Top 10 Behind the Scenes Facts About Brooklyn Nine-Nine
#10: Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool
Melissa Fumero, who plays Amy Santiago, shared the origins of Jake’s notable catchphrase on Twitter. The actor used to say it between takes to make his castmates laugh before it was written into the show. This isn’t the only part of Andy Samberg reflected in his character either. Both Andy and Jake are huge “Die Hard” fans and the police theme is ideal for living out their John McClane-inspired fantasies. In fact, the cast still hopes that Bruce Willis might make a cameo before the series finale. Social Media has worked wonders for this show before, perhaps it can pull it off again.
#9: The Bidding War That Got the Show on Air
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Michael Schur and Dan Goor initially pitched their show to the four major networks without a script. Clearly, their idea was strong enough that all four wanted it and a bidding war ensued. Ultimately, Fox won and aired the show for five seasons before controversially canceling it. Fan outrage was amplified by famous voices, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Hamill, Seth Meyers, Sean Astin, and Guillermo del Toro. A mere 31 hours after the cancellation news broke, NBC became the Nine-Nine’s new home. Clearly, a lot of people knew just how special this show was from the networks to its devoted fanbase.
#8: The Role of Terry Jeffords Was Written for Terry Crews
The show’s creators wrote the role of Sergeant Jeffords specifically for the former NFL player-turned-actor. They even convinced him to take the role by pointing out how sucky it would be if another actor played a character named after him. We also see elements of Crews in the character, from a nod to his former football days to his talents as an artist. Sadly, the racial profiling episode was also based on something that happened to the actor in a hotel the day before his Senate Testimony. Crews realized this was a role he couldn’t pass on and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
#7: The “Parks & Rec” Crossovers
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Like the networks, the cast also wasn’t presented with a script when they were first told about the show. However, they knew that the “Parks and Recreation” creators were at the helm and that was enough to get them on board. Additionally, for the more eager fans among us, there are a few other crossovers to look out for too. For instance, Michael Hitchcock and Norm Scully are named after Norm Hiscock and Mike Scully, who both served as consulting producers and writers on the earlier sitcom. If you’re particularly eagle-eyed, then you might have even noticed that some of Pawnee’s props have been repurposed too.
#6: That Time Jake & Rosa Went to a Real Jail
At the end of season four, Jake and Rosa are framed for a bank robbery and arrested. The season ends on a major cliffhanger as the pair’s verdict is revealed. So when we returned for Season Five, the first few episodes showed the duo behind bars. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Samberg revealed that they shot in a real abandoned jail about an hour outside of L.A. Apparently, these days it’s used as a cop warehouse and a realistic setting for prison scenes to be filmed. While an abandoned prison sounds super creepy, we guess it gave the show an authentic edge.
#5: The Actors Who Also Directed
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As they entered their sixth year, some of the cast decided to try their hand at directing too. Joe Lo Truglio, who directed “The Bimbo” already had some prior experience. However, Season Six marked directorial debuts for Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero. Beatriz directed the #MeToo episode, “He Said, She Said,” while Fumero was at the helm for “Return of the King.” They divulged how nerve-wracking it was to even ask for an opportunity to step behind the camera, especially as Latina women. Still, all three prove just how well they know the show and their castmates. They perfectly encapsulate everything we love about the “Nine-Nine.”
#4: Stephanie Beatriz Auditioned for Amy Santiago
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Sometimes a show is so perfectly cast that you simply can’t picture it any other way. But did you know that Stephanie Beatriz originally auditioned to play Amy Santiago while Chelsea Peretti first read for Rosa Diaz? Ultimately, though, Beatriz felt that her audition didn’t go so well. She also felt a stronger connection with the character, Megan, who later became the Rosa we know and love today. Meanwhile, the role of Gina Linetti was written specifically for Peretti. And we couldn’t imagine a better fit for Amy than Melissa Fumero either. There’s no denying that all the right calls were made in the end.
#3: Who Wins the Halloween Heists?
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The Halloween Heist is one of the best running gags of the series and a firm favorite among the fans. In Season One, it began as a small rivalry between Jake and Captain Holt. But over the years, the Heists have grown more elaborate with more members of the Nine-Nine battling for glory. But it’s not just the audience who are kept on tenterhooks each year. Apparently, the cast is also kept in the dark over who will win each time until the last minute. It just goes to show how iconic these episodes are for the cast as well as the audience.
#2: The Cast Underwent Real Police Training
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Even though this is a comedy series about cops, the creators still wanted it to be authentic. So, they sent the cast to a boot camp, where they were given actual firearm training by the Glendale Police Department. Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt told “Flare” that it was important to play believable cops to support the show’s “comic foundations.” They wanted the audience to believe that they were “goofball cops rather than comedians who decided to put on police uniforms,” and if you ask us, they nailed it. Still, we’re pretty sure that their formal training didn’t involve any maneuvers called “Upsy-Downsies.” That one’s on them.
#1: The Cast Who Improv Together, Stay Together… For Eight Seasons
Perhaps one of the greatest secrets to “Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s” success is the cast’s ability to improvise. As Braugher shared with Collider, they would film their scripted material five or six times before embarking on what he called “fun runs.” This is where improv was highly encouraged and whatever got the biggest laugh, made the final cut. Whether they stick to the script or think on their feet, the cast and creative team had us hooked for eight seasons thanks to their unique and compelling humor. It was certainly a fun ride for us all with plenty of jokes that were “noice” and moments that were “toit.”
