Count “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” among the TV cop shows that are recalibrating their approach in the wake of George Floyd’s death and massive protests against police violence.
The NBC sitcom starring Berkeley native Andy Samberg has apparently dumped several scripts for next season in order to write new ones that, in some way, reflect current events.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” cast member Terry Crews told Access Daily that “they had four episodes all ready to go, and they just threw them in the trash.”
Crews added: “We have to start over. Right now, we don’t know which direction it’s going to go in.”
The cast has been talking about how to address the issues of systemic racism and police brutality in the upcoming season as well.
“We’ve had a lot of somber talks about it and deep conversations, and we hope through this, we’re going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year,” Crews said. “We have an opportunity, and we plan to use it in the best way possible.”
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” typically approaches its crime-fighting duties with a light touch. But it occasionally has embraced serious story lines, including a Season 4 episode that saw Crews’ character get racially profiled by a white cop. And perhaps producers believe that, even fans who love the show might not be in the mood for a bunch of comedic cops.
Earlier this month, the cast and creators of the show made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network and stated that they “condemn the murder of George Floyd and support the many people who are protesting police brutality nationwide.”
