When Tom Selleck Nearly Said Goodbye to His Signature Look
Picture this: Tom Selleck without his legendary mustache. Sounds almost impossible, doesn't it? But here's the scoop—when the legendary actor was tapped to play Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, he almost said farewell to that iconic facial hair. This intriguing tidbit was revealed during the special episode Blue Bloods: Celebrating a Family Legacy aired on November 29 on CBS.
As host Nischelle Turner shared during the special episode, "Back in 2010, Tom was handpicked by executive producer Leonard Goldberg to play the role of Police Commissioner Frank Reagan. Believe it or not, Tom almost shaved off his iconic mustache for the role, but network execs insisted on keeping it." This decision wasn't just about aesthetics—it was a nod to Tom's enduring charm and the character's iconic status.
The Behind-the-Scenes Reason
Now, you might be wondering why Tom was so ready to part ways with his mustache. Well, as the 79-year-old actor explained in a candid interview with People, it all came down to authenticity. "At the time, they had him as the New York City police chief," Tom recounted. "But that's not the top position in New York's structure. So, I thought, 'If I’m going to play this role, I need to be authentic. I don’t think they can have mustaches, so I’ll shave off mine.' But Leonard checked with CBS, and they said no way!"
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Throughout his career, Tom had often found himself in conversations about whether or not to keep the mustache. "I got used to shaving it off for early gigs, but eventually, it became part of my identity," he told the outlet. "It was a journey, but ultimately, it became something that people associated with me, and I embraced it."
Adding a New York Accent to the Mix
But the mustache wasn't the only change on the table. During Blue Bloods: Celebrating a Family Legacy, it was revealed that Tom was also asked to adopt a New York accent to bring authenticity to his portrayal of Frank Reagan. "The night before we were supposed to shoot, the director said, 'I think you should try a New York accent,'" Tom recalled. "I didn’t exactly have that accent in my repertoire. It’s something you really need to work on for weeks." Fortunately, the team decided to keep things as they were, and the result was nothing short of iconic.
The Show's Unexpected Success
In the end, Blue Bloods became a runaway success, anchoring CBS' Friday night lineup for an impressive 14 years. "A lot of people thought, 'God, they put us on at 10:00 Friday night, that’s a death spot,' but we built it, and they came," Tom said during the special episode. "It was a big surprise for everyone, and not only did people come, but they dominated. We owned Friday nights for 14 years." It was a testament to the show's ability to connect with audiences week after week.
As the final two episodes of Blue Bloods approach, fans are curious about what's in store for Tom's character. Showrunner Kevin Wade addressed the speculation that Frank might retire at the end of season 14. "Frank would stay in his job until the series ended," Kevin told TV Insider. "To take a detour in the last mile, if this is indeed the last mile, wouldn’t make sense. The show is built around him being the police commissioner of New York City. He's the CEO of 35,000 cops, and that's where the stories come from."
