Brandon Sonnier knew as he was growing a derivative of CBS’ standard “Blue Bloods” that it was important to maintain the religion.
A faithful viewer of the drama centered on a multigenerational Catholic household of New York policemen, Sonnier was among the many legions of followers moved by the present’s signature occasion — the Reagans’ weekly Sunday dinners. The collection starring Tom Selleck was a pillar of the community’s lineup throughout a 14-year run which ended final 12 months.
“That household dinner is consultant of what the present is at its core — a household drama dressed up as a police procedural,” says Sonnier. “It’s a household with robust morals and a way of responsibility who all come collectively every week.”
He and his producing companion Brandon Margolis are persevering with that custom with CBS’ “Boston Blue,” premiering Friday, that includes Donnie Wahlberg reprising his position as Det. Danny Reagan. The household dinner signature has undergone a dramatic non secular and cultural remix, reflecting Sonnier’s non secular journey following a life-changing accident in 2019.
The household dinner signature from “Blue Bloods” has undergone a dramatic non secular and cultural remix in “Boston Blue,” reflecting Brandon Sonnier’s non secular journey following a life-changing accident in 2019.
(John Medland / CBS)
Sonnier and Margolis at the moment had been govt producers of “L.A’s Best,” a derivative of the “Unhealthy Boys” movie franchise starring Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union as police detectives. Whereas filming a climatic scene at San Pedro’s Port of Los Angeles, a stunt automotive struck a delivery container close to the video village space, severely injuring Sonnier, who was pinned beneath it.
His accidents had been so in depth that medical doctors needed to take away a part of his proper leg.
On his first night dwelling after being launched from the hospital following the amputation, Sonnier, who was raised Catholic, was attending his household’s common Friday night time Shabbat dinner when he determined throughout an emotional second to comply with by way of on his long-delayed intention to transform to Judaism.
“My spouse is white and Jewish, and my youngsters are biracial,” Sonnier says whereas sitting in an workplace of the present’s writing headquarters in Sherman Oaks. “We collect across the desk as soon as per week, but it surely’s Shabbat dinner. I used to be residing a Jewish life-style however had not taken the steps to conversion. That every one modified at that dinner.”
He unzipped the underside of his blue denims to show the prosthetic limb on his leg.
“It was an extremely traumatic occasion — it’s nonetheless traumatic,” Sonnier says. “I cope with it each second of each day of my life. It’s exhausting to explain the sensation of lacking a physique half, particularly one required for stability and standing. Every part you thought you knew about your self has modified.”
“It was an extremely traumatic occasion — it’s nonetheless traumatic,” says Brandon Sonnier, exhibiting his prosthetic limb. “I cope with it each second of each day of my life.”
(JSquared Pictures / For The Instances)
However his decided angle and gratefulness for his revelation on that memorable return house is being injected by Sonnier and Margolis — who invoice themselves as “the 2 Brandons” — into “Boston Blue.”
Within the new present, Reagan relocates to Boston and ultimately groups up with Det. Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Inexperienced), the eldest daughter of a distinguished regulation enforcement household. The Silvers are a mixed-race Jewish household, headed by patriarch Rev. Edwin Peters (Ernie Hudson), who’s Baptist.
Just like the Reagans, the Silvers, together with Boston Dist. Atty. Mae Silver (Gloria Reuben), police superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson), and rookie cop Jonah Silver (Marcus Scribner), collect for a weekly meal. But it surely’s a Shabbat dinner, full with Hebrew prayers over challah. Lena invitations Ramirez and his sister, Asst. Dist. Atty Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) for dinner, which Lena describes as her “one massive completely satisfied form of complicated household.”
After the blessing, Peters tells Reagan, “All of us do what’s significant to us.”
“We thought it might be fascinating to see a household that appears extra like Brandon’s household — a household that’s not essentially the identical shade or religion because the Reagans however nonetheless have rather a lot in frequent,” stated Margolis in a telephone interview.
“Once I watched ‘Blue Bloods,’ I all the time thought, ‘That is like my household, however I would love it to look like my household,” says Sonnier. “We’re consultant of all these items, all these completely different cultures. Danny is invited into one thing that’s actual and emotional and grounded.”
Requested how that culturally and religiously blended mixture may resonate within the present fiery local weather surrounding politics and race, he says individuals like him are “craving and determined” for a present like “Boston Blue.” “It’s not about politics or beliefs,” he provides. “It’s a present about coming collectively, leaning within the center, all of the issues we’re determined for on this time of such division.”
Wahlberg and Martin-Inexperienced have every embraced the faith-flavored path of “Boston Blue.”
“Individuals cherished the dinner scenes in ‘Blue Bloods,’ and that is actually carrying ahead the legacy,” Wahlberg stated in a telephone interview. “I’m actually impressed by Brandon’s real-life story. The present is the blueprint of his life, rooted in actual expertise, which makes it particular and distinctive.”
Martin-Inexperienced added that viewers haven’t actually seen one thing like this on tv earlier than. “It’s brave and exquisite,” she stated. “We see each Christianity and Judaism. I really like Hebrew. It’s a stunning language and there are divine secrets and techniques in these phrases.”
From left, Sonequa Martin-Inexperienced as Lena Silver, Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan Boyle and Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan in CBS’ “Boston Blue.” “Individuals cherished the dinner scenes in ‘Blue Bloods,’ and that is actually carrying ahead the legacy,” Wahlberg stated.
(John Medland / CBS)
Engaged on the present has heightened Margolis’ admiration for his companion’s restoration after the accident.
“It actually was an unimaginable traumatic expertise — one thing that we went by way of collectively,” he stated. “As he was and is recovering, he continues to lean on his religion as a bolster to his household. I’m utterly in awe on how he has not let this impression him or restrict what he does in his life. He’s a Little League coach. He’s extra lively than I’m. He has not let the accident outline him.”
As he described his journey, Sonnier gave repeated reward to his spouse of 20 years — his highschool sweetheart — and their 4 youngsters.
After being impressed at a bar mitzvah he attended about 15 years in the past, Sonnier determined he needed to transform from Catholicism to Judaism. Taking the steps and time to take action was tougher.
“Life occurs,” he says. “I had a really massive profession. Now we have a number of youngsters. So the steps of conversion — the lessons, studying the faith and the prayers — stored getting pushed off.
“Then got here this horrible and tragic accident.”
Sonnier’s voice takes on a managed tone as he recollects the incident.
“We had been taking pictures a stunt sequence the place there was an unmanned automotive on a information wire which was to be T-boned by one other automotive that was pushed,” he stated. “The video village the place Brandon and I had been was off to the aspect behind a delivery container that was supposedly safety-rated to be heavy sufficient in order that if something went flawed, it might maintain the impression.”
Sonnier continues: “The pushed automotive hit the unmanned automotive going a lot too quick on the flawed angle, and the information wire broke. The unmanned automotive went uncontrolled and went barreling towards the delivery container. As Brandon and I proceeded to run, the automotive hit the delivery container, which knocked me and Margolis down. It went on my leg. We had been each pinned, again to again, for about 20 minutes.”
Brandon Sonnier knew he needed to transform to Judaism for a while, however taking the time to take action was a problem. “I had a really massive profession. Now we have a number of youngsters,” he stated. “Then got here this horrible and tragic accident.”
(JSquared Pictures / For The Instances)
Jeff Bova, who labored with the manufacturing’s transportation division, positioned a tourniquet on Sonnier’s leg. As a forklift moved to elevate the container, Bova, a former navy officer, ran over. “In the event you elevate that, he’ll bleed out and die,” Sonnier recalled him saying. “He took off his belt and re-tourniquets me in a greater spot. He saved my life that day.”
Although Sonnier was in nice ache, he maintained his producer mindset as he gave orders to the paramedics serving to him: “I stated, look guys, you need to save this factor. I coach Little League. I have to dance with my daughter at her marriage ceremony.”
The terrible fact grew to become clear after just a few days within the hospital, “Medical doctors tried to avoid wasting the leg, however my spouse stated, ‘It’s not going nicely. I can’t lose you. They should reduce your foot off.’ My spouse is the neatest particular person within the universe. She stated, ‘It’s like Marie Kondo. Let’s say goodbye to the foot — thank it for its service, but it surely’s not serving us anymore.’ ”
He arrived dwelling just a few days later simply in time for Shabbat dinner. “I’m on this massive, clunky wheelchair. After we do Shabbat, we mild the candles on our kitchen island whereas everybody gathers round for the blessing,” he stated. “My mother, in-laws, household buddies had been all there. Individuals had been cautious of what I may deal with, however I keep behind this group whereas they’re doing the blessing. “
He pauses a second: “After we bless the challah, one particular person touches it and everybody else makes an unbroken chain, placing a hand on the subsequent particular person so we’re all a part of the blessing. My oldest son turns and reaches out and grabs my hand so I might be a part of the chain. And I simply burst into tears. I made a decision then and there that I’ll convert. There isn’t any extra ‘life acquired in the way in which.’ It’s time.”
Sonnier returned to “L.A.’s Best” about two weeks after the accident, and directed an episode in the course of the present’s second and closing season. He and Margolis moved on to different initiatives, together with co-executive producing CBS’ “S.W.A.T.”
“Boston Blue” now represents essentially the most private and vital spotlight of his profession: “To see a combination of various individuals round that desk all sharing in my religion however not having to go away theirs behind is a very stunning factor.”
