Blue Bloods' Danny Arc Would Be Very Different if Jenny McCarthy Didn't Refuse a Role She Was Offered

It's not uncommon for a long-running series to change its original plans and alter storylines based on the audience reaction and the actors' chemistry on set, which is why casting is so important for these shows.

Of course, the fan-favorite CBS police procedural Blue Bloods is no exception. The show's star Donnie Wahlberg, who plays the eldest Reagan sibling, Danny, recently opened up about one of Blue Bloods' biggest missed opportunities.

Wahlberg told TV Insider that his wife, Jenny McCarthy, could have guest starred on Blue Bloods Season 4 as Marianne Romano, Danny Reagan's high school girlfriend. According to the plot, Marianne reappeared in Danny's life to seek his help with her abusive fiancé, and their interaction sparked the jealousy of Linda, Danny's wife. Although the role would have been perfect for McCarthy, the actress turned it down.

Her husband explained that when the writers asked Jenny to guest star, the couple had just started dating in real life, so McCarthy decided it would be best for the show if she didn't join the cast for even one episode. Instead, the role went to Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Charisma Carpenter.

'[Jenny] didn't want it to be disruptive for the audience,' Wahlberg said.

While McCarthy's reasons for not joining Blue Bloods are clear, many people would have loved to see the celebrity couple together on screen. Fans speculate that, if The Masked Singer judge were to appear on the fan-favorite procedural, it could take the show and Danny Reagan's arc to unexpected places.

This seems to be a fair assumption since real-life couples have proven more than once that their on-camera interactions are charged and steamy beyond the usual acting.

As Jenny and Donnie were then at the beginning of their relationship, they would undoubtedly have a palpable on-screen chemistry that would probably surpass that of Danny and his wife. And who knows, maybe Danny would be happily married to Marianne by Season 13 if McCarthy had taken the role ten years ago.

Blue Bloods Season 13 Episode 18 'Family Matters' will air on Friday, April 21 on CBS.

Source: TV Insider