The intense arrests, high-speed chases, and even family disagreements seem so real on Blue Bloods, and that’s a big part of what makes it so popular. But it’s not by accident that all the scenes feel so authentic.
It turns out, the program sought a former police officer to serve as its technical adviser, and he’s the man behind the magic. Before he was hired on the CBS hit, James Nuciforo had spent the past 20 years in law enforcement, according to CBS 58.
He told the station that he’s involved with every aspect of the show that’s police-related—which is quite a lot of work, when the entire program is all about the NYPD. “Let’s say [they get] a 56-page script, I’ll give them anywhere between five to 10 pages of notes on the script, just plugging in dialogue with more jargon,” Nuciforo said.
Nuciforo’s attention to detail hasn’t gone unnoticed. Tom Selleck, who portrays Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, told the CBS affiliate that many cops he meets are thrilled with his portrayal. “We get a lot of positive response from police officers, my heroes, and I think that’s a wonderful compliment,” he said.
Actor Len Cariou, who plays Frank’s father, Henry Reagan, echoed that sentiment. “They say, ‘Thank you for your show, we love it because it makes us look like human beings,'” he said.
And viewers take notice, too. On a recent post by the official Blue Bloods Instagram account, one fan commended the show for its commitment to capturing police life. “As a former law enforcement officer, this show is as accurate as possible and gives insight into the personal struggles law enforcement face every day,” the commenter wrote.
Although there has been some serious controversy over the past few seasons—including Linda Reagan’s (Amy Carlson) shocking death, of course—the true authenticity of each episode is something everyone seems to agree on.
