Donnie Wahlberg Reveals the Tough Part of Filming “Boston Blue” in His Hometown

Donnie Wahlberg, known for his role as Danny Reagan in the long-running series “Blue Bloods,” has recently shared insights about the challenges he faces while filming in his hometown of Boston for the new series “Boston Blue.” The actor, who has deep roots in the city, opened up about the excitement and distraction that comes with shooting in such a familiar environment during an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark.”

While discussing the filming experience, Wahlberg described the atmosphere in Boston as “crazy.” He revealed that the presence of enthusiastic fans can make it difficult to get scenes completed. “We don’t get anything shot,” he joked, explaining that every time he attempted a take, he was interrupted by enthusiastic fans calling out his name. “Every take, I’m literally saying, ‘Give me your hand, sir, you’re under arrest,’ and it’s like, ‘Donnie! Donnie!’”

Wahlberg highlighted the famous duck boat tours which are popular among both tourists and locals. These boats travel through the city and provide commentary to passengers, often mentioning appearances by local celebrities. He recounted how tour guides have pointed him out while filming, saying things like, “Over there, you’ll see Donnie Wahlberg in the wild. He grew up three doors down from me, I knew his mother, God rest her soul.”

Co-host Kelly Ripa chimed in, recalling her own experience of hearing fans gossiping about the Wahlberg family during one of those boat tours. She cheekily suggested that the Wahlbergs ought to consider renting their own duck boat to handle the attention more privately.

In “Boston Blue,” Wahlberg’s character is a veteran of the NYPD who returns to Boston to work with the local police department, hoping to reconnect with his son, Sean, played by Mika Amonsen. Throughout his fourteen seasons working on “Blue Bloods,” Wahlberg has had to tone down his Boston accent to portray a Brooklyn character. He reminisced about how he’s managed to control the accent over time but admitted, “the accent does sneak out at times.”

Reflecting on his experiences in New York while filming “Blue Bloods,” Wahlberg mentioned how the local crew kept him on his toes. “If the Patriots lost to the Giants, I’d show up to work the next day, there’d be posters, newspaper clippings plastered all over. They’d never let up on me,” he recounted. This playful teasing has proved beneficial, helping him learn how to engage with his Boston roots while still poking fun at his hometown.

In another emotional moment, Wahlberg spoke with PEOPLE at the iHeartRadio Music Awards about the joy of announcing the renewal of “Boston Blue” for a second season. The show, which premiered on CBS in October, has resonated well with audiences. He described the moment he broke the news to his castmates, revealing, “I had the pleasure of calling all my castmates and telling them, and every cast member got tears in their eyes, every single one of them, and so did I.”

Wahlberg, who also serves as an executive producer for the series, felt a strong desire to personally inform his colleagues about the show’s renewal. He explained, “Well, I’m an EP too, so I said as one of the EPs, I’d like to be the one to tell them. And everyone agreed.” The pride and passion he feels for the project are evident.

“Boston Blue” currently airs on CBS on Friday evenings at 10 p.m. ET, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Paramount+. As Wahlberg navigates the challenges and joys of shooting in his hometown, fans eagerly anticipate what’s next for the beloved series and the actor in this new chapter of his career.