Brooklyn Nine-Nineran for eight brilliant seasons. The talented and hilarious crew of the 99th Precinct, first introduced in 2013, charmed us over with their signature humor and personal dynamics, reminding us that even the most hardened of detectives can be just as awkward and adorable as the rest of us. The series is the brainchild of television auteurs Dan Goor and Michael Schur. It established itself asone of the most beloved modern sitcomswith its sharp wit, relatable characters, and a lot of consistent chaos.
Brooklyn nine-nine
At the heart ofBrooklyn Nine-Nineis the crew of detectives, each with their own quirks and personalities. Led by the ever-enthusiastic Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), the squad includes no-nonsense Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), the perpetually anxious and competitive Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), family man Terry Jeffords (Terry Crew), the intimidating Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), and more. Beyond the main cast, the sitcom has also seamlessly integrated guest stars into the narrative. They add their own flavor to the episodes and have become as much a part of the show’s DNA as the core cast. Here are the 10 bestBrooklyn Nine-Nineguest stars.
10Kathryn Hahn as Eleanor Horstweil
Season 3, Episode 11, “Hostage Situation”
There’s a lot going oninSeason 3, Episode 11, titled “Hostage Situation.”Rosa and Holt are interrogating a perp who would only speak with Gina; Amy asks Terry for a recommendation letter, and he ends up breaking his nose during a self-defense class. But the highlight of the episode is Boyle’s personal life. Boyle and Genevieve are planning to have children using Boyle’s frozen sperm.
That’s when his ex-wife,Eleanor Horstweil, who has been mentioned a couple of times throughout the show, enters the precinct with a shocking demand: she needs Boyle’s frozen sperm to get out of a lawsuit, and she’s not above using it as leverage. In desperation, Boyle enlists Jake’s help, which leads to chaos.Kathryn Hahnplays Eleanor Horstweil with her signature charm and wit. You’re supposed to hate her character, but her comedic timing is so on point that you simply can’t. Plus, her actions lead Boyle to adopt Nickolaj, so who’s complaining?
9Adam Sandler as Himself
Season 1, Episode 15, “Operation: Broken Feather”
Adam Sandlerdoesn’t usually make guest appearances on TV shows; he’s more of a movie guy. But he’s known to have a soft corner for Andy Samberg. The two shared the screen inThat’s My BoyandHotel Transylvania, and yet, it’s a surprise to see Sandman in an unexpected turn as a fictionalized version of himself inBrooklyn Nine-Nine’sSeason 1, Episode 15, “Operation: Broken Feather.”
In it, Jake and Amy are investigating a series of hotel robberies when Jake hears about Amy’s plans of leaving the precinct and transferring to Major Crimes, which upsets him. He partakes in the auction at a hotel while Amy tries to spot the perp among the attendees. Adam Sandler is at the auction and Sandler gets into a verbal conflict with him. Sandler takes the opportunity to make fun of Peralta by starting an auction of his own. It’s playful and hilarious to watch their back and forth.
8Bill Hader as Captain Seth Dozerman
Season 3, Episode 1, “New Captain”
InSeason 3, Episode 1, “New Captain,”the halls of the 99th precinct are filledwith a palpable sense of anticipation as the squad waits for their new commanding officer to arrive. The precinct is thrown into chaos whenSeth Dozerman, played byBill Hader, barges in with his own definition of efficiency and productivity. He gives the team “Dozerpads” that require them to complete a task every 55 minutes.
Meanwhile, Jake and Amy are testing the waters of their new relationship, but their secret is exposed when Dozerman catches them making out in the filing room, has a heart attack, and dies. Hader’s portrayal of Captain Seth Dozerman adds a unique flavor to the show. His character is a contradiction; one minute he’s running a strict regime and another, he’s having heart attacks.
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7J.K. Simmons as Frank Dillman
Season 7, Episode 9, “Dillman”
J.K. Simmonsis usually recognized for his dramatic turns in movies and TV shows, but one of his most popular roles was that of J. Jonah Jameson in the Sam RaimiSpider-Mantrilogy. Not a traditionally funny character, it allowed him to showcase an over-the-top and exaggerated side of the actor.Season 7, Episode 9, “Dillman,”finds Amy and Jake trying to solve a glitter bomb explosion when Captain Holt calls in his old friend,Detective Frank Dillmon, to help solve the case.
Simmons’ Dillman has a no-nonsense approach towards crime solving, which clashes with Jake’s unserious and impulsive style. As the investigation unfolds and Jakes tries to solve the case before Dillman to get into Holt’s good graces, it’s obvious that Dillman is pretty clueless. Simmons creates a character that is both formidable and hilariously out of place in a precinct that’s known to be quirky.
6Sterling K. Brown as Philip Davidson
Season 5, Episode 14, “The Box”
Season 5, Episode 14, “The Box,”isone of the best episodesofBrooklyn Nine-Nine. It sees Detective Jake Peralta and Captain Holt interrogate a dentist namedPhilip Davidson, portrayed bySterling K. Brown, who is suspected of murdering his partner. The entire episode takes place in the interrogation room, where Jake and Holt use various tactics to break Davidson and his alibi, but he remains calm and collected and “seemingly” innocent the whole time.
The episode is tense throughout; the detectives are trying to unravel the truth before time runs out and Davidson maintains his calculated personality. It eventually leads to a satisfying conclusion where he cracks under pressure. Brown, who is known for his roles inThis Is Usand Hulu’s recent political thriller,Paradise, delivered a performance so riveting that he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
5Nick Offerman as Frederick
Season 3, Episode 8, “Ava”
Bringing his signature brand of deadpan comedy toBrooklyn Nine-Nine’sSeason 3, Episode 8, “Ava,”Nick Offermanplays the role ofFrederick, Holt’s ex-boyfriend. The episode begins with Sharon, Terry’s wife, going into labor and refusing to go to the hospital. Peralta brings her to the precinct, which does nothing to calm Sharon down and he insists Holt ask help from Frederick, who is a doctor.
Frederick arrives at the precinct but he’s not helpful becausehe’s still holding a grudge against Holtbecause he threw Frederick’s prized wooden duck away when they were together. Holt apologizes and things smooth out enough to deal with the impending birth, but the overall episode’s humor and nuance is only elevated by Offerman’s presence.
4Danny Trejo as Oscar Diaz
Season 5, Episode 10. “Game Night”
Season 5, Episode 10, “Game Night”is the 100th overall episode of the series. In it, Rosa Diaz comes out as bisexual to her colleagues and invites them to a game night to meet her family. She’s also planning to reveal the news to her family and asks Peralta for help. Among Rosa’s family members is her intimidating father,Oscar Diaz, played byDanny Trejo. The episode showcases Rosa’s struggle to gain acceptance from her father, who is initially dismissive.
But as the game night continues and emotions run high, the episode becomes more heartfelt and genuine and Trejo’s Oscar reveals his deep love for his daughter and apologizes to her. Trejo is otherwise recognized for his daunting roles, and because he’s playing tough Rosa’s dad in B99, he carries the same exterior. But his ability to convey complex emotions is what makes his guest appearance stand out.
3Fred Armisen as Mlepnos
Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”
Fred Armisenfirst appears in the pilot episode ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine, where Peralta and Santaigo are investigating a murder in a luxury apartment building. He introduces himself asMlepnosand insists there is a silent “clay” in his name after the letter P. Clearly, he’s an eccentric resident who gives them hilarious and cryptic accounts of the events that occurred on the day. Armisen reprises the role in later episodes a bunch of times, and each time, his actions and words are more absurd than the last.
As Mlepnos, he tends to forget Jake despite having met him so many times. At one point, he also introduces himself as Jerry. He’s a bizarre character with no backstory, he lies in every interaction he has with the detectives, and is inconsistent. Yet, Armisen’s improvisational skills and commitment to the role bring an extra layer of intrigue and humor to the character.
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2Marshawn Lynch as Himself
Season 4, Episode 11. “The Fugitive”
A massive manhunt unfolds inSeason 4, Episode 11, “The Fugitive.”The episode kicks off with a prison van carrying inmates crashes and the prisoners escape and scatter across the city. The precinct splits into teams to capture them and Jake and Amy wager on who can catch more fugitives. Amidst the chaos, NFL starMarshawn Lynchappears as himself. He is the only witness of the accident.
Lynch’s appearance as a guest star is iconic because it’s hilarious and unexpected. He provides no help, delivers unnecessary commentary, and adds a light-hearted touch to the episode as he talks about a wrong order he received from a restaurant, going into extreme detail. Known for his on-screen talents, he matches the precinct’s frenetic energy with his laid-back attitude and vague answers.
1Tim Meadows as Caleb John Gosche
Season 5, Episode 1, “The Big House”
After being framed for her crimes by Lt. Melanie Hawkins, Jake and Rosa are sentenced to prison.Season 5, Episode 2, “The Big House,”sees Jake behind bars, and shortly after, the character ofCaleb John Goscheis introduced. Caleb is a fellow inmate, a seemingly friendly but cannibalistic serial killer who disarms all with his personality. Throughout the episode, Caleb offers Jake advice on how to survive prison, and it’s often more unsettling than helpful.
Tim Meadowsinfuses an odd and darkly humorous vibe to the character, providing both tension and comic relief. He effortlessly balances the character’s sinister nature with a natural likability, which iswhy Caleb and Jake end up being friends. It’s bizarre but entertaining to watch. Meadows’ character, Caleb, appears in three more episodes throughout the series, including the finale.
