“Tom Selleck Reflects on the Conclusion of ‘Blue Bloods'”
Tom Selleck Discusses the End of ‘Blue Bloods’ and Reflects on His Journey
Tom Selleck enjoys sharing his thoughts, offering advice, and cracking jokes. Throughout the 14-year run of “Blue Bloods,” where he portrayed NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan since 2010, he has frequently celebrated the enduring legacy of the show, his fellow cast members, and the writers. However, he’s always been careful not to spoil any upcoming plotlines. “There are some surprises,” he teased, “but they will be positive ones.”
As “Blue Bloods” approaches its final episode in December, we can expect Commissioner Reagan to continue his role overseeing the NYPD and hosting the family’s weekly Sunday dinners at the Brooklyn home he shares with his retired father, PC Henry (Len Cariou). Det. Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Sgt. Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) will tackle more cases, Jamie’s wife, police officer Eddie Janko (Vanessa Ray), will make arrests, and senior ADA Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) will manage Manhattan’s trial bureau. There’s even talk of a potential spinoff, with CBS Studios president David Stapf hinting at “endless possibilities.”
Here are highlights from two exclusive interviews with the Emmy and Golden Globe winner, the first conducted on the “Blue Bloods” set last spring, and the second via phone after filming wrapped.
Despite having completed his scenes before most of the cast, Selleck returned from Los Angeles, where he was filming a commercial, to support his colleagues on the last day of shooting. “I watched the final scenes with Bridget and Steve [Schirripa], then Donnie and Marisa [Ramirez],” Selleck shared. “It was hard, but I wanted to be there and felt it was important to share that experience.”
What was your final scene on ‘Blue Bloods’?
Tom Selleck: Ironically, it was the family dinner—just like my very first scene 15 years ago! I won’t reveal too much about the last episode, but the dinner brings the Reagan family together. Erin’s daughter Nicky (Sami Gayle) and Danny’s son Jack (Tony Terraciano) were there. We agreed to close the set for that scene; it was a special moment we wanted to keep private.
What was that experience like?
We shot for hours, and then they called, ‘That was the last shot.’ I had always wanted to recite Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem, “Love Is Not All.” There were tears and lots of hugs. Donnie was really emotional; he didn’t say much. Bridget spoke, and Vanessa [Ray] was deeply affected as well.
How do you feel now that ‘Blue Bloods’ is ending? You’ve expressed frustration about the show concluding after 14 seasons.
I’m a bit frustrated. During those last episodes, I didn’t want to focus on the ending but rather on the fact that we’re still successful. We ranked #9 in total viewers for the 2023-2024 season, and if you exclude football shows, we’re #6! I don’t want to become that bitter person complaining about the end. It’s tough to reconcile, especially since the show has consistently performed well. It’s going to take time to process all of this. After filming the finale, I found myself preparing for Monday’s dialogue, forgetting there wouldn’t be a Monday.
What will you miss the most about the ‘Blue Bloods’ set?
I’ll miss the cast. The bond we shared felt just like the Reagan family. Everyone wanted to return, and that’s rare; most shows end with conflicts and jealousy, but we avoided that. It’s something we can all be proud of.
You all seem so comfortable together on and off-screen.
Setting a positive tone early on was essential, and I take pride in having contributed to that, drawing from my experiences on “Magnum, P.I.” In many ways, I became the patriarch of our on-set family. Having a background on a long-running show lent me credibility, which helped navigate any challenges that arose.
