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Running gags are repeated jokes or situations in entertainment, found in TV shows, books, comics, and movies. Examples include Leslie Neilson’s “Don’t call me Shirley” in Airplane! and The Noodle Incident in Calvin and Hobbes. Three’s Company had running gags involving Mr. Roper’s mistaken belief that Jack is gay and his habit of speaking directly to the camera.
In the broad field of entertainment, a running gag is a joke, situation, or joke that repeats itself. Running gags can also be linked to an event that has occurred previously. While the running gag is particularly associated with situation comedies, it is also found in other forms of entertainment such as books, comics, and movies.
The 1980 film, Airplane!, has Leslie Neilson’s character Dr. Rumack create a running gag with the line “Don’t call me Shirley.” For example, a character named Ted Striker says to Dr. Rumack, “Surely, you can’t be serious.” Dr. Rumack replies: “I mean it…and don’t call me Shirley.” The definitely/Shirley gag continues throughout the film. Striker tells Rumack, “Surely, there must be something you can do” and Rumack responds with, “I’m doing everything I can…and stop calling me Shirley!”
In the comic, Calvin and Hobbes, periodic references are made to The Noodle Incident during the latter part of the series. Readers must try to understand what the Incident actually is and what it means for Calvin’s character. For example, the reader may wonder if the Incident is related to the comic in which Calvin uses noodles for a school brain project when it is revealed that the Noodle Incident occurred at school.
One comic has Calvin worried that he might not get any presents from Santa due to The Noodle Incident. In another Calvin and Hobbes comic, the reader is told that a filter was part of the situation. The information in the clues, like The Noodle Incident gag, is very vague. The reader must rely on limited clues to try and understand the gag.
Three’s Company, the 1977-1984 situation comedy, had many running gags during its seven-year run. The main one is Mr. Roper who thinks Jack is gay even though the other main characters know he isn’t. Another running gag involving Mr. Roper is that he is the only character to speak directly to the camera, especially when he cracks a joke.
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