“Tom Selleck Reflects on the Challenges of Long-Running Shows After Blue Bloods Series Finale and How He Stayed True to Frank Reagan”

The well-received series finale of Blue Bloods aired in 2024, marking the end of the show after 14 successful seasons. While it’s still hard to fully grasp that the iconic procedural has wrapped, its lengthy run was a major achievement. The show became a Friday night staple for CBS, in large part thanks to its strong cast, including Tom Selleck. After portraying Frank Reagan for over a decade, Selleck shared his thoughts on the “danger” of committing to a role for so many years, and how he managed to keep his portrayal of Frank fresh.

Selleck, of course, isn’t new to long-term roles. He previously starred in the original Magnum P.I. back in the ’80s, a series that ran for eight seasons. Blue Bloods, however, ended up being his longest-running role to date, something he’s clearly proud of. That said, he’s well aware of the challenges that come with staying in the same character for such a long period. For many actors, playing a character for years can lead to feeling stuck, as you often end up repeating the same performance day after day. This can lead to complacency or boredom. But, for Selleck, that wasn’t the case. He credits the evolution of the characters in Blue Bloods for keeping things interesting. As the show progressed, the characters grew and developed, and that’s something Selleck truly valued.

The long run of a series can bring significant benefits, one of which is watching characters mature and transform over time. This progression can sometimes be tricky to execute, but in Blue Bloods’ case, the writers and producers did a great job adding layers to the characters in ways that felt authentic. Fans seemed to appreciate this, with many sharing their excitement about the characters’ evolution on social media throughout the years.

Despite the series coming to an end, Selleck expressed his confusion and frustration over CBS’s decision to cancel Blue Bloods, suggesting that the show had come to mean a great deal to him. He’s previously discussed the deep connections formed through the Reagan family dinners and the balance of action and heart that the show maintained. Even with the cancellation, Selleck has a clear focus for what comes next:

Rumors about a Blue Bloods spinoff have surfaced, and while nothing has been officially confirmed, it’s possible CBS might pursue one. While it would be a tough task to match the success of the original series, Selleck seems open to the idea, as long as it avoids making his character stale or predictable.