NBC greenlighted two detective comedies for its fall slate, pairing established TV talent with the network's push toward genre-inflected comedy. David Boreanaz, fresh off his long run as FBI special agent Seeley Booth on "Bones," takes on the iconic "Rockford Files" IP with a contemporary reboot. Jake Johnson, who built his comedy brand on "New Girl" as the lovably incompetent Nick Miller, leads "Sunset P.I.," an original sitcom centered on a down-on-his-luck private investigator.
The back-to-back pickups suggest NBC's strategy to revive both legacy properties and create original vehicles for comedic actors comfortable inhabiting flawed, blue-collar characters. Boreanaz's casting marks a tonal shift for the "Rockford Files" legacy. The 1974 James Garner vehicle centered on a working-class PI operating on the margins of Los Angeles, blending procedural mystery with humanistic storytelling. Boreanaz brings dramatic credibility from his decade-plus on "Bones," but his entry into comedy territory mirrors a broader trend of dramatic actors mining humor through character-driven material.
Johnson's "Sunset P.I." operates in that same schlubby detective wheelhouse. Johnson's comedic voice trades on physical comedy, verbal mishaps, and the specific charm of a guy perpetually in over his head. His post-"New Girl" work in films like "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "Jurassic World" shows his range, but network television remains his natural habitat.
Both shows tap into detective mythology while subverting the slick, competent archetypes audiences expect. The genre has proven durable for network TV. CBS's "NCIS" franchise dominates ratings, while "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" brought millennial