Is it intentional that the bodies and processes on the show are getting grosser?
[Laughs]No one has told me that's intentional. At the same time, I think [producers] are constantly trying to think of new conditions for the bodies to be in. Unfortunately that leads to grosser things, because, you know, we've done over 80 episodes, and each time it has to be fresh and new. So there might be some intentional intensifying ... but at the same time, I think they really are trying to make it a new body every time, and a new way of dying every time, and a new state of decomposition every time. And that just leads to grosser and grosser corpses.



Is there a death on the show that stands out to you as being particularly grisly?
There was an episode recently about this bride who was totally crushed. It was pretty disgusting. That's the recent one that comes to mind that's kind of horribly disgusting. Because it's just this smashed face. She's run over and smashed flat. A car ran over her and then crushed her head. That's horrible.

Have you done research in being a forensic pathologist?
I'm a forensic anthropologist, just to be clear ... I mean, my character is! I'm used to saying "I" for my character; for my interviews I have to say "she." But, yes, I have. I bought several books when I started, and I got as far as I could without ... I mean these people have PHDs; you spend a long time in school. So I'm no expert, I don't claim to be. I do know most of the bones, but there's a lot of bones in the wrists and ankles. I know where they are in general, but they're so little, and they all look the same ...

Bones and Booth are finally getting together. Was filming the sex scene easier and more comfortable since you two know each other, or did that make it more awkward?
Both, I'd say. Its one of those things where, you know, when you are working with somebody for four years, it's kind of uncomfortable to have to kiss them and be in bed with them. But at the same time, I'm very comfortable with David [Boreanaz], I can't think of anyone that I'm more comfortable with on a certain level. So it was kind of a weird combination, like "oh, this is comfortable to be near him but to kiss him is really weird." But to hug him or something [is fine] ... it sounds weird. I'm not uncomfortable physically with him except for the kissing. You know, I trust him very much, and I feel comfortable with him. We know each other very well ... it's kind of a combination of two extremes -- being very comfortable with somebody but having to do something that's uncomfortable with them.
Are you pro Bones and Booth getting together?
I am pro Bones and Booth getting together. And I think [series creator] Hart Hanson has a very ingenious way of getting the two characters together without ruining the show, which happens so many times. It doesn't kill the sexual tension. You'll see, there's some twists and turns in the episode. So the dynamic has definitely changed for our characters next season, but it's still intense, and I think that the sexual tension will still be there.

In a recent episode, you sang. You have a beautiful voice -- would you consider pursuing a side career in music like your sister, Zooey, has?
I'm no musician, I don't think so. You know what? Never say never, I guess. But I don't see that happening.

Did you two sing a lot growing up?
Yeah, we did. We would put on musicals for our family and whoever was around, or our friends that would be willing to torture themselves. We had a series of musicals that we would put on. We would sing our songs and all that. So, yeah, we absolutely grew up singing. And we have extended family who are musical. But I wasn't as passionate about it as Zooey; she also started younger. We had a piano in the house when I was 7, and she started being able to play things by ear on the piano without any lessons when she was 4 ... so she kind of has an innate musical talent.

Will she ever show up as a guest star?
Yeah, we've been trying to do that. She said she could do it, and then she couldn't do it. We've just been trying to work it out. She wants to work it out too. We're trying to figure it out. She's just a very busy person, and it's hard to book her; we'd have to write it in advance and she's only available in a certain window ... it's hard. So hopefully, eventually she will come on the show.

Can you explain Blossom, Mayim Bialik's, recent very tiny guest spot?
I don't know how that came about. Somebody said, "Is Mayim Bialik coming on the show?" And I said, "I don't know anything about that." And then, of course, one day the next week I saw her name on the call sheet. I thought she did a very good job. I had heard she was away from acting for a while -- she's quite a smart girl -- and she was getting back in acting, and maybe she was trying to do something to kind of warm up into the whole thing.

We thought she could be the killer ...
And that's maybe why they did that too. Because so many times if you see somebody well known, you're going to be like, "oh, that person's the killer." Or "that person's going to play a big part in this." So that might have been an intentional [red herring].

Are there other fun guest stars coming up this season?
The last episode is really for fans. It's not for people who haven't watched the show before. If you haven't watched the show, I probably suggest waiting until next season or getting the DVDs or something. Because it kind of is a reward -- we really want it to be for our loyal fans who have been amazing and have followed us from every different time slot you can imagine, sometimes several times a week ... I mean, I think almost every single person in the [season] finale has been on the show before. So, Zack [played by Eric Millegan] is returning, [Bones'] father, [played by] Ryan O'Neal is returning ... Caroline Julian [played by Patricia Belcher], the assistant district attorney ...

And the 'Family Guy' crossover, is that also part of the finale?

That is in the second-to-last episode ... Basically, Booth starts to hallucinate things. Because [Bones asks him] to be the father of [her] child. So he hallucinates Stewey as his baby when he goes to donate his sperm at the sperm bank. It's really interesting, and I think it makes a lot of sense in the episode. It seems crazy, but I think it's a great idea.

Any thought of you guys appearing on 'Family Guy'?
I don't know, no one's asked, but I'd love to. It's a funny show.