Tom Selleck Talks the End of the Show, His Regret for Frank, the Final Scene and What's Next (Exclusive)

Tom Selleck loves to talk – sharing his opinions, giving advice and making jokes. In my many interviews with the legendary actor during Blue Bloods' In the 14-year series, in which he has played NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan since 2010, he has clearly enjoyed paying tribute to his long-running cop family show and his fellow actors and writers. What he preferred not to do was not spoil future storylines. “There will be some surprises,” he revealed, “but they will be positive ones.”

However, we can be sure of what will happen by then Blue Bloods' final episode in December: Commissioner Reagan will continue to head the NYPD and also preside over the family's weekly Sunday dinners, which take place in the Brooklyn home he and his dad, the long-retired PC Henry (Len Cariou), share. Det. Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Sgt. Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) will investigate additional cases; Jamie's wife, police officer Eddie Janko (Vanessa Ray), will arrest suspects; and senior ADA Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) will oversee Manhattan's trial office. And who knows, maybe we'll even see a few Reagans again when Blue blood gets the supposed spin-off that has captivated fans for months. “There are endless possibilities, what a Blue blood This is what a spinoff would look like,” said David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “We have a whole season (of Blue blood) to go… so we still have time to think about a spin-off.”

Here are excerpts from two exclusive interviews with the Emmy and Golden Globe winner (he won both for his other classic TV role as a private investigator). Magnum, PI). The first was carried out on Blue Bloods “Brooklyn” played a role last spring when the cast gathered for their final photo and video shoots about a month before filming the series finale. The second was a telephone conversation with Selleck when he was back at his ranch in California shortly after all filming was completed.

Although he finished his scenes a few days before most of the cast, the star flew back from Los Angeles, where he was filming a commercial, to watch it as a sign of his respect and love for the series Blue Bloods' Last day of filming on Thursday, June 20th. “I watched the final scenes with Bridget and Steve (Schirripa) and then Donnie and Marisa (Ramirez),” Selleck said. “It was hard, but I didn't want to just stay at home; I wanted to be there and felt compelled to share the experience.”

What was your very last one? Blue blood Scene?

Tom Selleck: My last scene was, ironically, a family dinner; That was also the first scene I shot on the show 15 years ago! I won't tell you everything about the final episode… but the family dinner somehow brings the Reagan family back together. Erin's daughter Nicky (Sami Gayle) was there, as was Jack (Tony Terraciano), Danny's older son. Everyone agreed with me that we should close the family dinner set and not take advantage of it. Most of them still had four days of filming left, but I didn't.

What was that moment like?

We shot for hours and suddenly they said, “That was the last take.” I always wanted to say this poem: “Love Isn't Everything” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. There was crying and lots of hugging. Donnie was truly broken; he didn't say much. Bridget spoke. Almost everyone said something. Vanessa (Ray) was pretty exhausted from the experience.

How do you feel now? Blue blood is over? They have been vocal about not wanting the show to end after the 14th^Th Season.

I'm kind of frustrated. During these last eight shows, I didn't want to talk about an ending Blue blood but about the fact that it is still extremely successful. In the top 100 shows of 2023-2024 (we were number 9 out of 100 in terms of total viewers), if you ignore the three football shows, we are in 6th place! 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 told the TV station, “Here's a show you're watching in the worst time slot “You can program the one you have and it will guarantee you win Friday nights for the next 15 years.” “It would be almost impossible to believe. What frustrates me is that the show has always been taken for granted because it worked right from the start. How do I feel? It's going to take a long time to sort this all out. I remember after the weekend (shooting the last episode) I said, “I have to go 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.

What will you miss most? Blue blood Sentence?

The actors. The actors' family is as close-knit as the Reagan family and the characters they play. There isn't a single one of them who didn't want to come back. Most shows don't end like that – there's petty jealousy and all sorts of things – and we seemed to overcome that. It's something everyone can hang their hat on and be proud of.

You all seem so comfortable with each other on and off screen.

You set the tone early on and I'm proud to say I contributed after having such a good experience Magnum. To blue blood, In a way, I was the patriarch of the Reagan acting family. They knew that I had (had worked on a long-running show before), so I had some credibility when problems arose. It helped, I think.

What does the show say about the police? What was important to you?

I assumed from the first script that (the NYPD) would be portrayed in three dimensions. And the show has kept that promise in the sense that we've shown flawed cops and good cops and we've got a family of cops who, for the most part, are trying to do the right thing. We entertain people and say something positive – not that the police don't make mistakes or there aren't corrupt cops, it's a mix – and I think that's how we've built such a wide audience.

Speaking of the police: How important are Frank's three close contacts at the police headquarters, 1 Police Plaza: lieutenant Sid Gormley (Robert Clohessy), Det. Abigail Baker (Abigail Hawk) and Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garrett Moore (Gregory Jbara)?

They are probably the people closest to him in the entire police force. I really felt like Frank's stories were what went on behind the closed office door. They are responsible for much of Frank's success.

Story-wise, do you have any regrets about what could have been for Frank?

Everyone says, “It would be nice to see (Frank) have a relationship.” If I had any regrets, it would be that he couldn't flirt often enough because they didn't have a relationship. But that didn't fit our format.

CBS

But Frank had a few affairs early on in the show, including with a reporter.

Yes, she was an old friend of his, played by Margaret Colin, who I knew Three men and a baby. Frank is not dead! He still wears his wedding ring, but he still needs and flirts with someone. But we had three stories in each episode at first, and then four when Vanessa (Ray) became a regular, so there's not really room for that. I would have enjoyed playing it, but you just can't do everything.

You told me that you don't think Frank should retire after the show ends. Can you confirm he won't do that?

A lot happens in the final episode, but Frank is a constant. He remains a man alone and he is a police commissioner.

What else can you say about Frank Reagan?

I like my character! Most of the time I don't know what the next script will be. You see what is coming and informs you. Hmmmn – that’s another side of my character that I haven’t explored yet. I have to find a way to make that consistent with what the audience thinks Frank is. In the series, no one is perfect; That's why I think it took so long.

Which Blue blood Scenes or moments are your favorites?

My favorite scenes are with the family, especially at the Sunday table. Also: when (Frank) was at the 9/11 Memorial (NYC). It was the first time that a show was allowed to film at the monument. It was a kind of out-of-body experience.

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What was special about being part of this long-running hit show?

To reach 14 – I say 15 years (related to part 2 of the 14^Th season here) and the cast is basically still intact. This doesn't happen very often, people move on; They believe they can do better. We all kind of stuck together and that means a lot for the quality of the show.

You're not just an actor Blue blood Now you are a producer And an editor!

I was an executive producer on Magnum at the end, and I did everything. I came to produce and edit Blue blood when I really didn't feel like the actors were getting their due.

What do people often say to you on the street?

The ultimate compliment for me is when I get a salute from the real (police officers). Former Police Commissioner Bratton calls me “the one.” Acting Commissioner.” But greetings from the real deal are a lot of fun.

What would surprise people most about Tom Selleck? Your co-stars have often mentioned that you are quite funny.

Well, I don't really take myself seriously. People were very surprised that in my book (2024) You never know) I've talked about the fear of acting, the fear of failure, and things like that. Or that my friends had to set me up with (girls) in college because I was too shy to ask. They said, “This is impossible; Have you looked in the mirror?'

Her book went from childhood to Magnum. Is there another book in you that you might talk about? Blue blood and your successful TV film series Jesse Stone?

It was really hard. It took four years and since I have no computer skills, I wrote it with a pen and notepad. I can't wait to make the sound.

It's surprising that Tom Selleck doesn't use a computer.

I don't! But I don't live in a cave somewhere. I'm lucky to have assistants who send the emails and text messages. That way I can say, “Oh no, I’m not doing that.” Maybe I need to do it now!

What's next for Tom Selleck? A finale Jesse Stone Film maybe?

It looks like I might have to write now (a script for another film). It wouldn't be a final one because everyone loves it. Jesse is a great character and it would be fascinating to find out where he is a few years later. But I need to regroup; I don't know what's next, but assuming the phone doesn't stop ringing, I'll keep working.

Blue bloodMidseason premiere, Friday, October 18, 10/9c, CBS