Blue Bloods has been cancelled at CBS after 14 seasons, with a release schedule revealed for the popular police drama led by Tom Selleck.
Blue Bloods has been cancelled by CBS, with the final season airing in two parts that will take the long-running story through 2024. First debuting in 2010, the Tom Selleck-led police drama centers on the Reagan family and tracks their multi-generational power within the New York City criminal justice system. The show, which also stars Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Marisa Ramirez, and Vanessa Ray has been a consistent ratings performer on broadcast and streaming.
Deadline now confirms that Blue Bloods season 14 will be the last. A two-part final season consisting of 18 episodes will make its CBS debut on February 16. It will also stream live on Paramount+. The remaining eight episodes will arrive in the Fall of 2024. In a statement, included below, Selleck looked back on the show:
For the past 13 years it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family. Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true and I’m grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes. Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their steadfast support and we offer heartfelt gratitude to the fans who gathered with us for dinner every Friday night.
Why Did CBS Cancel Blue Bloods?
The renewal of Blue Bloods had long been marked by uncertainty. After many highlights of Blue Bloods episodes, it had been reported that the season 14 confirmation came only after difficult negotiations. CBS asked for notable budget cuts, which included actors. The cast and producers agreed to the salary reductions in the end with the desire to keep hundreds of crew members and other staff employed.
The renewal reportedly came with the knowledge that Blue Bloods season 14 would be the last. Deadline mentions that the Blue Bloods writing team has started penning the scripts with the knowledge that it could be the final chapter, although it’s noted that the decision to end the police drama was only firmly decided after the actors strike. From there, the episode count and the release schedule were decided upon.Analysts have routinely cautioned to expect more cancellations. The number of scripted television, particularly U.S.-based live-action TV, will be reduced after reaching a high of nearly 600 in 2022. Studios and streamers are becoming more conscious of what they spend money on, with a long-running big ensemble like Blue Bloods proving especially costly.