Advance review:

Of the upcoming single camera comedies this season, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the one with the most potential to develop into a legitimately funny series, and secure its place in your regularly scheduled appointment television.

Samberg and Braugher play maverick detective and straight arrow Captain in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

If there's one thing a perp can't resist, it's Peralta's boyish charm.

The premise is pretty straightforward: a gifted but childish detective (Andy Samberg) and his wacky group of colleagues/cohorts get a new captain (Andre Braugher) who wants to whip them into a respectable team. Simple enough, but rather than acting as a detractor, the clarity of the conceit works in the show’s favor.The pilot does a solid job of establishing the tone, characters, relationships, and basic set-up of the series. We are given to understand that no crime, not even murder, will be taken entirely seriously. It’s a good thing, too, because it’s going to take many viewers a moment - or several - to get on-board with Samberg as ace detective Jake Peralta. It’s hard not to think of gift wrapped family jewels when Samberg springs to mind. The actor does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the “too smart for his own good” class clown here, though, rather than falling back on his more over-the-top caricatures from his SNL days.Conversely, Braugher leans directly into audience expectations with his Captain Ray Holt. He is a commanding, direct, by-the-book cop who expects all T’s crossed, I’s dotted, and ties secured. He also happens to have one other trait (which we won’t spoil here) which works somewhat against type, and gives his character an extra incentive to prove himself by creating the strongest and most professional group of detectives on the force. As you can imagine, antics and good-natured conflict ensues.Casting both with and against type works to establish a sense of comfort and possibility simultaneously; a pretty rare feat for a series right out of the gate. As viewers, we feel like we know, and trust, the Captain, but are entirely uncertain of what Peralta might do; which is exactly what is needed in order for these characters to work. As an added bonus, Braugher and Samberg actually have terrific chemistry, and to their credit, the friction between them is subtle in nature.This is not a “hate on sight” scenario, which would likely sour the comedy. It’s more of a rebellious teen set at odds with a teacher/mentor he both likes and admires. That Samberg can hold his own working against Braugher's considerable talent is a testament to his chops. In terms of the narrative, we as the audience have an immediate respect for Braughter as the seasoned veteran, and know Samberg to be the young-ish, less traditional upstart, which only serves the relationship and the show.As to the overall tone of the show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine isn’t a direct parody of a police procedural. It does play with the tropes, though. It rides the line between being a standard half-hour comedy, and straight-up lampooning. We’ll need to make some sort of emotional connection to these characters in order to continue to tune in every week, but there’s no way that this show works if we really feel the that there is weight and consequence to the crimes.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Creators Interview

Created by Parks and Recreation writer/producers Dan Goor and Michael Schur, with a pilot directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), the cast of characters is rounded out by Detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero, Gossip Girl), Sergeant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews, Bridesmaids, The Expendables), Detective Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio, Wreck-It Ralph, Superbad), Detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz, Modern Family, The Closer) and civilian office manager Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti, Parks and Recreation, Kroll Show).Working in the series’ favor is both the diversity of the cast and the strength of the ensemble. Though led by Samberg and Braugher, each character is given their own unique flavor and they are all afforded moments to shine. I suspect that stand-outs will vary according to individual tastes, as there are no real weak links, here. I’ll confess that I love em’ all for different reasons, though I have always had a bit of a soft-spot for Crews.