Blue Bloods has concluded its run, and it’s a shame we didn’t get any of these spinoff ideas!
For fourteen seasons, fans made Blue Bloods one of the biggest hits on CBS. Usually, when a CBS show is that successful and runs so long, it’s only natural they try to make it a franchise. We’ve seen it with NCIS, FBI, and even Fire Country.
Which is why it’s amazing that in all that time, CBS never tried a Blue Bloods spinoff. It’s remarkable that they couldn’t find a way to plan some offshoot show, maybe not on the Reagans but connected to that universe. It’s not like they didn’t have plenty of ideas given the long list of characters and possible storylines.
From a couple of the main characters to some recurring or new ones, the spinoff potential was larger than what fans might think. These are twelve Blue Bloods spinoff ideas we wish CBS had gone for that could have continued the Blue Bloods legacy.
Blue Bloods: Origins
NCIS: Origins has been a big hit for CBS so why not a prequel for Blue Bloods? We can flash back to when Henry was Commissioner and Frank just the patrolman starting out. It’d be a terrific period piece that would capture the 1970s feel and showcase how vastly different the NYPD and all of New York once was.
Finding the right actor for a young Frank would be tricky yet if they do, it’d be wonderful showing how Frank went from bright-eyed rookie to the tough commander we know today. It can also give us a showcase for Frank’s late wife and how they started the family. Seeing how the Reagans began would be just as entertaining as their later adventures.
Danny and Baez
This is the most obvious spinoff idea and one we really wish could have gone ahead. For a decade, fans loved the partnership between Danny and Baez, the pair trusting one another and always there for their challenges. Baez helped Danny mourn Linda, and Danny later gave Baez advice and aid when she adopted a daughter.
The chemistry of the actors was always clear, and the finale had Danny finally ask Baez out on a date. That would be a great kickoff to a spinoff as the pair continue their work as partners while testing a relationship. There would be the issue of them having a relationship while also partners, but seeing the pair continue this partnership is the best way to continue Blue Bloods.
Erin and Jack
The finale ended with Erin and her ex-husband Jack deciding to tie the knot again. That’s a great way to start a new spinoff that can move away from the cop drama and focus on Erin and the D.A.’s office. Oddly, we rarely see Erin actually in the trial; it’s more her in the office handling the cases. This can give Bridget Moynahan more to shine with.
There’s also Anthony getting some help as Erin’s investigator, which can lead to its own fun adventures. Plus, the fun dynamic of Erin and Jack sometimes on opposite sides of a case. Maybe Erin can even revive her hopes of running for D.A. to let this character shine on her own outside of her family.
Joe Hill
Another obvious spinoff idea is on Joe Hill. The son of the late Reagan child (who was killed before the series began) has become a good recurring character in the series. Balancing work with the NYPD and FBI, Joe is perfect as the lead for a spinoff, as he could be moving to another city on his FBI job and getting involved in crime there.
We can explore more of Joe’s past and how he tries to escape the Reagan family shadow. Will Hochman is a good actor who could carry his own series nicely with a supporting cast aiding Joe’s missions. It’s a no-brainer of a spinoff that CBS should consider to continue the Reagan legacy.
Jackie Curatola
Jennifer Esposito had been a good presence in the first seasons of Blue Bloods as Danny’s partner, Jackie. She had to be written out when Esposito had some health issues and a long absence. Thankfully, she returned with Jackie now the chief of police of a small New Jersey town. She aided Danny in hunting a serial killer and showed she was still a top cop.
A spinoff would be fun with Jackie handling being the boss of this community and a mix of small crimes and more dramatic fare. A great cast can help from her aides to the patrol cops and local politicians as well. We might also show Jackie discovering that this small town is a lot more dangerous than it seems, and make up for the character’s long absence with this new show.
Rachel Witten
This could be an offbeat choice, but it could work. Rachel Witten was Eddie’s partner for a few seasons, a good cop who held her own nicely. She eventually lost her faith in the job when the public had a backlash against the police and quit. That was due to Lauren Patten needing to go back to her Broadway work, which earned her a Tony Award.
Witten popped up a couple more times, now a social worker and that was a great direction for her. An ex-cop fighting against police misconduct is a terrific idea for a show, giving Patten a chance to show her acting chops and discuss issues the main series ignored. It’s a quirky spinoff idea, yet it could become a surprisingly good drama for CBS.
Waylon Gates
One of the more popular recurring guest stars on the series was Waylon Gates, a Texas Ranger who came to New York on cases. Played by country music star Lyle Lovett, Gates and Danny had a great chemistry with Gates acting like a classic Old West cowboy in modern times. It was as if he'd stepped out of his own series for a guest turn.
So a series focusing on Gates is an obvious choice. He can be more the commander of a pack of Rangers on cases, showing various crimes across Texas, which is fodder for plenty of drama. With Walker off the air, another Texas Ranger show can fill the gap and Lovett could clearly enjoy reprising this popular character.
FDNY
The final season of Blue Bloods had a couple of episodes that could have acted as backdoor pilots for a spinoff. The first was Frank meeting Victoria Radley, the new New York Fire Commissioner. Casting Oscar winner Mira Sorvino in the role seemed to indicate CBS wanted a big spotlight for her and the potential for a spinoff is clear.
CBS has already had a big success with Fire County, so adding a show about the FDNY is natural. A fun idea is that the Radleys are the firemen version of the Reagans, a few generations in the FDNY. Thus, we can see various departments from the low-level firemen to Radley handling the politics and perhaps people against a woman in charge. It’d be a great way to expand the Blue Bloods world into a fiery show.
Evaline Romano
The final run of Season 14 episodes started with Erin accused of bribing a witness to commit perjury. That brought in Brooklyn DA Evaline Romano, a tough lady investigating Erin. Erin proved her innocence, but Romano showed she wasn’t a fan of Erin’s methods and used a tougher direction in Brooklyn. Played by veteran actress Debi Mazar, Romano was a compelling character who can work in a spinoff.
Romano would have a much tougher outlook than Erin, more inclined to think the worst of people yet give her a compelling backstory and she might be more captivating. We can learn more about her past and what drives her on with some good storylines on how Brooklyn operates differently than Manhattan. Mazar is an actress who always deserves a bigger showcase, and this could be a great vehicle for her.
Robert Lewis
This is a spinoff that might have worked better years ago, yet there was potential. Michael Imperioli had a few guest-star turns on Blue Bloods as Robert Lewis, the New York State’s Attorney investigating Danny on a shooting. He’d clash with Frank, and had a tough attitude, yet he seemed to want to see justice done in his own way.
A spinoff then on Lewis might have been intriguing with him going around New York State to take up various cases, maybe softening a bit and having him with a support group could have been interesting too. Imperoli had the potential to be a leading man with this part and might have led a larger legal look at New York’s politics.
Sean and Nicky
If you want to get away from the police/legal stuff, it could be interesting to look at what the younger Reagans are up to. Sean and Nicky were mostly absent in the last couple of seasons, with the obvious explanation being that they had gone off to college with Nicky in San Francisco. That could have led to a nice spinoff of the pair connecting on the West Coast and maybe roommates.
We can see them trying to find new lives on their own with Nicky perhaps tempted to follow in her mom’s footsteps as a lawyer or even an old idea of becoming a cop herself. Sean may not want that, but some sort of first responder job could work for him. It would have been a good way to extend the Reagan legacy and a fun family drama, which is what Blue Bloods was always about.
Sloane Thompson
This may have been a bit offbeat, but still an intriguing idea. Sloane Thompson was a London police commander who originally came to New York to study the NYPD methods. She and Frank hit it off nicely and Sloane returned in a later episode, now a private security consultant. Played by the fabulous Alex Kingston, Sloane’s charm and skills were on display.
Perhaps Sloane returned to her job in London, either as a full-time cop or at least consulting the London PD. They could add an American coming to London to work with her in a joint operation. That would have been a genius idea to show American audiences what the British police were like and some spins on the police format. Kingston’s star power would have elevated this show and a different type of cop drama on CBS.
Blue Bloods streaming on Paramount+.