David Boreanaz has directed eight episodes of "Bones" in the past five years, but his ninth time at the helm came with the added pressure of directing the show's 200th episode. He took it in stride and enjoyed the episode's premise - an homage to Alfred Hitchcock.
"I just had fun with it," Boreanaz told Headlines & Global News and other reporters at the "Bones" 200th Episode Celebration. "From a technical aspect, I wanted to keep it as pure as they used to shoot in 1954. So for me, it was enjoying these characters playing these roles with a different light back in that time."
The dreamlike episode takes place in 1950s Hollywood. Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) will transform into an LAPD detective who teams up with Seeley Booth's (Boreanaz) jewel thief when he's framed for the murder of a wealthy socialite.
The "Bones" cast and crew had total faith in Boreanaz as he moved behind the camera. Despite a bigger budget and the significant anniversary of the episode, executive producer John Collier would have preferred no one else to direct.
"He's a terrific director and he totally rises to the occasion," Collier told HNGN exclusively. "He's incredibly thoughtful, articulate and on top of things as a director. He comes extremely well prepared and is the same as an actor when directing."
His castmates Michael Grant Terry, who plays Wendell Bray, and Eugene Byrd, who plays Dr. Clark Edison, also commended Boreanaz for bringing some fun to the nerve-wracking set.
"What was really special about this episode was on our first day he sat down with us and said, 'You guys should be really proud of 200 episodes. This is really fun for us. Be proud of your work,'" Terry told HNGN. "It was such a nice way to start this big episode because it's nerve-wracking. David said he was nervous too, but this is so fun and congratulatory to us."
Byrd added, "Having David basically say, 'Just have fun, go and play, and we will find moments together,' I couldn't have asked for a better experience. And I didn't anticipate him being that good."
Deschanel also paid special tribute to her long-time co-star in a speech congratulating the entire show for its incredible run so far.
"I especially want to thank David. He's an incredible director that I love working with, besides being my favorite co-star, and such a wonderful friend and person that I have in my life," she said.
The 200th episode of "Bones" will air tonight, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. on Fox.
