For fans of the hilarious and heartwarming police procedural comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the news of its cancellation after Season 8 came as a significant blow. After a rollercoaster ride that included a previous cancellation and rescue, the final curtain call for the Nine-Nine left many wondering: why did Brooklyn Nine-Nine end?
The show’s journey to its conclusion is multifaceted, influenced by network performance, scheduling shifts, and the evolving cultural landscape surrounding police narratives on television. While Brooklyn Nine-Nine maintained a dedicated fanbase and consistent, if not stellar, ratings, several factors converged to bring its run to a close.
One key aspect was the show’s performance within NBC’s lineup. Despite shifting to NBC after its initial Fox cancellation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s viewership, while stable, positioned it as one of the network’s lower-performing scripted comedies. During the 2019-2020 season, TVSeriesFinale reported it ranked 14th out of 19 scripted shows on NBC. While figures hovered around 2.69 to 3.11 million viewers in its NBC seasons, compared to 2.71 to 2.87 million on Fox, in the competitive world of network television, even consistent numbers may not guarantee longevity, especially when a network seeks higher-performing content.
NBC’s decision to renew Brooklyn Nine-Nine for Seasons 6, 7, and 8 after Fox’s cancellation already signaled their belief in the show’s value. However, the network’s comedy slate and scheduling priorities also played a role in the eventual ending. As mentioned in 2018 by Fox Television Group CEO Dana Walden regarding the initial Fox cancellation, scheduling conflicts and the desire to promote new content can significantly impact a show’s future. NBC, similarly, may have been facing pressures to optimize its programming blocks and make room for emerging comedies or other genres. The limited number of successful sitcoms NBC had, with shows like Will and Grace and The Good Place concluding, and Superstore ending in 2021, might have bought Brooklyn Nine-Nine some time, but ultimately wasn’t enough to secure its long-term future.
Adding another layer to the situation were the broader conversations surrounding police representation in media. The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and increased scrutiny on “copaganda” – a term for the uncritical and often positive portrayal of law enforcement in entertainment – placed police comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine under a new lens. The show, known for its lighthearted tone, was compelled to engage with these critical discussions.
Star Andy Samberg acknowledged this shift in a July interview with People, stating, “We’re taking a step back, and the writers are all rethinking how we’re going to move forward, as well as the cast. We’re all in touch and kind of discussing how you make a comedy show about police right now, and if we can find a way of doing that that we all feel morally okay about.” This internal reflection and the need to navigate a sensitive social climate could have also influenced the decision to conclude the series, allowing the show to end thoughtfully rather than risk missteps in a changed environment.
Executive producer Dan Goor’s statement hinted at a proactive decision to conclude the show on their own terms. “Ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honor the characters, the story and our viewers,” Goor wrote. This suggests a desire to give Brooklyn Nine-Nine a planned and respectful finale, avoiding the abrupt ending it faced with Fox. Choosing to end with a shorter, ten-episode Season 8 allowed the creators to craft a deliberate conclusion, ensuring the show went out on a high note and satisfied its loyal fanbase.
In conclusion, the end of Brooklyn Nine-Nine wasn’t due to a single cause, but rather a combination of factors. While ratings played a role in the network’s considerations, scheduling pressures, the evolving media landscape concerning police narratives, and a creative desire to conclude the story thoughtfully all contributed to the decision. Ultimately, while disappointing for fans, the planned conclusion of Brooklyn Nine-Nine allowed the show to maintain its integrity and legacy as a beloved and impactful comedy series.
