10 running jokes in TV shows that outstayed their welcome

Running gags can be especially rewarding for audiences who stick with a TV show for a long time, but they also run the risk of becoming stale over time. The best running gags on TV can constantly be reinvented and remixed so they stay fresh for years, but it’s not easy. More often than not, audiences eventually tire of running jokes, causing the show to drop them before they overstay their welcome.

If a joke is not particularly funny the first time, there is a very small chance that it will make good material for a recurring gag. However, writers can sometimes seem determined to make a joke work, even if the audience is starting to get tired of it. In other cases, a running joke can start to feel uncomfortable as the times change. Even some of the funniest shows on television are prone to misjudging certain recurring gags.

10

Peter scrapes his knee

Family guy

Family guy Has no shortage of long running gags, and often makes fun of them by dragging them out. The show repeats some of its jokes to the point that they intentionally lose their spark, and then it keeps repeating them until the sheer audacity creates another level of humor. Family guyThe older seasons are especially good at this, and it helps that so many of the show’s jokes come out of nowhere.

Jokes like Peter fighting the chicken, the Conway Twitty interludes and the two vaudeville performers (“Play me off, Johnny”) all test the audience’s patience, but they tend to wrap up and become funny again. What’s different about Peter scraping his knee is that there’s no variation on the joke, and it’s already grossly long and boring to begin with. sometimes, The show uses the knee joke as a way to bring the plot to a grinding haltAnd that almost ruins some of it Family guys funniest episodes.

9

Sheldon’s signature door knock

The Big Bang Theory

Many of The Big Bang TheoryThe running jokes are based on the characters’ frequent references to pop culture, especially comic books and superheroes. There are others that reveal a lot about the characters, like the complex bureaucracy of the Roommate Agreement, and some jokes that are surprisingly clever, like the fact that the broken elevator facilitates many conversations between the characters when they go upstairs.

Sheldon’s strange habit of knocking on the door three times is one of his many character quirksBut it wears out pretty quickly. While other jokes, like Sheldon insisting on having his “place” on the couch, can develop in new ways, the beat rarely changes. The Big Bang Theory She eventually explains that Sheldon picked up his habit as a child when he walked in on his father with a strange woman in his bedroom. Young Sheldon shows this moment in its final season, but the woman in question turns out to be Sheldon’s mother in costume.

8

“We were on a break”

Friends

Ross and Rachel’s relationship in Friends Often forms the backbone of the show’s drama. Many of the show’s most shocking moments come about as a result of the dynamic between the pair, including Ross saying Rachel’s name during his wedding to Emily. however, Friends Also try to turn one of their biggest arguments into a running joke. Ross’ repeated screaming of “We were on a break” Gets a little uncomfortable.

While Friends Has some great running jokes, like Gunther’s love for Rachel or Ross being the favorite childThe “We were on a break” Jokes are less funny. Since the crux of the argument boils down to whether or not Ross cheated on Rachel, it’s odd that Friends Try to play this for laughs. The way Ross often shouts the catchphrase also makes it seem more aggressive, as if he’s trying to talk about Rachel’s perspective.

7

Bird Law

It’s always sunny in Philadelphia

Charlie seems to have a tenuous grip on reality at best, and his illiteracy doesn’t help him. Despite misreading words like “privateer” as “pirate,” Charlie convinces himself that he is an expert in “bird law,” which does not exist. This gives him the confidence to go toe-to-toe with a real lawyer, even though his filibuster proved unsuccessful. As Charlie says, bird law in America is not governed by reason. Neither does he.

Charlie’s musings on Bird Law provide a hilarious punch line in the season 8 episode “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century,” but it’s just not as funny when it keeps being brought up elsewhere. It’s always sunny Has developed many great running jokes over its long run, so it does not need to keep up bird law. The joke makes Charlie seem even weirder than usual, and there is no explanation as to where he gets his ideas about bird law.

6

Moe’s Suicidal Thoughts

The Simpsons

Although it is mostly considered healthy, There are a few jokes from the early years of The Simpsons Which can come across as problematic by today’s standards. The controversy surrounding Apu is the most high-profile case of The Simpsons They have to reckon with his past, but there are some other things that don’t age. One notable example is Moe’s constant suicidal thoughts, which were played for laughs in the early years of The Simpsons.

Not only is Moe often shown as depressed and lonely, The Simpsons Even showing that he is preparing to take his own life several times. The Simpsons Can be darker than the colorful cartoon facade suggests. It’s possible that the animation actually helps it get away with some of its risqué jokes, because it’s hard to imagine a live-action show making fun of a character trying to commit suicide, while still retaining a family. -Friendly reputation. Moe is one of the best side characters in The SimpsonsEven since the show has dropped the jokes about his depression.

5

Tobias being a never-naked

Arrested development

Arrested development is one of the best sitcoms for running jokesEspecially during its first three seasons. The show’s complex writing manages to reinvent the running jokes and stack them on top of one another in increasingly creative ways. From the recycled musical clues to the iconic chicken dance, Arrested development Turned running jokes into an art form. Many of the show’s best episodes are built around recurring jokes, like the way Gene Parmesan keeps appearing in “¡Amigos!”

But, of all Arrested developments great jokes, there are a couple that are more controversial. The potential incest plot between George Michael and Maeby definitely makes for some uncomfortable viewing at times, but Tobias’ ‘never-naked’ persona is even weirder. Although Arrested developmentThe Bluth family is filled with funny balm, the never-naked joke has no basis in reality. Tobias is funny and funny enough without it. The fact that he finds a community of similar people is even harder to explain.

4

Lorelai and Rory’s obsession with coffee

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is characterized by his fast-talking style of comedy, and Lorelai and Rory’s bond is so close that they practically develop their own language with each other. Fueling this blistering gear requires a lot of coffee, so the duo can often be seen at Luke’s. Although coffee is clearly one of the things the mother and daughter bond over, some of their quotes about it can come across as cringeworthy.

The joke about Lorelai and Rory loving coffee has no legs, and their catchphrases get old very quickly.. While it’s nice to see them share an interest, and the coffee is a convenient way to keep Luke close to the action in the early seasons, Rory and Lorelai are both far too interesting to be constantly trading quips about their caffeine addictions. Thankfully, the show’s breakneck pace means it tends to move on before it lingers on the subject for too long.

3

Chang’s Changuage

Ben Chang is the unpredictable livewire who keeps everyone at Greendale Community College on their toes. He starts out as a Spanish professor, but he sticks around in many guises, becoming a janitor, a student, and a wannabe Napoleon-style autocrat. No matter what, he always has the habit of replacing some words with his own surname. This seems to be the only facet of his personality that he remembers when he has “changenesia”.

The Changeage joke is the exact same joke as Dean Pelton’s use of the word “Dean”. The difference is that Dean Pelton is flamboyant and theatrical enough to pass this off as another element of his great daily performance, while Chang’s version is purely unclear. Jeff is often the only character who calls Chang out on this. Ken Jeong is set to return for the Community movie, so his character may still have a change of heart.

2

Gina is creepy to Terry

Brooklyn no-no

Before Chelsea Peretti left Brooklyn no-no, Gina was one of the show’s most divisive characters. She is the only one of the main characters who is not a police officer, and that means she brings a different dynamic to the show. She also has one of the loudest personalities. Not everyone can get on board with Gina. One of the things fans have often criticized about Gina’s character is her repeated inappropriate comments about Terry, played by Terry Crews.

Gina’s sexual comments about Terry are uncomfortable for many reasons. Not only is he clearly not reciprocating her attention, but he is also a happily married man, not to mention one of her coworkers. Gina’s comments about Terry weren’t meant as anything more than jokes, however The fact that she keeps making these jokes when he’s clearly uncomfortable about them is a little creepy. Terry is a kind-hearted man who should be left to eat his yogurt in peace.

1

Bob Saccamano

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is great for running gags, and the character-specific jokes are more akin to real life. For example, Jerry’s use of “This is a shame” Or from Elaine – Get out! The jokes contribute to the language of the show, but they also help to differentiate the characters in fun ways. Kramer is the most distinctive of them all, partly because of the running jokes he has, like his passionate obsession with fresh fruit and his business schemes that inevitably capitulate.

One of Kramer’s running jokes that fizzles out a bit is his frequent references to Bob Sacamano, a friend of his who is often mentioned but never seen. Kramer always has a story about Bob that he uses to pass on some deep wisdom that actually makes no sense. Bob clearly leads a varied life, as he has several botched surgeries, and jobs as a condom factory worker and a hat salesman. Since Bob is never seen, the stories are all fairly meaningless.