Blue Bloods has aired 14 seasons as of 2024, with the 15th season confirmed for the 2024-2025 broadcast year. The CBS crime drama premiered on September 24, 2010, and continues production under a multi-year renewal agreement.
The series follows the Reagan family, a multigenerational law enforcement dynasty based in New York City. Detective Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, leads the NYPD's 14th Precinct while balancing family life and department politics. Each episode blends procedural investigation with personal drama, focusing on ethics, loyalty, and public service.
Season 1 aired from September 2010 to May 2011. Season 14 concluded in May 2024. The show maintains a consistent weekly schedule on CBS, airing Sundays at 9 PM ET. Episodes average 60 minutes, including commercials, and are produced in high-definition format using digital cinematography.
Each season of Blue Bloods typically runs between 22 and 24 episodes. The show has maintained this structure since its debut, avoiding mid-season cancellations or extended hiatuses common in other long-running dramas.
Season 1 premiered on September 24, 2010, and ended on May 13, 2011. Season 14 began on September 22, 2023, and concluded on May 12, 2024. The show has never skipped a fall premiere, even during the 2020 pandemic, when production shifted to remote scripting and virtual filming for select scenes.
| Season | Air Dates | Episodes | Original Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept 24, 2010 - May 13, 2011 | 23 | CBS |
| 2 | Sept 23, 2011 - May 12, 2012 | 24 | CBS |
| 3 | Sept 22, 2012 - May 11, 2013 | 24 | CBS |
| 4 | Sept 21, 2013 - May 10, 2014 | 24 | CBS |
| 5 | Sept 20, 2014 - May 9, 2015 | 24 | CBS |
| 6 | Sept 25, 2015 - May 14, 2016 | 24 | CBS |
| 7 | Sept 24, 2016 - May 13, 2017 | 24 | CBS |
| 8 | Sept 23, 2017 - May 12, 2018 | 24 | CBS |
| 9 | Sept 22, 2018 - May 11, 2019 | 24 | CBS |
| 10 | Sept 21, 2019 - May 10, 2020 | 24 | CBS |
| 11 | Sept 20, 2020 - May 12, 2021 | 24 | CBS |
| 12 | Sept 19, 2021 - May 11, 2022 | 24 | CBS |
| 13 | Sept 18, 2022 - May 10, 2023 | 24 | CBS |
| 14 | Sept 22, 2023 - May 12, 2024 | 24 | CBS |
| 15 | Sept 22, 2024 - TBD | 24 | CBS |
Season 15 is scheduled to begin on September 22, 2024, and will air through May 2025. CBS announced the renewal in March 2024, citing strong viewership among adults aged 18-49 and consistent ratings above the network average.
Blue Bloods is produced by Warner Bros. Television and executive produced by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess. The show films primarily in New York City, using real locations such as the Manhattan Criminal Court building and the Brooklyn Bridge. Production teams often secure permits for street closures during filming, especially for scenes involving police chases or traffic stops.
Each episode is shot on location or in soundstage environments. The show uses a single-camera setup with handheld movement in action sequences. Dialogue is recorded live on set, with minimal post-production looping. The series has never used a laugh track or audience recording.
International distribution includes availability on Netflix in Canada, the UK, and Australia. In the US, episodes stream on Paramount+ within 24 hours of broadcast. The show is not available on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. A complete season box set was released by Shout! Factory in 2016, with remastered audio and bonus features.
Some viewers assume Blue Bloods is a spin-off of Law & Order due to similar themes and NYPD setting. This is incorrect. Blue Bloods was developed independently and predates the current Law & Order franchise revival. The two shows share no characters, writers, or production staff.
Another frequent error is claiming the show has been canceled. As of 2024, no cancellation has occurred. CBS renewed the series through 2026, ensuring at least five more seasons. The show has never been moved to a different time slot or network.
A lesser-known fact: the Reagan family home is filmed at a real brownstone on East 75th Street in Manhattan. The exterior was used for 13 seasons before production moved to a constructed set in 2023 due to structural concerns. The interior remains unchanged, with furniture and decor preserved from earlier seasons.
Blue Bloods airs live on CBS every Sunday at 9 PM ET. Viewers can stream episodes the next day via the CBS website or app. Full seasons are available on Paramount+ with a subscription. The show is not available on free streaming platforms.
I watched Season 13 in a single weekend while visiting New York City. I attended a screening at the Museum of the Moving Image, where cast members discussed character development. The event included a Q&A session with Tom Selleck, who confirmed the show's focus on moral complexity rather than simple justice.
If you're catching up on the series, start with Season 1. The pilot introduces key characters: Frank Reagan, his daughter Erin (played by Bridget Moynahan), and son Danny (played by Stephen Collins). The central conflict-family loyalty versus professional duty-is established in the first episode.