in?
With series star Deschanel’s pregnancy already worked into the series, will she still be appearing in every episode of the seventh season?
“Oh yeah,” Hanson confirmed. “That’s why it is a shortened season. We had alternate scenarios that we pitched the network where we could have four or six episodes without her and they think that if one those two [leads] isn’t there, it ain’t the BONES show.”
Get ready for a new serial killer!
Booth, Brennan and the Jeffersonian gang may have just nabbed the latest serial killer to give them trouble, but another one is already heading their way in season 7.
“You know about the serial killer, which we actually think is really cool,” Hanson teased. “And you’ve never heard me say that before. It’s like, ‘Ugh, serial killers.’ I don’t like them. We do them because the audience likes serial killers, but it always seems kind of crazy to me. But I love this serial killer. I think we have a new motive and a way the serial killer does things…someone who is as interested in technology and the view of the world as [Brennan] is. And kills in the strangest ways. I really like it. I keep trying to think who came up with the final iteration of this, because I kept going, ‘No, no, no, no.’ I think it was [executive producer] Stephen [Nathan] who finally said, ‘How about this?'”
Kettner — who wrote the sixth episode of the upcoming season where the new foe is introduced — was visibly excited while discussing the latest big bad the team is facing.
“Right now, for the episode where we introduce our new serial killer, I’m learning about quantum indeterminacy and Schrödinger’s cat,” she said. “[The show] makes it fun to explore new stuff.”
“Hopefully we’ll get the chance to explore the whole arc in season 7,” Kettner added. “If not, we’ll carry it over to [a potential] season 8. Depending on how many episodes we have [this year]. This guy I’m happy to carry it over two seasons because it’s the first character I’ve felt is potentially an intellectual match for Brennan. I think it will be cool.”
What the heck is going on with Booth and Brennan?
The fastest way to get the BONES writers to turn coy? Ask them about the status of the Booth and Brennan relationship.
“If I say almost anything, it tells you where Booth and Brennan are,” Hanson explained. “In terms of are they living together, are they raising the child together, are they having sex regularly, where are they?”
Kettner was able to tease a little bit more about this new level to the partners’ relationship. “They’re committed to parenting their child,” she noted. “They’re so comfortable with each other. I think it’s going to be giant fun.”
And while the duo have never quite managed to say “I love you” in the past, Hanson was mum on whether they’ve already exchanged those three little words in the time we missed during this latest time jump.
“I’m not going to tell you that,” he said. “Why would I tell you that? That’s what I want people to tune in to find out! [The time jump is] the nature of the beast. You go away for six months and your choices are either it’s the next day or it’s six months later. For us, it’s six months later. But I think nothing will be missed. I believe people will be — I’ve been wrong before — pleased by some of the images and what they see in the first episode.”
But if you were worried Brennan’s pregnancy might impact her professional partnership with Booth, Hanson has some words of comfort…kind of.
“I want you to tune in to find out [if they are still working together],” he said. “But let’s face it, of course they are. But I still don’t want to answer it but to say of course they are, the show is about those two people solving murders.”
Guest stars, guest stars and more guest stars!
While there may be fewer hours to the show this season, that doesn’t mean viewers won’t get to see some of their favorites return. In addition to the return of Tina Majorino’s Agent Shaw and Ralph Waite’s Hank, a few other familiar faces are scheduled to be popping back up.
“Ryan [O’Neal (Max)] is coming back, but we have to check availability,” Hanson said. “It will be in the first six [episodes]. And Cyndi [Lauper] is very busy touring, but we have availabilities and we will use her. Same with Billy Gibbons. He has a week available and he’s actually written into a script.”
But no, for those of you who have been asking, unfortunately there are no plans to for Zack to return any time soon.
Will there be another BONES-THE FINDER crossover?
Now that it’s been confirmed the BONES actors will be shooting less episodes than they do in a normal season, I wanted to know if viewers would get the chance to see any of the squints make their way over to Hanson’s new series, THE FINDER, to reunite with Walter Sherman. (As viewers may recall, Geoff Stults’ Walter was first introduced during “The Finder” episode of BONES’ sixth season.)
“I hope so,” Hanson said. “We have this nice gap when Emily is off having a baby where people won’t be working unless they get movies, so it would be awesome to do that [on THE FINDER]. We have one really solid idea for it and a few vague ideas. We’d like to do it.”
And while Hanson didn’t want to expand too much on the potential idea in case things don’t work out, he did tease that Walter’s past health issues could be a key for the next quasi-crossover.
“Walter has a brain ailment,” reminded Hanson. “And Cam has done studies and Sweets is somebody who tends to evaluate people to see if they are competent to work in federal agencies.”
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Make sure to check back soon for more teases from Hanson and Kettner!
What are you looking forward to in BONES season 7?
Related:
BONES: Hart Hanson Talks Season 6, The Original Fallout for ‘The Hole in the Heart,’ Comic-Con, THE FINDER and More
How Many Episodes Will BONES Have in Season 7?
BONES Adds a New Squintern
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Marisa, did you ask about Parker? He seems to be the one major character in the midst of his changing family who is never mentioned.
What about Jared? Will he be in any episodes? What’s happened to him?
I need it to be November NOW! I hate how good Hart is at keeping things under wraps. I mean, I know I’ll be glad that I wasn’t spoiled when I actually see the episodes, but for now, the wait seems unbearable!
Thank you, Marisa! Sounds like a packed season! I like the idea of having so many guest stars this season – I guess that’s the benefit of not having to fund 1/2 the season. I can’t wait for the show to return. 🙂
I just love this show. I cannot wait for November. Bones just makes me smile and all the cast and crew are great. Keep up the good work. I would love to see Robert Englund back and as well all the other great guest stars.I know it is too early but I would love to hear that a season 8 is confirmed.
Love this show and can’t wait until Nov. I would love to see Parker with Gramps and Jared. This is one of the few shows that seems to be as good as ever. Like NCIS. Great Characters and actors. So bummed that we won’t be getting a full season. Send the rest to Finders!
Get Gordon Gordon Wyatt back love Stephen Frey.
How about the season 8 promise since there was word that Fox have no reason to cancel one of their high rating shows?
Carla made my day by saying, “They’re so comfortable with each other. I think it’s going to be giant fun.” That’s what B & B need .. to be comfortable with each other. It might be a short season but I think it’s going to be an awesome one!
I was wondering if Sully will ever return and see what took place while he was gone? That would be funny to see what all happened haha! I can’t wait till Nov. 3rd
I think the shortened season is TERRIBLE. We are already waiting MONTHS for the new season, and then to end it just as its starting up again, TERRIBLE. We could have had episodes with Brennan over the phone or something, but nooo Fox wont do it. I think fans would prefer more episodes than less no matter what the scenario!
I love Bones, I have watched it since the beginning.. I am afraid they are making a mistake with just the 13 epsoides..You know how tv is and I am so afraid they will be cancel after this year..I cannot imagine a new season when Bones is not coming on…I just hope these people know what they are doing…Can hardly wait for Nov. 3…………………………….
I don’t know what audience they poll, but I’ve never really liked the serial killer episodes. I like it when it’s always a new type of forensic surprise each week. But, that’s just me it seems.
I hope that you introduce Booth’s father and all his issues. I also believe that Bones baby is a product of insemination. I think that is the way the writers will get around the whole sex thing and the fear of jumping the shark.
Love the show-even reruns. Sorry for the season delay. But have never cared for “serial killers”. Guess that is easier than a fresh case every week, but not looking forward to the next 13 episodes as much knowing a serial killer is part of it. They are boring whether on Bones, CSI or any otherwise excellent show.
@Jess:
Emily is pregnant. Have you not been paying attention to not only this article but other articles talking about the shortened season? BTW – BOnes had to make room for “X Factor”, too. I don’t like it either but I’ll deal with it.
@Elizabeth
The baby is NOT a product of insemination. Are you another one that hasn’t been paying attention??? Sure, we would have liked to see at least the beginning of them getting it on, but the way it was done shows more of what their relationship really is. It IS based on love, and not just a quick roll in the hay and she gets knocked up.
I’m glad Max will be in it and also Caroline and also Parker.
I hate serial killers!!!!!
What ever made HH think Bones was ready for mother hood???? She didn’t want children, now how all of a sudden can she change her whole perspective of life?? This whole change could have been done with some great episodes. This is not a reality show, and I see no reason for Emilys pregancy to be written into the show. I think in ruins the whole concept of the story line. I think it spells doom for the show. Will I continue to watch, yes! If HH can pull it off, great
When are they bring back Zack ??? They totally left it open for him to come back ??? It was a HUGH loss when he left the show….
Love this show. Can’t wait for November. I would also like to see Jack come back.
Sorry, ment to say Zack!
Romance and affection. Please, Hart! Please! Please! Please!
you all are nuts! Bones should go on fore ever.
I think the baby will be the kiss of death the show. The mystic of B&B was the , glue that held this show together. The ending of last season pretty much wiped all that out. And now a baby? I don’t see how it will work. This 7th season should have been concerned with solving crimes and the B&B relationship. When Hannah appeared on the scene Bones admitted her feelings for Booth. The ending of last season of last season pretty much robbed the fans of something we had been waiting for for years. That was bad enough but pregnant?? Give me a break. Don’t take me wrong, I love babies, I had 5. I just think the writers missed the boat on this one. Just because Emily was having I don’t understand why it was written into the show. This has been a well acted,well written crime solving show, not a reality show. I will watch, however, hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. I have loved this show from the gitgo.
I am so excited for Thursday Nov 3rd! The love storey between these characters has captured my heart and I hooked. Finally Booth gets his love.. And Brennan gets her knight in shining armor. The seasons prior have all been about this underlying love the two share, and finally we get to see them explore that.
<3 so happy for this relief!