# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/81 "2019-08-20T05:46:13Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > No, no. The Family Guy one has got to be this… > [https://youtu.be/U5Hbh3HDekM](https://youtu.be/U5Hbh3HDekM) Or the chicken battle. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/82 "2019-08-20T05:59:39Z")
_Last Week Tonight_ has a few good ones: [Janice from Accounting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8HpQZUF2OY) AT&T Business Daddy Gay Marlon Bundo Stupid Watergate #Feminism I could go on. And now, this… ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/83 "2019-08-20T06:15:44Z")
_Mr. Show_ was always great at this concept, but nowhere more so than the skit called [The Story of Everest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ks4vqtoZ4&frags=pl%2Cwn). I adore every second of every episode of Bob & David (for younger people, that’s Bob Odenkirk, before he was Saul Goodman, and David Cross) but _The Story of Everest_ has me HOWLING every. single. time. No matter how many times I watch it, and how much I KNOW exactly what is going to happen every time, I still laugh my ass off. Jay Johnson, one of the more minor supporting players of the regular cast, had a rare “lead” role in that sketch, and he absolutely knocked it out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/84 "2019-08-20T14:17:37Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > No, no. The Family Guy one has got to be this… > [https://youtu.be/U5Hbh3HDekM](https://youtu.be/U5Hbh3HDekM) That is one of Seth McFarland’s signature moves: **It’s not that funny for three seconds, but for three hundred?** The first time I saw it used was when a character (Alexander Graham Bell?) said “Well, I could certainly use a distraction. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty.” And they cut away to a vintage performance of the Pompadour of Love himself. [Here’s a perfect example.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6cnQA17xIw) I dare you to watch the whole thing. You think “Well, that was clever, I wonder what Lois is going to… wait, they’re not cutting back. It’s still Conway. [go to kitchen, get a beer] Well, this should be getting funny about now… [go to bathroom, dispose of beer] Oh, heck, might as well watch. Geez… It’s been, what, _four_ minutes of Conway Frickin’ Twitty?!?” The Pompadour of Love… just made that up. ©2019 digs … and the legal department of Sun-Times Media, LLC., 30 N. Racine Ave, Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois 60607 ---
**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 20, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/85 "2019-08-20T14:56:02Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > From the Addams Family: > > “You rang?” > “Follow me.” > “Tish! You spoke French!” > “I’ll shoot 'em in the back!” “Thank you, Thing.” Lurch groaning The decor of the Addams’s living room – the shark with the leg in it, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/86 "2019-08-20T17:04:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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? Also, in every Teatime Movie bit, the audience was trained go to the Slauson Cutoff and Audience: Cut off your Slauson. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/87 "2019-08-20T17:22:25Z")
This was a joke where only one particular word was used repeatedly, but it was a great build up to a hilarious payoff (IMO… others may just groan.) NewsRadio did an episode called “NewsRadio in Space” where the idea was that the episode took place on a space station instead of a radio station. So, throughout the episode, common objects are constantly prefixed with the word “space” – space pliers, space porn, etc. It becomes a running gag. Then later in the episode, Dave and Lisa are having a conversation about moving in together. Dave suggests she move in with him. Lisa: I don’t want to move into your place. Besides, your apartment is always so cold. Dave: Then I’ll buy a space heater. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/88 "2019-08-20T17:47:07Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > “Pitter patter, let’s get at 'er.” Yep. That whole damned show. Even the running gags have running gags. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/89 "2019-08-20T23:27:30Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > [“What does a yellow light mean?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvmtbZzA40) Check out OP. 😉 More Python - “Albatross!” ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/90 "2019-08-20T23:34:56Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition! Don’t know if the above line was ever said( I think it was “a kind of” instead of “the”), but one of my favorite Jeopardy fails is this…The answer being — 5 word line that follows "I didn’t expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition."The contestant buzzes in and triumphantly announces , (with arm raised and a sly know-it-all smile) “What is “no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!”” Alex just says “No”. Her look goes from :cool: to :confused: in a hurry. ---
**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 20, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/91 "2019-08-20T23:57:36Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Don’t know if the above line was ever said( I think it was “a kind of” instead of “the”), but one of my favorite Jeopardy fails is this…The answer being — 5 word line that follows "I didn’t expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition."The contestant buzzes in and triumphantly announces , (with arm raised and a sly know-it-all smile) “What is “no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!”” Alex just says “No”. > > Her look goes from :cool: to :confused: in a hurry. It was said both ways, as this video will attest: > **[Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! - video Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsefeg)** > > Watch Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! - Wonaeamirri33 on Dailymotion ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/92 "2019-08-21T00:15:32Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > While one could debate the comedic merits of the repeated f-bombs, the scene itself was not intended to be funny. I’m looking for more in the humorous direction. In the context of the show, I’m like 100% certain it’s intended to be funny. Deeply gallows humor, sure, mixed with horror, but the comedy was absolutely intended. You don’t write five minutes of “fuck” dialogue without giggling. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/93 "2019-08-21T00:24:48Z")
We were on a BREAK! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/94 "2019-08-21T00:41:59Z")
The Beverly Hillbillies had a lot of running gags Granny and the Moonshine Graduated the 6th grade Ellie Mae is an old Maid Cement Pond Revenuers Fancy Eating Room and the BILL-EEE-ARD table Jethro and his massive appetite Miss Jane and her crush on Jethro “Some day I got to have a long talk with that boy” Mr Drysdale try to keep his wife from the Clampetts Ellie Mae and her love of animals (Cousin Bessie the Chimp) Granny and her down home cooking and many more ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/95 "2019-08-21T00:57:26Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > It was said both ways, as this video will attest: > > [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsefeg](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsefeg) Didn’t watch the video, but in the context of the question it is clearly wrong. ---
**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 21, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/96 "2019-08-21T01:00:16Z")
**_Green Acres_:** “Oliver!” “Oh, fer…” “You _don’t_ have a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_?!?” “Ze little plants shoosting up into ze sky…” Mr Kimble’s rambling. Ebb’s rambling. Arnold the Pig grunting in seven languages. Mr & Mrs Ziffel treating Arnold as their son. Lisa’s cooking skills (or lack of them). Ralph and Alf Monroe (one of whom was a woman). The \*remont \*that was never completed. The phone at the top of the pole. The overloaded electrical system. ---
**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 21, 2019, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/97 "2019-08-21T01:03:02Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Didn’t watch the video, but in the context of the question it is clearly wrong. Her response was wrong because in all instances the line is “\*Nobody \*expects the Spanish Inquisition!” “Nobody,” not “no one.” Anyway, “no one” would make it six words, not five. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/98 "2019-08-21T01:35:10Z")
I know…that is what my point is. ---
**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 21, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/99 "2019-08-21T02:00:49Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I know…that is what my point is. You have a point? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852/100 "2019-08-21T02:03:05Z")
guess not :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gags-through-repetition/838852.md?page=6)