Donnie Wahlberg Feels ‘So Blessed And Grateful’ For BLUE BLOODS
By Movieguide® Contributor
BLUE BLOODS star Donnie Wahlberg is explaining his approach to the show after its near-cancellation.
“I’m an optimist,” the actor told Us Weekly. “I try to take every episode as it comes. I really do. I think it’s part of why I’ve enjoyed myself on the show for 13 years.”
Wahlberg continued, “One of the things I’ve done is I try to just stay very present in each episode and take each script that comes my way and say, ‘Okay, what’s gonna happen now? You know, what am I doing this week?’ And kind of find the journey in that particular episode and not get caught up in what’s going to happen next year, what’s going to happen in two years.”
Movieguide® previously reported on BLUE BLOODS season 14 renewal:
BLUE BLOODS has officially been renewed for its 14th season after the cast and crew agreed to a 25 percent pay cut.
The Hollywood Reporter reports, “the stars and key producers all agreed to the pay reduction in order to keep the Friday night cop drama running and keep the hundreds of production staffers employed for another season.”
The renewal makes BLUE BLOODS the network’s second-longest-running current scripted series after NCIS, which was recently renewed for its 21st season.
He was equally enthusiastic about his time on BLUE BLOODS in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“I’m just incredibly grateful, you know? It’s very unbelievable to be doing so many things that I love to do,” Wahlberg explained. “I’ve been in my band for almost 40 years, 30-something years, and I’ve been doing this show for 13 years, and I’m so grateful for it.”
He continued, “I have a great cast, who’s become family, we have a great crew and so many loyal viewers and fans. It’s just unbelievable. So it’s not that I feel relief as much as I kind of have to pinch myself sometimes and go, like, how did this happen? Growing up, I dreamed of somehow making my way to be able to do things that I love to do and to be doing it after all these years and having so much fun doing it, I just feel so blessed and so grateful.”
Wahlberg’s time on BLUE BLOODS has even given him the confidence to work on other projects, like VERY SCARY PEOPLE, a true crime show he hosts and executive produces.
“If it weren’t for BLUE BLOODS, I probably never would’ve done VERY SCARY PEOPLE,” the actor told PEOPLE. “I think in some ways BLUE BLOODS prepared the audience for me to be the host of VERY SCARY PEOPLE. Because of the role I play on BLUE BLOODS, it lent a sort of credibility, I think, to me being the host of this show.”
Movieguide® previously reported on BLUE BLOODS’ future:
BLUE BLOODS season 14 will not air this fall due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The hit show has been part of CBS’ fall lineup for the past 13 seasons, and the plan was to release season 14 as part of the channel’s 2023-2024 fall schedule…
“Currently, CBS has not yet released the official release date for Blue Bloods season 14; however, it has confirmed that the new season will not be coming until 2024. This means the absolute soonest we could see the new season premiere would be in January,” MSN reported.
Although a January date is possible for season 14, it depends on when the writers’ and actors’ strikes conclude. If the strikes continue into October, production will be further delayed, which could push back BLUE BLOODS season 14 more.