“Reflecting on Tom Selleck’s 2010 TV Guide Magazine Feature in ‘Blue Bloods'”
Celebrating 14 Seasons of Blue Bloods: Revisiting Tom Selleck’s 2010 TV Guide Magazine Interview
Over the course of its impressive 14-season run, Blue Bloods has captivated audiences on CBS, with TV Guide Magazine providing exclusive insights through photo shoots and set visits. As we mark nearly 14 years since the show premiered on September 24, 2010, we look back at one of our early interviews with Tom Selleck, featured in the October 18, 2010 issue.
In tonight’s intense episode, which tackles a terrorist threat and the Reagan family’s conflicting views on racial profiling, Selleck reflected on his character, police chief Frank Reagan, and shared thoughts on his journey in the series.
Do you enjoy being part of a series again?
Tom Selleck: I love it. In a series, your character evolves each week, which is a unique challenge that keeps it fresh.
With your schedule between Los Angeles and New York City, how is that working for you?
Leonard Goldberg, our executive producer, coordinated my schedule so that I work four days at the end of one shoot and the beginning of the next. This arrangement gives me about ten days a month in L.A. with my family, which is fantastic.
Are you concerned that the premise—so many family members involved in the same cases—could become implausible?
Definitely. We need to be mindful of that. Over time, we may see A and B storylines where Frank is involved in one plot and his sons in another.
Frank has a lot of dialogue, but he’s also quite mysterious. Why is that?
He’s a complex character. He’s a widower who lost his wife five years before the show started and his son a year ago. That depth adds to his complexity.
Will we discover if Frank is a part of the Blue Templars, a secret society of cops?
I can’t say for sure! The creators are protective about those storylines.
Is Frank’s wife’s death ever explained?
Not really. I’ve been trying to get the writers to clarify it. I suspect it was either a tragic illness or an accident.
What about the Jesse Stone franchise? Is there any talk of turning it into a series?
Jesse Stone is more of a series of movies. The seventh film, Innocents Lost, is ready to go, and I think CBS will air it in the spring, pending Blue Bloods‘ renewal. We’re hopeful for an eighth film during our hiatus.
You’ve been linked to various right-wing causes. Is it just a coincidence that you play a character named Frank Reagan?
I’ve been a registered Independent for 20 years, so it is a coincidence. The show was originally titled Reagan’s Law, which is ironic since I knew Ronald Reagan and his wife.
Do you think you’ll reprise your role as Magnum?
I’ve heard talk about a movie, but I haven’t received any updates from Universal. If there were a poll, I’d likely be the top choice. However, I worry that studios sometimes trivialize franchises with excessive action and humor. Magnum’s legacy is significant, especially for its positive portrayal of Vietnam veterans, which I’m proud of.
This excerpt is from TV Guide Magazine’s special farewell issue for Blue Bloods. For a retrospective on this beloved series and insights into its final episodes, be sure to pick up the latest issue available on newsstands or online at BlueBloods2024.com.
