The episode of Bones that paves the way for a potential spin-off of the fun Fox hit is on hold until early next year, according to EW. The catch-all “creative reasons” are to blame.

Fox did not comment on the cause of the schedule change, but Bones creator Hart Hanson did type a telling (and humorous) tweet last week that basically took responsibility.

“I received studio notes on the Bones spinoff idea. They want it to be better. Unreasonable taskmasters. Impossible dreamers. Neo-platonists,” he wrote, self-depricatingly.

Looks like we won't be meeting Booth's new counterpart quite yet.

The episode will introduce a tracker, Walter Sherman, the central figure in The Locator novels by Richard Greener. In the books, Sherman is a Vietnam veteran, but in the Bones universe, he will be a former military policeman who served in Iraq with Booth.

Just as Booth didn’t originally get along with socially-challenged Brennan, he and Sherman - who suffered brain damage overseas that left him “skeptical of every statement” - will butt heads. Brennan, on the other hand, will be fascinated by him.

The casting of Sherman is underway. Any thoughts on who should play him, and whether the idea of a Bones spinoff is a good idea in general? Sound off with your comments!

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.