CBS drama "Blue Bloods" premiered in 2010 and ended in 2024, becoming Tom Selleck's longest-running television role. The Tom Selleck Is Back In The Saddle After Reigniting CBS Feud Over Shocking ‘Blue Bloods’ Cancellation first appeared on The Blast

Tom Selleck is officially back in the saddle after nearly two years away from a scripted TV show.

The actor has landed a new role following the shocking cancellation of “Blue Bloods.” Selleck will be a guest star in an upcoming Apple TV comedy starring Elizabeth Banks and Ted Danson.

Tom Selleck spent 14 seasons playing NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan on “Blue Bloods.” The CBS drama premiered in 2010 and ended in 2024, becoming the actor’s longest-running television role. The 81-year-old performer is also known for his role  as the charismatic investigator Thomas Magnum in “Magnum, P.I.” 

Tom Selleck Lands First Acting Role After ‘Blue Bloods’ Drama

Selleck has officially joined the guest-starring cast of an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series led by Banks. Produced by 20th Television, the as-yet-untitled show is created, show-run, and executive produced by Liz Heldens and Matt Ward.

The plot follows Banks’ character, Heidi, as she navigates a messy divorce and accidentally gets caught up coordinating her father’s retirement community escapades. 

The star-studded ensemble features big names including Ted Danson, Rob Delaney, Katey Sagal, Jared Goldstein, and Spencer Moss. Additionally, actors Hamish Linklater, Michelle Buteau, and Simu Liu are locked into recurring roles for the freshman comedy.

According to an official casting report by Deadline, specific details regarding exactly who Selleck will portray are currently being kept completely under wraps. The high-profile comedy gig marks a fresh television chapter for Selleck after completing a massive 15-season run on “Blue Bloods.”

The veteran actor previously dominated the small screen as Thomas Magnum in “Magnum P.I.” and appeared on “Friends.” His extensive Hollywood career also spans decades of hit films, including “In & Out,” “Quigley Down Under,” and “Three Men and a Baby.”

Why The ‘Blue Bloods’ Cancellation Still Stings

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Selleck has made it clear that he did not believe “Blue Bloods” had reached its natural end. The actor recently revealed that the cast wanted to return for another season, despite already making financial sacrifices.

He said the ensemble had taken a 25 percent salary cut during the final season to help keep the show alive. The veteran actor reportedly earned nearly $200,000, which dropped to approximately $150,000 per episode.

During Ted Danson’s “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast, Selleck recalled the cast’s final family dinner. “Everybody wanted to come back,” he said, explaining that they had already “done all sorts of things to keep the show going.” He also revealed that the series was “certainly not out of ideas.”

Selleck pointed to the drama’s performance as another reason he struggled with the cancellation. He said “Blue Bloods” ranked sixth among the top 100 broadcast shows in its 15th year, while the same cast had remained intact for an unusually long period.

The Blast reported that Selleck believes the series was taken for granted because it consistently delivered strong audiences, even on Friday nights.

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‘Blue Bloods’ is Not The Only Show That Got CBS’s Axe

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CBS had already been making major programming decisions before “Blue Bloods” eventually ended. In May 2023, the network canceled “True Lies” and “East New York” after both shows spent time on the bubble. Their final episodes were scheduled to air later that month.

The cancellations came as traditional television ratings continued to decline. Networks were increasingly focused on owning their scripted programming, while viewers were cutting the cord and moving toward streaming platforms. “East New York” was affected likely because Warner Bros. Television produced the procedural.

At the time, “Blue Bloods” was still set to return for another season. CBS had reduced the salaries of its cast and creators by 25 percent to keep the series going, taking it into Season 14 and beyond 275 episodes.

The Blast reported that the show remained part of CBS’ returning lineup while the network continued tightening its spending. Shows slated to return to CBS that season included long-running hits like “Blue Bloods,” “CSI: Vegas, The Equalizer,” “NCIS,” and “Young Sheldon.”

The Veteran Actor Was ‘Scared To Death’ On ‘Friends’

Selleck’s television career has included some major departures from his usual roles. Before “Blue Bloods,” he became widely known as Thomas Magnum on “Magnum, P.I.” after getting his big break on the series in 1980. Years later, he stepped into sitcom territory as Dr. Richard Burke on “Friends.”

In 2022, the actor admitted he was “scared to death” when he accepted the role because he had never really worked on a sitcom before. He had previously appeared on “Taxi,” but joining an established comedy with an ensemble already comfortable together was a different challenge. Courteney Cox helped him settle into the role and welcomed him onto the set. “Courteney helped a lot. Courteney’s a big help,” he added.

Selleck was initially expected to appear in only three episodes during Season 2. He ended up appearing in nine, with Richard and Monica eventually breaking up after he refused to have children, before he returned during Season 6 shortly before Matthew Perry’s character proposed to Monica. The Blast reported that Selleck ultimately described the “Friends” set as a “wonderful place to work.”

Tom Selleck’s Favorite Memories On ‘Friends’

The actor made memorable appearances as Richard on “Friends.” During one talk show appearance in 2022, he wore a dark three-piece blue suit with a tie and lighter blue shirt, while his distinctive mustache remained part of his signature look. The characters, Richard and Monica, shared several memorable moments during Selleck’s run on the sitcom. 

In “The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies,” the couple prepared for an intimate night while Rachel and Ross were in the adjoining bedroom, only to discover there was just one protection band left.

Their breakup in “The One With the Jam” also produced one of the show’s most memorable lines. Monica famously declared, “I needed a plan. A plan to get over my man. What’s the opposite of man? Jam!”

The Veteran actor has since built a filmography spanning decades, with “Magnum P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” among his best-known television credits. He was married to Jacqueline Ray before marrying Jillie Joan Mack in 1987, and they have a daughter, Hannah, while Selleck also has an adopted son, Kevin, from his first marriage.

Tom Selleck’s new acting role after “Blue Bloods” is something to look forward to.

The Tom Selleck Is Back In The Saddle After Reigniting CBS Feud Over Shocking ‘Blue Bloods’ Cancellation first appeared on The Blast