I don’t watch episodic television as a rule, but I do love the show Blue Bloods, Friday nights at 10 on CBS. I don’t watch it then, I usually go to CBS.com the following night viewing it on my computer. My TV, that’s not even plugged in, sits on the table like a big, silver nicknack.
Why do I like the show so much?
Two words: family dinner.
If you haven’t seen it, it revolves around the Reagan family, an old fashioned, Irish Catholic clan that reminds me so much of what it was like growing up Italian Catholic in Bridgeport Connecticut.
Tom Selleck plays Francis “Frank” Reagan, the Police Commissioner of New York City and widowed father of Danny, Erin, and Jamie. His second son, Joe, was killed in the line of duty May 15, 2009. Frank was a Marine during the Vietnam War and often serves as the moral center of the family. He has an indifferent attitude towards politics, often taking on the mayor and numerous reporters who misinterpret his actions. He tries hard not to judge people, and tends to purse his lips together when hearing bad news or the horrific details of an ongoing case. His wife Mary died September 14, 2005. The death of his wife, son, mother and the thousands who perished on September 11th, weigh heavily on him, and the person who is best at lifting his spirits is his father (Len Cariou), who often talks to him late at night when he cannot sleep. Frank lives in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn along with his dad.
The writing is so much better than one expects since it is television, a medium I don’t have much respect for with shows like Hannibal and Homeland. I feel story lines about serial killers and terrorism are just not what I want permeating my mind as I go to sleep at night. Brain health is right up there with keeping my bod in shape and maybe even a bit more important.
Blue Bloods, however, doesn’t do that to me. I find it compelling and comforting all at the same time.
In every show the family gathers together at Frank’s house, no matter what, for Sunday dinner. When I was growing up this too was a ritual and one I remember fondly. Of course the Reagans are a tad more civilized that my family was, but the tradition holds the same.
We too ate in the dining room on our best china and linen feasting on roast beef or a leg of lamb. My grandmother, on my dad’s side, joined us every other Sunday. I had to keep my church clothes on and despite alcoholic turmoil, like the Reagans, we always said grace.
I got in trouble once because when it was my turn instead of a prayer I said, “Play Ball.” My mother smacked me right at the table causing a rift with my dad who thought it was cute. That’s something else you don’t see at the Reagans, that occasional Brussel sprout sailing through the air.
But there’s enough similarities that bring up happy memories even if I’ve edited them a bit for the sake of my own sanity.
Tom Selleck, who disappoints me heading the NRA, still rocks in his role with such heartfelt humanity that you can hardly believe he was ever the star of Baywatch with Pamela Anderson and her breasts as his three co-stars. I realize now that it was Magnum PI that I was thinking of. I guess Pamela and company wasn’t in that. Oh well.
I love that there’s a giant portrait of Teddy Roosevelt behind his desk when he was the Police Commissioner back in 1895. Seeing Teddy, anytime, is always a bonus for me.
The story lines are serious but done well without gratuitous violence, something I consider an art. I especially appreciate the morale aspect that’s always present: right verses wrong…when to bend the rules…knowing whatever decision you make you’re the one who has to live with it, which brings me back to family dinner.
Grampa (Len Cariou), loves the fact that instead of something too healthy they’re having scalloped potatoes for a change. Linda (Sami Gayle), Danny’s (Donnie Wahlberg) wife, is angry because she feels her job at the hospital is not viewed as important as her husbands. Erin (Bridget Moynahan), who’s annoyed at her daughter for staging a sit-in at her school, bristles at the table while her dad reminds her that she too was a bit of a rebel when she was Nicki’s (Amy Carlson) age. Jamie (Will Estes), the youngest son, sulks over what he feels is unfair treatment towards another cop angry that his dad is staying so neutral.
All this takes place as they eat, passing platters and bowls, listening and arguing family style. Who knows, maybe one time a Brussel sprout will make its way across their table, or someone might even say…play ball.
If you can, watch video below.
SB
