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Why CBS won't be "coming to their senses" about Blue Bloods

Despite Tom Selleck's hopes, CBS has good reasons not to change their minds on cancelling Blue Bloods

By Michael Weyer

“Forgive Us Our Trespasses” – Danny and Baez team up with Danny’s old partner, Jackie Curatola (Jennifer Esposito), to find a copycat killer emulating murders from a previous case. Also, Frank and Mayor Chase (Dylan Walsh) battle over how best to handle the city’s rising homeless population; and Jamie, Eddie and Erin team up to build evidence against a previously released man who they believe is again committing criminal assault, on the 13th season finale of BLUE BLOODS, Friday, May 19
“Forgive Us Our Trespasses” – Danny and Baez team up with Danny’s old partner, Jackie Curatola (Jennifer Esposito), to find a copycat killer emulating murders from a previous case. Also, Frank and Mayor Chase (Dylan Walsh) battle over how best to handle the city’s rising homeless population; and Jamie, Eddie and Erin team up to build evidence against a previously released man who they believe is again committing criminal assault, on the 13th season finale of BLUE BLOODS, Friday, May 19 /
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Despite Tom Selleck's opes, it doesn't look like CBS is going to change their minds on Blue Bloods ending this fall! Why is the network so adamant about axing this hit series?

CBS had a wild time in the 2023-24 season. The 2023 Hollywood strikes prevented the usual network slate from premiering until mid-February 2024. It worked with new hits like Tracker and Elsbeth, which succeeded, and several franchises continued. However, CBS angered fans by axing NCIS: Hawaii and a few other shows are coming to planned ends, such as Young Sheldon.

Yet canceling Blue Bloods is still hurting fans deeply. The show has been a Friday night mainstay, with fans loving the stories of the Reagans as they handle crime in New York City and bond over family dinners. The show has been strong for a while with the cast and crew willing to take pay cuts for it to continue.

Thus, fans aren't happy at CBS announcing season 14 will be the final one. The network is mitigating it by splitting the season in two with half to wrap up in May and then the final run of episodes starting in October with a grand series finale in December. 

Yet fans are hoping CBS can reverse the cancellation. They did so with SWAT as its moving forward with a season 8 instead of ending at season 7 as pllaned. Fans aren't alone in their desire to keep Blue Bloods going as Tom Selleck spoke to CBS News about the show and his hopes the network changes their minds. 

"I will continue to think that CBS will come to their senses. 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!"

Selleck's words echo what many fans are saying as the show remains the highest-rated network drama on Friday nights. Surely, fans would love to see it continue, yet it can also be a bit understandable why CBS is ending it like this. 

Blue Bloods deserves a grand end

It should be remembered that Blue Bloods has had a few brushes with cancellation before being renewed. That's good as, while they don't do big cliffhangers, the last few season finales would have felt lacking for a series finale. After such a long run, Blue Bloods deserves a big finale on their own terms, something to send the Reagans off in style. It doesn't have to be a huge event like a new baby or Frank retiring, but at least it should be something to mark 14 seasons on the air.

Let's face it, a 14-season run is nothing to be ashamed of. Few shows can reach half that run, and Blue Bloods has made it work without huge cast turnovers like, say, NCIS. That may be a factor in its cancellation as CBS' contracts for the cast add up, not to mention the production costs for such a long-runner. There's also Selleck's own words that they're turning out quality stories, and maybe it's best to stop there.

The TV landscape is filled with shows that went way past their expiration dates, and the writing suffered dramatically (Law & Order: SVU comes to mind). It's far better for a show to go out when the writing remains top-notch rather than wither with tired plots. Blue Bloods has avoided that, but still there's worry they may suffer a slump and limp to the finish line in a weaker fashion.

Look at SWAT. Season 7 was shaken a bit by characters written off suddenly, and now the producers have to rework what was clearly meant as the final season into another with likely new characters. CBS has given Blue Bloods producers fair warning to wrap it up as they want, and that gives them plenty of time to craft a finale fans would want.

To use another CBS show as an example, Young Sheldon got time to craft their final season to end on a strong note. If any CBS show deserves that, it's Blue Bloods, as fans want to see a finale worthy of its long run. 

As much as fans would love to see Blue Bloods crack, say, the 20-season mark, maintaining the quality this long is almost miraculous. It's much better the show ends on a high note than become yet another "is that still on" TV series. So perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for fans to see Blue Bloods go out on a high note and cap off its spectacular run.

Blue Bloods season 14 airs Fridays at 10/9c on CBS.

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