Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s pilot is one of the most enjoyable sitcom pilots I’ve seen in a while. It’s not laugh out loud funny, but it’s enough to put a smile on your face all the way through (especially after the horrid “Dads”). The series revolves around Jake Peralta, the best detective in the Nine-Nine, but also a bit of a buffoon. However, when a new CO, Ray Holt, arrives, the atmosphere of the station changes.
Whether or not you’re a Samberg fan, there’s no denying that he’s reined in his character enough to seem human. He still has that same SNL slapstick humor going, but he’s toned it down just enough to play a sitcom lead. An essential part of that is Braugher’s character, a no nonsense person that can still dish it out as good as he can take it. I love the fact that he’s aware of his sense of humor, and I love the fact that the show doesn’t go down the standard “He’s serious but he’s unaware he’s funny!” trope that we see all too much. In addition, I’m pleasantly surprised with the revelation about his homosexuality. It’s not something that defines him, and it’s something that’s never tackled with enough nuance in other sitcoms. However, Schur and co. already seem to have a good handle on his character.
In the background, we have Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio, who I still find funny), Rosa Diaz, and Amy Santiago. The show has built up a great supporting cast, and while the Samberg-Braugher relationship is the focus, I’d love to see the show touch on the interactions amongst the other players.
Grade: B
Other thoughts:
-The reveal of the first clue (Newspaper headline reading “NYPD Appoints Openly Gay Man As Captain”) is hilarious, and an inversion of the standard sitcom joke construction.
-“They have adorable chubby cheeks.” Andre Braugher’s delivery of that line is amazing.
-“I will tell you on six conditions. Number one: Let me use your office to practice my dance moves. Second…”
-“It’s like a white noise machine.” “Okay, first of all, that’s racist.”
-This is a great cast.
Credit to FOX and Brooklyn Nine-Nine for all pictures. I own nothing.
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