Abigail, 42, appeared on Spectrum News during a New Year’s Eve broadcast from Manhattan’s Times Square. Speaking with interviewer Shannan Ferry, she reflected on the profound impact Blue Bloods had on her career, just ahead of the series finale that aired on December 13.
“So much happened,” said Abigail, who portrayed Detective Abigail Baker for 14 seasons. “I literally became the woman I am today because of this show. It still feels a little surreal, but at this point, I’m just focusing on gratitude. It happened—and it was amazing.”
During the conversation, Abigail also confirmed a fun piece of Blue Bloods trivia. “Oh, he sure did,” she laughed when asked about her character’s name change. “Not that there’s anything wrong with the name Melissa—I’ve taken a lot of flack for this—but Tom [Selleck] just really liked the name Abigail. So, thanks Mom and Dad!”
Over the years, fans on Reddit have noted that Tom Selleck’s character, Frank Reagan, referred to Baker as “Melissa” in early Season 1 episodes. Abigail previously addressed this in a 2021 interview with Starry Mag, confirming that the decision to officially change the character’s name to Abigail came directly from Tom.