Pilot (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

On May 8, 2013, Fox placed a thirteen-episode order for the single-camera ensemble comedy.[1][2][3]

The exterior view of the fictional 99th Precinct building, complete with numerous NYPD vehicles parked in front of it, is the actual 78th Precinct building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Bergen Street, one block south of the Barclays Center and one block east of the Bergen Street station on the New York City Subway's 2, ​3, and ​4 routes.[4]

Andy Samberg described the show as "It's stuff The Wire touched on a lot." Samberg took days after being offered the role to sign on, explaining, "Well, I hadn't seen a script. And I just did seven years on SNL. There was no doubt in my mind I wanted to work with Mike and Dan and that I liked the premise of the show, but if it works, it will be years of my life."[5]

In its original American broadcast, "Pilot" was seen by an estimated 6.17 million household viewers and gained a 2.6/8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.[6] This means that 2.6 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 8 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. With these ratings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the second most watched show on FOX for the night, beating Dads and The Mindy Project but behind New Girl, first on its timeslot and second for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind New Girl.

"Pilot" received positive reviews from critics. Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode a "good" 7.9 out of 10 and wrote, "The pedigree attached is impressive, which may create some overly elevated expectations. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like most freshman series, is still finding its bearings. The pilot is solid, but doesn’t serve-up non-stop, laugh-out-loud, hilarity. It's possible that the show will eventually deliver weekly doses of gut-busting comedy, but for now, it's unmanifested potential. The series opener offers a strong start, with good doses of humor, and engaging and entertaining characters, though. It's certainly worth tuning in for."[7]

Molly Eichel of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine's theme riffs on the Beastie Boys' 'Sabotage,' right before Adrock comes in with the first verse (everybody now, “I can’t stand it, I know you planned it...'). It's a nod to Spike Jonze's epic, iconic video for the song, featuring the mustachioed-out Beasties in full on homage mode to cop shows of the '70s. Brooklyn Nine-Nine takes that inherent goofiness and uses it as a tonal undercurrent."[8]

Aaron Channon of Paste gave the episode a 7 out of 10 and wrote, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine showcases several good-to-exceptional talents in its premiere episode and manages to do so without embarrassing itself. But it will have to find its footing quickly if it is to find the success of other workplace comedies of the past decade."[9]