Bridget and Donnie, who began working on the series in 2010, knew they were going to be “friends forever” after meeting on a completely different pilot. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in May, Donnie, 55, revealed that they’d actually crossed paths while working on an unnamed show.

As it turns out, Bridget had initially turned down her role in Blue Bloods, until Donnie gave her a call. “I begged and pleaded and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse, which was that I’d give her all my paychecks if we weren’t able to shoot in New York so thank god we shot in New York” he revealed to Entertainment Tonight.

Following Donnie’s efforts, Bridget would eventually sign on to Blue Bloods, and after working together for years, she would help to set him up with his now-wife, Jenny McCarthy. “I knew you guys were already like a super hot, flirtation already,” Bridget reflected on The Drew Barrymore Show. ‘But I definitely said – as my mother would say – he’s a good doobie.”

Chiming in, Donnie noted that Jenny, who was already friends with Bridget, asked her questions about him during the early days of their relationship. “Thankfully Bridget said good things,” he beamed.

After years of friendship, Bridget and Donnie are closer than ever and while Blue Bloods is coming to an end this fall, we’re sure they’ll remain in each other’s orbit.