Why Selleck hoped CBS would consider renewing the series after 15 years
You know him best for sitting at the head of the table at Sunday dinner as Commissioner Frank Reagan, but it won’t be long before the Reagan family dinners come to an official end. And nobody is more upset about that than Frank Reagan himself.
Tom Selleck, who has been the star of Blue Bloods since it premiered in 2010 is sharing his feelings of frustration towards the network’s decision to cancel the series, especially after how well it has performed.
“I’m kind of frustrated,” Selleck shared in an interview. “During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful… My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go.”
Why CBS canceled ‘Blue Bloods’ despite its success
Selleck and the cast have been advocating for Blue Bloods since its ending was announced. Many of the stars have shared their frustration with CBS’ decision to cancel the police procedural drama, which the network said was because it is too expensive to continue filming on location in New York. But Selleck recently spilled more information.
“If you were to say to the television network, ‘Here’s a show you can program in the worst time slot you got, and it is going to guarantee you winning Friday night for the next 15 years,’ it would be almost impossible to believe,” Selleck explained.
Blue Bloods has been in the Friday at 10 PM time slot since its premiere in 2010, and although Friday night slots are often considered the “graveyard slot,” the drama has been a top performer.
“We’re the third-highest scripted show in all of broadcast. We’re winning the night. All the cast wants to come back. And I can tell you this: we aren’t sliding off down a cliff. We’re doing good shows, and still holding our place.”
Tom Selleck’s reaction to the ‘Blue Bloods’ cancelation
After 15 years of the same schedule and working at the same place, it is going to take some time to adjust to a new lifestyle. Selleck has shared he’s already dealt with that part of the process.
“It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out. I remember after the weekend [of the final episode’s shoot], I said, ‘I’ve got to get to bed early tonight because I have to do my dialogue for Monday.’ Well, there was no Monday. It’s just going to take a while.”
And while adjusting to the new schedule will be difficult, Selleck explains that won’t be the hardest part. When asked what he will miss the most on the Blue Bloods set, Selleck had the most wholesome response.
“The actors. The family of actors is as close as the Reagan family and the characters that they play. There’s isn’t a single one of them who didn’t want to come back… It’s [the show] something for everybody to hang their hats on and be proud of.”
Selleck confirms that family is most important in the end
Although Blue Bloods fans have seen hundreds of different storylines going in all different directions, the one thing that has remained a constant is the love of the Reagan family. Selleck knows very well that the Sunday dinners are the most important and he’s shared that they are his favorite moments.
“My favorite scenes are with the family, especially at the Sunday dinner table,” Selleck said. And in a funny coincidence, he got to end the series in the best way.
“My last scene was ironically family dinner; that was also the first scene I shot on the show 15 years ago… but the family dinner kind of reunites the Reagan family. Erin’s daughter Nicky (Sami Gayle) was there and so was Jack (Tony Terraciano) Danny’s older son. Everybody agreed with me that we should close the set for the family dinner and not exploit that.”
The conclusion of Blue Bloods will be available to watch on CBS beginning on Friday October 18 at 10 PM.
