No "Bones" about it

Perhaps more than any other show, Fox’s “Bones” blends incredibly grisly murders with droll, even light-hearted, humor (“NCIS” would come close, except for its body count among regular characters). Tonight, we’re treated to not one, not two, but three glimpses of corpses eaten by animals – two still in the process.

More worrying for Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), however, is the fact that each of the murders is a copycat killing taken from the pages of her latest best-selling novel, which becomes even better-selling when news of the murders gets out.

Meanwhile, things aren’t so dire that her romance with Agent Sullivan (Eddie McClintock) can’t proceed apace while Booth (David Boreanaz) watches hangdog in the distance while encouraging her happiness. But don’t get too comfortable with a blissful Bones, however: Sullivan jumps the gun next week. (You didn’t really think things’d work out between Brennan and Sullivan, what with all the chemistry Deschanel and Boreanaz exude, did you?)

Apparently, the book drops like a stone from the best-seller lists after tonight’s murders are solved, because it gets nary a mention next week. Still, to assuage audiences of that disappointment, we’re allowed to wallow in the spectacle of a corpse who has had all of her bones removed, leaving just floppy skin behind. That case involves bizarre ancient Chinese rituals and skeletons and, for an added bonus, that showboating running style used in “Casino Royale.” And, of course, no end of glibness towards the remains of sadistically murdered humans. No bones about it - see? The attitude's infectious.

- “Bones:” 8 tonight; Fox (Channel 11).