Since 2010, Tom Selleck’s Frank Reagan and his family of law enforcers have captivated millions of fans across the world. Thanks to its compelling mix of family drama and the law enforcement world, tied together with its unique weekly family dinner scene, Blue Bloods is a one-of-a-kind police drama that keeps on serving.
However, when Selleck was first approached, he was hesitant to say yes. An incident that we find difficult to believe now given the rapport and love he has acquired for the soon-to-be-concluding show.
Tom Selleck was Hesitant to Say Yes to Blue Bloods
Blue Bloods, since its debut has captivated the audience with its unique blend of action, moral dilemmas, and heartfelt tale set against a backdrop of law enforcement and the police force. Not only does the show entertain viewers with its intriguing crime plots but the main draw of the show is the Reagan family.
At the center of the Reagan family is Tom Selleck‘s Frank Reagan, a character without whom it all would end up being just another muddled tale of crime and family. The anchor of the show, it is now impossible to picture anyone else who could have portrayed Reagan with the finesse that Selleck did.
However, the actor was initially pretty indecisive to say yes to the role, that too for a surprising reason. Back in 2010, in an interview with Collider, when asked about the challenge he felt about doing the show, he remarked,
It [getting out of his comfort zone] was the biggest hurdle for me to accept the idea of doing the show. The first question out of my mouth was, ‘Where are you shooting it?,’ and then we tried to discuss how that would work. It never works the way you plan it, but that wasn’t the attraction of it.
Fortunately for the actor and the show, Selleck eventually said yes given its appeal and the shooting location being the streets of New York. Yet, it seems almost unbelievable now that there was once a time when Selleck was doubtful of joining Blue Bloods.
It is Hard to Imagine Tom Selleck Being Hesitant to Join Blue Bloods
Today, looking a decade back, it is preposterous to think that there was once a time that Tom Selleck ever hesitated to join Blue Bloods. Over the years, Selleck’s portrayal of the steadfast NYPD Commissioner has become one of the many defining parts of the show, without whom it is nearly challenging to visualize the show.
While he might have been initially uncertain, the actor has grown to adore the show and has his frustration known with CBS’s decision to cancel Blue Bloods despite its good ratings. In an interview with TV Insider, the actor remarked,
During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful… My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go… There isn’t a single one of them who didn’t want to come back.
Furthermore, Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg, in a recent appearance on Sirius XM Andy Cohen Live, revealed how Selleck would stand at the back watching everyone with tears in his eyes while filming the last season of the series. Given his reaction and the love he has developed over the years for the character, show, and cast, his initial doubts now seem almost incomprehensible.
As the series has now entered the last leg of its run, currently airing the last few episodes of its fourteenth and final season, Tom Selleck’s Frank Reagan will always remain an internal part of fans’ lives, without whom Blue Bloods would be incomplete.