Jake Johnson, the actor famous for playing Nick Miller on the hit Fox sitcom New Girl, is making his big return to network television. He will star in a brand-new comedy pilot at NBC that comes from the creative team behind the beloved police comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The untitled project, which has already received a pilot order, is set in the world of private investigators in Los Angeles and promises a mix of workplace humor and character-driven comedy. Johnson will play the lead role of Mickey, a former LAPD officer turned private eye who is smart, cynical, and nursing a broken heart.
The project brings together some heavy hitters from the world of TV comedy. Dan Goor, who co-created Brooklyn Nine-Nine, is writing and executive producing the pilot alongside Luke Del Tredici, who also worked on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Adding to the excitement, Akiva Schaffer, one-third of the comedy group The Lonely Island and director of films like Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and the recent The Naked Gun reboot, has signed on to direct the pilot and serve as an executive producer. This marks Johnson’s first leading role in a broadcast network comedy since his days in the loft with New Girl.
What We Know About the Story and Jake Johnson’s Character
The new NBC comedy is being described as a workplace comedy set among private detectives in Los Angeles . The official logline for the show humorously states that it “continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show” . This playful tone suggests the show will be aware of the classic detective genre while putting its own comedic spin on it.
Johnson will play Mickey, a character with a lot of layers. According to the character description released by NBC, Mickey is “smart, cynical and heartbroken, but trying to pretend he’s not” . He is a private investigator who has a real talent for solving cases. Before becoming a PI, Mickey was an officer with the LAPD, but his life “imploded three years ago,” leading him to his current career . This background sets up a character with a past he’s running from, providing plenty of material for both comedy and drama.
The show is being produced by Universal Television, which is part of Universal Studio Group . Since it is still in the pilot stage, NBC has not yet announced a target release date or additional cast members. The network is currently evaluating the project for the 2026-2027 TV season .
The Creative Team Behind the Camera
One of the biggest reasons for excitement around this project is the talent involved in its creation. Dan Goor is a giant in the world of TV comedy. Besides co-creating Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he also worked as a writer and producer on other massive hits like Parks and Recreation . His track record for creating ensemble comedies with heart is nearly unmatched.
Luke Del Tredici joins him as a co-writer and executive producer. Del Tredici is also a Brooklyn Nine-Nine veteran, having served as an executive producer on the show for several seasons . The pairing of Goor and Del Tredici suggests that the new show will have the same kind of fast-paced jokes, strong character dynamics, and workplace camaraderie that made Brooklyn Nine-Nine so popular.
Akiva Schaffer coming on board as the director is another major win for the project. Schaffer is known for his work on Saturday Night Live, where he created iconic “Digital Shorts” like Lazy Sunday and Dick in a Box with his Lonely Island partners. His feature film work includes the acclaimed mockumentary Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and the comedic thriller Hot Rod. His experience with directing sharp, character-based comedy makes him a perfect fit for this pilot .
Jake Johnson’s Busy Year and Return to Network TV
For Jake Johnson, this role is a homecoming of sorts. He became a household name playing Nick Miller on New Girl, which ran for seven seasons from 2011 to 2018. Since that show ended, Johnson has kept busy with a variety of projects. He starred in the ABC crime drama Stumptown, voiced the fan-favorite Peter B. Parker in the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel, and starred in the HBO Max series Minx . He also wrote, directed, and starred in the Hulu movie Self Reliance .
This new NBC comedy will be his first major role in a broadcast network series since Stumptown ended . He is not just starring in the show; he is also attached as a producer, giving him a significant creative stake in the project .
The year 2026 is shaping up to be incredibly busy for Johnson. He has several high-profile projects on the horizon:
- The Sun Never Sets: A drama co-starring Dakota Fanning, directed by Joe Swanberg, which is set to premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in March .
- Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed: An Apple TV+ series where he stars opposite Tatiana Maslany .
- The Dink: A pickleball comedy for Apple TV+ that also stars Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris .
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse: He is also set to reprise his voice role as Peter B. Parker in the long-awaited third installment of the animated franchise, which is currently scheduled for 2027 .
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How It Fits Into NBC’s Comedy Plans
NBC is clearly investing in comedy with a strong sense of nostalgia. The network has several pilots in contention that are headlined by stars from popular Fox shows of the late 2000s and early 2010s . Johnson joins a list that includes David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel (stars of Bones), who are attached to a reboot of The Rockford Files and a new drama, respectively .
This new untitled PI comedy is one of three comedy pilots NBC has ordered as it looks to build its schedule for the next season. The network’s president of scripted content, Lisa Katz, expressed strong enthusiasm for the project. After hearing the pitch from Goor and Del Tredici, she said, “It was laugh-out-loud funny, and felt like such a home run for NBC comedy” .
The show is expected to be a single-camera comedy, similar in style to Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation, rather than a multi-camera show filmed in front of a live audience . This format allows for more visual jokes and location shooting, which will fit perfectly with the Los Angeles setting.
While the show does not have a title yet, the pieces are coming together for what could be one of the most anticipated new comedies of the next TV season. With a proven star in Jake Johnson, a dream team of comedy writers and directors, and a funny premise, the project has all the ingredients for success. Fans of New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine will be watching closely as more details emerge about casting and a potential series order in the coming months.
For now, the untitled pilot is in active development. As production moves forward, we can expect announcements about additional cast members who will play the other detectives in Mickey’s world. The show is being built at Universal Television, and if it goes to series, it will join NBC’s lineup alongside other comedies like St. Denis Medical, which was recently renewed .
Stay with VvipTimes for the latest updates on this exciting new comedy as they happen.
