NBC’s Best Sitcom In The Last 10 Years Started Out On Another Network

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Despite being one of NBC’s most successful comedies of the past decade, Brooklyn Nine-Nine actually began its run on a different network. NBC has a long history of excellent sitcoms, ranging from beloved classics like The Golden Girls and Sanford and Son to more innovative shows such as Community and 30 Rock. They consistently deliver high-quality comedy programming.

NBC has a strong history of successful sitcoms, including classics like Friends, Cheers, and Seinfeld. However, not all of these beloved comedies originated at NBC. It’s fairly common for TV networks to cancel shows that are then continued by other networks, meaning a show’s seasons can sometimes be produced by different companies.

This explains why American Dad felt so different on TBS compared to Fox, and how Community managed to last six seasons even after NBC initially canceled it. It also reveals that Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a highly-rated NBC sitcom from the last ten years, actually started on a different network.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Started On Fox Before It Became An NBC Show

Despite positive reviews and a talented cast including Andy Samberg and Stephanie Beatriz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine consistently faced low ratings during its initial run on Fox. The show premiered in September 2013 and was later picked up by NBC after its cancellation on Fox.

The first two seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine averaged a strong 4.8 million viewers each. However, viewership declined in later seasons, falling to 3.98 million in season three and then to 2.87 million in season four. Despite the show’s appeal throughout its run, Fox canceled it due to this consistent drop in ratings.

It’s not unexpected, given that Fox has heavily emphasized animated comedies lately. While Fox still airs a few live-action sitcoms in 2025, like Animal Control and Going Dutch, they don’t compare to the popular comedies on ABC, NBC, and CBS, such as Abbott Elementary, Happy’s Place, and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

Fox keeps its comedy programming strong by consistently airing well-loved animated shows like Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, and Family Guy. They’ve also been developing new animated comedies such as Grimsburg and Krapopolis, and even brought back American Dad after it was originally canceled by Fox and continued on TBS.

NBC Saved Brooklyn Nine-Nine After Fox Canceled The Series

NBC has always been a good fit for creative and unique comedies, so it’s no surprise that Brooklyn Nine-Nine landed there after being cancelled by Fox. Although the show had a fun crossover with New Girl while on Fox, that network wasn’t really known for its live-action sitcoms.

Before Brooklyn Nine-Nine aired on NBC, the network was known for successful, quirky comedies like 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Community. This gave NBC a strong reputation for shows that were funny, unpredictable, and ultimately heartwarming – and that’s exactly how Brooklyn Nine-Nine was presented to viewers.

NBC had a long history of successful sitcoms, including classics like Seinfeld, Cheers, Friends, Sanford and Son, and The Golden Girls. While CBS had MASH, NBC was generally known as the home of the best American sitcoms, which meant Brooklyn Nine-Nine was in a great place for its final three seasons out of a total of eight.

It certainly felt that way back then. When NBC decided to continue Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2018, it was a huge relief for fans everywhere. As a result, season 6 saw a rise in viewers, going from a low of 2.71 million to a solid 3.11 million per episode, making the show’s future look bright.

As a big fan, it was really disappointing to see the later seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine struggle a bit. After the events of 2020, especially the death of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the show had to completely rethink its entire eighth season. They actually scrapped all the scripts they had and started over, which was a huge undertaking, but I think they tried to address a really important and difficult conversation.

NBC Still Ended Brooklyn Nine-Nine Early

Despite a successful comeback from being canceled, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was canceled for good in 2021. Its final, shortened season 8, with only eight episodes, aired in August and September of that year. Critics had mixed reactions to the show’s effort to tackle serious issues within policing while still keeping its typically lighthearted and comedic style.

Though the final season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine wasn’t flawless, it served as a good reminder that all TV shows eventually come to an end. This can happen for many reasons – actors might move on to other projects, the story might reach a natural conclusion, or the show’s themes might no longer feel relevant. Thankfully, NBC allowed Brooklyn Nine-Nine to have a bit more time on the air than it might have otherwise.

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2025-11-07 23:15