Taking a break between scenes, Blue Bloods’ Donnie Wahlberg places two smartphones within easy reach. The onetime teen heartthrob is so connected to social media that instead of watching his hit cop show on Fridays at 10, he reads real-time Tweets to gauge what viewers like or don’t. Happily for the actor who plays Det. Danny Reagan, the “likes” win — Blue Bloods and Wahlberg rule the night.

His fans are a large, loyal bunch. Long devoted to him from his boy-band days in New Kids on the Block (now reunited as NKOTB), they inundate the show’s Brooklyn set with inspirational books, photo collages and vintage action figures. Many have even followed their hero to his CBS series. “Every day we’re on a stage, [his fans] know where we’re shooting,” says Tom Selleck, who plays patriarch Frank Reagan. “They hang out all day. Donnie will go over and talk with them — he’s good that way.”

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