One Blue Bloods Storyline Irked Tom Selleck So Much, He Made Writers Fix It
Tom Selleck is a popular actor with viewers and his peers. And he's certainly no diva.
But he does have strong political views and is keen to support the causes he believes in. Which may be one of the reasons that a certain Blue Bloods storyline didn't sit right with him – so much so, that the Frank Reagan actor asked for the issue to be fixed in a later episode.
Blue Bloods is not shy about talking real issues facing cops in the US, and there is a particular focus on how wily old-timer, Frank balances doing things right and staying within the law.
The writers are well aware that there are not always easy answers to some of the moral dilemmas facing officers. And it's clear they try to write the stories with this in mind while reflecting the reality of life as a cop on the streets of NYC.
One episode, titled Legacy, in 2018 saw Rachel Witten (played by Lauren Patten) detain a male for jaywalking. Witten was a rookie at the time and didn't like the way the detained man was acting. So, she requested an ID and asked him about his immigration status.
The interaction was recorded by some bystanders and, subsequently, a complaint landed on Reagan's desk. This was one of those tough calls for the Commissioner.
While Witten hadn't actually breached protocol, the NYPD deemed she had been recorded by members of the public racially profiling the jaywalker.
In the end, Reagan took the decision that she should be fired. This was something that irked Tom Selleck. While he could see why Frank may have come to that decision, it wasn't one he agreed with.
So, he approached Allie Solomon, who wrote the episode, and asked her to fix the issue. Which she did.
Around a year after Legacy aired, Reagan attended a diner in an episode called Milestones. While there, he was served by former Officer Witten. He makes a New Year's Resolution to admit when he's in the wrong and decides that Witten deserves another chance.
So, he rehires her and partners her up with Officer Eddie Janko, who happens to be his daughter-in-law. Since being reinstated, Witten has become a recurring character in the show. And all because there was a storyline that didn't sit well with Tom Selleck.