Tom Selleck’s emotional presence during the final episode of “Blue Bloods” brought tears to co-star Donnie Wahlberg and others on set. The long-running series will conclude after 14 seasons in November 2023, with Wahlberg expressing mixed feelings about the end. While there is frustration over the cancellation, both actors hope for a poignant yet hopeful finale that resonates with the audience. The future of the franchise remains uncertain, but Selleck is optimistic about its potential.
It takes a lot to see a tough guy like Tom Selleck tear up. When he does, you can be sure that those around him won’t be able to hold back their emotions either. His co-star, Donnie Wahlberg, who plays his fictional son on the show Blue Bloods, experienced this firsthand while filming the series finale, which will mark the end of its 14-year run.
Donnie Wahlberg shared, “On the last day, I was filming all my scenes in the squad room, and that’s where I was holding court as Danny Reagan. Tom Selleck came in just to watch.” During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, Wahlberg reminisced about the powerful moment. “When he came in to support the cast and say goodbye, I was already emotional. I glanced over and saw him, tall and standing in the corner, with tears in his eyes. It felt like the floodgates had opened. Just thinking about it makes me emotional.“
Wahlberg later added that he feels “immense gratitude, not sadness” regarding the show’s conclusion, stating, “But everyone was crying. The last day was heartbreaking.“
A Hard Pill to Swallow
CBS recently announced that the cherished crime and family drama will conclude in November 2023, after 14 seasons. Both Wahlberg and his co-star Bridget Moynahan expressed feeling “more upset and sad” than pleased with the network’s choice. Selleck, too, conveyed his “frustration” about the decision, especially since they have all fought to keep the show thriving.
Selleck remarked, “I’m not going to turn into a bitter old man who says, ‘Get off my lawn.’ I avoid holding grudges, but if you told the network, ‘Here’s a show you can schedule in the worst time slot and still guarantee to win on Friday nights for the next 15 years,’ that would be hard to believe. My frustration is that the series has always been taken for granted because it has consistently performed well from the start. It’s going to take some time to process my feelings about it.“
Wahlberg also expressed his feelings about the end of the series: “[It stirred] a lot of emotions, didn’t it? The 14 years flew by, yet it also represents a significant chunk of my life. I didn’t even know my wife when we began.“
Emotional but Optimistic
When asked if the finale would represent a true farewell for the Reagan family, Wahlberg responded that “the audience will probably be pleased.” He elaborated, “There will be tears, the kind we’ve experienced before, but there’s also a very poignant scene in the middle of the finale that will be deeply moving. Nevertheless, I believe audiences will feel satisfied because the ending carries hope.“
The future of the Blue Bloods franchise remains uncertain. At a recent Paramount Global shareholder meeting, co-CEO Brian Robbins mentioned the show as one of the company’s most valuable assets, indicating that “new franchise extensions are on the way for Dexter, Billions, and Blue Bloods, and the success of CBS Fire Country is very promising.“
While Donnie Wahlberg appears to have accepted the series’ conclusion, Tom Selleck is optimistic that “CBS will come to its senses.”
The first episode of the second half of the final season of Blue Bloods aired yesterday on CBS, with new episodes airing every Friday. In France, fans can stream the series on Paramount+.