When bearded guys look up:
“Whoa… is that my ex watching me from above?”
Darth Vader returns. Still making those creepy breathing sounds?
“Waitโdoes he still come with the heavy breathing package?”
What secret did this palm tree uncover?
“Okay… what exactly did this palm tree just witness?”
Blue Bloods Stars Agree: Tom Selleck Is the Heart of the Show
According to Blue Bloods stars Vanessa Ray and Will Estes, the key to the show’s lasting success is simple: Tom Selleck.
Selleckโs portrayal of NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan has anchored the CBS hit since its 2010 debut. His strong, principled leadershipโboth on-screen and offโhas made him the undeniable backbone of the series. While the show follows multiple members of the Reagan family working across the criminal justice system, itโs Frank who remains the emotional and moral core, especially during the iconic family dinner scenes that highlight the showโs themes of loyalty, duty, and family.
In an interview with WFSB 3, reflecting on Season 9, Estes didnโt hesitate when asked what keeps fans coming back: โTom Selleck,โ he said immediately. Ray agreed with a laugh, adding that his presence shapes the tone of the entire series.
Estes praised Selleckโs deep commitment to the role and the production. โOn and off the set, Tom is our leader,โ he shared. โHeโs always prepared and has an incredible grasp of character and story.โ Despite his status as a TV legend, Selleck remains focused entirely on the work, a quality his co-stars deeply respect.
Ray and Estes both credit Selleck with raising the bar on setโnot just through his acting, but through the lessons theyโve learned from watching him work. His decades of experience and professionalism have become a quiet force behind Blue Bloodsโ continued popularity.
Simply put, Tom Selleck isnโt just a star of Blue Bloodsโhe is Blue Bloods.
NCIS Hit With Streaming Blow as Another Show Surges Ahead on Paramount+
Paramount+ just dropped its latest streaming rankings โ and for fans of NCIS, itโs not great news. The long-running military procedural has been bumped down to the No. 3 spot on the streamerโs Top 10 TV Shows list in the U.S., marking the second time in a week itโs lost its usual place.
According to data from FlixPatrol, NCIS slipped behind The Chi, which made an impressive five-spot leap to claim the No. 2 position. NCIS previously held that rank steadily, with SpongeBob SquarePants traditionally close behind at No. 3. But now, both NCIS and SpongeBob have been pushed down a peg as The Chi surges in popularity โ raising the question: could The Chi soon challenge Criminal Minds, the current No. 1?
First debuting in 2003 after a backdoor pilot on JAG, NCIS has built a massive following over its 22-season run. The series originally starred Mark Harmon as the iconic Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who led the Washington-based NCIS unit until his departure early in Season 19. Gary Cole stepped in as Alden Parker, leading a refreshed team that now includes Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Sean Murray, and Rocky Carroll.
Despite the dip in ranking, the NCIS franchise continues to expand. The original series, along with NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney, have all been renewed for the 2025-26 season. NCIS and Origins will return this fall, airing back-to-back on Thursdays, while Sydney awaits an official premiere date.
Meanwhile, fan excitement is growing for NCIS: Tony & Ziva, the spinoff reuniting Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. Their long-awaited return as DiNozzo and Ziva is set for September 4 on Paramount+.
So while NCIS may have stumbled in the rankings this week, the franchise itself is far from slowing down.
NCIS Season 23 Promises a More Character-Driven Approach โ Inspired by NCIS: Origins
Good news for fans who watch NCIS as much for the characters as for the crime-solving: Season 23 is shaping up to be one of the most personal yet.
Traditionally, NCIS has led with action, often placing character development in the background. But after more than two decades on air, the showrunners are shifting focus. Inspired in part by the emotional depth of its recent spin-off NCIS: Origins, the upcoming season will put its beloved characters front and center.
Speaking with TVLine, longtime showrunner Steven D. Binder teased whatโs ahead:
โWe really want to get to everybody in a big way. I know people always say, โI watch the show for the charactersโ โ that was always our thing โ and I really want to make this a character-forward show in a way we havenโt seen before. So if youโre invested in these people, this is going to be the season for you.โ
The franchise has already ventured deeper into character storytelling with NCIS: Origins, which premiered last year and explores the early years of a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Played by Austin Stowell, this younger Gibbs offers fans a glimpse into the formative moments that helped shape the legendary agent made famous by Mark Harmon.
Though Origins has plenty of action and tension, its true focus is on relationships, identity, and the personal cost of dutyโelements that clearly influenced the direction of NCIS Season 23.
Stowell recently opened up to Deadline about the challenge of portraying a character with such an iconic legacy.
โI was scared for so many reasons. First time doing a network show, first time playing a character already portrayed, and first time being number one on the call sheet,โ he admitted.
โI like pressure. I want the ball in my hands at the bottom of the ninth. But at the end of the day, Gibbs will always be Mark Harmonโs character. I donโt think Iโll ever get fully comfortable with that.โ
Though Harmon doesnโt appear on screen in Origins, he plays a vital role as both narrator and executive producer, maintaining the connection between the prequel and the flagship series.
NCIS: Origins is currently gearing up for its second season, while NCIS Season 23 is set to premiere this fall on CBS โ and this time, expect more heart, more backstory, and more of what fans love most: the people behind the badges.
Tom Selleck Confirms New Jesse Stone Film in the Works
Tom Selleck has officially announced that development is underway for the next installment in the Jesse Stone film series. Teaming up once again with longtime writing partner Michael Brandman, Selleck revealed theyโre actively working on a new script.
While production has faced some delays and no filming date or casting details have been finalized, discussions with potential distributors are currently ongoing. Selleck remains optimistic and excited to return to the role that fans have come to love.
More updates are expected soonโJesse Stone is far from finished.
Hollywood Mourns the Loss of Matthew Perry, 54
The sudden passing of beloved actor Matthew Perry has left fans and friends around the world heartbroken. Best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends, Perry died on October 28 at the age of 54. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Perry was open about his long battle with addiction and had dedicated much of his later life to recovery and advocacy. He often said he hoped to be remembered more for helping others overcome addiction than for his acting career.
His Friends co-stars attended his private funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, standing together in grief. In a joint statement, they shared, โWe are more than just cast mates. We are a family.โ
The emotional service ended with a moving rendition of โDonโt Give Upโ by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.
Among those hit hardest is Jennifer Aniston, one of Perryโs closest friends. Sources say she is โdevastated,โ having suffered the loss of two dear friends within the past year.
Perryโs passing marks a profound loss not only for Hollywood but for everyone who admired his talent, honesty, and heart.
Liverpool & Portugal Mourn Tragic Loss of DiogoโฏJota, 28, and Brother Andrรฉ After Fatal Crash
Liverpool forward DiogoโฏJota has died at 28 following a car crash in Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain. The accident, at about 12:30โฏa.m. local time, also claimed the life of his younger brother, AndrรฉโฏSilva (25), who played for Portuguese secondโdivision club Penafiel.
Spanish authorities say a burst tire during an overtaking maneuver caused the Lamborghini to leave the road and catch fire. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed the news on Thursday morning.
Jota had married his longtime partner, RuteโฏCardoso, just two weeks ago. The couple shared three young children.
โApart from being a fantastic player with nearly 50 caps, Diogo was an extraordinary person whose joy was contagious,โ the FPF said.
A Celebrated Career
Liverpool FC said it was โdevastated by the tragic passing of DiogoโฏJotaโ and asked for privacy for the family.
Tributes From the Football World
The entire football community is united in grief at this unimaginable loss.
Blue Bloods is more than another police proceduralโitโs a masterclass in blending crime, family, and morality. Hereโs why the series stands tall as the best cop show on television.
Bonus: The Show Never Lost Its Soul
In an era overrun with cynicism and antiโheroes, Blue Bloods remains hopeful, reminding us that family matters, service counts, and standing up for whatโs right is always worthwhile.
Inside the Real-Life Families of Your Favorite NCIS Stars
NCIS has been a fan-favorite for over 20 years, with its gripping storylines, unforgettable characters, and multiple spin-offs, including NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaiโi. While Mark Harmon once described the cast and crew as โone big family,โ many fans are curious about the real families behind the actors who bring these characters to life.
Hereโs a closer look at the partners, children, and off-screen lives of the stars from the NCIS universe:
Vanessa has led NCIS: Hawaiโi since 2021. Off-screen, she’s married to singer Nick Lachey. The couple tied the knot in 2011 and have three children: Camden (10), Brooklyn (8), and Phoenix (6).
A Hollywood legacy, Harmon is the son of football star Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox. Heโs been married to Mork & Mindy star Pam Dawber since 1987. They share two sons, Sean and Ty. Sean has even portrayed a young Gibbs in NCIS flashback episodes.
Katrina joined NCIS in Season 18 and became a regular in Season 19. Sheโs married to actor Keith Andreen, whom she met in 2010 on the set of The Resistance. They welcomed their daughter, Kinley, in 2018.
Brian is known for keeping his personal life private. He and his wife Kelly have two children. In a rare 2022 post, Brian revealed their names: Clover and Satchelโengraved on his personalized golf wedges.
Michael left NCIS in 2016 to focus on family. Heโs married to Bojana Jankovic, with whom he shares two children: Olivia (10) and Liam (9). He also has a son, August (27), from a previous marriage to actress Amelia Heinle.
Sean has two children, Caitlyn and River, with his wife Carrie. Fun fact: Pretty Little Liars actress Troian Bellisario is his real-life stepsisterโand played his sister on NCIS.
Wilmer got engaged to model Amanda Pacheco in 2020. The couple welcomed daughter Nakano Oceana in 2021. Her name honors both a meaningful trip to Japan and legendary female samurai Takeko Nakano.
Emily left NCIS in Season 18, but soon stepped into a new roleโmotherhood. She and partner James Badge Dale welcomed their son Cassius on December 30, 2021.
Maria shares a 21-year-old son, Jackson, with ex Dan McDermott. She came out as gay in 2013 and is currently engaged to French chef Dominique Crenn. The couple went public in 2020 and got engaged in Paris.
LL has been married to Simone I. Smith since 1995. They have four adult children: Najee (33), Italia (32), Samaria (27), and Nina (22). Nina is following in her dadโs footsteps with a budding music career.
Daniela met husband David Olsen on the NCIS: LA setโheโs the stunt double (and real-life brother) of Eric Christian Olsen. The couple has two kids: River and Sierra.
Chris has been married to Caroline Fentress since 1997, and they have five children: Lily (23), Christopher (22), Charles (19), Finley (16), and Maeve (15). Several family members, including Maeve, have made cameos on NCIS: LA.
NCIS:โฏOriginsโโHow Mark Harmonโs Advice Is Shaping the Prequelโs Young Stars
NCIS is one of televisionโs longestโrunning franchises, and its newest offshoot, NCIS:โฏOrigins, rewinds to the 1990s to chart the rise of future legend Leroy Jethro Gibbs. While Mark Harmon narrates and executiveโproduces, the younger Gibbs is played by AustinโฏStowellโjoined by an unlikely partner, SpecialโฏAgent Bernard โRandyโ Randolf, portrayed by CalebโฏFoote.
Foote told Entertainment Tonight that Harmonโwhom he calls โthe godfather of NCISโโpulled him aside with one simple directive:
โTrust who you are.โ
That authenticity, Foote says, has informed every scene he shoots as Randy, a character meant to guide Gibbs yet destined to forge a far different mentorโrookie dynamic than fans might expect.
Showrunners DavidโฏJ.โฏNorth and GinaโฏLucitaโฏMonreal insist Seasonโฏ2 will continue Gibbsโs slow transformation from earnest rookie to the steely leader introduced in 2003:
โWeโre inching our way thereโฆ Seasonโฏ1 showed his gut was already churning. Those are all stepping stones toward becoming the Gibbs fans first met.โ
Renewed in February while Seasonโฏ1 was still airing, NCIS:โฏOrigins left viewers with a cliffโhanger: Gibbsโs confidante LalaโฏDominguez (MarielโฏMolino) bleeding in an overturned car. Seasonโฏ2โarriving on CBS this fallโpromises answers and a more assertive Gibbs.
Catch up: Stream NCIS:โฏOrigins Seasonโฏ1 on Paramount+ now, and stay tuned for more updates as production on Seasonโฏ2 gets underway.