In the 2013 Comedy Central Roast of James Franco, actor Jonah Hill had this to ask comedian Andy Samberg in attendance: “When your new TV show Brooklyn Nine Nine gets cancelled after five episodes, are you going to do a different cell phone commercial or will they make Bill’s [Hader] a two-hander?” The joke was in the best traditions of the roast, a full hour of no-holds-barred sledgefest that spared none. Andy Samberg, then a big star in the National Broadcasting Company's (NBC) flagship Saturday Night Live, had quit the programme to act in and produce Brooklyn Nine-Nine; Fox would air the pilot on September 17, 2013.
In five years, Hill's jibe would hit too close to home. On Friday, evoking stunned reactions from angry fans, Fox decided against renewing the sixth season of the much-loved police procedural; the diktat drew comparison to Fox's earlier, ill-advised move to cancel Joss Whedon's cult classic Firefly after just one season. A social media outcry followed, with #renewB99 and #Brooklyn99 trending globally; big names like Lin Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), Seth Meyers and Mark Hamill joined in the chorus. After much debate whether the streaming companies Netflix or Hulu would come to the rescue of the disconsolate fans, NBC announced its decision to air a 13-episode-long season six of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
The show revolves around Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), a laid back and immature, but brilliant, cop in the 99th precinct of Brooklyn NYPD. He is in constant conflict with the newly assigned Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). Peralta is supported by a slew of characters like his childhood friend and diva Regina ‘Gina’ Linetti (Chelsea Peretti), his beau and greatest competition Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), best friend and effeminate Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), his scary co-worker and constantly sullen Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), and commanding officer Sergeant Terry 'The Mountain' Jeffords (Terry Crews). Even as Peralta investigates murder scenes and gruesome crimes, fun is never a casualty. Undercover operations to bring down dangerous mafia families go hand in hand with hilarious office pranks.
In the same Comedy Central roast, Bill Hader, dressed as the fictional president of Hollywood, snidely remarks: “Andy Samberg, looking forward to your new show Brooklyn 99. Funny cops. You’re always pushing the envelope, Andy.” But the words turned out to be a charm; the show was groundbreaking in the diversity of its cast —two black men, one of them gay; two Latina women, one of them bisexual—demolishing stereotypes in a fugue of humour and politically pointed statements. The female characters are given equal importance, and their distinct personalities are deeply explored. Gina, Rosa and Amy are strong independent women, who don’t compromise on their dreams or need men in their lives. Captain Holt is a gay black man in power, happily married, and who has overcome long years of discrimination in his profession. Charles Boyle is a Medal of Valour-winning cop who likes to sew and cook. Terry is a gigantic, muscular black man whose Achille's Heel is his baby daughters. The humour steers clear of offensive jokes, insults or stereotypes, tackling social issues like gun violence and racial profiling.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine was Fox’s second longest aired televisions series, running for five years. But it got the boot along with The Last Man on Earth, The Mick and Lucifer. The show won Andy Samberg a Golden Globe and Andre Braugher a Primetime Emmy. After hearing the news of cancellation, the cast of the show took to Twitter to express their sorrow. Marc Evan Jackson, who plays Captain Holt’s husband Kevin, tweeted, “Do they know what it means to be heartbroken? Be.Cause.I.Do.” But, as the news of NBC renewing the series came up, the cast expressed their excitement, with Fumero tweeting, “You got loud and you were heard and you saved our show!! Thank you!! Thank you to NBC!! NINE NINE!!!!!” Well, we did it squad! To more of Peraltiago (Spoiler alert!), the ever favourite Captain Holt and GINA! Nine-Nine!”
To that, we say: Amen, sister.