Donnie Wahlberg recently opened up about the emotional toll of Blue Bloods ending, sharing that he and his castmates did everything they could to keep the beloved show on the air. In an interview with Fox News, Wahlberg expressed his sadness over the cancellation, particularly for the crew who had worked alongside the cast in New York City for so many years.
โWe did everything we could to keep the show going,โ Wahlberg said. โIt was tough for me, and Iโm sure for some of the others too. We kept hoping that we could make it happen, but we couldnโt. That was a hard reality to accept.โ
Wahlberg admitted that he felt like he had let the crew down, even though he knew they would never feel that way. He continued, โWe got so close to that crew, and they had families and responsibilities. It was an amazing feeling to know we were part of so many peopleโs livelihoods, and to have that come to an end was difficult. It was emotional, and Iโm sure it was scary for them too.โ
Wahlberg wasnโt alone in his disappointment over the showโs cancellation. Tom Selleck, who played Frank Reagan on the series, has also expressed frustration with the decision. In an interview with CBS News, Selleck pointed out the showโs success, saying, โWeโre the third-highest scripted show in all of broadcast. Weโre winning the night. The cast wants to come back, and I can tell you, weโre not slipping. Weโre doing good shows and holding our place.โ
Selleck further emphasized the importance of the castโs connection with the audience, telling Town & Country, โActors are not widgets. People matter. Audiences tune in to see the people they become invested in, and I donโt think thatโs ever going to change. But the state of television is concerning.โ
The showโs finale, which aired on December 13, was met with impressive viewership, earning 6.68 million live+same-day viewers and potentially surpassing 11.4 million viewers within its first week. The numbers reflected a strong and loyal audience, with the finale seeing a 15% increase in live+same-day averages compared to the rest of the season. Despite the solid ratings, Blue Bloods was canceled, leaving its cast and crew to come to terms with the end of an era.
