I finally know what made Blue Bloods so realistic (& it’s not just the natural performances)

CBS's Blue Bloods, which concluded with a 14-season run in December 2024, will remain one of the most iconic and accurate police procedurals on television.

This drama series, starring Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg, follows the Reagan family, whose many generations have served in law enforcement for several years. Starting from Frank Reagan's father, their involvement with the NYPD was eventually passed on to the children.

From intense interrogations to high-speed chase sequences, the show has delivered some of the most accurate portrayals of police life. While the show's accuracy and realism are commendable, it was backed by a professional.

To maintain its accurate streak, the show had a former NYPD detective, James Nuciforo, act as technical advisor. He even edited their scripts.

Here's how Blue Boods maintained a realistic portrayal.

Blue Bloods: All about the former NYPD detective's involvement in the procedural

While Blue Bloods might not be the loudest and most over-the-top police procedural out there, it certainly has mastered the realism of the police world. I often wondered what makes the show stand apart from other procedurals, which feel like they are trying to oversell the material.

The reason is a former NYPD detective, James Nuciforo. Officer James has been a part of the procedural since 2012 as a technical advisor for all police-related matters on the show. To make storylines and dialogues feel as authentic as possible, CBS brought in James, who has actively edited the show's script since 2012.

In an interview with Country Living Magazine, James Nuciforo discussed his role in Blue Bloods:

"Let’s say [they get] a 56-page script, I’ll give them anywhere between five to 10 pages of notes on the script, just plugging in dialogue with more jargon...''

No wonder everything New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan says is so convincing and real because it is filtered by a real NYPD officer. Reportedly, this CBS show is not the first time that Officer James has contributed his expertise. He has also previously worked on shows like Law & Order, Unforgettable, and Elementary.

However, his work on this CBS show is truly monumental because it is the only show to list him as an associate producer. He also has a writing credit for a 2017 Blue Bloods episode and cameoed in 29 episodes as himself, ie, Detective Jim Nuciforo.

Officer James' involvement with the show only highlights the makers' commitment to keep the procedural authentic and grounded in reality. It is no wonder that Blue Bloods is a hit among real police officers because the show portrays their daily struggles with a humane point of view.

The cast of the show has often expressed the overwhelming response they get from people and real officers, as Selleck once discussed with CBS 58:

"We get a lot of positive response from police officers, my heroes, and I think that’s a wonderful compliment...''

Len Cariou (Henry Reagan) added:

"They say, 'Thank you for your show, we love it because it makes us look like human beings...''

While it is no easy feat, the CBS show has managed to maintain its accuracy throughout its fourteen-season run. While the fans and cast tried their best to save it, CBS canceled the show. I hope its legacy continues with Donnie Wahlberg's spin-off series Boston Blue.

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