Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season One

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" is a genius series that hasn't gotten its due. Sadly, as it often happens, the show's multiple Golden Globe wins did not turn into Emmys. And yet, the series is a genius comedy that does for procedurals work what "Night Court" did for legal dramas. It has a great cast that is both amazingly talented and diverse. It's such a welcome change to all the predictable comedies with stock characters.

Andy Sandberg plays Detective Jake Peralta, the most outspoken of a group of offbeat characters that inhabit a NYPD police precinct. These cops which include two Latina women are under the tutelage of Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) and Sergeant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews). The show explores the lighter side of police work without overly relying on a "crime of the week." It's also just downright funny. The cast could be anywhere, yet the show still works because of the clever writing and realistic relationships. It also goes against typecasting by having LGBTQ characters and people of color as full-fledged characters that aren't stereotypical.

Sadly, the Season One DVD set is pretty lacking in special features. Given the smart and progressive casting choices, great chemistry and genius writing, there is a lot to be mined from behind-the-scenes featurettes. The only special features are some deleted scenes. As with most comedies there are a couple of funny gems, but it's disappointing the set has so few bonus features.

Considering the Golden Globes wins and the potential for the series, it's strange that there aren't a lot of features to draw attention and customers to the DVD. Hopefully, this isn't a sign that the series is being downplayed. It's a great addition to Fox's line-up and sitcom history. Fans and people curious about the show should definitely check out this DVD set to keep this series on the air.

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season One"
DVD
$44.98
www.fox.com/brooklyn-nine-nine