By Ray Cardello for February 12, 2024, Season 24 / Post 37

There is only one show on network television that I have watched and have for years. Fortunately, thanks to DVRs and streaming services, I have not had to park in front of a television every Friday night for the last 14 years. Blue Bloods has been a constant for over a decade because it is a rarity. It is quality acting, with great storylines, favorably portrays the police, and has strong family values. For a primetime show with a lengthy history, Blue Bloods has only been nominated for one Emmy, and that was for a stunt performance. No actor has ever been recognized for their work. Why?

I remember years ago reading about why Tom Selleck joined the CBS show. He was brought to tears by the script of the pilot show and wanted to be a part of what he saw as a quality TV series. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that nearly every show has given me wet eyes. Apparently, 15 years later, Blue Bloods still touches Selleck more than just a TV series. Most of the characters on the show have grown up before our eyes, and some have died. This show is a model of quality and consistency in an industry that lacks both. So why the snub by the Emmys? There appear to be many, and none of them are justified.

• Blue Bloods has had consistently high ratings, especially for the Friday night time slot. One of the problems is the age of the audience. The 18-49 age group is not home watching TV on Friday nights. The show is a success, but it is just not popular with the younger set.
• The show’s creators, Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, were fired from the hit show The Sopranos. This blemish may have harmed Blue Blood’s chances for industry recognition.
• Two female characters, Jennifer Esposito, who played Detective Jackie Curatola, and Amy Carlson, who played Linda Reagan, were both “killed” off the show under questionable circumstances, which may have cast shadows on the show by insiders.
• The Catholic League had always supported the show because of its strong family values but had a change of heart when one of the show’s storylines hinting the Catholic Church was “behind the times” regarding its positions on homosexuality. The episode also featured a cardinal struggling with his sexual identity and a nun who admitted being a lesbian. These views were not received well by the industry.
• Some think Blue Bloods is too pro-police in a time when the police are not in the brightest of lights with the radical left that has deep ties with the entertainment industry.
• Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynihan, and other cast members may have gotten gun permits to carry in New York because of their connection with the show. This preferential treatment doesn’t sit well with some.

Most of these possible reasons seem petty for a show with such success and longevity, but not surprising in an industry so shallow. Fortunately, millions of viewers like me are not hooked on the show because of awards but for the quality of the show. Maybe there is a message there. Not everyone needs a trophy to live a quality life. Just being good at what you do should be enough.