Emmy Episodes: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. This year, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 3, Episode 4 “The Oolong Slayer” (B+)
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Andre Braugher)

It used to be “The Big Bang Theory,” but now this show, which I didn’t get into when it initially started, has become my favorite show to watch exclusively when Emmy season rolls around every year. The show took home a Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series as well as one for its star Andy Samberg in year one, but its only Emmy attention has been for Braugher three years running in addition to stunt awards the show won the past two years. Now Braugher is the sole Emmy survivor, and he has quite the record. This is his tenth career nomination, and he’s been recognized for playing six different roles over the past twenty-one years. He won back in 1998 for “Homicide: Life on the Street” and in 2006 for the superb FX series “Thief,” which was sadly cancelled and termed a miniseries. Braugher is one of the best parts of this very funny show, and the way that he takes himself very seriously is truly terrific. Having to be supervised by an underling as a punishment doesn’t present a great start, but Samberg’s Jake bringing him a case so that they can subvert their terrible bosses makes for great fun. He gets so into everything, and he’s hilarious with his deadpan. The triumphant ending in which he returns victorious to his precinct doesn’t hurt either. This isn’t as fantastic an episode as last year’s but it is a blast, and I would be perfectly happy to see him win. I don’t see it happening given the lack of love for the show, but it’s always possible with his strong Emmy record.