The show appears to be in danger of being axed.
Despite having a loyal and passionate fanbase, US television show Brooklyn Nine-Nine looks to be on the chopping block.
In the next couple of weeks, US TV networks will announce which shows will be renewed and which will bite the dust. Brooklyn Nine-Nine was renewed for a fifth season last year, despite struggling in the ratings, and things have not improved over the course of the current season.
The show is averaging a 0.73 rating and draws an average of 1.76 million viewers per episode, which means almost nothing to people who aren’t interested in US television statistics. However, that represents a 15% drop in ratings and 17% drop in audience, which is not great. That’s especially not great when the previous season was already underperforming.
While Brooklyn Nine-Nine has consistently received praise from fans and critics for its humour, style and diversity, the numbers don’t offer much hope, and with a new slate of shows on the horizon, the future looks bleak for Jake Peralta and co.
Though FOX, the show’s network, has not given any official indication as to whether the show will be axed yet, rumours have swarmed the internet, leading BuzzFeed to publish an article defending the show and arguing its case for survival.
This in turn has whipped the show’s fans up into even more of a frenzy, with several taking to Twitter to voice their concern.
Erm, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is kind of the best and the mere idea that it's been suggested for cancellation is baffling. Why does this keep happening and Big Bang Theory goes for a million years? #renewB99 #brooklyn99
— Devon Gillespie: Viola Advocate, Butt of Jokes (@devronius) May 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/nicolejnfr/status/994464485359284224
How is Empire renewed but Brooklyn Nine-Nine is on the verge of cancellation? Who decides these things?!
— Dr. Amaka (@_ClaireN) May 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/pinkmintshelley/status/993687820731494400
https://twitter.com/macysoriano/status/994506124341665792
Other FOX shows that look likely to be axed this year include The X-Files, Gotham, Ghosted and The Exorcist. The fate of Brooklyn Nine-Nine will be revealed in the next few weeks, but it will either take a miracle or a particularly generous executive to save it.