Opinion
Tonight is the premiere of the final season of the beloved television show “Blue Bloods,” which has aired on CBS since 2010. In preparation, “Blue Bloods” star Donnie Wahlberg is opening up about the strong bond he shares with his co-star Tom Selleck, who became a father figure to him both on and off screen.
Wahlberg’s connection to Selleck
“Tom Selleck, I call him dad,” Wahlberg, 54, told Fox News. “At first he was a little disconcerted about the first season or two, he was like, ‘Oh, hey, Donnie. Now it’s like we’ve become so close.
“He literally said to me, ‘Oh, hey, son, how are you today?’” he continued. “It’s like we’ve just become a real family, and it will be very difficult not to be with them [them] anymore, but I’m sure we’ll stay in touch even after the cameras aren’t rolling.
Wahlberg went on to describe what it’s like to work on a show with an “icon” like Selleck, who rose to fame starring in “Magnum P.I.” in the 1980s.
“Tom, you know, in many ways, is an icon. First of all, if you think about television and how many people have had two series – two TV series – with this level of success, Tthere are very few people in the history of television who have had two very successful, long-running television shows,” Wahlberg explained. “You can probably count them on one hand, and Tom Selleck is one of them.”
The cast of ‘Blue Bloods’ has become ‘a real family’
Wahlberg also said that the rest of the “Blue Bloods” cast became “a real family” after filming together for fourteen years.
“The cast and crew — there’s something special about coming to work every day in New York with this crew that we have, many of whom have been here for 14 years,” Wahlberg said. “It’s just incredible to work with them. The cast is phenomenal. They are like a real family.”
The cast and crew have become so close that Wahlberg has a hard time imagining never filming with them again.
“We’ve been through so much together that the thought of not coming to work with the people I’ve worked with for so long will hit me in the heart sooner or later,” he admitted. “I’m really enjoying the journey right now and trying not to go there emotionally.”
Related: Tom Selleck pays tribute to ‘Blue Bloods’ co-star Treat Williams after he was killed in motorcycle crash
Selleck isn’t ‘ready to say goodbye’ to ‘Blue Bloods’
Last month, Selleck explained how difficult it is for him to see the end of “Blue Bloods.”
“CBS is going to find that a lot of people aren’t ready to say goodbye to her,” the 79-year-old star told TV Insider. “The show is more popular than ever, and I think [numbers] will increase with interest this year. We are certainly not short of ideas.”
“I’m not counting the days until I can do something else. I love the work,” she added. “Sometimes the hours are a little harder because I’m older, but so what? I want to work as long as they’ll have me.”
Selleck also talked about his iconic “Blue Bloods” character, Frank Reagan, saying he “picks fights because he would like someone to take on the burden of that responsibility.” [off] his hands and fire him. But he has an overactive sense of responsibility and maintains it.”
Full Article: Tom Selleck Breaks Silence on ‘Blue Bloods’ Ending – He’s ‘Not Ready to Say Goodbye’
“Blue Bloods” will air the first 10 episodes of its 14th and final season starting tonight. The final eight episodes of the series are expected to air in the fall.
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