On Blue Bloods, Detective Anthony Abetemarco (Steven Schirripa) has been a consistent backer of Erin Reagan’s (Bridget Moynahan) ascension to District Attorney since season 6. While season 13 hinted at a fracture between them, they remained a team by the end.

There’s no indication that Steven Schirripa will be leaving the show in season 14. He hasn’t reported any conflicts with the cast or crew, nor has he expressed a desire to depart.

In fact, key cast members, including Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Tom Selleck, all agreed to pay cuts to ensure the show’s creative team remains intact until the final season in 2024, suggesting budget considerations might be at play.

Schirripa has expressed his admiration for Moynahan’s work and his enjoyment of playing Anthony. He admires the character’s ability to provide a new perspective despite being a harsh, old-school detective. Anthony’s presence provides a crucial outside perspective on the Reagan family dynamic. According to this source, Anthony Abetemarco will continue to be a regular on Blue Bloods in its last season.

Steve Schirripa is instantly recognizable — it just depends on which side of the law you know him from.

For some, he’s best known as Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri from the iconic series “The Sopranos,” which starred James Gandolfini and ran for six seasons on HBO. As Bobby, Schirripa played a likable mobster who rose through the ranks of the organized crime operation to become a top aide to Junior Soprano as well as Tony Soprano’s brother-in-law.

To others, he’s Anthony Abetemarco from “Blue Bloods,” which returns for Season 13 tonight on CBS. As Anthony, Schirripa portrays a retired NYPD detective who now works as an investigator in the District Attorney’s Office alongside ADA Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan), the only daughter of New York City police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck).

As both, Schirripa is seen as an endearing fan favorite. So during an exclusive interview, Looper couldn’t help but ask him to discuss what each role means to him.

Schirripa ‘had a ball’ filming at the Reagan family dinner table

That was my first time. It was kind of a big deal to get to the table. Honestly, I never thought it would happen. How are they going to fit that in? I said, “Hey, maybe Anthony’s in the neighborhood. He’s going to bring some cannolis over.” Then when I found out that it was going to happen, I was very flattered.

I had only done one scene with Tom [Selleck] before. Of course, I know him, but it was only my second scene ever with him, and I’ve been on the show since 2015. I came in as a guest star to do one, maybe two episodes, and now I’ve done 113 or something. So I worked with Tom early on, and it was a lot of fun.

They’re used to [sitting at the dinner table], but I thought it was fun. You had all that Italian food. We didn’t eat in the scene, but in the back, they had duplicates of everything. The food came from the Bronx up at Little Italy on Arthur Avenue, where there’s all kinds of great Italian restaurants and delis. [We had] meatballs, braciole, soup and salad, provolone, and the whole platter. It was back in the kitchen, so in between takes, everyone got up and was eating that. I know I was.

I had a ball. I would love to go back. I don’t know if that’ll ever happen, but I liked it. Like I said, I was very flattered to be asked to the dinner table. Not many people besides the Reagans have made it there.