Boston Blue’s Ernie Hudson Traces Edwin’s Character Journey And His Intense Role In The Latest Story

Boston Blue is lucky to have veteran actor Ernie Hudson as grandfather and preacher Edwin Peters.

We recently had the chance to catch up with Ernie for the second time this season.

It was exciting to hear his thoughts now that Boston Blue is close to wrapping up its freshman season and has been renewed for Season 2. Check them out below!

(Christos Kalohoridis/CBS )

I really enjoyed Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 13. It was exciting to watch, though I didn’t expect it to be quite so heavy.

It was fun for me too.

Normally, I’m there at the dinner table, with not a lot going on, but this episode was a chance to explore a lot of different things.

I think last time we talked was before the show had started, so now that you’ve done more of it, how’s your perception of your character or the show changed at all?

First, I’m very happy that the audience has embraced the show, and it’s doing as well as it is.

(John Medland /CBS)

And of course, in the beginning, you’re never sure. You talk about ideas, but aren’t sure how they’re gonna implement them.

And now, after the first season, I’m really excited.

The characters are, you know, all multi-dimensional, and, it’s exciting to see what comes next.

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But in the beginning, I knew I didn’t want to be the guy who is just at the dinner table, and he has a few wise things to say, and then we don’t know anything else about him.

So I’m glad that they took the time to develop the character.

(Courtesy of NBC)

This is the episode that Henry is visiting also, so I was very curious to see how you guys were going to interact.

I did an episode of Blue Bloods a few years back, but I’ve worked with Len [Cairou] before.

Oh, God, back in the 80s, we did a pilot for a series. He was a judge, and I was a bailiff.

So, I’ve known him for a while, and it was great to see him, and so thankful that he came and did the show. And any of the Blue Bloods characters.

I mean, we’ve got some great guests, but… Yeah, having him on the show was a real blessing.

(Courtesy of NBC)

How far in advance did you know you were going to have this particular storyline?[on Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 13]?

We get the scripts a couple of days before we actually start shooting that episode. So, I knew that there were secrets in the family.

But it was all a surprise to me. Suddenly, we were doing it, and it was just a lot of fun.

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Because playing that role, not being one of the law enforcement people, I wasn’t sure in the beginning how they were gonna intertwine my part and the police drama.

And one of the things I wanted was for them to show Edwin being part of the community, and the struggles within the community, and how that sometimes clashes with law enforcement. But he’s kind of the protector, and I wanted that, too.

(Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

In this episode, they showed a little bit more of his world. And that was fun.

That was one of the things I thought, too. He’s out there helping with anti-gang initiatives, and then he gets shot, so what are people gonna say about his program now?

Well, you know, when you put yourself out there, you know, sometimes… I remember Martin Luther King was stabbed and almost died, at a book signing, and it was a black lady who came and did it, and sometimes the people you’re trying to protect are the ones who…

You know, life is complicated, as they say.

They really showed that in this episode when Edwin’s friend turns out to not be who he thought he was at all.

(Brendan Meadows/NBC)

I think for the Reverend Peters, it wasn’t that he wasn’t who he said he was. I mean, that was difficult enough, but the fact that he had the chance to stand and stay with his daughter and not run to choose God, and the friend says, hey, I’m out of here.

That’s the part that broke his heart.

When you saw that your character was going to get shot, was there any point where you were worried about what’s going to happen with him?

Yeah, because as I said earlier, it’s only a few days before we start shooting that we see what’s in the episode. And sometimes, when you do a show, you’re not sure if the character registered.

So it was fun, exciting, and unexpected.

(Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

Even the Reverend getting physical. I didn’t expect that.

He was the big hero at the end. That was a great twist. I loved that.

It also went with what I was saying. I just don’t want to be this old guy on the show who has no life outside of his family.

When you do more intense stories with scenes like this, how do you, as an actor, protect your mental health at the end of the day?

It’s actually easier because as they reveal more of the character, I can have ideas about the character, but they may have other ideas, and so as they reveal the character, the character struggles with things.

(Spectrum Originals/Sony Pictures Television/FOX)

It just helps me get a broader sense of the human being that he is.

It’s one thing to talk about how I’ll choose my faith and that I believe in God, but when it comes to putting a gun to your head, that’s a whole other level.

And as we were saying, you want to be a part of the community. The church is one of the oldest African American churches in the country, but then when you’re being attacked by the community that you’re serving…

All of that stuff broadens the character and makes him more human when his family isn’t perfect. He’s got secrets, just like every other family, you know, and hopefully the audience identifies with that.

That scene with him and Mae where she asked, “How could you not tell me?”, was so powerful. I loved that.

(CBS/Brendan Adam-Zwelling)

And yet, he’s hoping that she’ll give him a little grace because she has her own secrets.

But, hopefully, the audience will see that these people are not perfect, either.

I’m getting the signal that we need to wrap up, so I’m just going to ask you what message you’d like to give the fans.

We watch these shows to see ourselves in them, and so I hope they keep watching and know that we’re doing it for them.

I really appreciate them watching.

(CBS/Michael Gibson)

Over to you, Boston Blue fanatics.

We’ve heard from the actor — now let’s hear from you. Leave your thoughts in the comments about Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 13, Ernie’s character on the show in general, or anything else about this interview.

Don’t forget to share this article with your friends so they can join the conversation.

If you liked this article, check out our other interviews with various actors, including our recent interview with Boston Blue’s Mika Amonsen.

Boston Blue airs on CBS on Fridays at 10/9c and streams on Paramount+ on Saturdays.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

• We had the chance to catch up again with Boston Blue’s Ernie Hudson. Check out his thoughts on Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 13.

• Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 13 featured the long-promised return of Henry Reagan while Edwin had a crisis of his own. Our review!

• Boston Blue’s Mika Amonsen sits down to talk with TV Fanatic about stepping into the role of Sean and what he loves about it

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