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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that since this show is about a forensic anthropologist, there are scenes featuring skeletons, and bone fragments are numerous. Light sexual discussions take place both jokingly and seriously. A murdered pregnant young woman's corpse is discovered in the pilot episode. The story intimates that she was the victim of foul play by a U.S. Senator. Scenes feature fights, guns at a shooting range, and the death of a murder suspect.

Families who watch together will find many ways to discuss the show. Suggested topics include gender politics in the workplace, the effects of work on character's personal lives, and crime-solving strategies. Is Bones (Emily Deschanel) given proper respect by her FBI contacts? Is the potential for romance between Bones and Booth appropriate, given that they work together? Should Bone's career in science automatically exclude her from showing any kind of emotion?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: David Gurney

Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is a hotshot anthropologist who is called upon by the FBI to help analyze skeletal fragments of unidentified corpses. Due to bad experiences in the past while aiding Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), Bones has mixed emotions about her service to the FBI. When Booth promises her a bigger role in the investigation, she agrees to help out on the new case. Aided by a team of scientists at the Jeffersonian medico-legal lab and their innovative technology, she is able to determine the identity of a murder victim by analyzing skeletal fragments. After some initial setbacks, she and Booth solve the case, eventually catching the person responsible for the murder.

BONES tries hard to combine dark comedy and depends too heavily on the world of criminal investigation, which takes the suspense out of hunting for a killer. The show, with a slightly different formula, is an obvious attempt at recreating the success of CSI. Unfortunately, its formula just doesn't work. The series' premiere features a character that refers to skeletal remains as "crispy critters," a laugh-out-loud stalker, and a peer scientist who flashes her undergarments at an airport to get information on the case. These "comedic" situations accompanied by the transparent sexual tension between Bones and Booth, hamper any kind of suspense buildup. Despite the show's shortcomings, Bones, with House as a lead-in combined with a built in audience of ever faithful Buffy and Angel fans, will most likely make this show a ratings winner.

Due to the subject matter, it is not appropriate for children, or anyone who is squeamish about skeletons and bones.

Those interested in the show may also want to try Monk and the medical comedy-drama-mystery House.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Flashing of lingerie, discussions of sex.
Violence Hand-to-hand combat, wrestling, close range shooting.
Language Mild expletives (S.O.B., ass).
Message
	Social Behavior Bones is a strong, intelligent, and independent woman.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Celebratory alcohol drinking.

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