20th Television
At the core of the popular television series “Bones” were the characters Dr. Temperance Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth, portrayed by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanez respectively. However, a crucial element of the show was the group of scientists, termed as “squints”, who were under the supervision of Brennan at the fictional Jeffersonian Institute Medico-Legal Lab. This group also included the “squinterns”, a set of interns at the institute who collaborated with Brennan on different cases. The significance of these supporting characters was such that the farewell to the “squinterns” in the season finale led to a tearful Emily Deschanel.
The term “squints” was first used by Agent Booth to denote Brennan and her team in the inaugural episode of the series in 2005. This term became a staple throughout the 12-season tenure of the show, right till its conclusion in 2017. Boreanez elucidated this as:
“Before the pilot, I hadn’t heard of the term […] The scientists are always engrossed, squinting at their documents. Whether they are examining a decomposed body or theorizing in their minds, they are squinting […] It’s a genuine term, they use it.”
However, the origin of this term is a mystery. Who uses it? Boreanez was correct in saying that “squints” is a genuine term, as it originated from a real-life detective who provided his expertise to “Bones.”
The origin of Bones’ squints
20th Television
Despite its dark themes, “Bones” maintained a light-hearted atmosphere throughout its run. Being a police procedural drama centered on forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology, and the intricacies of the FBI, the writers often had to resort to specialized language to portray the competence of Seeley Booth, Temperance Brennan, and her team of “squints”. Fortunately, the show had the expertise of real-life anthropologist Katherine Joan Reichs, the author of the 23 “Temperance Brennan” novels that inspired “Bones.”
Dr. Reichs, still certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, also served as a producer for the series, penning several episodes, and even making a cameo as a professor in the season 2 episode “Judas on a Pole.” However, while Reichs was indispensable for the anthropology aspect, the “Bones” writers still required the expertise of law enforcement. In “Bones: The Official Companion Book,” executive producer Barry Josephson recollected how series creator Hart Hanson conducted preliminary research for the show. This led to the discovery of the term “squints.” Josephson explained:
“Apart from the information from Kathy [Joan Reichs], Hart collaborated with a police detective named Mike Grasso, and it was Mike who referred to the scientists as squints. So it became a unique term for us: the squints. Who are the squints? And how do we identify them as scientists? Always with a hint of humor about the work.”
Mike Grasso, a former LAPD detective, served as the police technical advisor for “Bones” during its run. The term “squints” is certainly one of his most significant contributions.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
