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EXCLUSIVE: The upcoming 14th season of CBS’ venerable cop family drama Blue Bloods will be its last. Deadline has learned that the popular series starring Tom Selleck is getting a lengthy farewell with a two-part final season that will consist of 18 episodes. The first 10 will air next midseason, premiering on CBS on February 16 and streaming live on Paramount+; the remaining 8 will run in fall 2024.
After a double Hollywood strike that reduced the length of planned 2023-24 seasons to 10-13 episodes each – while some CBS shows produced just 10 episodes – the network is presenting two of its top series that are coming to an end. Blue Bloods and Young Sheldon, a real farewell with extended final seasons. As Deadline reported last week, the seventh and final season of the Big Bang Theory prequel will consist of 14 episodes.
Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan. CBS
“Blue Bloods,” about multiple generations of the Reagan family working in the New York Police Department, leaves the film still on top. A long-time anchor of CBS’ impressive Friday night schedule, it was the most-watched primetime program of the night last season and the third most-watched drama series Blue Bloods with 9.54 million viewers (over 11 million viewers per episode after +35 days). , produced by CBS Studios, has won the Friday 10 p.m. slot in total viewers every season since the series launched in 2010.
“Blue Bloods will forever remain a beloved part of the CBS legacy. It dominated Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere, establishing itself as a pillar of our successful lineup with an exceptionally loyal fan base,” Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, and David Stapf, president of CBS Studios, said in a joint statement.
The two executives paid tribute to the series’ star and executive producer Selleck, late Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg, who passed away in 2019, and writer/executive producer Kevin Wade, who has been with the series since midway through its first season and has been showrunner since Season 2. They also referenced a Blue Bloods fixture, the Reagans’ weekly Sunday dinner, which is the focus of every episode.
Tony Terraciano as Jack Reagan, Will Estes as Jamie Reagan, Vanessa Ray as Officer Eddie Janko, Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan, Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, Sami Gayle as Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan and Andrew Terraciano as Sean Reagan . CBS
“We will forever be grateful to the legendary Leonard Goldberg for the creation of this unique series and the amazing cast led by Tom Selleck, whom America embraced like family and watched as welcome guests at the Reagan dinner table,” said Reisenbach and Stapf. “We also sincerely thank the incredible writing and production teams led by executive producer Kevin Wade for years of compelling episodes in conceiving this final chapter, which we expect will be the most satisfying season yet for our loyal viewers.”
As Deadline detailed earlier this year, the Blue Bloods renewal followed difficult negotiations in March, with CBS demanding significant budget cuts – 25% for top talent, including actors – amid tighter financial controls in the media business and a push to contain Production costs. The cast and producers ultimately agreed to pay cuts in order to keep the show running and employ hundreds of crew members and other support staff.
According to sources, the March renewal came with the assumption that season 14 would likely be the series’ last. When the Blue Bloods writers met again in early October after the end of the WGA strike, I understand they began plotting the upcoming season as a possible final chapter. The decision to end Blue Bloods was solidified after the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, when the scope of the contract was determined and the idea of splitting it into two parts arose.
Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan. CBS
Blue Bloods, which has aired 275 episodes over its 13 seasons, will end its run with 293 episodes. With its 14 seasons, it is one of the ten longest-running CBS scripted series of all time. Selleck leads a cast that also includes Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Marisa Ramirez and Vanessa Ray.
“For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve New York City, but also showcases the importance of family,” Selleck said. “Working with these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true and I am grateful to have been part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes. We thank CBS Studios and the CBS Network for their unwavering support and extend our heartfelt thanks to the fans who have gathered with us for dinner every Friday night.”
Blue Bloods is among the top 10 series on Paramount+ based on minutes viewed and channels viewed on Pluto TV. With strong performances on CBS, streaming (including Netflix), syndication and internationally, the drama, executive produced by Wade, Siobhan Byrne-O’Connor, Ian Biederman and Dan Truly, has become a major asset for the company developed over the last decade and a half.
Will Estes as Jamie Reagan and Vanessa Ray as Officer Eddie Janko. CBS
“It has been an enormous privilege over the last 13 years to fill the vast canvas that Leonard Goldberg envisioned; A police procedural told from the perspective of four generations of a close-knit, fiercely loyal family. “Blue Bloods will leave a lasting legacy created collaboratively by our exceptional cast, our talented and tirelessly inventive writers and the best crew in the business,” said Wade. “CBS Studios and the CBS Television Network encouraged us to tell our stories in rich narratives that resonated with millions of people, and we thank them for their unwavering partnership and collaboration. We look forward to giving fans a thrilling and emotionally satisfying final season and are eternally grateful for their enthusiasm and loyalty over the years.”