PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: INSIDE MEDIA: PALEY AFTER DARK: PREMIERE SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: BLUE BLOODS {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in a series of seminars presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s Paley After Dark series in New York. This seminar celebrates “Blue Bloods,” a drama series about a multi-generational family of police officers in New York City.

Host Pat Mitchell (president and CEO, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks before introducing the pilot episode, which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 103974.)

After the screening, moderator Erica Hill (news anchor, "The Early Show") introduces the panelists: executive producer Leonard Goldberg; executive producer/creators Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green; and cast members Tom Selleck (Frank Reagan); Donnie Wahlberg (Danny Reagan); Bridget Moynahan (Erin Reagan-Boyle); Will Estes (Jamie Reagan) and Len Cariou (Henry Reagan).

The panelists touch on such topics as: Goldberg’s interest in combining a family show and a cop show; Green and Burgess’s experience of writing for “The Sopranos” and their definition of "heroes"; the use of consultants in making the show accurate; Selleck’s return to serialized television; the experience for Moynahan of watching the pilot with an audience; how filming in New York is “like going onstage” for Wahlberg; the simplicity of the show’s concept; Cariou’s role as “the uber-patriarch”; the challenge of shooting an intimate family dinner scene shortly after the cast met; Estes being sworn to secrecy about the show's conspiracy plotline; the choice to shoot the series in New York, despite expenses; Selleck’s paternal demeanor both on and off the set; Selleck’s use of memories of his own father for his character; the focus on "little moments between characters” within bigger stories; the responsibility of paying homage to real-life law enforcement officers (including audience member, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly); and the collaborative effort between the writers and actors in getting to know the characters over time.

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: Selleck fans' ongoing fondness for “Magnum, P.I.”; Selleck’s work with his "mentor," James Garner, on “The Rockford Files”; Selleck’s work with the National Fatherhood Initiative; specifics about the geography of the characters’ homes; the difficulties of shooting in the city, including Wahlberg’s run-in with a defiant local and Selleck’s encounter with a stealthy paparazzo; clarification of a romantic plot point involving Selleck’s character; whether the show will make mention of 9/11; and the cast and crew’s interest in honoring the NYPD via the show.

Cataloging of this program has been made possible by Verizon Communications.

Details

• NETWORK: N/A
• DATE: September 22, 2010 6:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:34:27
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: 103289
• GENRE: Seminars
• SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
• SERIES RUN: N/A
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Pat Mitchell … Host
• Erica Hill … Moderator
• Leonard Goldberg … Panelist
• Mitchell Burgess … Panelist
• Robin Green … Panelist
• Tom Selleck … Panelist
• Donnie Wahlberg … Panelist
• Bridget Moynahan … Panelist
• Will Estes … Panelist
• Len Cariou … Panelist
• James Garner
• Raymond Kelly