If CBS orders a Blue Bloods spinoff, the new series must keep one tradition going that the original series popularized. For fourteen seasons, the Tom Selleck-led drama has dominated Friday nights, and it owes its popularity in part to its unique blend of cop and family drama.
Every episode features the members of the Reagan clan butting heads over policy and procedure but ultimately coming together as a family, and this emphasis on family as a top priority has helped the series stand out in a sea of police procedurals.
CBS confirmed that Blue Bloods is ending in December 2024 despite its popularity. A massive fan-led campaign to save the series was not enough to move the needle with decision-makers at the network, and Blue Bloods season 14 has only eight episodes left before the series leaves the airwaves for good.
However, recently Paramount executives indicated that there might be a Blue Bloods spinoff in the works, which would keep the franchise going and help ease the pain of losing this top-rated show if it is written properly.
Although Tom Selleck stated that he was still hoping for a reversal of CBS’ cancelation decision, the chances of Blue Bloods continuing in its present form are slim. CBS’ 2024-25 schedule has been released and lists Blue Bloods as ending in December 2024, to be replaced by the newest season of SWAT in the spring of 2025.
Thus, a potential spinoff is welcome news even though it is not the same as green-lighting a 15th season of the original series. The spinoff would keep some aspects of the series on-screen, especially if some fan-favorite characters are included.
The spinoff could take many forms and could conceivably feature a different generation of Reagans or a different family altogether.
Considering Blue Bloods’ popularity and CBS’ inability to afford its high price tag, a spinoff is the best compromise possible. The spinoff could be a slimmed-down version of the original series that focuses on one or two characters, features different characters in each episode, or features new characters and situations that are related to the original Reagans. However the spinoff looks, it is important that it maintain the original series’ focus on family values as this aspect made it unique among crime dramas and contributed to Blue Bloods’ popularity.