As BLUE BLOODS begins the first half of its final season, star Tom Selleck is sharing his thoughts on the show’s end, saying it’s coming to a close before the story has run its course.
“The show’s more popular than ever, and I think [the numbers] will increase with the interest this year,” Selleck said. “We’re certainly not out of ideas.”
“I’m not counting the days so I can do something else,” he continued. “I love the work. Sometimes the hours are a little longer because I’m older, but so what? I want [to] work as long as they’ll have me.”
The end of the show was announced last year as CBS couldn’t come to a long-term budgetary agreement that would allow continued production on the show. Just to shoot the final season, the main cast and crew took a 25% pay cut.
While those working on the show are lamenting its end, they hope to deliver a satisfying finale that will appease the show’s large fanbase.
“BLUE BLOODS leaves behind an enduring legacy that was collectively achieved by our extraordinary cast, our talented and tirelessly inventive writers, and the best crew in the business…We look forward to giving fans an exciting and emotionally satisfying final season, and we are forever grateful for their enthusiasm and loyalty over all these years,” showrunner Kevin Wade said when the final season was announced.
Since then, details about the season have revealed the return of multiple beloved characters including Nicky (Sami Gayle), Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and Jacki Curatola (Jennifer Esposito).
The first episode of the final season will premiere on CBS Friday, Feb. 16. The first 10 episodes of the season will run during the spring, with the final eight airing in the fall.
As BLUE BLOODS enters its 14th season, showrunner Kevin Wade promises that the final season will give fans a proper sendoff.
“The jeopardy has never been ‘will the kidnapper get caught before he kills the victims,’ but whether two or more Reagans get into a conflict they can’t walk back. That’s what resonates,” Wade said.
“There have been times we tried to honor what the fans most want,” added actor Will Estes. “Ring the bell loud enough, and there’s a good chance they’ll get what they want. We all want to go out with a bang.”
The show announced last fall that it would be entering into its final season in 2024. Season 14 will be broken into two parts, with the first 10 episodes airing in the spring, followed by the final eight in the fall.
“For the past 13 years it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family,” Tom Selleck said in a statement after the show announced it would end after the 14th season.