by Abbie Bernstein

Fox has just renewed BONES for an eighth season. The series, now on Monday nights at 8 PM, was developed by Hart Hanson from Kathy Reichs’ novels about a forensic anthropologist who uses her skills to solve homicide cases. On the show, Dr. Temperance Brennan, played by Emily Deschanel, teamed up with FBI agent Seeley Booth, played by David Boreanaz, to find and catch murderers.

Over time, the partnership became a will-they/won’t-they romantic relationship, which became a yes-they-do when Brennan became pregnant by Booth at the end of last season. In the episode “The Prisoner in the Pipe,” their daughter was born.

But Brennan and Booth aren’t the only couple on the show to have an up and down relationship. TJ Thyne plays Dr. Jack Hodgins, forensics geek, conspiracy theorist, secret millionaire, who has been in love with free-spirited lab artist Angela Montenegro, played by Michaela Conlin, for most of the series. Jack and Angela got married in Season Five and had their little boy Michael at the end of the following season.

Thyne, born Thomas Joseph Thyne in Boston, Massachusetts, was Stu Lou Who in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. Among his many other credits, he had recurring roles on WALKER, TEXAS RANGER and HUFF, and on ANGEL (Thyne played a smarmy lawyer), which introduced him to Boreanaz pre-BONES.

Obviously, Thyne has now played Jack Hodgins longer than any other role he’s ever had. At a party thrown by Fox for the Television Critics Association, Thyne talks with us about his ongoing experience with the character and the series.