Tom Selleck said he was frustrated that Blue Bloods was ending because, in his view, the CBS drama remained successful and had been “taken for granted.” His comments explain his reaction to the cancellation—not CBS’s internal reason for ending the series, which the available interviews do not establish.
What Selleck said about the ending
In an interview published by TV Insider on October 3, 2024, Selleck said, “I’m kind of frustrated.” He explained: “My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go.”
He said he had wanted to talk about the show’s continuing success during its final eight episodes, rather than focus on its end. Selleck argued that even a late Friday time slot could bring in a dependable audience and make the show a Friday-night winner. Those are his assessments of the series’ performance, not a stated explanation from CBS for its decision.
His ratings claims were his own
In the TV Insider interview, Selleck referred to a ranking that placed Blue Bloods at No. 9 among 100 shows for 2023–24 total viewers. He said it would rank No. 6 if three football shows were excluded. The interview is the basis for those figures; the sources available here do not independently verify the ranking.
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Earlier, in a CBS News interview published May 5, 2024, Selleck described Blue Bloods as the third-highest scripted show on broadcast and said it was “winning the night.” Those, too, were his claims. Neither interview supplies an underlying ratings dataset or confirms that ratings figured in CBS’s decision.
From hoping CBS would reconsider to processing the end
The two interviews capture Selleck’s changing position as the series approached its conclusion. In May, after the end had been announced, he said, “I will continue to think that CBS will come to their senses.” He also said the cast wanted to return and argued that the show was still doing well.
Rank #2
- Blue Bloods DVD Complete Series Season 1-13 Box Set
By the October TV Insider interview, filming had concluded. The interview drew on a spring visit to the Brooklyn set and a later phone conversation; Selleck said he had returned to observe the cast’s last filming day on June 20. He described expecting to return to dialogue work after the final filming weekend, then realizing there would be no Monday call. He also praised the close relationships among the cast. “It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out,” he said.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the cancellation—and what is not
Blue Bloods is a CBS drama about the Reagan family, whose members work in New York City law enforcement. Selleck played NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan. CBS News reported that he had starred on the show for 14 years, and TV Insider dates his role to 2010.
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Selleck’s comments document his disappointment and his belief that the show was still performing well. They do not establish why CBS chose to end it. The interviews provide no confirmed network explanation, so it would be inaccurate to present ratings, costs, or another specific business consideration as CBS’s reason.
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Rank #4
- Blue Bloods Seasons 1-10 Complete Series DVD Set
- Blue Bloods Seasons 1-10 Complete Series DVD Set
- Blue Bloods Seasons 1-10 Complete Series DVD Set
- Blue Bloods Seasons 1-10 Complete Series DVD Set
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