When David Boreanaz signed on for Bones he was still
trying to avoid drooling fans who couldn't get past the character
he played on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Emily
Deschanel, meanwhile, was starring in hit films such as Cold
Mountain and Glory Road. But the two found each
other, and five years and countless dead bodies later the their
chemistry is as strong as it was on day one. Now in its fifth
season, it's clear that their enthusiasm for the show and for each
other is what makes the show a hit.
David, the great chemistry between you and Emily seems
like it has been part of the show from the very first episode. Was
it really there from day one, or is it something that you play off
- more and more - as the series develops?
DAVID: Well, it definitely developed from the moment the two
of us met. I mean, look at us; this is the best twosome in
television (laughs). I think as far as the relationships of the
characters, when I walked into the room and we were testing her
role, there were two other girls. There was this one girl who we
all pretty much thought was the part, but when Emily and I worked
the scene, there was definitely some magic that happened in the
room. She is not only someone I work with but she has become part
of my family that I can look at and say, 'I enjoy the moments I
[have] had with her because they lead to me becoming a better
person.' And, in doing so, I learn about her, I learn about myself
and, hence, we get stronger chemistry. I think that chemistry has
developed in the last four seasons in a very strong way.
There are so many shows that might be well-written but if that
chemistry isn't there between the two stars, it just doesn't
work.
EMILY: I was going to say you can have writing that
showcases the chemistry that David and I work on, and you can have
writing that doesn't showcase it, so writing definitely plays a
part. I wouldn't say that the chemistry is just from or between the
actors. But I think it's important that David and I have a good
relationship - off camera - in order for us to have that
relationship and chemistry on camera. So that's important to us as
well as working on having that chemistry and working the scenes to
always make things better.
Can you ever have good chemistry and not like the other
actor you're working with?
DAVID: Well, it depends. I think you look at shows in the
past that probably had great chemistry and they didn't really have
a great relationship.
Can you name some of those?
DAVID: (Laughs) Well maybe, maybe not.
How would you best describe your professional
relationship with Emily?
DAVID: I think that what we do for each other is being there, and
if I'm having a bad day or if she's having a bad day, we can talk
about it and get through it and use it in our work. Because it
works for us, it works for us by helping motivate the scene and
push the scene along. It also helps us find out something new about
each other, so we do respect those moments.
All last season, the two of you teased us that the
characters were going to get together, and we got to the finale and
it wasn't real. So is there going to be any sparks flying before
the end of this season between Booth and Brennan?
EMILY: We did end up in bed together, and it was in our minds and
that changes our relationship, and you saw that going into season
five. That changes our relationship for good. Basically, he wakes
up and you don't know whether it was his coma or my books or both.
The fact that it was in our minds does, in fact, change the
relationship and you will see it change our relationship even more
than just being in our minds.
Emily, can you talk a little about your character and
her naiveté with the outside world? Are there times you're
surprised at what she does or doesn't know? How do you keep up that
consistency?
EMILY: That's one thing that I love about my character. She has no
idea who Britney Spears is or of anything pop culture related at
all. Which I love, because it's like she filled her brain with
entirely useful information that she uses in her day-to-day life
and why would she fill it with anything frivolous like Britney
Spears. So, I love that about her and at the same time I love the
fact that characters have contradictions. Brennan did know who
Stewie was from Family Guy. So we all have people in our
lives that surprise us, and I think that makes it so human.
What extra responsibilities have come with the added
title of producer for the both of you?
DAVID: Taking the leadership on as a producer is keeping the boat
together creatively and also understanding the ins and outs of
where we are at financially with the show, where we stand
budget-wise with the show, what we can and can't do, or how many
days we can go out or how many day we can't go out. What do we need
to sacrifice in the front end as well as the back end? I think
certain things like that, you become more aware of when you take
them on and you add to the conversation with it. And that's where
it starts and that's where you develop as a producer, understanding
what it means to be a producer.
EMILY: I think of it as an extension of the collaborative nature
of the show from the beginning, it just extends that collaboration.
It can be logistical, it can be big picture stuff, it can be story
stuff, character stuff, and it can be a lot of different
things.
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Make sure to catch the 100th episode of Bones Wednesday
April 7 at 8.00 et/pt on Global.
By: Earl Dittman