Blue Bloods Vet Reflects On Being Embraced By The Cast, And His Comments Are Really Making Me Miss The Characters

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As a movie lover with a soft spot for long-running TV series, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I bid farewell to “Blue Bloods.” Having grown up watching many of these characters evolve over the years, it’s hard not to feel a sense of loss when the Reagan family is no longer gracing our screens every Friday night.

Steve Schirripa, the beloved actor who joined the show in 2015 as Anthony Abetemarco, shared his heartwarming experience joining the “Blue Bloods” family. He spoke of how welcoming and kind his co-stars were, especially Bridget Moynihan and Donnie Wahlberg, whom he worked with extensively during his tenure on the show.

Being a longtime fan of both “Blue Bloods” and Donnie Wahlberg’s work in The Funky Bunch (ahem, New Kids on the Block), I can confidently say that it was no surprise to hear he was pleasant to work with. As for Bridget Moynihan, I wholeheartedly agree with Steve – she is indeed an underrated actress who deserves more recognition.

In the spirit of keeping things light, let me add a joke: I just hope that when “Blue Bloods” reunites for a reunion special (fingers crossed!), they’ll invite the whole cast, including the Knicks mascot, to join in on the Reagan family dinner. After all, who wouldn’t want to see Anthony Abetemarco sharing a meal with Spike Lee and Patrick Ewing? Now that would be a sight to behold!

As Blue Bloods concluded just a fortnight before the 2025 TV lineup’s debut, it’s not surprising that devoted fans might still harbor assorted emotions regarding the Reagan family no longer gracing Friday nights on CBS. Similarly, some of the show’s actors have expressed discontent over the network’s choice to cancel, and even veterans like Steve Schirripa felt a mix of sweetness and sadness about wrapping up with Season 14, despite not being part of the early cast.

One effective method Blue Bloods built and sustained its enormous fanbase was by emphasizing the tight-knit Reagan family dynamic, as well as the heartfelt dinners that concluded each episode around Frank Reagan’s table. As Schirripa expressed, the cast members genuinely made him feel like part of the family when his character, retired detective Anthony Abetemarco, joined them in Season 6.

While interacting with others, Schirripa reminisced about the time he started appearing regularly on the show in 2015, expressing his thoughts on that particular moment.

This was a tightly bonded circle, truly, composed of genuinely friendly individuals. As an outsider, it felt peculiar walking into a situation where everyone already knew each other, making me the newcomer. However, they welcomed me as if I had always been part of their group right from the start.

Originally, the actor was only contracted for two episodes during Season 6. However, after producers asked if he’d like to stay longer, he ended up appearing in an impressive 146 episodes instead. Fortunately, he showed interest and agreed, resulting in his continued presence on our screens ever since.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the camaraderie that unfolded behind the scenes of my all-time favorite show, The Sopranos. Unlike some hypothetical scenarios where Steve Schirripa might have been ostracized or less accepted by his peers, fortunately, that wasn’t the case here. Instead, the cast’s warmth and inclusiveness stretched far beyond his initial, more limited screen time in early episodes, and endured throughout his entire tenure on the show. To quote Steve himself: “The kindness of my fellow Sopranos stars extended beyond those first few appearances and remained constant throughout my entire run.

Primarily, I collaborated with Bridget and Donnie, but eventually, I found myself working with everyone else as well, which turned out to be beneficial. I truly enjoy working with Bridget; she’s an exceptional actress who often gets overlooked, yet was a pleasure to work alongside. She’s intelligent, witty, and just fantastic. As for Donnie, he’s a great individual and always brings a lot of fun to the set.

As a longtime fan of “Blue Bloods” and New Kids on the Block, I’ve always admired Donnie Wahlberg for his acting talent and charm. After watching him for so many years, it’s hard to imagine him being anything but kind-hearted and respectful towards others. So, when I heard that he was a pleasure to work with, it came as no surprise.

Similarly, I wholeheartedly agree with Steve Schirripa’s assessment of Bridget Moynihan’s underrated acting skills. If the end of “Blue Bloods” is any indication, I hope she lands another role that brings her the recognition and acclaim she deserves.

Donnie Wahlberg is currently hosting HLN’s “Very Scary People,” which airs Sunday nights. It’s always exciting to see him in new projects and showcasing his versatility as an artist.

Despite no longer appearing alongside his previous “Blue Bloods” cast members on television, he has rekindled connections with a few of them in the time following the conclusion of filming. In his own words:

I just saw Bridget at the Knicks game, and I talked to Will Estes the other day. We keep in touch.

As a long-time fan of television dramas and someone who has spent countless hours glued to the small screen, I can confidently say that the finale of Blue Bloods was nothing short of extraordinary. It brought in an unprecedented viewing audience for any series ending in 2024 on broadcast networks, eclipsing even the impressive numbers garnered by Yellowstone’s series finale.

The emotional depth and captivating storytelling of this police drama have left a lasting impact on me and countless other viewers. The characters are complex and well-developed, making us invested in their lives and the challenges they face both on and off the job. It’s no surprise that the finale resonated so strongly with audiences.

Now, as we bid farewell to these beloved characters, I can only hope that network executives will find a way to bring them back to our screens in some capacity in the future. Whether it’s through a smaller ensemble or a spin-off series, I am eager to see what lies ahead for these iconic characters and the world of Blue Bloods. The chemistry between the cast and the rich storylines they navigate have made this show a staple in my television rotation, and I can only imagine how excited fans like me would be for more stories from the Reagan family.

Currently, you can stream the entire duration of “Blue Bloods” with a Paramount+ subscription. This covers the initial years without Abetemarco, as well as the final Regan family dinner scene from its conclusion.

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2024-12-30 01:08