The Beginning of the End: Blue Bloods has its final season

Fans should start preparing their goodbyes for the Reagan family. CBS’s long-running police procedural Blue Bloods will end next fall after a two-part Season 14. Why did Blue Bloods end? Continue reading to find out.

Starring Tom Selleck as New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, the beloved series focuses on the fictional Reagan family with a long history in law enforcement. Rounding out the cast are Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynihan, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Marisa Ramirez and Vanessa Ray. Blue Bloods first premiered in 2010 and has anchored CBS’s Friday night lineup since its debut. It is the network’s most-watched primetime show and the No. 3 broadcast drama with 9.54 million viewers, according to Deadline. With 14 seasons, Blue Bloods also ranks as one of the ten longest-running CBS scripted series. The series concluded its 13th season in May 2023 but due to the WGA writers strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike, production on Season 14 was significantly delayed. The two-part final season will now consist of 18 episodes; The first eight seasons will air in spring 2024, while the remaining 10 seasons will premiere in fall 2024.

Fans were extremely shocked by the news that Blue Bloods was about to end. Why did the show say goodbye after 14 seasons? Read more below.

Why did Blue Bloods end?

Why did Blue Bloods end? While CBS hasn’t given a specific reason as to why they pulled the plug on the hit show, they did release a statement reflecting on the series’ legacy on November 20. “Blue Bloods will forever be is a beloved part of CBS’ legacy. It dominated Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its launch and established itself as a mainstay in our winning lineup with an exceptionally devoted fan base,” said CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf said in a joint statement. They went on to thank the show’s star and executive producer, Selleck, as well as the show’s late executive producer Leonard Goldberg, who passed away in 2019. “We will always forever grateful to the legendary Leonard Goldberg for developing this remarkable series and to the wonderful cast led by Tom Selleck, whom America embraced like family and watched as guests were welcomed at the table Reagan’s dinner,” they said. Executives also promised “a most satisfying season” and thanked the writers as they “envisioned this final chapter.”

Selleck also released a touching statement. “For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to produce a show that not only honors the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also demonstrates the importance of family”. “Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true and I am so grateful to be a part of the team this extraordinary over 275 episodes. Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their steadfast support, and we extend our sincere thanks to the fans who join us for dinner every Friday night.”

Back in March 2023, Deadline reported that Blue Bloods’ renewal entailed difficult negotiations, with CBS pushing for significant budget cuts – 25% for featured talent, including actors. Ultimately, the cast and producers agreed to take a pay cut to continue the show. However, according to outlet sources, the renewal comes with the assumption that Season 14 will be the series’ last. Although it hasn’t been confirmed by CBS or any of the cast, it’s possible the show ended due to budget cuts.

Fans took to social media to express their heartbreak over the news and commented on an Instagram post CBS shared announcing the final season. “Not ready for this show to end,” one fan wrote. Another commented: “No…..that was my whole Friday night. I love the Reagans! .” A third fan added: “I’m so heartbroken  this show is the best show ever. I will miss it so much .”