Among the stellar cast and characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it's hard to choose a favorite. But each character has their strengths, and some are funnier than others. The joy of watching this show is that every sense of humor differs from one person to the next.
Each character shines with their personality as they deliver the laughs. Some characters' humor might be considered mean, while others are considered inappropriate. Whatever the case, the audience gets an array of jokes and gags that appeal to just about any fan's tastes. Here are the 10 funniest characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ranked.
Captain Jason Stentley
Captain CJ briefly headed the Nine-Nine when Holt and Jake were at a safe house in Coral Palms. The goofy and incompetent captain admitted he fell into the title by accident. Everyone at the precinct but Amy was amused with his lack of ability to do the job.
While his idiocy made for a few laughs, especially when he granted everyone's wishes like a genie, its charm easily wore off. Even the gang grew tired of his lack of intelligence after a time. Especially Jake when he brought the captain on for his suicide squad.
Charles Boyle
Detective Boyle gets plenty of laughs with all his weird food obsessions. He's at his best when he goes on a rant about the best pizza in New York, the best pie, or how to make the perfect meatball sub. But he has a habit of making everything incredibly sexual, and that doesn't always land well.
He makes others around him uncomfortable with his insinuating statements. He's especially offputting when butting into others' romantic and sex lives. The lack of boundaries doesn't make him funny; it just makes him creepy sometimes.
Terry Jeffords
The sergeant turned lieutenant garners a lot of laughs with the clash in his personality and appearance. A character like Terry is expected to be tough and mean, using his physique perhaps to bully and intimidate. But in actuality, Terry is a big Teddy bear.
He defies expectations by openly showing love and affection for his daughters, obsessing over yogurt, and crying when he's upset about something. Toxic masculinity is not a part of Terry's personality, and the fans love him for that. They also love his signature chant of, "Nine-nine."
Adrian Pimento
Jason Mantzoukas brings a manic energy to the character of Adrian Pimento that makes fans laugh uncontrollably. The former detective returns to the Nine-Nine after 12 years undercover with the mafia, but his paranoia and PTSD makes it impossible to return to his old work.
Making light of mental health issues like PTSD is not an easy feat, but Mantzoukas somehow portrays the condition with both humor and compassion. Still, Adrian's wild antics can't help but leave the audience and characters unsettled at times. Sometimes his brand of humor needs dialing back.
Amy Santiago
Detective Amy Santiago is most often teased for her nerdy personality, but at the end of the day, that's what her friends and the fans love best about her. Sure, she sometimes gets mired in the insecurity and self-doubt, but that's what makes her brand of funny so relatable.
As the seasons have passed, she has openly embraced her geek queen label. Without that Type A personality, she wouldn't be able to accomplish half the things she already has. Amy is at her funniest when she accepts herself wholeheartedly.
Rosa Diaz
Rosa could have easily been the tough as nails woman on the squad and nothing more, but Detective Diaz contains multitudes. She rocks a black leather jacket and biker boots but loves Nancy Meyers movies and home renovations. She prefers to drink in silence but is willing to talk out her feelings when absolutely necessary.
The mystery of Rosa Diaz makes her one of the funniest characters on the show. Her past includes ballet, gymnastics, and medical school. No one really knows Rosa, which makes for great comedy.
Gina Linetti
Gina may no longer be a regular on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but her humor continues to resonate with fans who binge-watch old episodes. Her pure confidence and insane way of thinking make her the ultimate genius on the show. She never cares what others think of her and marches to the beat of her own drum.
Despite how selfish and mean she often pretends to be, deep down she cares about her friends and family. When it matters most, she shows up. Those are some of the funniest moments as she does so grudgingly.
Jake Peralta
Jake's zany, goofball antics always walk a fine line between infectious and obnoxious. Ever the precinct prankster, Jake Peralta has evolved from childish to semi-mature over the past seven seasons. He's always making his friends and co-workers laugh, raising spirits even when situations are dire.
He tends to mess up a lot, but those screw-ups make for great comedy. Jake's humor is at its best when he's working double-time to make amends for his mistakes. It also shines when he voices out loud issues that many fans can relate to.
Kevin Cozner
The character's name alone is already a pun for a famous actor. But his dry humor and subdued personality make the delivery of his lines laugh out loud funny. He's the perfect partner for the robotic Captain Holt. Like his husband, Kevin has a no-nonsense mentality that makes everything he says funny by default.
Some of Kevin's best moments happen when he gets tangled in Holt's work. Though his life is endangered in these moments, he won't let it stand in the way of his work in academia.
Captain Raymond Holt
Captain Holt's deadpan and robotic demeanor make him the funniest character hands down. His strict adherence to the logical and seeming lack of emotion makes him a socially awkward person. His insistence on giving nothing but the bare facts often leads him to make social errors with more emotional characters.
The best part of Raymond Holt's humor though is how much it has been influenced by his relationship with the Nine-Nine, and Jake in particular. Where once he didn't care for childish pranks and fun, he now partakes in shenanigans like the Halloween Heist.