CBS’ statement about the reason for Blue Bloods’ cancelation contradicts the sacrifice the cast made to make season 14. The Tom Selleck-led drama about a family of Irish Catholic cops has been one of CBS’ most popular series throughout its entire run. However, the network announced that Blue Bloods would end with season 14 despite its continued high ratings, and later confirmed that it was sticking to its decision despite a massive fan-led movement to save Blue Bloods.
The Blue Bloods cast continues to hold out hope that the series will continue, but there are currently only eight more episodes of Blue Bloods before the show leaves the airwaves for good. While CBS is reportedly considering a Blue Bloods spinoff, no such thing is currently in production. CBS justified its decision to take the popular police procedural off the air by saying that the schedule needed to be refreshed after Blue Bloods had been on for so long, but this explanation doesn’t make sense in light of the circumstances of season 14’s production.
CBS Previously Considered Cancelation On Financial Grounds
How The Pay Cut Decision Contradicts CBS’ Statement About Why Blue Bloods Was Canceled
It’s Clear The Major Reason For Blue Blood’s Cancelation Is Cost-Related
CBS has canceled shows to refresh its schedule before, most famously during the Rural Purge of 1970, so this desire could have been part of the decision even if it wasn’t the major reason.
If the problem was that Blue Bloods has been on too long, then it was illogical for the series to have gotten a one-year reprieve after the cast agreed to a pay cut. Thus, it is far more likely that the real reason was financial. Blue Bloods is filmed on location in New York, which is more expensive than filming on a soundstage in Los Angeles. It has a large cast that includes well-known actors such as Tom Selleck, whose fame demands larger salaries, and many actors have been there since the first episode, adding to the expense.
Blue Bloods was always an expensive series to produce. Meanwhile, networks have been struggling financially since the conclusion of the writers’ and actors’ strikes in early 2024. Thus, it’s understandable that when Blue Bloods resumed production, CBS realized it could not afford a fifteenth season and decided to end the show.
How Blue Bloods’ Potential Spinoff Could Save Costs For CBS
A New Series Will Be Cheaper To Produce
Many possible Blue Bloods spinoffs would be cheaper to produce than the original series. An offshoot would presumably focus on a smaller group of characters, such as Danny Reagan and his son, or Erin and Anthony. Shrinking the cast in this manner would save CBS a significant amount of money, as the new series would not have to pay as many actors. Additionally, secondary characters could be played by people new to the franchise with smaller salaries. The challenge for any Blue Bloods spinoff would be to preserve the family values without including the entire Reagan family.
