Is this another tough break for Bones fans? The Hollywood Reporter says Bones executive producer Barry Josephson is suing the FOX network and the 20th Century Fox Television studio’s parent company, over alleged profit shenanigans. Per THR, “[Josephson] also says he was ‘fraudulently threatened’ by [Peter] Rice and other execs into accepting a lower license fee from Fox or else face immediate cancellation of the show.”
Previously, we reported that season 11B of the Bones TV show does not appear on the FOX schedule for the new year, except for a mention that a return date is still to be announced. While not a good sign for the series, that does not mean Bones is cancelled in the middle of season 11. Co-star David Boreanaz has said this 11th is the last season for him, and he does not plan to return to the show for season 12.
Here are more details from a Deadline exclusive:
Detailing “underreporting” of more than $19 million from license fees in Europe, “misclassifying” of more than $3.75 million in integration and product-placement deals and “misallocated revenue” from Fox-owned Hulu, among other focused examples, Josephson’s eight-claim lawsuit against 20th Century Fox Corporation, Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Entertainment Group also asserts that take-it-or-cancel-it threats from high-level Fox executives including now co-Fox CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden were used over the years to get Josephson — plus showrunner Hart Hansen, producer Kathleen Reichs and stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, who also serve as producers, and their WME and ICM agencies — to agree to a reduction in episodic license fees.
“Specifically, on or about May 13, 2009, then-Fox senior executives Newman and Walden telephoned Plaintiff regarding the Release,” today’s filing says, regarding a conversation with Josephson, Newman and Walden about the $2 million per-episode fee the execs said Fox Broadcasting Company would accept for the successful series’ upcoming seasons. This was coming off a vert successful Season 4 for Bones. “On this call, the Fox executives told Plaintiff that he would have to accept lower license fees for Seasons 5 and 6 of the Series or that it would be cancelled if he did not.”
You can read Deadline‘s PDF archive of the filing, here.
What do you think? Are you fan of the Bones TV show on FOX? Do you think this law suit makes it more likely the series will end after season 11? Do you expect season 11 B of Bones to be included in FOX spring 2016 lineup? Let us know how you feel.
The best of the best – had a hard time following all the change in days for the show – but that is the fault of Fox…. i love the show and will not like it if they leave us hanging with Hodgens paralized…. not at all……..come on people – there is so much garbage on TV – i watch a lot of Netflix……. i have loved every show and every character…. ***** star in my book.
Is this still on the air??
It is, Sam. It has been preempted a bit (for non-lawsuit reasons), but the first half of the Bones TV show season 11 returns to FOX on December 10th.
http://www.fox.com/bones
I think greed and other deadly sins permeate the entertainment industry as well as other industries in our country. It’s almost impossible to excise these threats to our well being because this type of behavior goes all the way to the top of many of our institutions . My opinion, thanks …
KAMRAMNA, thanks so much for being such a faithful reader and commenter. Thanks also, for sharing your opinion with us. When we ask, “What do you think?” we really do want to know.
I sure hope that Fox renews bones they deserve it its been an excellent series I look forward to watching it every Thursday and the producer of box of bones should sue Fox because it’s been the excellent series and the ratings are up there so please and I mean please renew it for another season don’t let the fans down just we know it and go through suing them so they do have to renew it for another season don’t just threaten them do it because bones is worth fighting for.
It’s been on long enough…Boreanaz wants to leave. Bone fans got to have their little perfect couple unlike other people. Goes for other shows like Castle, etc. At least you’ve gotten to see a pair you like and not have people hating on them like the ones I like.
D, I think you bring up a great point. I wasn’t a Bones fan. While I love Boreanaz, when I watched the series premiere, it was too graphic for me (I am a delicate, hot-house flower :), so I didn’t continue to watch.
Regardless, I get how actors must tire of a long-time role and want to move on to other things. If and when the show ends or is cancelled, I just hope Bones gives its fans a worthy closure. Thanks for reading and replying.
Thanks for reading and replying, Martin. I hope for your sake that Bones is renewed for a 12th season, or at least that the season 11 finale gives you and other fans closure to a good story.