Donnie Wahlberg’s perspective on a potential Blue Bloods spinoff is correct. For the past fourteen years, the drama about a multi-generational family of cops has been one of CBS’ most popular shows, making the network’s decision to cancel Blue Bloods disappointing and perplexing. The series’ emphasis is on family relationships, and its weekly family dinner scenes have become iconic. This unique blend of family stories with typical police procedural elements is a large part of what has made the series so popular.
Soon after CBS confirmed Blue Bloods’ cancelation, Paramount executives suggested the possibility of a spinoff in the works. Although no specific plans have been revealed, there has been widespread speculation about what the spinoff could entail, with some Blue Bloods spinoff ideas being more popular than others. Wahlberg recently made some comments about what needs to be included for a potential spinoff to be successful that demonstrate a keen understanding of why this series is so popular after over a decade on the air.
Donnie Wahlberg Is Right: A Blue Bloods Spinoff Must Be About Family
Wahlberg indicated that he would be interested in being part of a spinoff only if it contained the core family values that made Blue Bloods special. These comments were spot-on, as most of the police procedural elements would fall flat without the family aspect of the series. Blue Bloods worked because it wasn’t just about cops; it was about a family of cops that supported one another through thick and thin.
Blue Bloods’ Reagan family dinners were the most popular part of the show because they reflected the type of family closeness the audience appreciated and longed for, and without that, the show would simply be yet another police procedural in a TV landscape that is oversaturated with them. In addition, there were often scenes of younger Reagans turning toward Frank or Henry for advice on whatever was going on in their professional or personal lives, adding to the show’s focus on family values.
Donnie Wahlberg’s Comments Show A Problem For A Blue Bloods Spinoff
Creating a spinoff that will appeal to Blue Bloods’ core audience will be challenging. Much of the audience is angry that the original was canceled despite a massive fan movement to save Blue Bloods. Thus, a spinoff would have to contain enough of the core elements to be satisfying yet be different enough from the original to not raise objections that the spinoff’s existence proves there was no need to cancel the original.
Some spinoff ideas would not work well because they would not include enough of the cast to be of interest or could be seen as insulting to the most vocal and supportive cast members such as Wahlberg and Tom Selleck.
Additionally, most of the Blue Bloods cast would love to continue the original show. Thus, spinoff ideas would have to consider which original cast members it makes the most sense to include and whether those not invited to participate could work with the spinoff in a different manner, such as occasional cameo appearances or helping direct the episodes. Some spinoff ideas would not work well because they would not include enough of the cast to be of interest or could be seen as insulting to the most vocal and supportive cast members, such as Wahlberg and Tom Selleck.
What Could A Blue Bloods Spinoff Be About?
There are several possibilities that could work for a Blue Bloods spinoff, as they would continue to preserve the series’ legacy of centering families. It appears that Blue Bloods’ ending will likely include Jamie and Eddie having a baby, and Jack and Erin may reconcile or Danny might find new love with Baez. These storylines could be continued in a spinoff that features one or more of the younger generation of Reagans, though it might be disappointing for the show to go on without Tom Selleck.
Another possibility is a prequel series. Although this series likely would also not feature Selleck or most of the original cast, it might still be similar enough to be of interest. A prequel series could feature a younger Frank and his wife raising their four kids while Frank worked as a cop and Henry was the Police Commissioner. Thus, Frank would be in the stage of life Danny is in now, and Henry would be like Frank is now.
Whether a spinoff is a prequel or sequel, it’s important that it features the Reagans in some way.
This spinoff idea is appealing not only because it would be thematically similar to the original, but because it would introduce characters who are no longer alive in the current series, especially Blue Bloods’ Joe Reagan. Whether a spinoff is a prequel or sequel, it’s important that it features the Reagans in some way. A Blue Bloods spinoff featuring a different family of cops would not land well, as it would feel like a knockoff of the original instead of a true spinoff.
