Gina Linetti is going out in a very “physical” fashion when Chelsea Peretti leaves “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” on the comedy’s upcoming sixth season, in what showrunner Dan Goor says is a two-episode story.
And though writing off a character sometimes means a permanent plot point to close the book on (see death), Peretti says that’s definitely not how the human form of the 100 emoji will exit. (Oh, and there will be dancing. FYI.)
“It sounds cliche, but I feel that you’ll laugh and cry, which is kind of the ideal combination of an exit for Gina Linetti,” Peretti told TheWrap Tuesday, during an on-set press event ahead of the show’s Season 6 premiere on its new network, NBC. “She’s very physical. There’s a lot of very silly things she gets to do in these episodes… But then there’s also some really emotional connecting scenes with her family and her friends.”
OK, so she’s getting physical — which isn’t super-big news for a world- class dancer such as Ms. Linetti — but is it going to be sad or dark when we actually say goodbye?
“No, no. No, I think there’s a much more like, ‘Hey, who knows?’ kind of vibe to it,” Peretti says. “So, I don’t think it’ll be as much crying as you’re talking about: ‘She’s dead! They’re throwing dirt on my grave.’”
Great, so there is room for Gina to make a dazzling return at some point.
Goor and “Nine-Nine” star Andy Samberg had this joke-filled exchange when TheWrap asked about Gina’s big farewell, which was announced in September:
Goor: It’s sort of a two-episode arc that Jake plays a big part of … I think one of the things that Chelsea really wanted to make sure of was that those episodes were funny.
Samberg: No presh!
Goor: And we failed.
Samberg: Dry as a bone.
Goor: Yeah, not a laugh to be found. But I think there’s some stuff that’s kind of moving in it and there’s some stuff that’s really, really funny. And she’s fantastic in it.
Peretti says she was looking for “big comedy moments” in her last hurrah, a wish Goor granted (despite his teasing above). And dancing. Of course there will be dancing.
“I love physical things,” she said. “Sometimes Gina is a little dry and I like when she gets to physically do stuff and the stakes are high for her, so that was kind of my request and I got to do that and that was cool. And then there was dancing, which felt appropriate, [to] kind of bring it all together in the end. She’s a brilliant dancer! But also, you know, I always feel like it’s important to show the friendships and the love as well, so she gets to explore her deeper feelings with people, so it’s not just all like, ‘Bye!’ You know?”
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Season 6 premieres Jan. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.