Fans are no strangers to the whims of television executives and their mistaken beliefs about what’s best for the show. Sometimes it feels like you’re putting names in a hat and randomly pulling them out to decide what to delete.
Let’s take the cancellation of Blue Bloods as an example. Blue Bloods has come a very impressive fourteen years.
Not many shows can achieve such a feat.
With its long tenure, Blue Bloods continues to garner huge ratings on Friday night shows. Very few shows get the same amount of airtime throughout their entire run, let alone become a hit on a Friday night.
Just like few TV shows survive a long run with most of their original cast intact.
What is your favorite show that has kept the same cast throughout its entire run? How long has it been on the air? Exactly.
So, if the show is doing well in the ratings, then it must be because the cast wants it to end, right? After working in the same role for so long, they must be ready to move on to other creative endeavors.
But, no, that’s not the case here at all. None of the Blue Bloods actors have expressed interest in leaving the show to pursue new opportunities.
In fact, the opposite is true. They firmly believe they would like to continue the show in its regular format.
Ever since CBS dropped the heartbreaking news of its decision to cancel Blue Bloods , fans and cast members alike haven’t had much interest in the spinoffs CBS hinted at.
Okay, let’s fix this.
That’s not to say fans want the show to disappear. They went to great lengths to oppose the cancellation, even launching a petition. CBS has been known to reverse its decision.
Looking at the SWAT team, we thought it was finished.
It’s not that actors get tired of repeating roles, which often happens after playing the same character for more than a decade.
So what’s left?
As with every decision, it’s all about money. Between the growth of streaming and the recent writers’ strike, CBS, like every other network, is trying to find ways to save money.
Cutting the lineup is just one attempt to cut the budget.
But why would they target such a successful series? Not only does this seem unfair, but it’s also a disservice to the fans who brought the success.
To be honest, the show’s success led to its failure.
Successful long-term shows require larger filming budgets. If you want to make money, you eliminate the most expensive things. Considering the higher cost of an all-star cast like “Blue Bloods,” it makes sense to cut it.
But why does Blue Bloods cost so much per season?
Well, first of all you’ve got a huge cast list. Most shows have a dynamic team of regulars, usually around five people.
Blue Bloods has 11 main characters who usually appear in every episode.
Most of these characters have been on the show since Blue Bloods’ first season, so they’re naturally going to get higher salaries than actors who appear on newer shows. Tom Selleck’s salary is enough to make the broke among us cry.
But why wouldn’t a legend with over four decades of acting experience be one of the highest-paid actors in the cast?
Then there are the filming locations.
Blue Bloods is set in New York, which everyone knows is an expensive place, whether you live there or use it to record.
If money was the main factor in the show’s cancellation, couldn’t the show continue by negotiating a reduction in the filming budget?
Of course, CBS is making money from the show’s airing.
Unfortunately, this approach has already been explored. Everyone involved in the production of the Blue Bloods series is taking a 25% pay cut to respectfully complete the series.
The final season of Blue Bloods airs in two parts.
The first half will consist of eight episodes to fill out the fall 2023 lineup, which was delayed following the writers’ strike.
The network retained the final 10 episodes of its fall 2024 slate, but CBS delayed the show while other networks aired it on their normal schedules.
Fans had hoped that the delayed completion of the series meant that Marvel would be able to turn things around. Alas, that didn’t happen.
It doesn’t look like there will be any reprieve for this decision.
No matter how much fans protest, petition, or threaten to boycott the network, CBS will not change its mind.
Okay, but does that mean all hope is lost?
We’ve seen similar situations where a show is about to end, only to be picked up by another network at the last minute.
“9-1-1” was shelved and destined to end with its sixth season, but Fox decided to terminate the show. But ABC Network purchased the rights, and “9-1-1” received a seventh season.
Other shows have avoided cancellation by switching from live webcasts to streaming services. It works for shows that were almost canceled like Designated Survivor, SEAL Team, Lucifer, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Futurama.
To work for the Reagan family, Blue Bloods needs a network or service with a budget to keep up with expenses.
CBS no longer had wiggle room in its budget to pay for the production of “Blue Bloods.”
We can partly blame the SWAT Team update.
Another problem with continuing this show is the story, which is a family drama first and a police procedural second. While you can have dozens of new police cases, family storylines aren’t as flexible.
There’s only so much you can do before each character’s story becomes a repetitive trope. We also can’t throw away an actor and bring in someone new.
The whole reason “Blue Bloods” stands out so well in the fierce competition of television shows is because of its family dynamic.
Fans love the show because of the Sunday dinners every Sunday with the Reagan family (what’s left). If you want to cook the meals the Reagan family enjoyed on Sunday, check out the new Blue Bloods Family Dinings YouTube series.
Each episode will correspond with a meal Blue Bloods is serving that week, with chef Paul Wahlberg giving you step-by-step instructions for the entire process.
Danny Regan, brother of Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg.
Okay, fanatics. Let us hear what you have to say.
What are your thoughts on the Blue Bloods cancellation? Did you add your name to the petition? Will you boycott the network or just sadly accept this decision and look for your next favorite family drama?
Finally, how do you feel about the news of a Blue Bloods spinoff? Do you think this is a good idea? Maybe a prequel to Frank’s former commissioner, like Gibbs’ NCIS: Origins .
