TL;DR: Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a rare beast: a workplace comedy that is genuinely hilarious, deeply inclusive, and somehow manages to be "wholesome" despite a constant stream of sexual innuendo. It’s generally safe for the 12+ crowd, though savvy 10-year-olds can handle it if you're okay with them hearing the word "sextant" and thinking it's a sex joke.
Quick Links for the "Is this okay?" Parent:
- The Vibe: Workplace comedies for families
- The Comparison: Brooklyn Nine-Nine vs. The Office
- The Next Binge: Abbott Elementary or Parks and Recreation
If you’ve missed the boat on this one, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a half-hour sitcom centered on the 99th precinct of the NYPD. It stars Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, a talented but immature detective who treats life like an 80s action movie. He’s joined by a cast of characters that feel like a real family—albeit a very dysfunctional, high-achieving one.
Unlike the "gritty" police procedurals we grew up with (looking at you, Law & Order), this is a comedy first. It’s fast-paced, heavy on the "cold opens" (the 2-minute jokes before the credits), and relies on character growth rather than mean-spirited humor.
In a world of Skibidi Toilet and 15-second TikTok loops that feel like brain rot, Brooklyn Nine-Nine offers something different: actual cleverness.
Tweens love it because:
- The Slapstick: Jake Peralta’s physical comedy is top-tier.
- The Memes: From "Noice" to "Toit" to the "I Want It That Way" lineup scene, the show is basically a factory for internet culture.
- The Heists: Every season has a "Halloween Heist" episode. They are intricate, competitive, and genuinely exciting to watch.
- The Relationships: The "will-they-won't-they" between Jake and Amy is handled with way more maturity and sweetness than most sitcom romances.
Let’s get into the "No-BS" part of the guide. This show is rated TV-14, but in the hierarchy of TV-14, it’s much "cleaner" than something like Family Guy or even The Office.
The Innuendo (The "Title of Your Sex Tape" jokes)
This is the show’s calling card. Jake has a running gag where he takes a mundane sentence someone says and says, "Title of your sex tape."
- Example: Amy says, "I'm just not sure I can go that fast." Jake: "Title of your sex tape!" It’s constant. If you are strictly "no sex talk" in your house, this show will be a nightmare for you. However, the jokes are almost always about the phrase and rarely get into graphic territory.
Language
You’ll hear "hell," "damn," "ass," and the occasional "bitch." In later seasons (when the show moved to NBC and eventually hit streaming), they started using "bleeps" for comedic effect on harder profanity. It’s rarely aggressive; it’s usually used for punchlines.
Violence
It’s a cop show, so there are guns. There are foot chases and the occasional shootout, but it’s very "TV violence." You rarely see blood, and the stakes usually feel more like a puzzle to be solved than a life-or-death tragedy.
Social Issues and "Copaganda"
We have to talk about this because your kids might. For most of its run, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a "feel-good" cop show. However, following the 2020 protests, the show-runners took a hard look at their portrayal of the police. The final season (Season 8) deals very directly with police corruption, racial profiling, and the ethics of being a "good cop" in a broken system. Some parents might find it "too woke," while others will find it a necessary and responsible way to end the series.
Check out our guide on talking to kids about social justice in media
Ages 0-9: Probably skip it.
Not because it’s "evil," but because the humor will go right over their heads. They’ll be bored by the precinct politics and you’ll spend the whole time explaining why "Title of your sex tape" isn't something they should say to their teacher.
Ages 10-12: The "Co-Watch" Zone.
This is a great age to start if you’re watching with them. You can gauge their reaction to the mature themes. It’s a great bridge between "kid content" and "adult content."
- Pro-tip: Start with the "Halloween Heist" episodes. If they love those, they’ll love the series.
Ages 13+: Green Light.
At this point, they’ve heard worse in the school hallway. The show’s positive messages about friendship, loyalty, and diversity far outweigh the "sex tape" jokes.
At Screenwise, we look for "intentional" media. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is intentional.
- Positive Masculinity: Terry Jeffords (played by Terry Crews) is a massive, muscular man who loves yogurt, loves his daughters, and isn't afraid to be vulnerable. Jake Peralta grows from a guy who avoids feelings to a supportive partner and father.
- LGBTQ+ Representation: Captain Holt is a gay Black man in a position of authority. His sexuality is a part of his character, but not his entire character. The show handles his relationship with his husband, Kevin, with total normalcy and respect. Later, Rosa Diaz comes out as bisexual, and the show handles her family's reaction with heartbreaking realism.
- Work Ethic: Believe it or not, these characters actually work. Amy Santiago’s obsession with binders and organization makes "being a nerd" and "trying hard" look cool.
If you decide to let your kid binge the 99, use it as a jumping-off point for some real conversations:
- "What makes a joke funny vs. offensive?" Talk about how the squad teases each other without being bullies.
- "What do you think about how they handle the police stuff?" Especially in the later seasons, ask them if they think the show is being fair to the real-world issues.
- "Who is your favorite character and why?" (If they say "The Vulture," you might want to keep an eye on them—he’s the resident jerk).
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a "Noice" choice. It’s one of the few shows that a 35-year-old parent and a 13-year-old kid can genuinely enjoy together without one of them being bored or the other being traumatized.
It’s smart, it’s fast, and it has a huge heart. Just be prepared for your kid to start shouting "Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, no doubt, no doubt" every time you ask them to do the dishes.
Next Steps:
- If they finish B99, try Superstore (similar workplace vibes, slightly more cynical).
- For something more "educational" but still funny, check out The Good Place.
- Want to know if your kid's friends are watching this? Check our community data on trending shows for middle schoolers
