Donnie Wahlberg Reflects on ‘Blue Bloods’ as Final Season Approaches

Donnie Wahlberg, a mainstay on the television series “Blue Bloods” for 14 years, is preparing to say goodbye to the crime drama as the show concludes its run. The acclaimed series, which has enjoyed a long tenure since its debut in 2010, will end after its 14th season. Wahlberg, 55, expressed his emotions and gratitude towards the series and his co-stars as the final episodes approach.

“I felt tremendous gratitude, not sadness, but everyone cried. Everyone was crying, of course. The last day was heartbreaking,” Wahlberg shared. He will appear in seven more episodes of the series before its conclusion. In the show, Wahlberg portrays NYPD Detective Danny Reagan, while Tom Selleck plays his father, Commissioner Frank Reagan.

Wahlberg reminisced about his long-time collaboration with Tom Selleck, noting their deep professional respect for one another. “We have real conversations. We work,” Wahlberg said. “It’s not, I don’t show up and go, ‘Tell me what to do, Tom’… there’s a process and he respects me… what I do and what I bring to the table as I do him.”

Reflecting on a specific emotional moment, Wahlberg described how Selleck supported him during the final shooting days. “He’s really tall and he’s standing above everyone in the back corner just watching with tears in his eyes. It just was like the waterworks turned on. I could literally cry just thinking about it,” said Wahlberg, describing the scene on the “Blue Bloods” set.

The end of “Blue Bloods” marks a significant closure for its cast and crew, as well as its devoted audience. Wahlberg mentioned that viewers can expect to experience a multitude of emotions. “There’ll be a lot of tears. I think the same kind of tears we had, but there is… a very sad scene that happens in the middle of the final episode, which will be very emotional,” Wahlberg assured.

Meanwhile, Tom Selleck has voiced his frustration over the show’s cancellation. “I’m kind of frustrated. During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for ‘Blue Bloods’ but about it still being wildly successful,” the 79-year-old actor told TV Insider. He further commented on how the show was taken for granted due to its early success.

“Blue Bloods,” after airing nearly 300 episodes, will reach its conclusion with its final episode scheduled for December 2024. The remaining episodes are set to air on CBS, starting with the continuation of the 14th season’s second part, which premieres on October 18, 2024.