'Instinct' Creator Apologizes for Copying 'Bones' Episode Storyline
Well, CBS's new crime show "Instinct" is getting attention out of the gate, but not for a great reason.
Viewers noticed that a recent episode of "Instinct" closely followed a 2009 episode of "Bones." "Instinct" creator Michael Rauch said he'd look into the "very distressing and 100% unintentional" situation.
As Entertainment Weekly explained, both the "Bones" and "Instinct" episodes had storylines following the murder of a male Amish teen who goes off to the big city and "secretly plays piano, which the detectives discover through an assembly of objects in their childhood bedroom." There were other differences in the episodes, but that common set-up was specific enough to be suspicious.
When fans called out the similarities on Twitter, show creator Rauch responded, tagging "Bones" creator Hart Hanson:
Yeah, heard about this. Very distressing and 100% unintentional. Looking into it and how to make sure it doesn't happen again. And of course apologies to Bones (and their fans). Thanks for the heads up. @HartHansonhttps://t.co/1ZkgOLQfwc
— Michael Rauch (@Michael_Rauch) April 2, 2018
It's possible someone did watch that "Bones" episode nine years ago and the Amish teen/piano idea lodged itself in his/her brain, only to emerge in the "Instinct" writers room without memory of its origin.
Still.
It's just one more example of Hollywood running out of ideas. This is far from the first case of one show copying another, especially after decades of similar crime procedural storylines. But no wonder we have so many reboots and revivals lately -- if you're going to rip off a past show, it's safest to let it be your own.
Or, as Deadline put it:
"It seems to be that Rauch is genuine about being unaware. But a lesson should be learned here: next time you write about a murdered Amish teen who has random objects resembling piano keys in his childhood bedroom, make sure it is a story that hasn't been told before."
"Instinct" Season 1, starring Alan Cumming and Bojana Novakovic, airs Sundays on CBS.
Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.