Tom Selleck revealed that portrayals of fathers like Homer Simpson on shows such as The Simpsons influenced his decision to play Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods. He sought to depict a positive patriarch amid common negative TV dad stereotypes. Selleck has highlighted this aspect in multiple interviews over the years.
Tom Selleck explained that he accepted the role of Frank Reagan, the patriarch on Blue Bloods, because television often portrays fathers poorly. “I took the role of Frank Reagan because, as far as I can tell, patriarchs aren't treated well on TV these days. Often they're portrayed as idiots, like Homer Simpson,” Selleck told the Television Academy's Emmy magazine in 2013. He noted his role as a spokesman for the National Fatherhood Initiative and the importance of positive father figures. In a January 2024 interview with TV Insider ahead of the show's 14th and final season, Selleck expressed pride in playing a “flawed but strong father.” He described Frank as someone who makes mistakes but strives to be a good dad. “I'm playing the patriarch of a family. I think Frank is sometimes an idiot and sometimes makes mistakes, but part of what he tries to be is a good dad,” he told CBS News in 2012. On Blue Bloods, Frank serves as the central authority figure for the Reagan family, anchoring their weekly dinners amid law enforcement challenges. Selleck told TV Insider that while not his explicit mission, the show provides a by-product of a strong patriarch example, which he sees as increasingly rare.