Brooklyn Nine-Nine was created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur. Running from 2013 to 2021, the show focused on the NYPD’s 99th precinct, led by Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), as the squad takes on criminals and their own personal lives. The show had great humor that was carried by strong, lovable characters, including Jake (Andy Samberg), Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz), Amy (Melissa Fumero), Charles (Joe LoTruglio), Terry (Terry Crews), and Gina (Chelsea Peretti). What could have been just a typical workplace comedy was elevated by a strong cast and excellent writing that let each character shine and develop. The show also featured serious storylines while still keeping the humor. Here’s our ranking of the funniest episodes.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Coral Palms: Part I
NBC Universal Television Distribution
This episode changes things up, focusing only on Jake and Holt, who are in witness protection in Coral Palms, Florida. Unable to continue on their important case, they must make their lives in the community, arguing over a position at the indoor play area for kids, where Holt must dance at a birthday party. It’s extra fun to see both characters so differently, especially with Holt acting like a typical straight man. The first part ends with both agreeing to continue the case, a suspenseful end to this wildly funny episode.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 99
The show’s 99th episode sees the whole crew go to Los Angeles for a funeral. While there, Holt finds out he has an interview for the Police Commissioner job. The crew races to get him back, but meets obstacles at every turn until Jake realizes Holt is sabotaging himself due to being compromised by a previous case. The group works together to get him to the interview, reinforcing that they will look out for each other. From Holt manipulating Jake through his love of Die Hard, to Amy’s crazed math equations, to everyone wearing beige clothes from Charles’ family, the episode lovingly celebrates its characters while bringing out their best humor.
7 USPIS
While working with Rosa on a drug operation, Jake is forced to team up with a post office inspector officer, played by guest star Ed Helms. As Jack Danger, Helms brings great comedy to the role, from how he announces his name (Donger) to his lectures on the post office. He and Jake disagree on how to handle the case, with lots of immature humor, until Jake takes the matter into his own hands. After hurting Rosa, however, Jake embraces some maturity and fixes the situation for her. It’s a nice moment in a hilarious episode, and Helms adds to what could have been an ordinary storyline and makes it one of the show’s funniest.
6 The Party
In a great group episode, the squad is invited to a fancy party at Holt and Kevin’s, and Terry takes it upon himself to make sure everyone acts properly. This is a losing battle from the start, when everyone produces the same bottle of cheap wine as a gift and walks around in a pack. Inside the party, Jake tries to impress Kevin, Amy resorts to discussing microwaves to bond with Holt, and Gina intrigues all the psychiatrists with her personality. The episode lets each character truly shine and be funny in their own ways, while uniting them for great moments.
5 The Suicide Squad
To take down the corrupt Commissioner, the 99 teams up with various members of the NYPD: Holt’s enemy Chief Wuntch (Kyra Sedgwick) – who is one of the best show-stealing supporting characters, according to ScreenRant; Captain CJ (Ken Marino); and Major Crimes member Keith, also known as the Vulture (Dean Winters). The episode has many twists, turns, and betrayals that keep the audience guessing the entire time. The winding plot also has great humor, with Holt and Wuntch trading insults, and the squad clashing with CJ and the Vulture, who are great supporting characters. It’s a hilarious team-up that works all around.
4 The Fugitive
Like every episode featuring lovable criminal Doug Judy (Craig Robinson), this two-parter shines. When a group of inmates escape, Jake must turn to Doug to help him find them all. This expands on the relationship between Doug and Jake, pushing them further into friend territory even as things are tested by Jake being a detective. Den of Geek considers Robinson the show’s funniest guest star, and he shows why in this episode. Jake and Doug make a strong pair, and it’s fun to watch them work together this episode, forming the start of what would continue throughout the series.
3 Nine Days
One of the more absurd episodes, this one sees Jake and Holt in isolation together after getting exposed to the mumps. Most of the episode centers around them, trapped together and arguing over the case they’re working, and both actors make the most of every moment. From their early fighting to their delirious ravings, both are hilarious, with extra humor coming from seeing the strict Holt act so wildly. It’s a fun episode that finishes its absurdity with the case ending after finding evidence in a fake ziti recipe.
2 HalloVeen
Every episode of the famed Halloween Heist is epic and hilarious, and this is one of the best. The precinct’s annual heist competition sees Jake, Holt, and Amy team up against Terry, Rosa, and Charles to compete for a belt. It sees some of the most intricate planning of any heist, with Jake using someone as a Gina stand-in, and Holt guiding his dog, Cheddar, to steal the belt. It all ends when Amy successfully gets the belt, only to find Jake has used it to propose to her. It’s a sweet and touching moment that celebrates how far their relationship has come, and still manages to be funny.
1 The Last Day
The truly perfect series finale centers around another heist before Holt and Amy leave the precinct for their new police jobs. Jake, however, is also planning to leave to raise his and Amy’s son, and wants to use the heist as his perfect goodbye. Everyone goes all-out, as Holt shows everyone his tattoo, and Amy handcuffs Jake to a fake hospital bed. However, the episode is touching and emotional, with clues taking the precinct to important places and people in their history, designed by Holt, who also wanted to use the heist as a goodbye. The mix of humor and heart is at its best here, a touching and hilarious tribute to the whole show.
