“Donnie Wahlberg Reveals ‘Blue Bloods’ Cast Did Everything to Save the Hit Show”
Donnie Wahlberg and the cast and crew of Blue Bloods went to great lengths to keep the beloved series on the air after 14 successful seasons. The show aired its final episode on Friday night, marking the end of an era.
In an emotional interview with Fox News Digital, Wahlberg shared his thoughts about the poignant final dinner scene and the eerie silence that fell over the set once the last “cut” was called.
“One of the things that stands out is when we finished filming the final scene, the entire crew came into the Reagan house. There were a couple hundred people there, and for a moment, it was completely quiet,” Wahlberg recalled. “There was this long pause after they said ‘cut,’ and I think we all just stood there, hoping that someone would say, ‘Hey, it’s all a joke. We’re going to keep filming more episodes,’ or maybe people hesitated because we knew that once someone spoke, the emotions would come pouring out.”
Wahlberg expressed his sadness over the end of the show, particularly regarding the crew that had worked with them in New York City for over a decade. “We tried so hard to keep the show going, but we couldn’t. We gave it our all, and it just didn’t work out. I felt bad, like we were letting them down. We did everything in our power to keep it going, and it was tough knowing it was over.”
The actor also reflected on the deep bond the cast and crew shared. “It was hard to process, knowing that we were part of so many lives—families, mortgages, careers. These were people we saw every day, and they relied on this show. To know that it was all ending was really emotional, and I think the crew might not feel the same way, but for us, it was hard not to believe that we could’ve kept it going a few more years.”
Wahlberg spoke about how proud he was of the work they did on Blue Bloods, especially in representing the people of New York and the NYPD. “We worked really hard to keep the show compelling for 14 years, and it’s hard to say goodbye. From the outside, it might seem strange that we’re so emotional, but we became a family, and the crew was a big part of that.”
Among the most memorable moments for Wahlberg was his relationship with co-star Tom Selleck, whom he affectionately calls “dad.” “I’ll never forget the first time he called me ‘son.’ I was in my dressing room, and he walked by after finishing his scenes. He said, ‘Hey, son,’ and kept walking. We’ve called each other ‘dad’ and ‘son’ both on and off-camera since then,” Wahlberg shared. “Fourteen years of working together, calling him my castmate, my commissioner, my friend—whether on screen or off—has been an honor. He’s been a father figure and a leader to all of us. Our tour may be over, but the friendship, respect, and memories will last.”
Wahlberg posted a heartfelt tribute to Selleck on social media, saying, “Happy Blue Bloods Finale Friday. Love you, Dad. All my gratitude, Donnie aka Danny aka Son.”
