“Behind the Scenes: How the Creator of ‘Blue Bloods’ Brought Frank Reagan and the Iconic Family Dinners to Life”
In 2010, just a few episodes into “Blue Bloods,” Kevin Wade had a pivotal meeting with Leonard Goldberg, Mitchell Burgess, and Robin Green, the show’s co-creators, about a writing position. “The focus was on developing Tom Selleck’s character,” Wade recalls. “I suggested that New York’s police commissioner operates more like a CEO managing 35,000 officers rather than a typical cop, and that his conflicts, dilemmas, strengths, and vulnerabilities should reflect that. They were receptive to the idea, and I started the next day. Although my experience with crime stories was limited, I was eager to take on the challenge.”
Among the challenges were “two non-negotiable rules” from Goldberg, according to Wade: “Each episode must resolve the week’s crime by the end, and no matter the family conflicts, Sunday dinners at Frank and Henry Reagan’s home are a must.”
This approach led to rare multi-episode story arcs, with notable exceptions such as the first season’s search for Frank’s (Selleck) murdered eldest son, police officer Joe, and the final season’s unusually intense storyline involving youngest son Jamie (Will Estes) going deep undercover. Wade, who has been an executive producer since the second season, notes that “Sunday dinner quickly became the show’s hallmark, evoking nostalgia and aspiration for audiences around the world.”
The cast had remarkable stability from the beginning, with minimal turnover. Though only Selleck and Steve Schirripa had extensive prior TV experience — from “Magnum, P.I.” and “The Sopranos,” respectively — the other actors found innovative ways to keep their roles engaging within the show’s framework. “I like to think that [most of our] actors stayed so long because they enjoyed the stories we crafted for them,” says Wade. However, not every storyline was universally well-received. For instance, the offscreen death of Danny’s (Donnie Wahlberg) wife Linda (Amy Carlson), who left the show after Season 7, was met with mixed reactions from fans. Despite such challenges, the writers continually refreshed the Reagan family dynamic. Siobhan Byrne O’Connor, a writer and executive producer, “introduced a clever way to reinvigorate the storytelling,” says Wade.
In the Season 10 finale, O’Connor introduced Frank’s previously unknown grandson, Det. Joe Hill (Will Hochman), whose father was Joe Reagan, Frank’s deceased son. The character resonated with viewers, despite occasional tensions with his newfound family. “Will came on and made a strong impression from his first scene,” Wade remarks, “and continued to develop his role impressively.”
It was also crucial for the character of the commissioner to face challenges both at home and at One Police Plaza. “His father Henry [Len Cariou],” Wade notes, “is a character from an older generation, possessing wisdom and strong opinions that are often debated over a glass of fine scotch.” Additionally, an inner circle of trusted advisers — Det. Abigail Baker (Abigail Hawk), Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garrett Moore (Gregory Jbara), and Lt. Sid Gormley (Robert Clohessy) — was introduced early on to offer advice that sometimes contrasted with Frank’s own views.
Although Wade, a longtime executive producer, won’t pick a favorite character to write, he did highlight two memorable scenes: “The Season 8 finale, where Jamie and Eddie announce their engagement, and the family’s confrontation with Joe’s killer in the first-season finale.”
Ultimately, Wade reflects, while the show may not have garnered awards or widespread critical acclaim, it earned the approval of fans with strong ratings over its 14-year run. When the show was canceled, he recalls, “Fans sent envelopes filled with blue confetti and notes begging to ‘Cancel the cancel’ or ‘Save Blue Bloods.’ I greatly appreciated their affection and enthusiasm. I’m still finding bits of confetti here and there every day!”
