Tom Selleck admitted to being “frustrated” over CBS‘ decision to end the long-running police procedural Blue Bloods.
In a new interview with TV Insider, the star — who has portrayed NYPD police commissioner Frank Reagan across nearly 300 episodes, 14 seasons and just as many years — discussed feeling that the primetime series has been “always taken for granted.”
“I’m kind of frustrated. During those last eight shows [Blue Bloods will conclude with eight episodes that begin airing Oct. 18 at 10 p.m.], I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful,” he said, adding that the series was a top performer during last year’s broadcast season in terms of total viewership, cracking the Top 10 when one discounts the top football programs. Despite averaging 8.1 million viewers — a feat in today’s broadcast landscape — the series is on its way out, likely due to the financial burden required to keep a long-running show going.
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.”
“My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go,” the Friends actor said. “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 has previously spoken about his dislike for the network cancellation, saying back in May that he hoped CBS would reverse the decision. “I will continue to think that CBS will come to their senses,” the Emmy winner said at the time. “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!”
His comments came on the heels of a press conference led by CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach, who confirmed the finality of the series. “We love this cast, we love their passion for the show. All shows have to come to an end. It’s important to us to refresh the schedule. We are going to end the show come December,” she said when reminded by reporters that cast members have called for the show to remain on air.
Blue Bloods, which first premiered on CBS on Sept. 24, 2010, follows the members of the fictional Irish-Catholic Reagan family, who has a history of working in New York City law enforcement.
