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In the 30 years since the Fox broadcast network launched, it has been home to a number of high-profile dramas — a list that includes "Ally McBeal," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Firefly," "Fringe," "House," "Melrose Place," "The O.C.," "Party of Five," "Sliders," "21 Jump Street," "24" and "The X-Files."

But it's a much lower-profile show that holds the record as Fox's longest-running drama. And it's about to end.

After 12 seasons and 245 episodes, "Bones" signs off on Tuesday (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13). And there's no small degree of irony in that, because the show has been on the edge of cancellation more times than anyone can remember.

"We were on the bubble all the time," said "Bones" creator/executive producer Hart Hanson. "I felt like I was angry all the time."

And he had "huge fights" with Fox programming executives, who moved the show around the schedule more than 20 times.

"And this amazing thing happened, which is that our fans — who are loud and passionate and very opinionated — would follow us."

When "Bones" premiered in 2005, it was widely viewed as a rip-off of the wildly popular "CSI" — although it's based on a series of books by Kathy Reichs. "Bones" centers on forensic anthropologist Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel), who partnered with FBI special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to solve crimes.

It became very much an ensemble crime drama with a large cast of characters, and a love story that saw Brennan and Booth eventually become parents and marry.

They went into this 12-episode 12th season knowing this was the end — but that was an edict from Fox.

"It wasn't our decision," said Hart Hanson. "We were told it was our last year. It wasn't that we called the network and said we'd like to finish now.

"I'm not sure anyone is terribly upset or terribly shocked that it would be the last year, but. …"

Deschanel said, "It would be ungracious of us to be fighting against them canceling us." But she made it clear, "It wasn't our decision. But we've had a great run."

It's hard to argue with that.

There is a definite ending in Tuesday's episode. And writing it was kind of a relief to current showrunner Jonathan Collier, who recalled writing other season finales that could have been series finales because the show was in danger of cancellation.

"It was always a little challenging to leave it open," he said. "It was very satisfying to end the show for good."

Is this really the end, though? Fox has a way of recycling old shows like "24" and "The X-Files," so might "Bones" be back at some point?

"Maybe we kill them all," Hanson said. "You don't know."

Not that even that would kill the idea of a reunion — Fox is reviving "Prison Break," bringing its main character back from the dead.

As for some future reunion, "I think those things are always possible and very desirable," Hanson said.

Stay tuned. ...