Rumors of Bones‘ imminent demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Despite concerns among fans that Fox sent the long-running drama to Fridays to die, Booth and Brennan have more than held their own on the ratings-chgallenged night. In fact, Bones producers have been so encouraged by the show’s resiliency that they’re looking ahead to a 10th season.

RELATED | 2014 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Cancelled? What’s Renewed? What’s on the Bubble?

“We’re going out on a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of this [ninth] season,” exec producer Stephen Nathan tells TVLine. “It will change, at least temporarily, the landscape of the show. It really will be a very big shift in how Booth and Brennan will be dealing with crimes in the future.”

Since relocating to Fridays in mid-November, Bones‘ ratings have trended upward two consecutive times, with its most recent audience — 7 million viewers — nearly matching its final Monday broadcast. It also placed No 1. in the 8 o’clock hour in its past two outings.

“I’m thrilled with the numbers on Friday,” Nathan enthuses. “It’s the first time in years that [Fox has] won that hour.”

However, should Fox pull the plug at the 11th hour, Nathan says a “contingency plan” is in place wherein the season finale could be turned into a series finale. And if that doesn’t satisfy fans, Nathan laughs, “Everybody can come over to my house and we’ll do a 10th season in the living room.”