Boston Blue Showrunners Open Up About The Early Season 2 Renewal And Having A ‘High Bar To Clear’ As Blue Bloods Successor

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This year’s TV season started without the long-running show Blue Bloods, but fans haven’t gone without the Reagan family entirely. Boston Blue follows Donnie Wahlberg’s character, Danny Reagan, as he and his son Sean join the Boston Police Department. Before the show premiered, many wondered if audiences would watch the family’s dinner scenes without Tom Selleck. It quickly became clear the show was a success, earning a renewal, and the show’s co-creators recently discussed its early popularity with TopMob, looking ahead to the fall finale and next year’s TV lineup.

In early December, CBS announced it was renewing Boston Blue for a second season – and there were still two episodes left to air from the first season! This early renewal is a big vote of confidence, and Donnie Wahlberg and the rest of the cast were thrilled. Showrunners Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis explained to me why getting this news from CBS was so significant.

Wow, the network just gave us a massive vote of confidence! It’s incredibly reassuring – and exciting! – to know they believe in what we’re doing. Apparently, we’re the number one new show on TV right now, which is just fantastic. It means we can keep telling these stories with confidence, knowing people are actually connecting with the work. It’s a huge boost and confirms we’re heading in the right direction.

CBS quickly renewed Boston Blue after a strong start to its first season. The show was averaging 8 million viewers when including ratings from seven days after its initial airing, plus streaming numbers that were 87% higher than fall 2024 episodes of Blue Bloods. Boston Blue consistently won its Friday night time slot at 10 p.m. ET, and along with Sheriff Country and Fire Country, helped CBS dominate Friday nights in overall viewership since the shows debuted in mid-October.

It seems Danny Reagan’s move to Massachusetts has been very popular with viewers, both on CBS and with those watching on Paramount+! Showrunner Brandon Margolis confirmed this, adding that his colleague agreed.

Everyone involved in the show – the actors and crew – was thrilled to learn it was renewed so quickly. When you’re filming, you get really focused on the project and lose touch with what’s happening outside. Hearing the good news early lifted everyone’s spirits and made coming to work even more enjoyable. It was a huge relief and a real boost for the whole team.

Besides brief returns from Bridget Moynahan (as Erin Reagan) and Marisa Ramirez (as Maria Baez), Donnie Wahlberg is the only original cast member from Blue Bloods appearing as a regular in Boston Blue. The role of Danny Reagan’s son, Sean, has been taken over by Mika Amonsen, who replaces Andrew Terraciano, who originally played the part on Blue Bloods. Terraciano responded positively to the casting change when the show was renewed for a second season.

Though the new show, Boston Blue, differs from Blue Bloods – featuring the Silvers family instead of the Reagans – some things are staying consistent, including Donnie Wahlberg’s role as Danny and the show’s time slot. Blue Bloods aired almost all of its 293 episodes on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern. So, what does it mean for the Boston Blue team to take over that same time? Brandon Margolis explained:

It was a tough act to follow. That show had been on the air for 14 years, and we were coming in to fill those shoes. We definitely felt the pressure to honor what they’d built, and it would have been clear if we hadn’t lived up to their standard – and that our network might have made the wrong decision by choosing us.

The ratings clearly show whether moving Boston Blue to the same time slot as Blue Bloods was a good decision. Plus, because it’s a brand new show, it’s easy for new viewers to start watching. Margolis then continued:

As a total film buff, it means everything to me when people connect with a project I’m passionate about. You pour your heart and soul into something, and you really want to deliver for those who believed in it from the start. So, hearing that the film is resonating with audiences, that the characters – both familiar and new – are being embraced… well, it’s incredibly rewarding and makes all the hard work worthwhile. It’s just a fantastic feeling knowing people who took a chance on us are enjoying the result.

There’s just one episode left of Boston Blue before it takes a break for the winter, with the season finale airing on December 19th. Titled “Collateral Damage,” the episode will show Mae (Gloria Reuben) dealing with criticism from both the public and her family after making a difficult choice. Meanwhile, Sarah (Maggie Lawson) is overwhelmed by guilt and starts acting impulsively, and Jonah (Marcus Scribner) is increasingly angry about his father’s death. As all of this unfolds, Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Danny will investigate a new murder. Check out the preview below!

The season finale of Boston Blue airs Friday, December 19th at 10 p.m. Eastern on CBS. New episodes will return in late February. While you wait, you can rewatch the first half of the current season, and all your favorite Blue Bloods episodes, on Paramount+.

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2025-12-19 14:39