'Bones': Final season and what helps a show air for so long?
-
Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Fox鈥檚 鈥淏ones,鈥� one of the longest-running fictional programs on TV right now, will end after airing a short season from 2016 to 2017.
The series stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz as a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent, respectively, who work together to solve crimes. The show co-stars T.J. Thyne, Michaela Conlin, and Eric Millegan.
The final season will consist of 12 episodes and will be the program's twelfth.
Creator Hart Hanson referenced the show鈥檚 longevity in discussing the end of the show. 鈥淚t鈥檚 comforting to know the world can count on at least one dependable beacon of stability,鈥� . 鈥淎pparently, that beacon is聽鈥楤ones.鈥� 鈥�
In the current TV industry, critically acclaimed cable and streaming shows in particular can run for several seasons 鈥� AMC鈥檚 鈥淢ad Men,鈥� for example, ran for seven 鈥� but often run for fewer episodes than a traditional network show. Therefore, 鈥淢ad鈥� aired 92 episodes to the more than 200 already created by those behind 鈥淏ones鈥� (and the show isn鈥檛 over yet.)聽
While 鈥淏ones鈥� will now end, there are a couple of other TV shows on network television like the CW鈥檚 鈥淪upernatural鈥� and ABC鈥檚 鈥淕rey鈥檚 Anatomy鈥� that have entered double-digit seasons and show no sign of slowing down. (鈥淪upernatural鈥� is currently airing its eleventh and 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� is airing its twelfth.) How have these shows stayed on the air for so long?聽
One aspect can be the obvious one of ratings. Despite its long amount of time on the air and the competition, wrote of 鈥淏ones鈥� in 2014, 鈥淭he show鈥� has been pulling decent numbers 鈥� a rare bright spot during a rough fall for the network.鈥�
As ratings continue to be unpredictable on network TV 鈥� and those behind network TV are still figuring out what defines a success in the days of scattered TV viewing 鈥� a network like Fox most likely isn鈥檛 turning down a show that is drawing viewers.
Another path to longevity can be that exemplified by 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥�: becoming part of what almost could be viewed as a franchise. 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� was created by Shonda Rhimes, who created or executive-produces the shows on ABC鈥檚 successful 鈥淭GIT鈥� lineup, including 鈥淪candal鈥� and 鈥淗ow to Get Away with Murder.鈥� While it鈥檚 certainly possible that 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� could continue to get good ratings by itself, being presented as part of this successful package no doubt helps.聽
鈥淭he outgoing chief [Paul Lee of ABC] can be credited with recognizing the power of the prolific producer's brand,鈥� wrote of Rhimes. 鈥淚t was he who stood on stage at the 2014 upfront, revealing plans to introduce a Shondaland block 鈥� aptly titled TGIT 鈥� on Thursday nights. The shrewd decision to eventize the night around the network's most consistent showrunner was made that much more successful by the social media power of Rhimes and her heavily engaged talent鈥� 鈥楪rey鈥檚鈥� [is] still a top 10 show in its 12th season.鈥澛�
Meanwhile, the CW show 鈥淪upernatural鈥� has one aspect of its success that is no doubt shared by the other shows as well: a large, devoted fan base. 鈥淚ts Nielsen ratings are, frankly, not that great,鈥� wrote of the program in 2014. 鈥淵et 鈥楽upernatural鈥� has lasted for nine seasons (so far), partly because its fan base makes up in engagement what it lacks in size鈥� Fans appreciate the show's complicated plotting, its rich world of details and its unanswered questions.鈥�
That fan base may be why those at the CW keep renewing the show.
Fox co-CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman referenced "Bones" fans as well in discussing the end of the show, , "'Bones'聽has been part of the fabric of our network and studio for over a decade, and during that time it has attracted one of the most devoted fan bases we鈥檝e ever seen."
