# Gags through repetition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852 "2019-08-18T22:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/41 "2019-08-19T12:20:13Z")
Sgt. Schultz: I know _nothing._ ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/42 "2019-08-19T12:22:27Z")
[Stewart Lee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvHlD7Lg5x0) tackles this rather neatly (and of course pokes fun at his own style of delivery as he does so) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/43 "2019-08-19T12:24:46Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There’s a comedy sketch called [_Dinner for One_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinner_for_One), which is basically eight lines of dialogue repeated for 18 minutes. > > For some reason, it is (or was) extremely popular in Germany. I have now discovered that the way my family and many other Spanish families serve meals is “Russian style” and considered highly formal, although generally in our case no servants are involved. I’m feeling terribly posh. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/44 "2019-08-19T12:29:34Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > From Arrested Development… “Don’t call it that.” ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/45 "2019-08-19T13:45:00Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > “Don’t call it that.” _exaggerated chicken strutting_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/46 "2019-08-19T13:50:23Z")
**D’oh!** ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/47 "2019-08-19T14:17:42Z")
I have no idea how well it is known in the US, but The Fast Show consisted almost entirely of repetitions (and I’m not sure I needed that “almost”). For example the only thing that ever changed in a [Jesse’s Diets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPNLwnMoVoA) sketch was the single specific detail of what he had been eating. Then there’s the many editions of [Jazz Club](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsQYzpOHpik) with Louis Balfour - nice. And so on. And so on. j ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/48 "2019-08-19T15:34:31Z")
From _The Big Bang Theory_ - ‘That’s my spot.’ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/49 "2019-08-19T15:42:40Z")
“But that would be wrong.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/50 "2019-08-19T16:00:46Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > From _The Big Bang Theory_ - ‘That’s my spot.’ Knock_knock_knock (insert name here) Knock_knock_knock (insert name here) Knock_knock_knock (insert name here) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/51 "2019-08-19T16:09:48Z")
NORM!!! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/52 "2019-08-19T16:45:39Z")
There was a comedian years ago, whose act when I saw it (on HBO) consisted of him pretending to channel his mother. He repeated the following, over and over, for the full duration of the time I watched him. [ul][li]He was like a crazy person![/ul][/li][ul][li]You’ll put your eye out![/ul][/li][ul]We’re big pants people![/ul]Over and over and over. If it was intended to become humorous thru repetition, it didn’t work. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/53 "2019-08-19T17:49:11Z")
I’d buy that for a dollar! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/54 "2019-08-19T19:22:41Z")
I’m not sure if the OP is asking for running gags _per se_, or simply for lines repeated for comedic effect. \*Bull Durham \*is full of the latter: Crash: Timeout. [Walks to the mound] Hey! Why are you shaking me off? Huh? Nuke: I want to bring the heater. Announce my presence with authority. Crash: To announce your what? Nuke: Announce my presence with authority! Crash: To announce your fucking presence with authority?! Skip: You guys…you lollygag the ball around the infield! You lollygag your way down to first! You lollygag in and out of the dugout! Do you know what that makes you? Larry?! Larry: Lollygaggers! Skip: Lollygaggers! What’s our record, Larry? Larry: 8-16. Skip: 8-16…How did we ever win eight? Larry: It’s a miracle. Skip: It’s a miracle. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/55 "2019-08-19T20:00:05Z")
The old show “Get Smart” had a plethora of “catch phrases” > **[Maxwell Smart's Get Smart Catch Phrases, by Whatsits Galore.](https://whatsitsgalore.com/etc/catchphrase.html)** > > Would ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/56 "2019-08-19T20:23:53Z")
Old time radio: “Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamonga.” “Say Goodnight, Gracie.” ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/57 "2019-08-19T20:55:01Z")
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson had a number of great repeated (and repeated and repeated) gags such as [Secretariat the Dancing Horse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B-CCX4ff64&has_verified=1). ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/58 "2019-08-19T21:44:59Z")
The Big Lebowski does something like this. Throughout the film, The Dude repeats words and phrases that we’ve heard other characters use earlier - but the extra gag is that he invariably uses them incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/59 "2019-08-19T21:45:43Z")
Johnny Carson had some running gags such as Ed McMahon’s perceived love of beer or the number of Johnny’s marriages. One particular one was (Johnny addresses audience): It was so hot in New York today. (Audience): HOW HOT WAS IT? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/60 "2019-08-19T22:06:59Z")
_Laugh-In_ used this as a stock-in-trade. “Sock it to me.” “is that a chicken joke?” “Very interesting.” “One ringy dingy. Two ringy dingies…” “And that’s the truth. \” “Fickle finger of fate.” “Beautiful downtown Burbank.”" “Here comes the judge.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852.md?page=4)