10 Brooklyn Nine-Nine running gags that took seasons to pay off

Some TV shows go for the quick laugh. Brooklyn Nine-Nine? It plays the long game. Beyond the fast-paced quips and crime-solving chaos, it quietly planted jokes that bloomed over seasons, rewarding fans who stuck around. These weren’t just random throwaways; they were perfectly cooked comedic slow burns. Whether it was a weird food obsession, a strangely intense rivalry, or a joke that started off low-key and exploded into a full-blown bit by season six, Brooklyn Nine-Nine knew how to keep viewers giggling while laying the foundation for even bigger payoffs later.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine running gags are a core part of why this precinct feels so familiar. The characters become more than just coworkers - they’re oddballs with quirks, you know, like old friends. And when a gag finally hits its punchline seasons later? It’s like a perfectly timed inside joke with your favorite squad.

So, let’s raid the Nine-Nine’s comedy file and take a look at ten of the best running gags that simmered on the back burner before exploding into glorious payoffs. These long game jokes are proof that Brooklyn Nine-Nine never missed a beat when it came to character-driven comedy.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

10 Brooklyn 99 running gags that took seasons to pay off

1) Jake’s “title of your s*x tape” joke

Jake’s signature quip - “Title of your s*x tape!” started as a goofy punchline in the early seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, usually thrown Amy’s way after she said something unintentionally suggestive. What made it brilliant was how often it came back, adapted, and escalated. Eventually, it wasn’t just Jake cracking the joke - Amy, Terry, and even Holt joined in. The gag became a weird little badge of closeness in the squad. It even showed up in Jake and Amy’s wedding vows, which felt like the punchline the joke had been working toward all along. That’s some sweet, suggestive symmetry!

2) The Pontiac Bandit saga

Doug Judy, the Pontiac Bandit himself, could’ve been a one-off. But instead, he became a recurring fixture in Brooklyn Nine-Nine who evolved from criminal to friend to something like Jake’s crime-solving soulmate. Their annual face-offs turned into tradition. Every Judy appearance followed a familiar formula: music, betrayal, a car chase, and somehow, an emotional moment. The payoff? In later seasons, their bond becomes so deep that Jake struggles to arrest him. A running gag that began with petty theft ended up exploring loyalty, gray morality, and the surprising depth of bromance. Who knew stolen cars could bring people together?

3) Holt’s balloon arch obsession

Captain Holt - master of stoicism is known for rarely cracking a smile in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. So when the show reveals his inexplicable love for balloon arches, it hits hard. What starts as a throwaway in a birthday episode becomes a recurring source of both laughs and warmth. Holt’s balloon arch critiques, preferences, and pride show up randomly but consistently, making each mention weirder and more delightful. By the time he unveils a meticulously designed arch for Rosa’s promotion, the joke has gone from silly quirk to wholesome character insight. It’s the softest rebellion Holt could’ve chosen.

4) Boyle’s culinary escapades

Charles Boyle treats food with more intensity than most people reserve for family. In early Brooklyn Nine-Nine seasons, it’s clear he loves cooking, but over time his obsession becomes increasingly wild. From offbeat meat blends to tasting menus that terrify even Jake, Boyle's gourmet lifestyle goes from charming to full on absurd. He’s casually making fermented squid mayo like it’s a Tuesday snack. This running gag keeps growing and morphing - once, he even wins a food blog award. But it all pays off in how deeply it defines him. Charles isn’t just a foodie, he’s a culinary daredevil.

5) Rosa’s secret life

Rosa Diaz is a vault. Early on, her mysterious persona is played mostly for laughs. No one knows what she does outside work, and she seems to like it that way. But the running gag of her secrecy becomes emotional currency later on in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Slowly, the show peels back her layers - she comes out as bisexual, opens up about her past, and even bonds with Amy over skincare. The joke matures with Rosa, paying off by showing there’s more to her than tough leather jackets and threats. What starts as a punchline grows into powerful character development.

6) Terry’s yogurt obsession

Sgt. Terry Jeffords is big, strong...and emotionally dependent on yogurt. From season one, Terry is shown casually spooning the stuff like it’s oxygen. But it doesn’t stop there. Over the seasons, yogurt becomes his personal comfort food, stress relief, and post-workout fuel. His fridge is stocked, his kids know the brand, and he even compares people to flavors. The gag gets callbacks in major moments - from breakdowns to briefings. Yogurt is more than a snack for Terry. It’s his emotional support dairy product, and frankly, it makes total sense for a man who lifts furniture for fun.

7) Gina’s random wisdom

Gina Linetti on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is chaos incarnate, often spouting nonsense like it’s gospel. But every now and then, she drops a bomb of insight that stuns the squad. This becomes a quiet gag - the unpredictability of her wisdom. Holt even starts taking her advice, and Jake once admits she’s “occasionally right.” Over time, it becomes clear that while Gina might sound like she’s talking out of her glittery scrunchie, she actually sees things from a totally unique lens. The pay-off? By the time she leaves the precinct, she’s basically a funky life coach.

8) Hitchcock and Scully’s glorious past

At first, Hitchcock and Scully are comic relief as the human couch cushions with a talent for napping and noshing. But several seasons in, we get flashbacks that reveal they were once young, fit, and wildly competent. This twist becomes a recurring bit, playing their current laziness against their action hero pasts. From undercover ops to wild shootouts, their history becomes an absurd juxtaposition that deepens the joke. The payoff is especially fun when they tap into that old fire just for a moment, before going back to arguing about wings. These two are proof that legends can age...just not gracefully.

9) Amy’s binder obsession

Amy Santiago is the human embodiment of a to-do list on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Her love for binders starts off small, organising stakeouts or team-building events, but it escalates fast. Soon, she has binders for every possible situation: disaster drills, wedding planning, and casual brunch. It becomes a quirky visual shorthand for her control freak tendencies. But the real payoff comes in later episodes where her binders save the day...literally. Whether it’s helping Holt through a crisis or navigating bureaucracy, Amy’s over-preparedness goes from gag to triumph - it’s nerdy, but it’s also kind of heroic.

10) Jake’s “Die Hard” obsession

Jake Peralta’s love for Die Hard isn’t just a one-time joke, it’s a defining trait. He quotes it, reenacts scenes, and once even climbs through a vent just to channel his inner John McClane. The gag is consistent, but its true payoff comes in multiple arcs, like when Jake meets Reginald VelJohnson (Carl Winslow) or when his real-life police work feels exactly like the movie. It’s the perfect blend of homage and obsession, and it makes Jake’s character feel both silly and strangely aspirational. Yippee-ki-yay, indeed!

The magic of Brooklyn Nine-Nine isn’t just in its one-liners or cold opens - it’s in the jokes that take their time. These long-running gags aren’t filler; they’re the comedy glue that holds the show together. Each one adds depth to a character, strengthens the bond between the squad, or simply makes the world of the Nine-Nine feel more lived in. By letting these jokes breathe and grow over time, Brooklyn Nine-Nine rewards fans not just with laughs but with storytelling that remembers where it started. Whether it's balloon arches, yogurt cups, or old-school binder organisation - the Nine-Nine never forgets!