Saturday Night Live (SNL) has given us a range of talented actors who have gone on to star in their own shows. None have been as much of a fan-favorite as Brooklyn Nine-Nine where SNL Alum, Andy Samberg plays the brilliant but childish detective Jake Peralta.
Over the shows seven seasons, it has had a variety of unbelievably funny and memorable guest stars, with many also being former SNL alums. Here is a list of some of the 10 best SNL alums to star on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Julia Sweeney
The loveable Julia Sweeney made her appearance on the season six episode "Casecation" as the sweet, if not bothersome Pam. Amy (Melissa Fumero) and Jake who were too busy with work decided to celebrate their anniversary while standing guard over a comatose patient. However, throughout their date night, they were interrupted by Pam who turned out to be the surprise villain of the episode by trying to blow up the patient Jake and Amy were guarding. Sweeney was able to perfectly play the crazy sweet lady role and it was a genuine surprise that she was actually the bad guy.
Bill Hader
Impression-master Bill Hader appeared as Captain Seth Dozerman in the season three opener as Captain Holt's (Andre Braugher) replacement. Orderly, fussy and genuinely a little bit crazy, Dozerman instantly became hated by the rest of the Nine-Nine. Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) in particular could not stand him and his Dozer-pads which he used to keep track of the detectives and their work. In the end, Jake and Amy accidentally gave Dozerman a heart attack when he found them kissing in the evidence room and died. Bill Hader perfectly played this extreme and crazy character and it is a shame that Dozerman was killed-off so soon.
Vanessa Bayer
Everyone loves a kooky villain but none have been as weird and as funny as Debbie Fogle played by Vanessa Bayer. Appearing in the first couple of episodes of season seven, Debbie was a wacky but insecure beat-cop that was partnered with Captain Holt. Seemingly harmless, Debbie took part in the group's Jimmy Jab Games where she was unfortunately encouraged by Boyle to follow her dreams.
Unfortunately, for Debbie, this meant stealing a bunch of cocaine and machine guns. Eventually, she even went as far as kidnapping Jake and Rosa. Undeniably funny, Debbie was probably one of the most fun and weirdest villains on the show.
Jorma Taccone
The trio of Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, and Andy Samberg through their group The Lonely Island completely changed the face of the SNL digital short. Therefore, fans were pleasantly surprised to see Taccone reunite with Samberg in the season four opener "Coral Palms, Part 1". Taccone played Taylor, the laid-back and unbothered manager of Fun World where Holt worked while he and Jake were stuck in Florida under Witness Protection. However, this was not Taccone's only work on the show as he also directed the episode "Thanksgiving".
Akiva Schaffer
The other member of The Lonely Island, Akiva Schaffer is more of a behind-the-scenes guy and is often found on the director's chair but he made an on-screen appearance during the season five episode, "Show Me Going".
Schaffer played the bitter Detective Brett Booth who had a major grudge against Jake for hitting him with a rubber bullet in the eye during their time at the police academy. Schaffer proved his comedy chops in this episode and fans loved his angry and narcissistic character.
Nasim Pedrad
Little sisters are great but they are also pretty annoying and Jake learned this when he met his half-sister Kate Peralta (Nasim Pedrard) in the season five episode, "DFW". Kate was a little crazy, wild and had almost no inhibitions. At first, Jake found her to be a bit too much and even flew in her deadbeat ex-boyfriend to New York so that she would leave. However, Jake realized that family meant more than just one visit a year and they eventually made up. Pedrad perfectly played the silly younger sister who just wanted to be loved and fans all hope that she makes another appearance on the show.
Tim Meadows
Normally, when one thinks about cannibals the image of the suave and evil Hannibal Lecter comes to mind but Brooklyn Nine-Nine took a slightly different tone. In season five, Jake became cellmates with the cheerful and happy-go-lucky cannibal, Cable John Gosche played by Tim Meadows. Caleb, although seemingly harmless, was actually one of the most dangerous people in the prison and ended up both saving and trying to eat Jake. Genuinely terrifying but unexpectedly funny and sweet, Caleb easily became a fan-favorite and returned in season six to help Jake and Boyle catch a serial killer.
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen was the first SNL alum to guest-star on the show, all the way back in the show's pilot. Playing the strange and confused Mlepnos, Jake and Amy encountered him twice throughout the first season while investigating. Incredibly unhelpful, Mlepnos never seemed to be of any use to the two detectives.
However, Mlepnos finally became useful to Jake and Amy when he became the violin player at their quickly arranged wedding in the season five finale. Although, only having a small cameo, Armisen's role as Mlepnos was easily one of the most memorable roles of the show.
Maya Rudolph
Being under Witness Protection is certainly no fun but having Maya Rudolph as your liaison makes it a lot better. In the early parts of season five, Rudolph appeared as the U.S Marshall Karen Haas. She tried her best to keep Jake and Captain Holt under control using her own ridiculous and crazy ways. Unfortunately, Karen Haas did not have a very long role on the show but she was certainly very entertaining and hopefully will make a return.
Chris Parnell
As far as SNL guest stars go on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Chris Parnell was probably one of the most fun. Parnell played Geoffrey Hoytsmanm, a lawyer who Jake had to arrest for using cocaine in season two. Later in the season, he kidnapped Jake and tried to frame him for all of his misdeeds. Fortunately, Jake was saved just in time by Rosa and Amy. Chris Parnell's guest-starring role was also very meaningful as it was through the SNL short and cultural phenomenon, Lazy Sunday that The Lonely Island got their start and probably without it, there would be no Jake Peralta.