Television is full of "odd couples," but few felt as weirdly inevitable as the bond between Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher. One was a former Saturday Night Live star known for digital shorts about boats and "Dick in a Box." The other was a Juilliard-trained dramatic powerhouse who practically invented the "gritty detective" archetype on Homicide: Life on the Street.
On paper, it looked like a collision. In reality? It was kismet.
When news broke in late 2023 that Andre Braugher had passed away at 61 after a battle with lung cancer, the internet didn't just mourn a great actor. People mourned the loss of Captain Raymond Holt, the man who brought a strange, stoic dignity to the chaos of the Nine-Nine. But more than that, fans looked to Andy Samberg. Everyone wanted to know how the "man-child" was handling the loss of his "Dad-tain."
Honestly, the relationship between Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher was never just a bit for the cameras.
The First Table Read and the "Kismet" Factor
Most shows take a season—sometimes two—to find their rhythm. Brooklyn Nine-Nine didn't have that luxury. When the pilot was being cast, Mike Schur and Dan Goor basically hired Braugher after a single meeting, largely because they needed someone who could play the ultimate "straight man" without being boring.
Samberg has recently been quite open about how nerve-wracking that first meeting was. In a 2025 interview on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, he described the chemistry as "kismet." They sat down for the first table read, and as soon as they started the first scene—Samberg acting like a "dummy" and Braugher staring him down with the intensity of a thousand suns—the room just clicked.
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It worked immediately.
Why Braugher Didn't Trust His Own Funny Bone
Here is the thing most people don't realize: Andre Braugher was terrified he wasn't funny.
He came from a world of Shakespeare and heavy drama. He wasn't an improv guy. While Samberg was used to riffing and "letting Mantzoukas cook," Braugher preferred having specific "alts"—written alternate jokes—rather than just winging it.
Samberg recalls that early on, Braugher didn't quite trust himself to handle the comedy. He would constantly worry that a joke might sacrifice the "greater good" of the character's integrity. Most of the time, Samberg notes, Braugher’s instincts were actually right. He protected the character of Holt, which is exactly what made the comedy work. If Holt was just another goofball, there would be no friction.
The Elton John and Barry White Photo
Behind the scenes, the two were surprisingly close, though they couldn't be more different. Braugher once gave Samberg a vintage photo of Elton John and Barry White. He told Andy that the photo perfectly captured the dynamic between Jake Peralta and Raymond Holt.
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If you think about it, it’s a perfect metaphor. One is all flair and high-energy pop; the other is deep, soulful, and immovably cool.
They spent eight seasons poking at each other. Samberg’s favorite hobby on set was trying to "find cracks" in Braugher’s veneer. He told Entertainment Weekly years ago that making Andre break character was "wildly satisfying." And it happened more than you’d think. There are dozens of outtakes of Braugher letting out this massive, boisterous laugh that sounded nothing like the robotic Captain Holt.
A Friendship Defined by Morality
Since Braugher’s passing, Samberg has shifted from talking about their comedic timing to talking about the man's character. He describes Braugher as "deeply moral."
"We all absolutely loved him," Samberg said in mid-2025. "I miss him a lot."
The cast actually held a private reunion in March 2024 specifically to honor him. Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, and Samberg all got together to share stories. They laughed, they cried, and they processed the fact that the "base DNA" of their show was gone.
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The Future of the Nine-Nine
Is there a world where Brooklyn Nine-Nine returns?
Fans ask for a revival constantly, but Samberg is hesitant. He’s gone on record saying the "Andre factor" makes a reboot incredibly difficult. Without the anchor of Captain Holt, the rest of the precinct might just float away into pure silliness. To Samberg, Braugher wasn't just a co-star; he was the reason the show had a heart to begin with.
What We Can Learn From the Peralta-Holt Dynamic
If you're a fan looking to revisit their work or just appreciate what they built, there are a few ways to keep that "Nine-Nine" spirit alive:
- Watch the "Valloweaster" or "Halloween Heist" episodes: These are the peak of their competitive, respectful, and hilarious chemistry.
- Look for the "Box" episode: In Season 5, Episode 14 ("The Box"), it’s just Samberg, Braugher, and Sterling K. Brown in an interrogation room. It is a masterclass in acting that proves how much they pushed each other.
- Appreciate the "Alts": When you rewatch, look for the moments where Holt says something absolutely absurd with total gravity (like "Velvet Thunder"). Those were often the jokes Braugher carefully selected to ensure they landed perfectly.
The legacy of Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher isn't just a collection of memes or "Title of Your Sex Tape" jokes. It’s a blueprint for how two people from completely different worlds can find a common language through respect and a shared sense of timing. It was kismet, sure. But it was also a lot of hard work by two guys who genuinely liked each other.
Take a moment to rewatch the pilot. Notice the way Holt looks at Jake in the very last scene. That wasn't just good acting. That was the start of a ten-year friendship that changed TV comedy forever.