There are many secrets to Blue Bloods’ family dinner scenes, including the fact real silverware was not used, but less shocking is the fact family was super important on the CBS show before its 2024 cancellation. Selleck recently wrote a book highlighting major events in his career when this tidbit came up, and apparently being the lead of a TV series was not something the actor took lightly. In fact, he was cued in to the importance of leading from the top down thanks to some key words from famous actor James Garner (decades before his death in 2014).
Writing in his memoir You Never Know, Selleck discussed at length his Hollywood experiences, many of which are tied to his runs on popular shows like Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods. The veteran actor said that it was after landing the Magnum role (there’s a reason he refuses to personally add the P.I.), that he learned one of the great Hollywood lessons about family. He wrote:
