“Blue Bloods: When the Badge Is More Than a Job”

The most essential missing piece will be Frank Reagan himself. Selleck was involved in the show since season 1, and he was a massive part of every element of the show’s marketing. Having starred in Magnum, P.I., Boston Legal, and Las Vegas, he was easily the most seasoned actor on the cast when the series first premiered. Serving as the family patriarch, nearly every family dinner saw him sitting at the head of the table, guiding discussion and attempting to ensure that his family remained a cohesive unit. No matter how much conflict existed, nor what horrors went on outside of his home, Frank was always working diligently to keep the Reagans together.

Tragically, though the final episode offered a happy ending for the Reagan family, the spin-off means that his mission failed. Danny will be leaving New York City for Boston, and the rest of the family is not expected to appear in anything more than cameo roles. Despite having starred in Boston Legal, Selleck will not have a major role in this other Boston-focused show. Other spin-off ideas for Blue Bloods could have maintained the themes of the series, but this exit means that the close-knit bond between the Reagans apparently unraveled. Without Frank Reagan in the story, it is difficult to see how Boston Blue can truly be a worthy successor.

Ernie Hudson Is the Perfect Tom Selleck Replacement

He Could Make Boston Blue Successful

Despite losing Selleck, the show does seem to have found a suitable replacement in another seasoned actor. Ernie Hudson is poised to play Reverend Peters, the grandfather of deuteragonist Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green). Peters will serve as the patriarch of Boston’s own law enforcement family, and it will be his responsibility to welcome Danny into the Boston Police Department’s complicated narrative. It will be the same role that Selleck played, though the character’s background as a pastor will be a sharp change from Frank Reagan’s role as the NYPD Commissioner.

If anyone could handle the role, it should be Hudson, who has already been the face of legendary productions. Hudson broke into prominence as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise, which became shockingly successful in 1984. He has since appeared in several other Ghostbusters productions, including Ghostbusters II (1989), the Ghostbusters reboot (2026), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). Outside of that renowned series of movies, he also appeared in Miss Congeniality (2000), The Crow (1994), and the upcoming Toy Story 5 (2026). He has also starred in several TV shows, including Oz, 10-8: Officers on Duty, and APB.

Hudson’s experience with procedurals will be an extraordinary help, as will his pre-existing fame. He has already proven that he can handle the spotlight with apparent ease, and he should be able to easily translate his talents to Boston Blue. If someone had to replace Tom Selleck, Ernie Hudson is a surprising but perfect pick. His inclusion is an early hint that the show is prepared to cast an extraordinary group of actors who could rival the original Blue Bloods stars. It will be difficult to match the chemistry between the Reagans, but Hudson’s casting means CBS is certainly willing to try, and that means that there is finally something to be excited about.