Sitcoms are a make-or-break deal on the silver screen, as you have to get the audience instantly hooked or you might lose them. One of the ways this is achieved is through good character design, and Late Andre Braugher’s performance as Capt. Raymond Holt along with the rest of the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the major factor for the show’s success.
For eight successful seasons, the show gave us a lot to laugh and cry about, but mostly to laugh about, and created a connection with its audience that is popularly witnessed on the silver screen. But in contrast to his confident and commanding character in the show, Braugher wasn’t too sure he was the right man for a comedy series after looking at his career so far in serious dramas.
Andre Braugher Had His Insecurities About Doing A Good Job With Comedy In Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Comedy, although may seem to just be laughs and gags, is a very complicated and tough gig to pull off with success, which is why only the most seasoned of stars can perform it to varying levels of seamlessness. The Late Andre Braugher is also widely regarded as the star who did an exceptional job of delivering that unconventional comic relief in NBC’s sitcom series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
But contrary to popular belief, the star wasn’t sure at all whether his performance was convincing enough for everyone in the show.
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In a past interview profile with Variety, the City of Angels star opened up about his experience working on the show, also featuring Andy Samberg. He revealed that since the better part of his career was given to his serious and more impactful performances in drama series and films, he was completely unsure how he would make the switch to comedy for the show.
Most of the time, he was constantly questioning himself whether he was doing it right or not, giving rise to his insecurities. He said:
“Everything’s new. I’d never done it before. Am I any good? I remember turning to my wife and asking her, ‘Is this funny?’ And she said, ‘Yes, of course, you’re not being deceived.’ But I kept looking at it, saying to myself, is this good? I couldn’t really judge.”
Despite his reservations, he got the answers to his questions when the response of the fans to the show included high praise for his unconventional comedic performance.
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Why Is Brooklyn Nine-Nine Such A Beloved Show?
Apart from the amazing and amusing character designs that were pointed to earlier, the show itself had its charm and persona, unlike most other sitcoms of the world.
With over-the-top, yet paradoxically very grounded storylines that always seemed to trace back to the problem at hand, the show always knew how to put an extremely comedic twist to every aspect of every episode. Plus, despite having recurring tropes, the show somehow managed to tastefully incorporate them into the narrative and not make them stale, which further enhanced the likability of the show.
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine, streaming on Peacock.
