Wahlberg Offered Half His Paycheck to Film in Boston
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- Donnie Wahlberg said on SiriusXM's Radio Andy that he offered CBS 50% of his paycheck to film the 'Blue Bloods' spinoff 'Boston Blue' in Boston rather than Toronto.
- CBS producers responded that even 100% of the entire cast's salaries wouldn't make filming in Boston affordable, with Toronto chosen instead for cost reasons.
- Wahlberg noted that beyond cost, Boston itself presents logistical hurdles — crowds and tour groups frequently disrupt on-location shoots.
- 'Boston Blue' continues Wahlberg's long-running 'Blue Bloods' character Danny Reagan and is set in Boston despite being largely produced in Toronto.
- 'Boston Blue' has already been renewed for a second season, with Season 1 currently streaming on Paramount+.
Why it matters: Wahlberg's anecdote, delivered on a national radio platform, crystallizes the well-known cost gap between shooting in U.S. cities and Canadian production hubs — CBS literally told him a full cast salary couldn't bridge it. For viewers, it confirms the Toronto-for-Boston visual mismatch will persist into the already-confirmed second season.
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