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Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta is genuinely the heart and soul of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, the show was pathbreaking as it challenged stereotypes about cops and had LGBTQ+ characters in powerful positions. The show focuses on a group of New York Police Department detectives who solve cases and often get into hilarious hijinks.
While the show has an ensemble cast of Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, and others, Andy Samberg stirs the show with his chemistry with each actor, his brand of comedy, and his vision for the series. Therefore, here are 10 wholesome reasons why the actor is the beating heart of the show.
Andy Samberg reinvented the cop archetype, he set the tone for the show’s humor, and other reasons why the actor is the central force in Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1. Jake’s obsession with Die Hard was inspired by Andy Samberg
Fans of Brooklyn Nine-Nine know that Jake Peralta can always spout a random fact and trivia about Die Hard while doing his job on the show. However, many fans might not know that Jake's obsession with the movie stems from Samberg’s obsession with the movie franchise. The actor is a die-hard (pun intended) fan of action movies, and he also replicated that enthusiasm in his character.
Interestingly, Andy Samberg even tried to get Bruce Willis on the show! In the show, Jake can be seen randomly giving his point of view about the movie, and it is usually all praise about how good the cop movie is. While the show did get many guest stars, Samberg could not get Willis on the show. However, he made sure his character adored the movie like he did.
2. Samberg’s first TV job was filmed on Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s lot
Many fans of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Andy Samberg might not know that, coincidentally, Samberg’s first gig in the entertainment industry was on the same lot where the popular show about cops would be filmed years later.
Interestingly, Andy Samberg was the production assistant who got everyone lunches on the set of Spin City. The show aired from 1996 to 2002 and was about the Mayor of New York. More than a decade later, Samberg got his own parking space in the same lot where Brooklyn Nine-Nine was filmed. Therefore, in its own incredulous way, the actor was always meant to star in the series.
3. The origin of “cool, cool, cool, cool, cool…”
Fans of the show sure have had trouble not thinking of Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta because of how identical the two sometimes feel. And the story of the "cool, cool, cool" is no different.
Melissa Fumero, who famously plays Amy Santiago, has shared on Twitter (now X) that there is an origin story about Jake’s famous catchphrase. Andy Samberg used to say the words between takes to make his castmates laugh, and it was ultimately written into the show.
Therefore, this is another manner in which Andy Samberg is the whole heart and soul of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The actor has been a member of a comedy music group, has been a writer and member of Saturday Night Live, and therefore, he has always been a creative genius. Thus, Samberg's effect is bound to be reflected in Jake.
4. Jake and Amy’s chemistry was “through the roof”
The bond between Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago is one of the most wholesome romantic bonds in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and they are also one of the most loved sitcom couples. The growth that the two characters show over the course of the show is relatable and mirrors real life.
Jake and Amy fall for each other as youngsters, and not only do they become better officers together, but Jake even decides to become a stay-at-home partner so that Amy can continue her career growth.
Interestingly, the real-life actors behind the couple, Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero, are to be given credit for the chemistry between the two characters. Fumero auditioned with Andy Samberg in the beginning, and the test audiences rated their chemistry as “through the roof.”
Therefore, the makers immediately made them a couple, and the actors continued to share a warm and natural bond in the show. Once again, Samberg’s warm personality made sure that Fumero felt comfortable on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
5. Samberg’s humor sets the show’s tone
While Brooklyn Nine-Nine is unique as it allows various tones within the show—from dramatic to goofy—the signature brand of humor is defined by Jake Peralta’s character, who talks fast and is uniquely creative. Andy Samberg helped create this brand of humor for his character. Samberg’s improvisational timing, which was honed from SNL, adds unexpected flavor and makes the lines funnier than they are on the page.
Interestingly, many of the castmates on Brooklyn Nine-Nine used to improvise, and this penchant for improvisation seems to have come from Andy Samberg. The fact is that the show builds its rhythm around Jake’s presence, whether it is that he’s competing with Holt or leading operations while giving Die Hard references.
Without Samberg’s enigmatic absurdity, the precinct would feel far more conventional. He embodies the show’s mission to deliver comedy and emotional depth simultaneously.
6. Andy Samberg has great chemistry with each actor
Once again, the bond between the actor and character is seamless in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Andy Samberg is known for having great chemistry with each of the actors in the show, and that is reflected in their characters as well.
Samberg’s character, Jake, has a playful and hilarious bond with Charles Boyle; he also has a comedic yet respectful bond with Captain Holt, and with Santiago, he has a romantic, playful rapport, which is free of toxicity. From the banter with Terry to the warm rivalry with Gina, Jake's relationship with others in the show feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy evening.
Andy Samberg adapts his energy depending on the pairing, never dominating scenes but elevating them through responsiveness and timing. Therefore, once again, Samberg is the heart and soul of the show, and he allows each actor to shine through the unique dynamic that his character Jake shares with the other actors’ characters.
7. Samberg’s influence behind the scenes
The point above showcases how deeply Jake’s character is affected by Samberg’s own personality traits. Further, Andy Samberg has been the glue that has kept the show and its cast together, whether through his relations with the various actors or through his creative input.
For Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Samberg has been an executive producer and contributed to the show in more ways than one. Apart from acting, he has ensured that the tone and identity of the show did not dip or change across the seasons, especially since the show transitioned between networks and switched from Fox to NBC.
Andy Samberg understood the delicate balance between goofy comedy and genuine storytelling and worked closely with creators Dan Goor and Michael Schur to maintain that tone. He also helped make space for characters like Holt and Rosa to have their own arcs that were authentic and respectful.
By staying involved beyond the screen, he acted as a guide for the show. His dedication to inclusivity and creative consistency meant that Brooklyn Nine-Nine remained emotionally satisfying and sharply funny.
8. Andy Samberg elevated recurring jokes into iconic moments
Once again, Samberg made sure that even the throwaway jokes became a part of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and entered pop culture history. From his iconic “no doubt no doubt” to shouting “Smort” mid-meltdown, Andy Samberg imbues his character and the show with many iconic moments.
These jokes could have been brief gags, but Samberg turned them into enduring quirks that define the show’s identity. He gave life to moments like singing the Backstreet Boys in a lineup or conducting Halloween heists as a tradition, not because of clever writing alone, but because he fully believed in the ridiculousness.
The actor’s willingness to perform physical comedy, like sprinting, singing, and impersonating, gave recurring bits that made the show memorable. These jokes became running themes fans quoted and celebrated, making the show feel like a shared community. Samberg ensured that Jake always had an air of unpredictability, which heightened the comedy. Viewers never knew what Jake would do, but everyone knew it would be memorable.
9. Samberg championed diversity without preaching
As mentioned above, Andy Samberg made sure that the comedy in Brooklyn Nine-Nine was hand-in-hand with emotional depth. Samberg’s Jake Peralta isn’t a “woke cop” caricature. He’s a man who grows into awareness, naturally and humbly, making him relatable and the central force of the show.
Andy Samberg never makes it about himself but allows Jake to be a respectful ally. He champions Rosa after she comes out as bisexual, supports Amy’s feminist ambitions, and respects Holt as a gay Black police captain. These moments are played with quiet sincerity rather than moral righteousness. It’s a rare feat to balance progressiveness and humor, but Samberg does it by being supportive, not performative.
Jake’s humility, paired with Samberg’s sensitive acting, makes him the kind of lead who uses his spotlight to uplift others. That’s part of why Andy Samberg is the show’s beating heart.
10. Samberg reinvented the TV cop archetype
One of the most important things that Andy Samberg did on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is that he redefined how a cop could be. TV cops are often written as hardened cynics or genius renegades, but Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta revolutionized that. He’s competent but not arrogant, and silly but not incompetent.
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Samberg plays Jake as someone who genuinely loves the job and does not do it for any power dynamics. His character rejects toxic masculinity, embraces therapy, and respects teamwork. Rather than glamorizing recklessness, Jake owns his mistakes and learns from them.
Samberg’s performance normalizes vulnerability in a male lead. In doing so, he shifts expectations of what a sitcom detective can be. Andy Samberg, therefore, builds the foundation for the show's core values and creates a new archetype that fans have loved, which has made the show even more iconic.
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