From l., Melisa Fumero, Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Just the facts, Ma’am: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is the funniest and most satisfying new broadcast sitcom of the season.
It’s a police comedy, a concept that’s tricky to execute because you’re always bumping into subjects like rape and murder.
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" dodges this, at least in the beginning, by positioning its cast as a half dozen funny people who happen to work in a cop shop. If it keeps getting better it could at some point echo “M*A*S*H,” going mostly for laughs but reserving the option from time to time to get serious or poignant.
Andy Samberg draws most of the attention as Detective Jake Peralta, a free spirit who sees no reason the precinct house can’t also be Animal House. If the crimes get solved, he figures, what difference does a dress code make?
Well, it makes all the difference to Jake’s new boss, Capt. Ray Holt, played by Andre Braugher. He’s a spit-and-polish guy who also realizes that Jake’s skills will make them both look good.
Braugher and Samberg have good chemistry that will get better. But the reason “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” clicks up front is that they get great help from the rest of the core ensemble: Melissa Fumero as Jake’s tightly wound partner; Joe Lo Truglio as a talented, insecure bumbler; Stephanie Beatriz as the resident chops-buster, and Chelsea Peretti as a smart, wisecracking secretary who will win you completely by the time episode one is halfway done.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” doesn’t come out of the box perfect, and to accomplish its goal it’s probably going to have to make some victims and perps a little cartoonish.
No matter. This is a team we can root for.
dhinckley@nydailynews.com
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