Saturday Night Live
The legendary sketch show that trained the squad before they ever made an arrest.
Saturday Night Live is a long-running American live sketch comedy and variety show that has served as a major launching pad for many of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's cast members before they joined the 99th Precinct. The show is famous for its cold opens, musical guests, and ensemble casts who rotate in and out of various recurring characters over decades of broadcast history.
- Connection
- Alumni Network
- Key Alumni
- Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Terry Crews
- Format
- Live Sketch Comedy
- Broadcast Start
- 1975
- Network
- NBC
Lore & Background
Other members of the squad also share ties to the program, creating an invisible thread connecting their comedic talents. Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Rosa Diaz, was a cast member known for her sharp delivery and physical comedy, skills she translated into one of the show's most formidable detectives. Even Terry Jeffords, played by Terry Crews, appeared on the show as a guest host, bringing his unique blend of strength and humor to the stage. These connections highlight how the diverse talents brought together at the 99th Precinct were honed in the high-pressure environment of live television.
In Their Own Story
Jake Peralta sat in the dimly lit room of the precinct break area, staring intently at a paused clip on his laptop. It was an old sketch from the late nineties, featuring a young man with a distinctively goofy grin and a mullet that defied all fashion sense. 'Look at this,' Jake whispered to Rosa, who didn't look up from her crossword puzzle. 'This is where it started for him. The legend of SNL.' Rosa finally glanced over, raising an eyebrow as she recognized the chaotic energy on screen. 'So you're saying your best friend was a weirdo before he was a star?' Jake nodded solemnly, clutching his heart. 'A beautiful, talented weirdo who taught me everything I know about being cool.'
Reader's Guide
The connection between Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Saturday Night Live is rooted in the real-life careers of its cast members, particularly Andy Samberg. Before creating the sitcom, Samberg was a prominent member of the SNL cast and part of The Lonely Island, which influenced the show's musical segments and comedic tone.
Many actors who joined the 99th Precinct had previously appeared on SNL, either as cast members or guest hosts. This shared background often led to improvisational moments during filming that felt natural because the actors were accustomed to the fast-paced, sketch-based environment of the live show.
The production team frequently leveraged these connections for special episodes and promotional events, sometimes bringing in former castmates or referencing specific sketches within the dialogue. The crossover appeal helped bridge the gap between late-night comedy fans and police procedural audiences.
Did You Know?
- Andy Samberg was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012 before starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
- Stephanie Beatriz appeared as a featured player on SNL prior to joining the main cast of the sitcom.
- Terry Crews has served as a guest host for Saturday Night Live multiple times throughout his career.
- Joe Lo Truglio, who plays Hitchcock, was also a cast member on the show during its early 2000s run.