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There are several other shows with similar themes or characters to Blue Bloods now that the popular cop and family drama has finished its 14-year run. Blue Bloods' cancelation is disappointing because its focus on the Reagan family made it unique among police procedurals. Every episode included a family dinner scene in which the characters tried to put aside their differences to enjoy time together, and this alongside other aspects of the series drew large audiences throughout the series' long run.
This series was popular enough that CBS' decision to cancel it led to a massive fan-led movement to save Blue Bloods. Unfortunately, that failed to move the needle with CBS executives, and the procedural's final episode aired on December 13, 2024. While CBS has promised there will eventually be a spinoff, there is no such show in development yet, and thus its audience must find other shows to watch in its absence.
10 Law & Order: Organized Crime
Streaming on Peacock
Although Law & Order: Organized Crime is much grittier than Blue Bloods, it has the same blend of police and family storylines. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) works for the Organized Crime Bureau, which takes on complex cases involving mob families or gang leaders. Stabler's backstory in this series also may seem familiar to Blue Bloods' audience, as Stabler spends the first season searching for answers after his wife is murdered by the mob. This similarity with Blue Bloods' Danny Reagan would have made for a fascinating crossover appearance had both shows appeared on the same network.
Law & Order: Organized Crime has been renewed for a fifth season on Peacock, but no release date has been announced yet.
Stabler's family doesn't appear as consistently as Blue Bloods' Reagan family, but there are often strong subplots involving them. During the first season, Stablers' daughters worry about his mental health, while his teenage son, Eli (Nicky Torchia) becomes rebellious. Starting in season 2, Stabler must care for his aging and ill mother (Ellen Burstyn). Law & Order: Organized Crime season 4 has the most in common with Blue Bloods, however, as it introduces two of Stabler's brothers and the Stablers' attempt to put their fractured family back together.
9 Matlock
CBS
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Matlock is a modern reboot of the classic series created for CBS that sees the titular role taken up by Kathy Bates. After years retired from her career, Madeline Matlock rejoins the legal world in a powerful new firm where she uses her seasoned skills to win cases and expose the underlying corruption within the legal system.
Release Date September 22, 2024
Character(s) Madeline Matlock , Julián , Olympia , Billy , Sarah , Alfie Kingston , Elijah Walker , Senior Partner , Kathryn Lawrence-Markston , Courtney (Court) Lawrence-Markston
Seasons 1
Writers Jennie Snyder Urman
Directors Kat Coiro
At first glance, Matlock has little in common with Blue Bloods, as it is a legal procedural series with an overarching mystery. However, in some ways, Matlock is the perfect replacement for Blue Bloods because it involves ethical and moral dilemmas and has a strong family element. The Kathy Bates-led legal procedural has family issues at its heart. Madeline "Matlock" Kingston has gone undercover at a law firm to expose the people whose lies and manipulations contributed to her daughter's death from an opioid overdose, and Madeline often must balance her work duties with taking care of her 12-year-old grandson.
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Blue Bloods Already Has The Perfect Replacement Show With 100% On Rotten Tomatoes
The Raegans are preparing to say goodbye as Blue Bloods heads to its final episodes. Luckily, network TV already has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Thus, while Matlock has a very different feel than Blue Bloods, its themes may resonate with audiences who love Blue Bloods' dedication to justice. Additionally, the CBS hit procedural stars Kathy Bates, who has comparable star power to Tom Selleck after a long and varied career.
8 Chicago PD
NBC
Chicago PD
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A spinoff of Chicago Fire, this police procedural drama follows the detectives and the uniformed patrol officers of the Chicago Police Department as they work to crack cases and put criminals behind bars.
Release Date January 8, 2014
Cast Jason Beghe , Marina Squerciati , Patrick John Flueger , LaRoyce Hawkins , Amy Morton , Jesse Lee Soffer , Tracy Spiridakos , Jon Seda
Creator(s) Michael Brandt , Derek Haas , Matt Olmstead
Seasons 12
Story By dick wolf
Writers Dick Wolf
Directors Dick Wolf
Showrunner Dick Wolf
doesn't approach policing the same way Blue Bloods does, but it has an ensemble cast full of detectives and officers doing the best they can to keep a big city safe while dealing with issues at home. Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) is the type of cop Frank Reagan would probably have a problem with, as he pushes boundaries and uses any means at his disposal to get criminals off the streets. However, he is motivated in early episodes by the desire to protect his family, something which only intensifies after his son is murdered.
Several storylines involve figuring out how best to be parents while doing the dangerous job they've committed to.
In more recent seasons, Chicago PD has featured a subplot involving officers Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (John Patrick Flueger) getting together and adopting a little girl, Makayla (Ramona Edith Williams). Several storylines involve figuring out how best to be parents while doing the dangerous job they've committed to. These stories offer some of the family drama that is missing from the airwaves since Blue Bloods' cancelation.
7 Judging Amy
Available on DVD
Judging Amy is a hidden gem from the late 1990s and early 2000s that shares Blue Bloods' emphasis on family values. Its central character, Amy Gray (Amy Brenneman) is a family court judge who becomes a single mother when her divorce is finalized. Her divorce leads her to move in with her mother (Tyne Daly), who is a social worker specializing in helping families with children, and the move puts Amy in close contact with her two brothers. Thus, while the family is far smaller than the Reagans, the Grays are central to the show's premise.
While Judging Amy is not currently available to stream, all six seasons are available to buy on DVD.
Like Blue Bloods, this series was canceled after several years on the air even though it potentially had more stories to tell. However, for six years, it offered complex ethical dilemmas, compelling legal cases, and family issues Amy had to deal with at home while fighting for justice at work. Although Judging Amy ended two decades ago, it has enough in common with Blue Bloods to be worth a second look.
6 Homicide: Life On The Street
Streaming On Peacock
Homicide: Life on The Street is one of the most realistic police procedurals in television history, so it will appeal to that part of the Blue Bloods audience who appreciated its respectful and accurate portrayal of NYPD cops. Like Blue Bloods, it was filmed on location — in its case, on Baltimore streets that were no stranger to real-life crime. This series was based on a book by journalist David Simon, who rode with and interviewed real Baltimore cops, and many of the early episodes were based on cases Simon reported on in the book.
Homicide: Life On The Streets originated the character of John Munch (Richard Belzer), who appeared in several other series and was a regular part of Law & Order: SVU during the first 15 seasons.
While Homicide: Life On The Street lacks the family storylines that made Blue Bloods special, it offers one of the best portrayals of law enforcement officers in the genre. This critically acclaimed series focuses on a set of homicide detectives in Baltimore and is famous for its sparse sets, character-based stories, and terse dialogue. It explores the emotional toll of working in a homicide unit in a violent city and is famous for storylines such as Frank Pembleton's (Andre Braugher) stroke and Tim Bayliss' (Kyle Secor) inability to bring closure to the family of an 11-year-old girl after her death.
5 The Wire
Streaming On Hulu
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The Wire is an American crime drama starring Dominic West and Lance Reddick. The show follows Detective James ‘Jimmy’ McNulty as he tackles the drug scene in Baltimore, Maryland. The HBO series was praised throughout its run, even winning two Primetime Emmy Awards. The Wire aired on HBO between 2002 and 2008 for a total of 60 episodes.
Release Date June 2, 2002
Finale Year November 30, 2007
Seasons 5
Story By David Simon
Writers David Simon
Directors David Simon
Showrunner David Simon
The Wire is another David Simon police drama. Like Homicide: Life on The Street, it offers a gritty, realistic look at cops who are doing some of the most difficult police-related jobs available — in some ways, these two shows are companion series because they both involve Baltimore cops, though The Wire focuses on the Narcotics Unit rather than homicide detectives.
However, its focus on realistic police officers is similar to what Blue Bloods tries to do with the NYPD, and thus it is well worth watching after finishing Blue Bloods. The Wire explores different aspects of multiple socioeconomic issues and is regarded as one of the best HBO shows of all time, having set the bar high for police dramas that came after it.
4 The Rookie
ABC
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The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force's oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
Release Date October 16, 2018
Character(s) John Nolan , Lucy Chen , Angela Lopez , Tim Bradford , Mark Greer , Gleason Dunn , Jackson West , Talia Bishop , Nyla Harper , Capt. Zoe Andersen , Wade Grey , Aaron Thorsen , Wesley Evers , Bailey Nune , Celina Juarez , Will.i.am , Brad Hayes , Mario Lopez , Dominique Grey , Jeremy Hawke , DHS Agent Jessica Russo , Megan Mitchell , Isabel Bradford , Cole Midas , Leonard 'King' Midas
Creator(s) Alexi Hawley
Seasons 7
Story By alexi hawley
Writers Corey Miller , Bill Rinier , Zoe Cheng , Mary Trahan , Ally Seibert , Liz Alper , Nick Hurwitz , Racheal Seymour , Madeleine Coghlan , David Radcliff
Directors Tori Garrett , Chi-Yoon Chung , Michael Goi , Sylvain White , Lisa Demaine , Lanre Olabisi , Bill Johnson , David McWhirter , Liz Friedlander , Daniel Willis , Toa Fraser , Anne Renton , Jon Huertas , Cherie Nowlan , TK Shom , Rob Seidenglanz , Valerie Weiss , Barbara Brown , Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul , SJ Main Muñoz , Nelson McCormick , Marcus Stokes , Adam Davidson , Anna Mastro
Showrunner Alexi Hawley
Blue Bloods is one of the best shows similar to The Rookie, and there are many points of overlap between the two series. The focus is somewhat different, as The Rookie revolves around newer rank-and-file officers rather than established cops and those in charge of the department. However, both shows share a desire to depict law enforcement with enough nuance and attention to detail. Additionally, the two shows both focus on family values in addition to police-centered storylines.
The Rookie is a unique show because the central character, John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), is an older man who decides to become a cop after a life-changing experience. Some plots revolve around others' skepticism of his commitment to police work because of his mid-life career change, Nolan's family life is also a big part of the series, as he is initially a divorced single father, though later he marries Bailey (Jenna Dewan).
3 NYPD Blue
Streams on Hulu
NYPD Blue was controversial when it first aired in the early 1990s because of its gritty depiction of cops living and working in New York City, often pushing the boundaries of what was allowed to be aired on network television. Thus, it is more explicit than Blue Bloods. However, despite the controversy, this series aimed to depict NYPD cops more realistically, and thus will appeal to the part of the Blue Bloods audience that loved its police procedural aspect.
NYPD Blue features the fictional 15th Precinct, located in Manhattan. Unlike Blue Bloods, which was filmed on location, this procedural was produced and created in Los Angeles and thus does not depict Manhattan entirely realistically. However, it makes up for that with complex characters and interesting stories featuring various police officers working hard to keep Manhattan safe.
2 Madam Secretary
Streaming On Paramount+
Madam Secretary revolves around the Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) and often offers a deep dive into international politics. Thus, at first glance, it seems far removed from Blue Bloods, which features the working-class Reagan family trying to keep New York City safe. However, Elizabeth is a similar figure to Frank in that she is someone in a position of authority who would prefer to act on her own values rather than considering politics. Madam Secretary also offers a similar blend of family and workplace stories to Blue Bloods.
Elizabeth's family is just as important to her as her high-stakes job, and every episode includes family-based storylines.
Although the McCords don't have anything comparable to the Reagan family dinners in Blue Bloods, Elizabeth's family is just as important to her as her high-stakes job, and every episode includes family-based storylines. Elizabeth often struggles to be there for her family as much as she would like or is called away to deal with a crisis on the world stage while in the middle of handling a problem at home.
1 This Is Us
Streaming On Peacock
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This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who people become and how the connections people share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Release Date September 20, 2016
Finale Year November 30, 2021
Seasons 6
Writers Dan Fogelman
Showrunner Dan Fogelman
Unlike most other shows similar to Blue Bloods, This Is Us is not a police procedural. However, this show set the standard for family dramas, and its ending in 2022 left TV with only Blue Bloods to fill audiences' need for family-based stories. This unique series revolves around the Pearson family, both before and after the death of This Is Us' Jack Pearson. It utilizes multiple timelines to tell the story of this family's love and perseverance in the face of tragedy, often playing with its non-linear storytelling to create plot twists and mysteries.
Many of the same actors play characters as middle-aged adults and senior citizens. Mandy Moore's performance as Rebecca is especially impressive, as she plays her in stages of life that are far beyond her lived experience. While This Is Us is a very different type of series than Blue Bloods, its focus on family dynamics and on the bonds that keep a family going despite heartbreaking loss overlap significantly with the Reagan family's story.
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A police procedural set in New York City, Blue Bloods follows the lives of the Irish-American Reagan family, who has a strong family history and current powerful roles in the New York Police Department.
Release Date September 24, 2010
Finale Year November 30, 2023
Seasons 14
English (US) ·