Kevin Wade, who ran “Blue Bloods” for more than a decade, declined to back Bill O’Reilly’s characterization of the CBS spinoff “Boston Blue” as a politically driven replacement for the canceled procedural. Speaking with O’Reilly on his “No Spin News” program, Wade pushed back against the framing while stopping short of directly engaging with O’Reilly’s specific complaints.
O’Reilly told Wade that “Boston Blue is woke,” pointing to the cast’s ethnic diversity as evidence, and contrasted it with what he described as the original series’ consistent Irish Catholic identity. He then asked whether network executives had deliberately moved away from that formula to produce something more diverse that could still turn a profit.
Wade did not take up the argument. He told O’Reilly he had seen only the pilot and a few additional episodes, noting he watches little network television these days. He praised Donnie Wahlberg’s performance in the lead role and framed his support in practical terms, saying he sides with any project that keeps actors and crew working. “I’m going to be on the side of my colleagues here,” he said, adding that he roots for shows that provide jobs across the industry.
Wade led “Blue Bloods” as showrunner from 2011 until its cancellation in 2023, with its 14th and final season airing through December 2024. The show followed the Reagan family, an Irish American law enforcement dynasty in New York City, across 293 episodes. “Boston Blue” launched in October 2025 as a spinoff centered on Wahlberg’s character, Danny Reagan, who relocates to the Boston Police Department alongside his son Sean, now played by Mika Amonsen. The series also stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Ernie Hudson, Maggie Lawson, Gloria Reuben and Marcus Scribner.
CBS renewed “Boston Blue” for a second season in December, ahead of its October 9 return, a decision that came well before O’Reilly raised his objections. The show inherited the Friday night time slot “Blue Bloods” held for most of its run.
