Dan Goor and Michael Schur previously collaborated to bring Parks and Recreation to the small screen. Their next project: a single-camera satirical police procedural. Brooklyn Nine-Nine premiered in the fall line up 2013 on FOX. The show starts Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, Stephanie Beatriz, and Chelsea Peretti.
The series has garnered critical acclaim and a devout fan following, with particular praise directed at the ensemble cast. The fast-paced humor and top-tier sarcasm keep audiences flocking back. The show ran for five seasons before its cancellation and subsequent renewal on NBC.
One of the most iconic comedic characters to come out of television in the 2010s is hands-down Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Detective Jake Peralta, played to perfection by Saturday Night Live Alum Andy Samberg. Even after repeated viewing of each season, it’s easy to miss small jokes, traits, and storylines between the characters.
Read on for 15 Things Most Fans Don’t Know About Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Jake Peralta:
15 Jake Peralta, As Audiences Know And Love Him, Almost Didn’t Make It To Screens
Andy Samberg was unsure whether to take the role of Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. After co-founding The Lonely Island and a seven-season run on the late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, from 2005 to 2012, Samberg intended to take a hiatus but changed his mind after reading the script.
14 Jake’s Family Is Ashkenazi Jewish
The show likes to flashback to Jake’s horrible experience with Jenny Gildenhorn at his Bat Mitzvah. Peralta is a member of the Ashkenazi Jewish community, who formerly lived in Germany’s Rhineland valley and neighboring France, before forced migration eastward to Slavic lands, like Poland or Russia after the Crusades began in the 11th century.
13 Writers Pulled Jake’s Backstory With Gina From Real Life
Some of the best entertainment comes from life imitating art. Andy Samberg and Chelsea Peretti grew up together. The dynamic worked so naturally that the writers’ and show-runners decided to base the relationship between Jake Peralta and Gina Linetti off the star’s real history. Peretti confessed to a childhood crush on Samberg.
12 Peralta Is Portuguese For 'Brat'
Brooklyn Nine-Nine finds exciting ways to include character traits, like Amy Santiago’s (Melissa Fumero) compulsive organizing. Childish detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) has a clue to his behavior in the character’s name, which many fans overlooked: the word “Peralta” translated from Portuguese is “brat.” Coincidence? Not on this show.
11 Officer Peralta’s Career Started At The 74th Precinct
Season three, episode 15, “The 9-8,” digs further into Jake’s backstory. He stared as a beat cop at the 74. Partnered with Stevie Schillens (Damon Wayans Jr.), and the two nicknamed themselves the “Beatsie Boys.” The two detectives come face-to-face, and Jake must arrest Stevie for planting evidence, a detective at the neighboring 98th Precinct.
10 His Badge Number Is 9544
Any person who has watched at least one episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine can identify Jake Peralta’s favorite movie. In nearly every episode, there is at least one Die Hard reference, dating back to the first episode, Jake’s badge. His idol, John McClane (Bruce Willis), also wears his badge around his neck.
9 Jake Peralta Is Severely Allergic To Bees
One of the most entertaining episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine occurs in the third season when Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) reveals his allergy to bees. Rosa and Jake have a Swedish team working a case with them, and the two are thrown off by the partner’s closeness. Jake, realizing how little he and Rosa share, tells her he’s deathly allergic to bees.
8 He Knows The Name Of Every Transformer
One of the best parts of watching Jake and Amy (Melissa Fumero) fall in love is their differences. Amy can name all the laws and bylaws, whereas Jake can list off every Transformer. Jake Peralta loves The Transformers franchise and begs Amy to see the Bumblebee movie with him, which she thinks is for kids.
7 There Are At Least Five Traditions Between Rosa And Jake From The Academy
The first few episodes of the series reveal that Jake (Andy Samberg) and Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) attended the Police Academy together, before working at different precincts as beat cops and reuniting at the 99. From “a thousand push-ups,” to their time in prison, the two are close, with a special bond.
6 Jake Is An ENFP On The Myers-Briggs Personality Types
The Myers-Briggs personality type is a questionnaire to most effectively determine the four dominant aspects of psychological functions, whether introverted or extroverted, thinking, or feeling. Jake Peralta classifies as an ENFP: Extroversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Perception. These are the qualities that most define Peralta and his approach to the job.
