Tom Selleck has been facing some tough times as his beloved show, ‘Blue Bloods,’ has come to an end. Since its debut in 2010, Selleck has taken on the role of Commissioner Frank Reagan. But after an impressive 14-year streak, the network announced last year that the series would wrap up this fall. In a heartfelt conversation with TV Insider, Selleck opened up about his “frustration” with CBS’s decision to conclude the popular drama.
“I’m kind of frustrated,” Selleck admitted. “During those last eight episodes, I didn’t want to focus on ending ‘Blue Bloods’; instead, I wanted to celebrate its ongoing success.”
He elaborated, “In a ranking of the Top 100 Shows for 2023-2024, in terms of total viewers, we ranked at number 9 out of 100. If you exclude the three football-related shows, we were at number 6! I’m not the type to become a grouchy old man shaking his fist at everyone. Holding grudges isn’t my style, but if you were to tell the network that there’s a show that could fill any time slot and consistently win Friday nights for 15 years straight, wouldn’t you consider keeping it?”
He expressed his sentiments on how the show had been undervalued more often than appreciated over its many successful years.
“I’ve felt all along that the show was taken for granted because it has always performed so well right from the start. How do I feel about it? It’s going to take me some time to understand all of this. After the weekend of filming the final episode, I remember thinking, ‘I have to get to bed early because I have lines to learn for Monday.’ But then it hit me—there was no Monday to prepare for.”
“This realization is going to take some getting used to,” he sighed.
He shared the moment of filming his last scene, which held significant nostalgia and irony for him.
“Fittingly, my last scene was a family dinner—the same as the first scene I filmed for the show 15 years ago. I’m not revealing too much about the final episode, but the family dinner brings the Reagan family back together.”
Reflecting on what he’ll miss most, Selleck said, “What I’ll miss the most are the actors. The bond we have is just like that of the Reagan family on the show, and everyone plays their part to perfection. Every single actor wanted to return whenever possible. That’s rare in most shows; typically, there are rivalries and other issues, but we managed to avoid all that. It’s something we can all take pride in.”
‘Blue Bloods’ is a police drama that revolves around the Reagan family, a New York City family with a long history in law enforcement. The show highlights their work as part of the NYPD, while exploring their personal lives and moral dilemmas.
Central to the story is Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck), the family’s patriarch and the New York City Police Commissioner. His children also serve in law enforcement: Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg), a fiery NYPD detective; Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan), who juggles family loyalty with her responsibility as an Assistant District Attorney; and Jamie Reagan (Will Estes), the youngest child, who rises through the NYPD ranks. The series also honors the character Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), Frank’s father, who is a former commissioner.
A unique feature of the show is its portrayal of the Reagan family dinners, where they come together weekly to discuss the cases they’re working on, ethical conundrums, and family issues. These gatherings give viewers a taste of the challenges involved in being part of a high-profile family of public servants.
