He’s not going quietly.
“Blue Bloods” star Tom Selleck isn’t happy that CBS ended the show after fourteen seasons – and he’s been very vocal about it.
Selleck, 79, has not pasted on a smile and parroted a polite company line. He’s an industry giant, and perhaps that’s why he’s felt free to speak his mind.
“Blue Bloods” premiered in 2010. The police procedural follows the Reagan family, including NYPD Commissioner Frank (Selleck) and his son, NYPD detective Danny (Donnie Wahlberg). The cast also includes Len Cariou (PC Henry), Will Estes (Sgt. Jamie Reagan), Vanessa Ray (Officer Eddie Janko) and Bridget Moynahan (ADA Erin Reagan).
After a 14-year TV reign, the network announced last year that the successful show would end this fall.
Selleck told TV Insider that he wasn’t pleased about CBS’ decision.
“I’m kind of frustrated,” he said. “During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful.”
He pointed out that the show still had strong ratings, so, in his view, there was no reason to end it.
The “Magnum, P.I.” star added, “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.”
The Emmy winner continued, “My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go. So how do I feel? It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out.”
In May, the actor revealed he might not be able to afford his California ranch with the series ending. He told CBS Sunday Morning he was at risk of losing the Ventura County, Calif., property.
“That’s always an issue. If I stopped working, yeah. Am I set for life? Yeah, but maybe not on a 63-acre ranch!” the former “Friends” star said.
He also told CBS News, “We’re the third-highest scripted show in all of broadcast. We’re winning the night. All the cast wants to come back. And I can tell you this: we aren’t sliding off down a cliff. We’re doing good shows, and still holding our place. So, I don’t know. You tell me!”
Despite his disappointment, he made it clear that he won’t retire from Hollywood.
That same month, he told Town & Country, “I hope there’s another Western in my future. Certainly whatever happens with ‘Blue Bloods,’ I’m not going to stop acting.”
The “Three Men and a Baby” star has reiterated his point about how the show’s ratings never dwindled several times.
“What nobody’s talking about is how successful ‘Blue Bloods’ is,” he told the outlet.
He added, “It’s the No. 3 highest rated scripted show in all of broadcast. We’re winning Friday nights, and doing well on Paramount Plus. The show is not in decline.”
Selleck also had some brutally honest words about the TV industry.
“It’s constantly in flux. I don’t want to sound like an old timer and say it’s not as good as it used to be, but … I just don’t see the development and belief in projects,” he told the outlet.
The TV veteran continued, “Actors are not widgets — people matter. Audiences tune in, in any kind of series, whether it’s a cable or Netflix, they tune in again to see the people, the people they become interested in. I don’t think that’s ever going to change, but I don’t think it’s in a very good state at the moment, frankly.”
Selleck got in another jab at the network for pulling the plug on “Blue Bloods,” saying, “I still hold out hope that CBS will come to their senses.”
“Blue Bloods” airs its series finale Friday, Dec 13. at 10 p.m. on CBS.
