‘Everyone Was Really Hanging On’: Blue Bloods’ Donnie Wahlberg Recalls The Emotional Way Tom Selleck Commemorated The Final Reagan Family Dinner Scene

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As a gamer with a heart for TV shows, I must say that the imminent finale of Blue Bloods has left me feeling a tad nostalgic and emotional – much like Wahlberg himself during those final filming days. The Reagan family dinners have been an integral part of the show’s charm, serving as a reminder of the strong bonds that connect us all, be it on or off-screen.

This upcoming Friday, the last Reagan family dinner as depicted in the series finale of “Blue Bloods” will be aired according to the 2024 TV schedule. These family dinners have been cherished by both the cast and the audience, serving as a beloved tradition for many viewers. Each gathering is often the most memorable part of each episode, offering glimpses into the Reagans’ camaraderie, laughter, and disagreements. One of the rare instances where the entire family appears on screen together. Moreover, this final dinner will feature some special guests, and Tom Selleck chose an emotional method to mark the occasion.

The TV series “Blue Bloods” concluded its summer filming sessions. Despite the ordinary nature of the last day on set, there were still a multitude of emotions lingering. Wahlberg shared with Entertainment Weekly how the final Reagan family dinner scene was filmed, and it seems everyone made an effort to prevent tears from flowing.

On that particular morning, there were significantly more crew members than normal observing, a sight I’m accustomed to as everyone gathers to watch rehearsals. Sometimes, I’d rally everyone with an encouraging comment like “Today is going to be fantastic!” or something similar to get the team excited. We’d occasionally improvise lines for a few chuckles. However, on this day, it seemed everyone was deeply engrossed in the work, trying to maintain focus and deliver their best performance, all while keeping emotions in check.

For nearly 300 episodes on “Blue Bloods”, the Reagan family dinners have been a consistent feature, and the fact that they made it through the final scene is quite impressive, given the emotions involved. However, this wasn’t an easy feat; once the scene was over, everyone seemed reluctant to let it truly end. Wahlberg later revealed a touching gesture by Tom Selleck that made the moment even more memorable:

What I’ll cherish most is the moment after we wrapped up filming. We all seemed to linger, unwilling to break the silence, as everyone was hesitant to bid farewell. After all, no one wanted to, and we all knew that once someone spoke, it would signal the end. Emotions ran high, and tears were inevitable. True to form, Tom recited a poem he’d memorized instead of reading it. He often did this, pulling out wise words or old sayings at dinner time. He had a knack for sharing profound thoughts with us unexpectedly.

Absolutely, everyone had ample time to adjust after hearing last year that the Reagans would be departing from Blue Bloods. However, shooting those concluding scenes brought home the reality of the situation, particularly when they shouted “Wrap” during the dinner scene. Notably, that dinner was Selleck’s initial and ultimate scene ever filmed. Fortunately, he delivered a poem that took Donnie Wahlberg back to earlier times.

He began the poem, and I was instantly transported back to being a 10-year-old Donnie watching Tom Selleck on television. It struck me again how surreal it felt. You might recall that our first shoot was for the dinner scene, correct? At that time, I didn’t have the chance to be awestruck by Tom Selleck or think, ‘If someone had told me as a child that I would work with Tom Selleck for 14 years, it would be more than I could ever have imagined.’

Even though Wahlberg portrayed Selleck’s son for 14 seasons, the experience remained a cherished dream for him at the end. This demonstrates how deeply connected Wahlberg feels to Blue Bloods, as he confessed that he broke down and couldn’t stop crying when reflecting on the past 14 years. Wahlberg revealed that watching Selleck on TV was something he used to do with his mother and grandmother, both of whom have passed away now. He found it deeply moving that his life path had led him to this moment, feeling incredibly blessed and grateful for the experience.

The cast of “Blue Bloods” holds a unique charm, and it isn’t only due to the presence of the original Magnum in the series. Bidding farewell to the Reagans this Friday will be difficult, but it’s heartwarming to hear one last time about how much the show and those family gatherings meant to the cast.

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2024-12-10 17:37