Bones Gets A Grandpa

[Brian Damage]

“Goodnight, John Boy." "Goodnight, Mary Ellen." And Goodnight Seeley Booth?

After an exhaustive search (and months of me teasing this character in my column), Fox’s Bones has finally cast a grandfather (or ‘Pops’) for David Boreanaz’s Seeley Booth. Hank Booth, a former army EMT, will be played by a Walton… specifically Ralph Waite, who played patriarch John Walton on The Waltons from 1972-81. Ralph, now 81, was cast after James Garner (Maverick, Rockford Files), also 81, proved too ill to take on the role.

“This is an important role and when Ralph’s name came up we were thrilled,” says executive producer Stephen Nathan. “It’s remarkable to see someone at that age so vital.”

Sounds like Ralph will need to be spry, considering his character will insist on accompanying his grandson out into the field to investigate “The Foot in the Foreclosure” on the Nov. 19 episode. “This is a really good murder,” promises Nathan. “All that’s left is ash and one foot, and Hank can’t help but tag along.”

The episode kicks off with Hank, recovering from a bypass, leaving a nursing home after getting into physical altercations with his male nurses. “He walks out and comes to live with Booth, whom he raised,” says Nathan. “They’ll try to rekindle the life they had for so many years, but you can never quite reclaim the past.”

We will also learn the reasons behind Booth’s abusive father abandoning his son at age 11, which David hopes will lead an NYPD Blue vet out of retirement. “I want Dennis Franz to play my dad,” David tells me. “He'd be perfect for Booth's dad. I would love to make this happen."

Sorry, David. No chance. I called up the multiple Emmy winner, now a 64-year-old grandpa who divides his time between Ojai, California and Idaho with his beloved wife, Joanie. While he wouldn’t rule out a really juicy role, Dennis tells me he worked hard for many years to enjoy his current life of leisure and wouldn’t change a thing. Adds his agent, Judith Moss: “Dennis’ first role after NYPD Blue will not be an episodic television guest role.” Instead, she is trying to persuade him to come out of retirement for a feature film in 2010.

Nathan says Bones still plans to cast Booth’s father at a later date, adding, “You can’t introduce too many relatives at once."

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/kecks...dpa-2614.html#

[catlover79]

I just saw this episode!! Mr. Waite was indeed a hoot in this episode - hopefully he'll be back to do more. It was so funny because both my parents said when he came on, "It's the Waltons dad!"

[Marvo301]

It's great to see Ralph Waite back on television!