Tom Selleck shared his disappointment after CBS cancelled his longtime TV cop drama Blue Bloods.
The network announced that the hit series would end this fall last year, and the actor, 79, expressed he is ‘frustrated’ with the decision in a new interview with TV Insider.
‘I’m kind of frustrated. During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful.’
‘In a Top 100 Shows of 2023-2024 (in total viewers, we were number 9 out of 100), if you discount the three football shows, we’re #6!’ he said.
He added, ‘My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go.’
He continued, ‘I’m not going to turn into a bitter old guy saying, “Get off my lawn!” I don’t believe in holding grudges, but if you were to say to the television network, “Here’s a show you can program in the worst time slot you got, and it is going to guarantee you winning Friday night for the next 15 years,” it would be almost impossible to believe.’
‘So how do I feel? It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out.’
‘I remember after the weekend [of the final episode’s shoot], I said, “I’ve got to get to bed early tonight because I have to do my dialogue for Monday.” Well, there was no Monday. It’s just going to take a while.’
Selleck is said to have relocated back to his California ranch with wife Jillie Mack, 66, after 14-years of commuting to and from the East Coast to film the show, which was suddenly halted by CBS bosses at the end of last year.
Selleck made no secret over his disappointment with Blue Bloods coming to an end, and after show bosses announced last year that it would stop filming, he said he hoped they would ‘come to their senses.’
Although filming on the show has wrapped, fans can still expect to see the actor for the conclusion of its 14th and final season, with the last episodes kicking off on October 18.
Selleck, who was previously best known as Magnum PI as well as a stint on Friends, won legions of fans with his turn as Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, a fictional NYPD commissioner.
He has starred alongside Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Will Estes since September 2010, and said when the show was axed th at fans were sure to react with fury at the decision.
‘CBS will find an awful lot of people aren’t ready to say goodbye to it,’ he said at the time.
‘The show’s more popular than ever, and I think [numbers] will increase with the interest this year. We’re certainly not out of ideas.’
The popular series had an impressive 14-year run on CBS with 14 seasons. Blue Bloods became the second-longest running scripted show on CBS behind NCIS (with 21 seasons).
The series premiered September 24, 2010.
Blue Bloods centers around the Reagans – with Frank as the patriarch and the New York Police Department Police Commissioner.
His son Danny – played by Wahlberg – is an NYPD Detective and his other son Jamie – played by Will – is an NYPD sergeant. Frank’s daughter Erin – played by Bridget – is an assistant district attorney.
His son Joe was killed by a corrupt cop in the line of duty.
Tom shared an official statement last year about Blue Bloods ending: ‘For the past 13 years it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that now only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family.’
The TV star continued: ‘Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true and I’m grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes.’
The presidents of CBS Entertainment and CBS Studios Amy shared a joint statement: ‘Blue Bloods will forever be a beloved part of CBS’ legacy.’
‘It ruled Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere and established itself as a pillar of our winning lineup with an exceptionally devoted fan base.’
They added: ‘We’ll be forever grateful to the legendary Leonard Goldberg for developing this signature series and to the amazing cast led by Tom Selleck, who America embraced as a family and watched as welcomed guests at the Reagan dinner table.’
Tom revealed in May that the fallout from the end of Blue Bloods could end up costing him his twilight years on the ranch.
Despite a career spanning decades in Hollywood – including a reported $200,000-per-episode Blue Bloods deal – he told CBS Sunday Morning that he was in jeopardy of falling behind on bills after the show was axed.
‘You know, hopefully I keep working enough to hold on to the place,’ Selleck said, to which CBS correspondent Tracy Smith responded, ‘Seriously, that’s an issue? If you stopped working?’
Selleck said, ‘That’s always an issue – if I stopped working, yeah. Am I set for life? Yeah, but maybe not on a 63-acre ranch!’