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Last year, CBS confirmed that its long-running police drama Blue Bloods was coming to an end after 14 seasons on the air. Now that the series finale premiered, fans are still asking one question: Why was Blue Bloods canceled after less than 15 seasons?

During a December 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly, series star Tom Selleck reflected on their final day of shooting. He noted that “nobody” in the cast and crew “wanted it to end.”

“It was just suddenly when somebody said, ‘Well, we have to wrap it’ — it was very quiet for a while. Nobody made speeches,” Tom said about their last day filming. “It seemed like something needed to be said. I ended up saying a poem from Edna St. Vincent Mallay — ‘Love is Not All’ — and that kind of started a discussion that lasted a couple hours. There were some tears and some hugs and group hugs, single hugs. Nobody wanted it to end.”

Why Was Blue Bloods Canceled? 

Like several other canceled TV shows (iCarly, Young Sheldon and more), CBS did not provide a reason why they canceled Blue Bloods. However, many fans are speculating that the impact from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes could be one of the reasons behind it. Blue Bloods still had strong viewership, CBS’ executives said in a statement. 

“Blue Bloods will forever be a beloved part of CBS’ legacy,” network execs Amy Reisenbach and David Stapf wrote in a joint statement. “It ruled Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere and established itself as a pillar of our winning lineup with an exceptionally devoted fan base.” 

Tom also confirmed the show’s cancelation in a statement, per Variety: “For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family. Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes. Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their steadfast support, and we offer heartfelt gratitude to the fans who gathered with us for dinner every Friday night.” 

Rules are rules — unless there aren’t any. 📷 Your number 6th voted classic #BlueBloods episode from season 8, episode 22 airs TONIGHT at 10/9c on @CBS. pic.twitter.com/d4uOrybCJk

— Blue Bloods (@BlueBloods_CBS) November 10, 2023

Previously, multiple outlets reported that the cast of Blue Bloods took a 25 percent pay cut in order to keep their show on the air. Most of them agreed to a salary reduction in order to renew the series for its 14th season. At the time, Deadline reported that CBS was urging for “significant budget cuts.” 

Before the show was renewed for its final season, series star Donnie Wahlberg spoke to PEOPLE about how he believed audiences would have reacted if Blue Bloods didn’t get a season renewal. 

“I love Blue Bloods, and I think if there weren’t a season 14, the loyal fans of the show would be very, very outraged,” he pointed out. “They’re part of the Reagan family. The audience is the extended family. … If the show were to go away without [the audience] having a proper sendoff, I think they would be mortified. So, I suspect [we’ll] have at least another season.” 

When Did the Last Episode of Blue Bloods Air? 

The final episode of Blue Bloods aired on December 13, 2024.

What Happened in the Blue Bloods Series Finale?

The entire Reagan family got a satisfactory ending for fans. None of the family members was killed off, and they managed to restore peace in the city. Additionally, Sargent Jamie Reagan and his wife, Eddie Janko-Reagan, revealed that she is having a baby soon.

Toward the end of the finale, NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan delivered a moving speech.

“Our dinners are never about the food,” Frank said. “You know, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and looking around this table, I gotta say, I couldn’t be more proud, or grateful.”

Where to Stream and Watch Blue Bloods 

Cable users can watch the show on CBS, and others can stream the series on Paramount+.