There is absolutely no doubt that loyal fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Blue Bloods for its much anticipated 14th season, and many are left wondering if this will be the final chapter for the beloved police procedural drama television series, which has been a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists for the last 13 seasons, that leaves one wondering what’s in store for the Irish-American family in New York City with a history of work in law enforcement who never fail to keep us on our toes!
Despite all the early celebration among the fans about the series renewal, which was confirmed back on March 29, 2023, by the CBS network, the fandom is now speculating if the series will be greenlit for additional seasons or not. So, if you are wondering the same, then you have reached the right place to get all the answers! In this article, we’ll explore some of these factors and try to determine whether or not Blue Bloods will return for another season in the near future.
Continue reading to find out more about this beloved show’s potential future plans.
Blue Bloods Season 14: Is it the final season or not?
Although CBS has not yet made a formal statement on the show’s renewal or cancellation, there are a number of elements that may play a major role in future seasons, which might be affected by several variables that need to be taken into account, such as audience ratings, production expenses, and cast availability. If you recall, Deadline previously reported that Blue Bloods was glaringly absent from the network’s list of drama series renewals for its 14th season. But it was later picked up after being locked in contentious talks, with CBS demanding severe budget cutbacks, including 25% for actors and other above-the-line personnel.
If this is the case going on behind the scenes, then we are sad to report to the readers, but there may be a slight chance for the upcoming season to be the last one!
These negotiations kind of indicate that the network might be evaluating factors in the future too, which might eventually determine the fate of the show. We also want to set the record straight by saying that if these considerations cross the budgets just like 9-1-1 which was canceled by FOX, and then picked up by NBC then it makes sense that it will be less likely than ever that the program will be renewed for another season. However, if it tops the charts for the upcoming season, then everything is conceivable. Tom Selleck also said to TV Insider that if given the chance, he would be pleased to do fifteen seasons.
On the positive side, if the show is able to maintain the records by remaining as the night No. 1 most-watched primetime program — a position it has held since its 2010 launch — and is the No. 3 broadcast drama with 9.54 million viewers.
Then it’s not far-fetched to assume after looking at this reception that there is a big chance that the network might also be considering renewing the series for many more years to come. Additionally, it has also remained one of the top 5 scripted dramas on CBS for years, according to Deadline. Due to this, the chances of this legacy series being scraped suddenly will be surprising, to say the least. Until then, the fans should hope for the best that the twists and turns of the next season are able to live up to the expectations and build the hype around these characters even more than ever so that an early renewal is a possibility!
Just like the way Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, stated:
“Blue Bloods has dominated Friday nights since its premiere and remained an important anchor for CBS’ winning lineup.” Further adding, “Led by the outstanding Tom Selleck and an incredible cast and creative team, viewers continue to embrace the Reagans, their law enforcement family, and the series’ dramatic storytelling. We can’t wait to pull a chair up to the Reagan family dinner table for another fantastic season.” Check out the renewal post, quoting, “The Reagan family traditions continue! #BlueBloods has been renewed for season 14 – we’ll save you a seat at the table.”
Blue Bloods Season 14 Release Date: When is it expected to return on CBS?
Even though the previously released 2023–24 fall schedule indicated that the new season would make its official return sometime around the fall season, September 2023 being the ideal release window with new episodes premiering every Friday at 10:00 p.m. on the CBS network, which was a great update for the viewers to get a heads-up! But sadly, the celebrations were short-lived, as since the early announcement, things seem to have taken a wide turn, which was quite unexpected!
With the emergence of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, along with the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which started a while ago and doesn’t seem to end anytime soon, causing many Hollywood production houses to halt their work temporarily for the first time in 63 years, with reports circulating that the writing has not even started yet, which is quite unfortunate when we consider the fact that filming usually begins by the summer season if the network is aiming for its fall release later this year.
This makes any anticipation for the show’s official return in 2023 completely impossible, making the fandom wait for longer than they anticipated! So, if we look at the current status, one thing is noted: the network has also considered some crucial changes behind the scenes for its primetime schedule, just like ABC and NBC. These competing networks have also decided to shift the entirety of their fall schedule until next year, which will be ideal to avoid any further delays in production.
In conclusion, if the dual strikes don’t reach an agreement by late August 2023, then the network will be skipping the 2023–24 fall premiere and eventually modify and set the release window for some time around the midseason premiere of 2024,
Moreover, in a recent meeting which was held for the first time in more than three months!
In the meeting between the Writers Guild and the AMPTP held on Friday, the parties failed to reach an agreement to resume contract negotiations. Their inability to agree on terms for returning to the bargaining table comes after their much-anticipated meeting to discuss a possible resumption of talks. “As of now, there is no agreement on these items, because the AMPTP said they needed to consult with their member studios before moving forward,” the union said in a statement late Friday.
This puts an official stamp on this subject that the series will not be a part of CBS’s 2023-24 fall broadcast schedule and why it is being delayed until next year. In addition to this, the network recently released a revised lineup, in which Blue Bloods Classic Episodes have been mentioned to fill the void of the lack of shows that have been shifted. The episodes will air on Friday, September 29, 2023, as a bonus for the lack of Blue Bloods content. Take a look at the official schedule below:
Blue Bloods Season 14: What to expect from the new season?
The official premise of the series follows: Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner and heads both the police force and the Reagan Brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man, and Iraq War vet who, on occasion, uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner, Detective Maria Baez.
The Reagan women in the family include Erin, a New York Assistant D.A. who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father, as well as a single parent to her teenage daughter, Nicky. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate, and the family’s “golden boy.” Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family’s footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in Eddie, his female partner who keeps him on his toes and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force.
The following passage contains major spoilers that will unravel the thrilling twists and turns of this spellbinding series. So, if you don’t want to know all the crucial details in case you have already streamed the show, then we urge you to skip this section for a spoiler-free article!
To be very honest with you, right now, it is far too early to predict future storylines. One thing is certain: The new season is likely to maintain the show’s core by picking up the plot from the finale episode, “Forgive Us Our Trespasses,” which followed Danny is reunited with his old partner Jackie Curatola (Jennifer Esposito), now a Chief of Police with Suffolk County when they and Baez suspect a copycat killer of emulating previous murders. However, Dr. Walker is revealed to be back killing women under an alternate persona known as Jeremy.
He attacks Jackie at her home, but though she fights him off, he escapes before Danny and Baez can apprehend him. Meanwhile, Frank learns of a plan by Mayor Chase to put homeless people in handcuffs in order to get them into shelters.
They go back and forth over the plan, culminating in Chase blackmailing Frank after his detail is confronted by a homeless man. Archbishop Kearns scolds Chase before convincing the two to find common ground. Also, Jamie apprehends Tyler Green, a man who had committed criminal assault but was cut a deal by the DA’s office, when he reverts to his old ways. He and Eddie work together with Erin to bring the man to justice once, and for all, and after the case is closed, Erin announces to the press that she has decided not to run for District Attorney after all.
Blue Bloods Season 14 Cast: Who will reprise their roles?
The main cast members who are expected to return are as follows Tom Selleck as New York City Police Commissioner Francis “Frank” Reagan, Donnie Wahlberg as Detective 1st Grade Daniel “Danny” Reagan, Bridget Moynahan as DDA Erin Reagan, Will Estes as Sergeant Jamison “Jamie” Reagan, Len Cariou as former NYPD Commissioner Henry Reagan, Marisa Ramirez as Detective 1st Grade Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray as Officer Edit “Eddie” Janko-Reagan.
The recurring cast includes Abigail Hawk as Detective 1st Grade Abigail Baker, Gregory Jbara as Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garrett Moore, Robert Clohessy as Lieutenant Sidney “Sid” Gormley, Steve Schirripa as DA Investigator Anthony Abetemarco, Will Hochman as Detective 3rd Grade Joseph “Joe” Hill, Andrew Terraciano as Sean Reagan, Rosyln Ruff as D.A. Kimberly “Kim” Crawford, Ian Quinlan as Officer Luis Badillo, and Stacy Keach as Archbishop Kevin Kearns.
The others include Peter Hermann as Jack Boyle, Stephanie Kurtzuba as Captain Paula McNichols, Dylan Walsh as Mayor Peter Chase, Callie Thorne as Maggie Gibson, James Hiroyuki Liao as Lieutenant Fleming, Steven Maier as Officer Zach “Christo” Christodoulopoulos, and Treat Williams as Lenny Ross. The drama is created by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, along with its top producing team led by showrunner Kevin Wade.
