No bones about it David Boreanaz stands out in ‘SEAL Team’

By Kyla Brewer TV Media

According to the old saying, you can’t keep a good man down, and David Boreanaz (“Bones”) seems to be one of a few good men on television these days. The actor has risen to fame, thanks to his roles as rugged, brawny types, and he’s back as the toughest of the tough: a Navy SEAL.

Boreanaz stars as Jason Hayes, the leader of an elite unit of Tier One Navy SEALs who take on extremely dangerous missions all over the world in “SEAL Team,” airing Wednesday, Oct. 11, on CBS. With more than a dozen deployments under his belt, Hayes is nothing if not respected among his peers, but his personal life has suffered as a result of his commitment to his work. The ensemble drama follows Hayes, his colleagues and their loved ones as they struggle with the challenges of military life.

In a promo for the series, Boreanaz talked about why the new action drama is so appealing.

“What’s really interesting about this show is that it allows the audience to see what goes on behind these ops, what goes on in these guys’ normal lives,” he said.

Executive producer Benjamin Cavell (“Justified”) also explained that real veterans of such Navy SEAL units have given them insight into their lives, while his fellow executive producer and showrunner Ed Redlich (“Unforgettable”) called such soldiers the “greatest heroes we have.”

“SEAL Team” also co-stars Neil Brown Jr. (“The Walking Dead”) as Ray, Hayes’ right-hand man and the most experienced operator on the team. As a result of years of working together, Ray and Hayes share an effortless rapport. “CSI: NY” alum A.J. Buckley returns to CBS as Sonny in “SEAL Team.” Although he is an exceptional and loyal soldier now, Sonny has a checkered past and still battles self-destructive tendencies. The cast also includes Max Thieriot (“Bates Motel”) as multilingual second-generation SEAL Clay Spenser, who’s eagerly undergoing further training in the hopes of joining the Tier One team.

Jessica Paré (“Mad Men”) stars as CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who keeps the team on its toes as she roots out evil in the hopes of taking down terrorists. Toni Trucks (“Franklin & Bash”) serves as the team’s “Q” as Davis, a no-nonsense logistics officer responsible for getting the SEALs the necessary gear for each mission. Other notables appearing in the show’s rookie season include Michaela McManus (“Aquarius”) as Alana Hayes, Parisa Fakhri (“Dwelling”) as Naima, Judd Lormand (“The Hunger Games,” 2012) as Lt. Cmdr.

Eric Blackburn and Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” 2014) as Big Chief.

The team’s unwavering patriotism and dedication to their clandestine missions keep citizens safe, often at the cost of their personal lives.

Hayes leads the tight-knit crew into the mouth of danger and strives to get everyone home to their families safely. It’s a fitting role for Boreanaz, who’s led several prime-time series to success in the past 20 years. After paying his dues as a production assistant and extra, the actor got his big break when he was cast as Angel in the cult hit

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in 1997. He appeared as the cursed vampire throughout the series, and earned his own spinoff, “Angel,” which premiered in 1999 and ran until 2004.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Boreanaz was cast in another major network series within a year, taking on the leading role of Seeley Booth in Fox’s “Bones” opposite Emily Deschanel (“Rose Red”) in 2005. The role earned him nominations for both a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama Actor and a Teen Choice Award in the Choice TV Actor: Drama category. Believe it or not, Boreanaz wasn’t originally tapped for the role of Hayes, though it seems tailor made for him. He stepped in after original star Jim Caviezel (“Person of Interest”) parted ways with CBS over creative differences. As “Bones” wound down, “SEAL Team” producers snatched up Boreanaz, who was on this pilot season’s “hot list” of leading men — not surprising given his ability to portray both strength and vulnerability. His portrayal of Hayes requires both as he not only tackles dangerous clandestine missions, but also deals with the mental and emotional toll of his chosen line of work, which has left him with PTSD.

The premise has promise and the show has landed on many critics’ “must watch” lists along with other new military dramas such as NBC’s “The Brave,” starring Mike Vogel (“Cloverfield,” 2008) and Anne Heche (“Six Days Seven Nights,” 1998), and CW’s “Valor,” starring Christina Ochoa (“Animal Kingdom”). It remains to be seen whether Boreanaz will have the Midas touch for his latest series, but in the meantime, millions of his “Angel” and “Bones” fans will be watching. Check out all of the riveting action in a new episode of “SEAL Team,” airing Wednesday, Oct. 11, on CBS.