The procedural TV show Bones has been on the air for 11 years on the network Fox. On Wednesday, November 25, executive producer Barry Josephson filed a lawsuit against the Fox network and affiliated companies over the network’s accounting for the series. Now, the two lead actors of the show, David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, have filed a similar lawsuit alongside executive producer Kathy Reichs. Boreanaz, Deschanel and Reichs have demanded a jury trial in this matter.
The primetime drama first aired in 2005 on Fox. The show is based on Kathy Reichs’ popular books about the forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. On the show, Brennan is portrayed by Emily Deschanel, and David Boreanaz plays her partner Special Agent Seeley Booth. The show quickly became a favourite amongst viewers because of the intriguing crimes and the magical chemistry between the two leading actors. Bones is also the longest running drama ever produced and broadcasted by Fox. According to 20th Century Fox Television Bones as earned over 1.1 billion dollars in revenues on the 20th Century Fox TV side alone.
In the lawsuit it is stated that Boreanaz, Deschanel and Reichs are suing the Fox network and affiliated companies over eight causes:
- Breach of contract
- Breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
- Fraudulent inducement
- Fraudulent concealment
- Inducing breach of contract
- Intentional interference with contract
- Accounting
- Declaratory relief
Executive producer Kathy Reichs was promised a five percent share of profits while Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz were each promised a three percent share. However, the three saw no profits for years, despite the fact that Bones was a huge success. When they did not receive anything in profits they exercised audit rights and discovered that they were being cheated of more than $100 million in gross revenues.
There have been speculations for years about the show possibly ending. Boreanaz has criticized Fox on Twitter numerous times for not promoting Bones enough despite the fact that it is one of the most popular shows on the network. Last season was almost the last as well because the network needed to re-negotiate the contracts for Boreanaz and Deschanel, who were only signed on through Season 10. Boreanaz also told E! That this season could be the last for Bones. He stated:
“For me, personally, I think it’s time. I think that 11 seasons is great. I mean, one season is great! I don’t really count it as seasons but what we’ve given to the show and what we can do, for me it’s great to see the show come to an end and do it the way we want to do it.”
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