‘Frustrated’ Tom Selleck blasts CBS for canceling ‘Blue Bloods’ after 14 seasons: ‘Always taken for granted’
Tom Selleck isn’t hiding his disappointment after CBS canceled his long-running show “Blue Bloods.”
The 79-year-old has starred as Commissioner Frank Reagan in the crime drama since the series debuted in 2010.
After a 14-year TV reign, the network announced last year that the successful show would end this fall. In a brand-new interview with TV Insider, Selleck shared he’s “frustrated” with CBS’ decision.
“I’m kind of frustrated,” a frank Selleck said. “During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful.”
He then discussed “Blue Bloods” viewers, arguing the series still draws eyeballs to the silver screen.
“In a Top 100 Shows of 2023-2024 (in total viewers, we were number 9 out of 100), if you discount the three football shows, we’re #6 ! I’m not going to turn into a bitter old guy saying, ‘Get off my lawn!’ I don’t believe in holding grudges, but 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 shared.
The Emmy winner confessed, “My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go. So how do I feel? It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out.”
Selleck recalled filming the final episode.
“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,” he shared.
When asked what he’ll miss most about “Blue Bloods,” Selleck didn’t hesitate to respond.
“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,” he said. “Most shows don’t end that way — there’s petty jealousy and all sorts of things — and we seemed to overcome that. It’s something for everybody to hang their hats on and be proud of.”
Selleck’s cast includes Donnie Wahlberg (Det. Danny), Len Cariou (PC Henry), Will Estes (Sgt. Jamie Reagan), Vanessa Ray (Officer Eddie Janko) and Bridget Moynahan (ADA Erin Reagan).
While he’s upset the show is ending, CBS Studios president David Stapf has teased a possible spinoff.
“There are endless possibilities as to what a Blue Bloods spinoff would look like,” Stapf said after the announcement. “We have a whole season [of Blue Bloods] to go…so there’s still time for us to figure a spinoff out.”
This isn’t the first time Selleck has expressed his feelings about the show being canceled.
In May, the actor revealed he might not be able to afford his California ranch with the series ending. He told “CBS Sunday Morning,” he was at risk of losing the Ventura County, Calif., property.
“That’s always an issue. If I stopped working, yeah. Am I set for life? Yeah, but maybe not on a 63-acre ranch!” the former “Magnum PI” star said.
Despite his disappointment, he made it clear that he won’t retire from Hollywood.
“I hope there’s another Western in my future. Certainly whatever happens with ‘Blue Bloods,’ I’m not going to stop acting. I still hold out hope that CBS will come to their senses,” Selleck said.
The second half of “Blue Bloods” final season airs on CBS beginning Oct. 18, 2024, with eight episodes.