Here’s why Andy Samberg almost passed on starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The police comedy has become a favorite TV show for many over the last several years, thanks in large part to its great cast. Samberg is front and center through it all as Detective Jake Peralta, but the likes of Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, and Andre Braugher fill out the rest of the main cast.

After six seasons, it is difficult for fans to imagine Brooklyn Nine-Nine any other way. This is especially true when it comes to the actors playing many of the prominent roles, including Samberg as Peralta. Through his work with Lonely Island and extended run on Saturday Night Live, Samberg’s comedic abilities made him a perfect fit for the hotshot detective. But what some fans of Brooklyn Nine-Nine may not know is that he nearly passed on starring in the series.

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Samberg announced in 2012 that he was leaving Saturday Night Live after seven years of doing the late-night series and the grueling experience of this run made him turn his attention away from TV. Samberg was prepared to do more movies and have a more relaxed schedule overall. As discussed in the latest Screen Rant video (which features more fun facts about the show), this is why he may have considered not accepting the lead role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as it was the opposite of what he had planned for his career going forward.

The good news for Brooklyn Nine-Nine is that he did accept the role, thanks to what series creators Michael Shur and Dan Goor did on Parks and Recreation. They similarly helped Amy Poehler break out after her time on SNL was over by making her the lead of her own series. As a big fan of the series and seeing what they did with Poehler, Samberg told The Wrap in 2013 that taking on the leading role “was too good to pass up.” Samberg accepted the offer to star after a few days and the rest is history.

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Even though another major TV role wasn’t exactly what Samberg was looking for when Brooklyn Nine-Nine came calling, his decision to join the show was undoubtedly the right call. He received his lone Golden Globe nomination and victory for his work on the show during season 1, which also won Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in the same year. Meanwhile, his work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine hasn’t prohibited him from using his talents elsewhere. He and Lonely Island made Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience during his time with the nine-nine. And, with Brooklyn Nine-Nine coming back for a seventh season next year on NBC, Samberg’s time as Jake Peralta will, thankfully, continue on.

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About The Author


Cooper Hood
(5640 Articles Published)

Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Cooper’s love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn’t until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. When he isn’t writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection – because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper.

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