The cancellation of Blue Bloods after 14 wildly successful seasons sent shockwaves through the television landscape, sparking an outcry from both its devoted fanbase and its primary star, Tom Selleck. For years, Selleck’s portrayal of NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan anchored the Friday night lineup, drawing millions of viewers weekly.
Selleck was refreshingly candid about his frustration with the network, stating the show was still “wildly successful” and felt “taken for granted” by CBS. Yet, even as the original series concluded, the Blue Bloods universe expanded with the announcement of the spinoff, Boston Blue, starring Donnie Wahlberg as Detective Danny Reagan. This raises the pivotal question: How does Tom Selleck, the face of the franchise, really feel about the new spinoff, especially after publicly “slamming” the network that created it?
The reality is complex, blending Selleck’s deep disappointment over the original show’s ending with a professional openness to the continuation of the Reagan legacy. His stance is less a blanket rejection of the spinoff and more a profound lament for what the parent series could have continued to be.
The Source of the Slam: Frustration Over Cancellation
To understand Selleck’s attitude toward Boston Blue, one must first acknowledge his public, unapologetic criticism of the network’s decision to end Blue Bloods. This was the root of his discontent, not the spin-off itself.
The Success That Was Taken for Granted
Selleck repeatedly pointed out that the show consistently ranked in the Top 10 of all broadcast programs in total viewers, making its cancellation purely a financial, rather than a creative or ratings, decision. He stated, “I’m kind of frustrated… My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go.”
This sense of betrayal—the feeling that a top-performing, critically stable show was abruptly cut short—colored his perspective on all subsequent moves by the network. It’s a classic conflict between the artistic success the cast championed and the budgetary mandates of the corporate suite. The cancellation felt premature, and that is where Selleck’s true disappointment lies.
The Legacy Continues: Selleck’s View on ‘Boston Blue’
Despite his animosity toward the corporate decision, Tom Selleck has maintained a nuanced and professional position on Boston Blue, which primarily follows his on-screen son, Danny Reagan, as he moves to the Boston Police Department.
Open to the Reagan Universe
Selleck’s feelings about the spinoff are surprisingly gentle, rooted in his enduring love for his character, Frank Reagan, and the entire fictional family. He has publicly stated that he is “open to suggestions because I love Frank Reagan.”
This suggests that his professional door is not entirely closed. While the premise of Boston Blue centers on the new Silver family and Danny Reagan’s transition, the fundamental DNA—a law enforcement family grappling with moral and personal issues—remains.
- Honoring the Character: For Selleck, Frank Reagan does not retire. The show’s narrative ended with him still serving as Police Commissioner, a position of unparalleled influence. If he were to appear in Boston Blue, it would need to make narrative sense, perhaps as Frank’s expertise is required on a joint NYPD/BPD case, or simply as the Reagan patriarch checking in on his son.
- A “Family” Affair: The cast of Blue Bloods has always emphasized their tight, family-like bond off-screen. Donnie Wahlberg and other Boston Blue cast members, including Ernie Hudson, have expressed hope for a Selleck cameo. This mutual desire suggests that any appearance by Selleck would be a heartfelt reunion, not a strained obligation.
The truth is, Selleck wants the Reagan legacy, which he helped build over 14 years, to continue to succeed. His reservation is not with the actors or the idea of a continuation, but with the process by which the transition was forced.
The Challenge for ‘Boston Blue’
The spinoff, which premiered in October 2025, has faced the immediate challenge of operating in the shadow of its predecessor’s controversial end. The initial reception highlights the delicate balance between honoring the past and establishing a new identity.
A Formulaic Success
Boston Blue creators have opted for a familiar blueprint: a law enforcement family, a central dinner scene (this time, with the Silver family), and Danny Reagan as the transplanted lead. The spin-off is a deliberate attempt by CBS to maintain the “Reaganomics” of the Friday night slot.
Donnie Wahlberg’s enthusiasm for the new series has been key to its launch. He sees it as an “opportunity to keep family, faith and tradition on TV” and has advocated for the expansion of the Blue Bloods universe. This dedication to the spirit of the original show might be the quality that ultimately assuages Selleck’s frustration.
The Missing Patriarch
Despite cameo appearances from other Reagan family members like Erin (Bridget Moynahan) in the Boston Blue premiere, the missing presence of Frank Reagan is keenly felt. Selleck’s character was the show’s moral compass—the one who tied the disparate storylines together at the weekly family dinner. Without his presence, the new show must work harder to establish its own moral authority and patriarchal grounding.
For Tom Selleck, seeing his former co-stars carry the torch is likely a source of pride, but it remains a painful reminder of the successful show he believes was unjustly terminated.
Conclusion: A Wary Optimism
Tom Selleck’s stance on Boston Blue can be summed up as one of wary optimism. He is deeply frustrated with the network’s handling of the Blue Bloods cancellation, believing it was a massive mistake to end a top-tier, beloved show. This frustration is the source of his public “slam.”
However, he holds no ill will towards the cast or the continuation of the franchise’s themes. He loves the character of Frank Reagan and is genuinely open to returning if the story is right. For the time being, Boston Blue represents a silver lining—a way to extend the legacy of the Reagan family, even if the original patriarch has been forcibly sidelined by network decision-making.
The greatest triumph for Boston Blue would be for it to succeed to the point where Tom Selleck cannot resist stepping back into Frank Reagan’s shoes, even for a cameo, solidifying the idea that the Reagan family dinner table—whether in New York or Boston—can never be truly closed.
