Blue Bloods season 8: Why did Amy Carlson leave?
We know sometimes there are juicy stories that come along with an actor departing a show, and we’ve certainly written about plenty of them over the years whether it be Cote de Pablo on NCIS, Christopher Meloni on Law & Order: SVU, Erinn Hayes on Kevin Can Wait, or what would’ve happened with Stana Katic had Castle been renewed for a season 9. In the case of Carlson, though, it doesn’t appear as though there was anything scandalous or controversial here at all.
According to a new report coming in from Deadline, it was Carlson’s decision to leave the show after the seventh season, as her contract had expired. Most network contracts for series regulars tend to run out at the end of either the sixth or seventh season — we know that for Tom Selleck he had to sign a new deal to return for season 7, one that was not inked until shortly before that season began.
After seven years on one show playing the same character, we certainly understand why Carlson would want to move on and try some different things. We do think the timing works out for her given that pilot season is coming up; plus, there are also some possible film or theater jobs out there for her. We hope that everyone who loved her on this show will continue to support her elsewhere — once a Reagan, always a Reagan, right?
The only thing that really comes as all that great of a surprise about this news is the way in which everything happened. It’s highly unusual for a series-regular departure to be this secret; nobody in the media or the television community at large seemed to have the faintest idea that this was happening until the premiere episode aired and her name wasn’t in the opening credits. (If there’s one critique we could offer Blue Bloods it’s that if they really wanted to go for the shock value they would’ve kept the credits the same as season 7 for the opening — the moment that some eagle-eyed viewers didn’t see her at the dinner table they realized that something was amiss and it almost distracted from the reveal.)
Hopefully, this puts an end to any sort of rumors that are out there before they really get going. Everyone seems to be wishing Carlson the best and we’ll absolutely do the same.
(Photo: CBS.)
Greg west palm fl
October 10, 2017 @ 3:13 am
CBS needs to just needs to pay Linda ( Carlson) the pay increase to resign her contract. The only way they kill off a character off scene is money or being Charlie Sheen. .LOL
Patricia Jacobs
October 23, 2017 @ 1:38 pm
I am not sure if it’s a pay increase or if it had to do with how little screen time her chacter had. I actually looked it up and if you don’t count the dinner table scenes which everyone is in then from season five thru seven Amy Carlson was only in 18 or 19 episodes outside of the dinner scene and that’s out of 66 episodes.She actually had more screen time before Linda was shot but after that it seemed like any storyline for Linda was glossed I or skipped altogether.Amy might have left because her chacter Linda had no real growth or development so leaving was probably what Amy Carlson felt was the only thing she could do,but why was it kept such a secert is what I am wondering about
leni2012
October 7, 2017 @ 2:37 am
They should’ve just recast the role if Amy Carlson wanted to leave. Have her visiting relatives for a few episodes and then introduce the new “Linda.” Audiences soon adjust and at least that wouldn’t totally change the family dynamics at the Sunday dinners etc.
Patricia Jacobs
October 23, 2017 @ 1:31 pm
I asked why they killed Linda off instead of recasting the role and apparently it’s frowned upon these days to recast a role and it’s cheaper to kill Linda off. I wish someway Amy Carlson would return to BlueBloods later in the season but according to Rob Owen at the Pittsburgh Post she can only return as flashbacks because they will not have her come back as Linda alive.
Sarita Boyette
October 4, 2017 @ 1:49 am
I was so enamored of a possible Jamko hook-up that the credits & dinner scene passed by me unnoticed. I loved Linda’s character & she will be missed. I was thinking that she would be Eddie’s mentor if she ever became a Reagan. Hope the writers do Linda justice & at least have a flashback memorial service.