“Reflecting on Tom Selleck’s 2010 TV Guide Magazine Profile for ‘Blue Bloods'”
Celebrating 14 Seasons of ‘Blue Bloods’: A Look Back at Tom Selleck’s 2010 Interview
Over 14 thrilling seasons, TV Guide Magazine has been documenting the remarkable journey of Blue Bloods on CBS with exclusive photo shoots and set visits. As we approach the show’s premiere anniversary on September 24, 2010, we’re revisiting one of our earliest interviews with Tom Selleck, featured in the October 18, 2010 issue of TV Guide Magazine. Check out the Q&A below to hear Selleck’s thoughts as the series made its debut.
In light of tonight’s gripping episode, where a terrorist threat puts the Reagan family—led by Selleck’s character, Police Chief Frank Reagan—at odds over racial profiling, we spoke with the TV icon about his current role and past characters.
Do you enjoy being back on a series?
Tom Selleck: Absolutely! I love the show. One of the unique aspects of a series is watching your character evolve week by week, and it’s a challenge to continually improve.
Your schedule has you traveling between Los Angeles and New York City. How’s that been?
[Executive producer] Leonard Goldberg arranged it so that if I’m working four days on an episode, they cluster those days together. That way, I get around ten days a month in L.A., which is wonderful for spending time with my wife and daughters.
Are you concerned that the show’s premise—having so many family members in the same line of work intersecting on cases—might become implausible over time?
Yes, that’s definitely something we need to be mindful of. As the series progresses, we’ll likely see A and B storylines where Frank is involved in one situation while his sons tackle another.
Frank has a lot of dialogue, but there’s a mysterious side to him. What’s that about?
He’s a widower and experiences loneliness. He lost his wife five years before the series began and his son a year ago, which adds depth to his character.
Will we find out if Frank has any secret affiliations, like with the Blue Templars?
I can’t say! The creators, Robin Green and Mitch Burgess, keep that under wraps.
Is the cause of his wife’s death ever revealed?
Not yet! I’ve tried to pin the writers down on that. I suspect it was either a tragic illness or an accident.
What’s happening with the Jesse Stone franchise? Will it ever become a series?
In a way, Jesse Stone is a series, but it consists of movies. The seventh installment, Innocents Lost, is complete and should air in spring, depending on Blue Bloods’ renewal. We’re hoping to film the eighth during the next break.
You’ve been linked to right-wing causes. Is it just a coincidence that your character’s name is Frank Reagan?
I’ve been a registered Independent for 20 years, so it’s purely coincidental. The show was originally titled Reagan’s Law, which is ironic since I knew both Ronald Reagan and his wife.
Do you think you’ll ever reprise your role as Magnum?
I keep hearing talk of a movie. Universal holds the rights but hasn’t reached out. If a poll were taken on who should play Magnum, I’d likely come out on top. My concern is that studios often focus on explosions over substance. Magnum represented a positive portrayal of Vietnam veterans, and I’m proud of that legacy.
This excerpt comes from TV Guide Magazine’s Blue Bloods: The Special Farewell Issue. To reflect on the series and get exclusive details on the final episodes, grab a copy available on newsstands or order online at BlueBloods2024.com.
