The seven episodes of “Bones” that launch next Monday won’t be the last for the quirky Fox drama.
The network announced Thursday it has been renewed for an eighth season.
“Bones” has taken an erratic scheduling path this season due to the pregnancy of star Emily Deschanel — a circumstance written into the storyline.
Fox has also promoted the new episodes as “one mother of a season,” and Monday’s episode is expected to reinforce that promise.
Longer term, the network is hoping “Bones” can settle into its new slot on Mondays, where the long-running “House” is ending in May.
How “Bones” performs there could help determine how Fox will reshuffle its lineup for next season. While its fall and spring anchors “X Factor” and “American Idol” are solid and its Sunday night animation bloc does well, many of its dramas and comedies are in flux.
It is considered likely that the dramas “Alcatraz” and “Fringe” will be canceled, though “Fringe” has been pulled back from the brink before.
The sitcom “Breaking In” is likely to be canceled again this year, joining the already canceled “I Hate My Teenage Daughter.”
The sitcom “Raising Hope” has also slipped in popularity this year, though its Tuesday night companion, “New Girl,” is considered a hit.
“Glee” will be back, and Kiefer Sutherland’s new “Touch” has done well enough in first shows to be a candidate for renewal.
