15 Things Every 'Brooklyn 99' Superfan Should Know

The world has been buzzing about the comedy cop sitcom Brooklyn 99 over the past few weeks. That's because, despite the fact that fans still love the show, it got canceled - and people absolutely revolted. They took to social media, demanding that someone, somehow, save the show and bring their favorite characters back to television. It's something that's happened before - after The Mindy Project was canceled, Hulu ended up picking it up and showing the rest of Mindy Lahiri's story. And, luckily, someone in the entertainment industry realized that the B99 fan base was just too big to pass up - so, NBC ended up ordering one more season of the show, to let it wrap up and give fans a chance to say goodbye to their favorite characters.

One of the reasons Brooklyn 99 was so successful was that, instead of all the cop shows that were gritty dramas, it focused on the funny side of things. Sure there were crimes and cases, but the focus was more on the relationships between the characters and the zany adventures they got up to at the precinct. And, we have to admit, we're really excited that they'll be returning for one more season - we're not quite ready to say goodbye to Jake Peralta, Amy Santiago, Captain Holt and the rest of the crew. Yes, even Gina.

Here are 15 things that even superfans might not have known about Brooklyn 99.

15 Andy Samberg Almost Turned Down The Role Because He Wanted A Break From Television

Going into the show, Andy Samberg was probably one of the most recognizable, if not the most recognizable, members of the cast. And, it's all because of a little show called Saturday Night Live. Samberg spent seven years sharpening his comedic skills on the show, starring in skits and putting together goofy music videos and basically just making the world laugh, week after week. He obviously enjoyed it, and he likely learned a ton from being surrounded by so many other talented comedians on such a regular basis, but when he decided it was time to leave the show, he wanted to avoid television entirely. After all, he had been on a successful television show for nearly a decade - it was time for a change of pace! So, when he first heard about the show and the potential that he could be cast came up, he actually almost rejected the role, according to Hollywood.com - he wanted to focus on television. Luckily, the moment he read the script, he realized there was something special there, and the film world could wait - the character of Jake Peralta was a one of a kind character, and he knew he had to take the chance and play him on screen.

14 Andy Samberg And Chelsea Peretti Grew Up Together

It's kind of a cute storyline on the show that Jake and Gina go way back, grew up together and were friends back in middle school. Well, Schur might have been inspired to add that little tidbit to their character histories because of their own real-life backstory. It turns out, Andy Samberg and Chelsea Peretti actually went to the same school in real life, way back in elementary school - and no, they weren't just two kids in a huge school that never really even spoke to one another. They were legit friends - just check out the adorable photo where a grumpy Andy is sitting in the trunk and Chelsea is serving up some major middle school fierceness as they head to their 6th-grade graduation. I mean, we can't even deal with this photo - we're hoping that, when the show wraps, they'll go digging through their old photo albums and memories from back then and release a few more gems - we have a feeling there are some majorly amazing photos buried somewhere in their family homes, and the world needs to see them! Seriously, though, we can't get over Chelsea - she's basically channeling Gina, even way back then, with the overwhelming level of sass she's got going on.

13 Terry Crews Is A Talented Artist In Real Life

Terry Crews is a man of many talents. First of all, as we all know, he's a great actor who manages to tackle both action-packed roles and comedic roles with skill. Second, he's a super talented athlete - the man spent several years playing in the NFL as a professional football player, which is something that very few people have the skill set to do. However, did you know that he's also an insanely talented artist? True story! According to Hollywood.com, Crews actually got a job at a news station when he was younger as a sketch artist, and later put his skills to use as a courtroom sketch artist. So, that episode where Amy gets him to do a sketch of her perp because the person who usually does the sketches was sick? That could actually happen in real life! Crews has probably been too busy with his packed television shooting schedule to work much on his art lately, but perhaps when the show wraps he'll move into the art world for real, putting on an exhibition or starting to sell his pieces. We'd love to buy a Terry Crews original. Or, at the very least, maybe he can put together some amazing art that references the show!

12 Improvisation Is Built Into The Filming Structure

No matter how good an actor you are, there's a certain skill set required for comedy. You can know all your lines and marks backward and forwards, but if you can't convey them with a specific tone or attitude, the audience just won't laugh, no matter how good the joke seems on paper - it's all about delivery. So, it probably comes as no surprise that most of the cast is hilarious in real life - and it turns out, they included improvisational opportunities in their filming structure. According to IMDB, the way that it worked on Brooklyn 99 was that they'd shoot every scene a few times according to the script, and then they'd shoot the scene a few more times where they improvised and tried to see if anything even funnier than what was on script came up in the process. Come to think of it, it's pretty genius - you have the fallback option, and the potential to get something even greater. It's apparently a tactic that Michael Schur used on Parks and Recreation, and it obviously works for the Brooklyn 99 cast. Now, the only question is, which bits are improvised? We'd totally love to learn what quotable lines were conceived by the actors themselves.

11 Stephanie Beatriz Is In A Dance Squad In Real Life, Like Gina Is On The Show

Okay, if you haven't yet had the opportunity to see an interview with Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Rosa, in real life, trust us - you need to go check it out immediately. She plays her character to perfection, which is why it's so jarring to see her real-life personality shine through in interviews. While Rosa is deadpan and has a deeper voice, Stephanie is bubbly, with a high-pitched voice. And, it turns out, she's also a huge fan of dancing. We can't really imagine Rosa busting a move, but Stephanie is all about her squad. According to Fame 10, she apparently is a part of a dance squad that cheers on a recreational women's basketball team called The Pistol Shrimps. She can even trade comedic insights with the players she's cheering on - they're all actresses, and one of The Pistol Shrimps is actually Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza. We have to admit, we'd love nothing more than to see Stephanie Beatriz rocking some insane, over the top choreography - it's just the last thing we would expect from someone who plays such a serious character on screen so perfectly. It just goes to show what a talented actress she is! She definitely had us convinced.

10 The Show Is Actually Shot In Los Angeles, Not New York

The production team does a fantastic job of making viewers believe the show is set in New York. And, after all, there are definitely shows that film in New York rather than sunny California, including cast member Andy Samberg's former show. So, you probably assumed that they actually film in Brooklyn, or at least somewhere nearby, right? Wrong. While they've used a few exterior shots straight from the Big Apple, the vast majority of the show is shot in Los Angeles. We have to wonder what it's like to wear all those layers of cop clothes in the Los Angeles heat. Or, perhaps because they're filming so often inside in the faux precinct, they don't even notice the heat. Either way, it's majorly cool what a convincing background they can conjure up through the magic of props and scenery. We totally would have believed that it was filmed in Brooklyn. Although, the actors are probably grateful - even though they've been on a successful television show for several seasons now, it's probably nice to still be in the thick of things in Hollywood, for situations where you might need to get to an audition for another role or just be involved in industry events.

9 The Fire Department/Police Department Football Game In Season 1 Is A Reference To Terry Crews' NFL Career

There's an episode way back in season 1 where the whole crew from the precinct competes against the fire department in a legendary game of football. And, the running joke is that the cops always win because, well, they have Terry - and Terry is amazing, even though he might take things a little too far by dancing after every single touchdown. Well, it turns out, that storyline just might be a bit of a reference to Terry's other skills in real life. Before he ever decided to enter the acting game, he actually played in the NFL for several years, using all those muscles to smash other guys around the field rather than to just look insanely good on camera. We're glad he decided to make the switch to acting, because it means we get to see him on our television screens on a regular basis, and it was probably fun to bust out a few of his old moves (even if they were just for show) on camera. We wonder what his training regimen is now compared to when he was a pro athlete - he probably pays much closer attention nowadays to the appearance of his physique rather than the function and brute force he can deliver with it.

8 Studios Were Fighting Over The Show Before A Single Word Of The Script Was Written

It's not always easy to get a studio to agree to work with you on a project. After all, they get countless pitches every single season - it's tough to figure out exactly what makes one show stand out from the crowd, and inspires the network to invest in that particular show. Sometimes, it's because the concept is so unique, and they think it will develop a huge fan base. Sometimes, it's because they're spinning off an already successful show. Sometimes, it's because they get a specific star on board that they want to highlight. And, sometimes, it's about the guy behind the camera - the guy penning the words. When Michael Schur approached the networks with his idea of Parks and Recreation, but with cops, everyone collectively lost their minds - according to Whatculture, studio heads were all outbidding one another and trying to ensure their network got the show before Schur had even written a single word of the script. That's what a successful track record of amazing shows will get you! Frankly, we're not surprised - if we were those studio heads, we would have done the exact same thing. I mean, with Schur at the helm, you know it's going to be amazing.

7 A Company Was Hired To Create The Game Kwazy Cupcakes After It Appeared In A Storyline

Fans of the show will remember the storyline revolving around Kwazy Cupcakes, a phone game that sounds suspiciously like the popular Candy Crush. Gina was hooked on the game, and Captain Holt ends up getting addicted to it as well in the process of trying to get her to quit her Kwazy obsession. Well, did you know that someone actually contracted a company, RED Games, to make Kwazy Cupcakes an actual game you can play? That's right - you, too, can get completely addicted to the same zany game that Gina and Captain Holt were obsessed with on the show. We have to admit, we really love when certain things from a show are taken and translated into the real world. We may not be able to visit Pawnee or stop by Dunder Mifflin, but we can play Kwazy Cupcakes, and that's kind of the next best thing. In fact, we're a little surprised that Schur didn't come up with a few more ideas that could be translated into the real world for all the fans out there - he knows from his experience on previous hit shows that fans absolutely love merchandise that reminds them of their favourite show, even if it seems obscure.

6 Andre Braugher Isn't Sure About Captain Holt's Deadpan Humour

All the actors and actresses on the show have very, very different comedic styles, which means everyone watching has different favorites. Some love Amy's 'straight man' character, someone who supposedly isn't that funny, some love Jake's over the top antics, some love Boyle's attitude and little quirks, and there are many, many who love Captain Holt's trademark deadpan humor. Well, except for Andre Braugher himself. He's said before that he's not quite convinced that Holt is actually humorous. And, when an interviewer asked him if he would ever change his mind and realize that Holt is hilarious, he gave a completely Holt-ian answer, saying that "in retrospect, I'll be able to. Yes. History will finally confirm that was a funny episode for me." Honestly, we can't imagine the show without Holt - something about his deadpan delivery and serious mannerisms is just the perfect foil to the rest of the cast's crazy antics. We just don't think the 99 would be the same without him - and we hope that Braugher realizes he can definitely flex his comedic muscles with the best of him. We'd love to see him tackling more comedic roles in the future, even if they're a little different from the Captain Holt character.

5 Melissa Fumero Is Actually A Trained Dancer In Real Life - Even Though Amy Santiago Can't Dance

There are quite a few jokes made over the course of the show's seasons about Amy being a bad dancer. And, in the context of Amy Santiago's character, it totally makes sense - she's super uptight, so the audience likely finds it completely believable that she wouldn't exactly be the most comfortable busting a move on the dance floor. However, did you know that in real life, according to IMDB, Melissa Fumero is a professionally trained dancer? And it's not just a recent addition to her skill set - she's been dancing since she was just a little girl, and even taught classes to children when she was younger. I mean, we can't even handle how cute that photo is - can you just imagine her bright smile in a class full of eager and anxious tots? Amazing. We'd love to see her bring her actual dance skills to the screen and play a dancer at some point in the future - after all, she's spent long enough pretending to be an awful dancer while playing the role of Amy Santiago. Perhaps it's time for a change, and to show off those sweet moves she may remember from when she was studying dance at an earlier stage of her life.

4 Terry's Twins Are Named After Two Female Partner Detectives On An '80s Cop Show

They don't appear in every episode, and they aren't even mentioned every episode, but fans will know all about Terry's twin daughters, Cagney and Lacey. They're at the center of a few storylines, and help give Terry's character an entirely different dimension, as a loving (and slightly crazy) father. However, we bet you never put two and two together when it came to his twins' names. Sergeant Jeffords' daughters, Cagney and Lacey, are actually named after two female detectives on a cop show set in New York City in the '80s, Cagney and Lacey. Talk about a throwback! We're not sure if we're supposed to guess that Terry was a huge fan of the show back when he was younger, or if the producers just wanted to include a cheeky little detail, but we kind of love that even his daughters' names are related to the police world in some way. It's details like that which truly make a show special. Who knows, maybe Terry will get his own crazy spin-off that focuses solely on his home life with his wife and kids - we would watch that in a heartbeat (although we'd definitely miss seeing the rest of the 99.)

3 The Cast Members Went Through Actual Police Training

Even though the structure of the show wasn't the same as other cop shows, where there's basically one big crime happening per episode that gets resolved by the end, the cast still needed to be able to convincingly play cops. After all, it was supposed to be funny, but the humor wasn't supposed to come from the position that they were all bumbling fools. So, someone thought it would be a good idea to send them all to police and firearms training to get comfortable playing cops on camera. The cast chatted about it with Flare, and Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt, emphasized how the accuracy was actually crucial for the comedy. "We don't want to get lazy and we want to play cops to the best of our ability because if we lose our credibility entirely, the comic foundations will fall apart," Braugher said. "We want audiences to believe that we're a bunch of goofball cops rather than comedians who decided to put on police uniforms." Well said, Captain! Stephanie Beatriz shed some more light, saying that it was actually the Glendale Police Department that did a mini boot camp with the cast and showed them some of the ropes.

2 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Co-Creator Michael Schur Was Part Of The Office And Parks and Recreation - Talk About Comedy Royalty!

The entertainment industry is a tough business to survive in, and most writers and creatives would consider it a massive success to work on one super successful show. Michael Schur has slightly higher standards because the man has now worked on three insanely legendary comedies - The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn 99. That's right - Michael Schur is basically responsible for making you laugh for the past decade or more. In fact, while he didn't play a major role on screen in any of the comedies he worked on, he did have a small role in The Office. Remember Dwight's oddball cousin, Mose? Well, that's Michael Schur - although he looks entirely different in real life, without his Mose bowl cut. We wonder if Michael Schur sometimes just pinches himself, feeling like it's too good to be true - can you imagine being a part of so many projects that really resonated with people and brought them joy, week after week? Plus, he's gotten to work with so many insanely talented comedians, which is probably pretty amazing as well. Seriously, at this point, we're fairly certain the network will buy anything he proposes because that's a pretty golden track record. Talk about comedy royalty!

1 Chelsea Peretti Is Married To Jordan Peele - Talk About A Power Couple!

Sometimes, it's easy to assume that Chelsea Peretti is like Gina in real life. After all, she plays the character so well, we just assume she's a little bit ditzy in the real world. However, that couldn't be further from the truth - in addition to being a super talented actress, Peretti is also a writer and someone who is super comfortable being behind the camera, creating the stories and not just acting them out. And, she definitely has a direct link to some major creative inspiration when she gets home after a long day on set - her insanely talented hubby, Jordan Peele, who you might recognize as the guy behind the critically acclaimed flick Get Out. Peele also worked primarily in comedy before making the switch, so who knows - maybe Peretti will follow in his footsteps one day and hang up her comedy hat to put together an intensely cerebral film that is the polar opposite of everything she's worked on before. Sometimes, you've just got to mix it up! Maybe she'll even decide to collaborate with her hubby on a project - we'd love to see what the minds of Peele and Peretti come up with when they're working together! Probably something amazing.

References: hollywood.com, fame10.com, imdb.com, whatculture.com