CBS’ ‘Blue Bloods’ thrives on a normally dead TV night

NEW YORK, N.Y. – CBS is defying the traditional rules of television with its family police show “Blue Bloods.”

The drama starring Tom Selleck as a New York City police detective is the most popular scripted show on a network in over a decade. Last week it was CBS’ second most-popular show all week after the comedy “The Big Bang Theory.”

Television networks often consider Friday nights a programming graveyard, reasoning that many potential viewers are out on the town and not in their living rooms. But “Blue Bloods” has found a home there, and CBS believes that its strong family element has been enticing to viewers.

The Nielsen company says “Blue Bloods” is up 4 per cent in viewers over last season.