TV's 13 best cop comedies

From "The Andy Griffith Show" to "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," television has a fascination with sitcoms about police.

The Best Cop Comedies
Photo: Everett Collection; Fox; Comedy Central

When you think of cop shows, the traditional Law & Order procedurals come to mind, as well as reality shows like Cops. But there are also numerous police-oriented series that find a more comedic spin on the lives of the police. Actors like Colin Hanks, Andy Samberg, Niecy Nash, Jeremy Renner, and Andy Griffith have all picked up the badge over the years, with some far goofier than others.

Ahead, see our picks for the best of TV cop comedies through the years, from the quaint small-town struggles depicted on The Andy Griffith Show to the zany antics of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

01 of 13

The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)

The Andy Griffith Show (1960 – 1968)
Courtesy Everett Collection

Andy Griffith and Don Knotts star as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife, respectively.

02 of 13

Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–1963)

Car 54, Where Are You? (1961 – 1963)
Courtesy Everett Collection

Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynne star as Officer Gunther Toody and Officer Francis Muldoon, respectively.

03 of 13

Barney Miller (1975–1982)

Barney Miller (1975 –1982)
Courtesy Everett Collection

Ron Glass, Jack Soo, Gregory Sierra, Max Gail, Hal Linden, and Abe Vigoda star as Det. Ron Harris, Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana, Sgt. Miguel "Chano" Amanguale, Det. Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz, Capt. Barney Miller, and Sgt. Philip K. Fish, respectively.

04 of 13

Holmes & Yo-Yo (1976–1977)

Holmes & Yo-Yo (1976 – 1977)
Everett Collection

John Schuck and Richard Schull star as Gregory "Yoyo" Yoyonovich and Det. Alexander Holmes, respectively.

05 of 13

Police Squad! (1982)

Police Squad! (1982)
Paramount Television/Everett Collection

Kathryn Leigh Scott, Leslie Nielsen, and Alan North star as Sally Decker, Det. Frank Drebin, and Capt. Ed Hocken, respectively.

06 of 13

Sledge Hammer! (1986–1988)

Sledge Hammer! (1986 – 1988)
ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection

David Rasche stars as Inspector Sledge Hammer.

07 of 13

The Last Precinct (1986)

The Last Precinct (1986)
Stephen J. Cannell Productions/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ernie Hudson, Randi Brooks, Keenan Wynn, and Adam West star as Sergeant Lane, Officer Mel Brubaker, Butch, and Capt. Rick Wright, respectively.

08 of 13

Pacific Station (1991–1992)

Pacific Station (1991 – 1992)
Touchstone Television/Courtesy Everett Collection

Richard Libertini and Robert Guillaume star as Det. Richard Capparelli and Det. Bob Ballard, respectively.

09 of 13

Bakersfield P.D. (1993–1994)

Bakersfield P.D. (1993 – 1994)
Touchstone Television/Courtesy Everett Collection

Giancarlo Esposito, Jack Hallett, Brian Doyle-Murray, Tony Plana, Chris Mulkey, and Ron Eldard star as Det. Paul Gigante, Capt. Renny Stiles, Sgt. Bill Hampton, Luke Ramirez, Denny Boyer, and Det. Wade Preston, respectively.

10 of 13

Reno 911! (2003–2009)

Reno 911 (2003 – 2009)
Comedy Central

Cedric Yarbrough, Thomas Lennon, Niecy Nash, and Mary Birdsong star as Deputy S. Jones, Lt. Jim Dangle, Deputy Raineesha Williams, and Deputy Cherisha Kimball, respectively.

11 of 13

The Unusuals (2009)

The Unusuals (2009)
Patrick Harbron/ABC

Jeremy Renner stars as Det. Jason Walsh.

12 of 13

The Good Guys (2010)

The Good Guys (2010)
Bill Matlock/20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford star as Jack Bailey and Dan Stark, respectively.

13 of 13

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

Image
Scott Schafer/FOX

Chelsea Peretti, Joe Lo Truglio, Joel McKinnon Miller, Andre Braugher, Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, and Dirk Blocker star as Gina Linetti, Charles Boyle, Scully, Capt. Ray Holt, Jake Peralta, Terry Jeffords, Amy Santiago, Rosa Diaz, and Hitchcock, respectively.

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