NEW YORK, NY (CBS) - The memories of 911 shine brightly on Friday's episode of Blue Bloods as one special scene was shot in a place no scripted drama has ever filmed in before at New York City's 911 Memorial.
Tom Selleck says, "What we're shooting tonight in this hallowed place is a, the scene where Frank Regan, the New York City Police Commissioner comes visit the site of the attack and Ground Zero It comes at a kind of an emotional moment for him. It's an emotional moment for us. It's kind of a special privilege to be here. That they gave us permission we consider an honor."
Producer and writer Brian Burns talked about he and Tom Selleck were inspired to bring a 911 themed episode to viewing audiences. He says, "It was all built with the intention of having a final scene here where Frank the Commissioner could come down here alone, after hours and reflect on these, on these pools and you know, all the men and women who were lost that day."
The episode reflects back to Frank Regans' early days as a NYPD first responder to the World Trade Center attacks and who later witnesses a good friend and colleague suffer through major illnesses that some say were caused by the dusty toxic conditions the heroes faces.
Selleck says, "He lost a lot of friends umm, he continues to lose friends of... And is never really certain whether it's from that event or just illness. Um it's a dilemma most cops I think have. You know, why are people still dying? Why them and not me?"
Producers thought getting the OK to shoot the scene on the 911 site would be a monumental task. Burns says, "So I called our producer and I told her what I was thinking and I said, "Look I imagine this is going to be an impossible get. There's no way they're going to want us down here, but I think it would be the greatest thing in the world for our show if we were the first ones to shoot down here."
But with this huge loss comes a new sense of purpose. Selleck says, "There's a very positive aspect to this. The Freedom Tower is going up. You can almost, when you're in New York like I am now, you can almost watch it go up. It's a tribute to the country and the people behind it that we can rebuild and move on. We think its going to make a fine episode and one we're proud of special place and time for us."
