The Beauty of A Running Gag
A running gag, also known as a running joke, is defined as a literary device that takes the form of an amusing antic or reference while traipsing through a work of literature. To me, I think it’s one of the most sophisticated signs of good storytelling. This is mainly because it proves so brilliantly to an audience how well the writer knows, understands, and perceives his or her (their) character. I often advise my students to spend inordinate amounts of time befriending their characters because I am quite convinced when that kind of work is done in developing one’s protagonist, a script will almost write and right itself. With insight into their uniqueness, a character will never voice anything “out of character”, and an audience will develop an affinity for a character by being able to anticipate what they might say next. Television, particularly television sitcoms, gives writers the space to organically develop their characters while insuring that personalities pop and resonate over multiple seasons. If we look back on some of the classic and most memorable television shows, invariably, they have a running gag that helps make characters endearing and relatable long into repeats and syndication.
Case in point, the lovable and sometimes clueless, Phil Dunphy, from Modern Family. The writing is so sharp and considerate on that show with each of the principal characters developed so seamlessly, they seem to represent the average family so well (not to mention most of the exteriors were shot in The Palisades, making things familiar for this avid viewer). Even though their family structure is anything but average, Phil feels so representational of so many husbands across the American landscape, facing the same day to day concerns. Phil is such a likable dad/husband/realtor that it’s not even remotely offensive but completely comedic the way he worships his “mother in law” Gloria for her obvious beauty and physical attributes. One of the running gags attributed to that character even stems from his relationship with Gloria. Any time Gloria is challenged as in physically by her husband’s lunatic ex-wife, Dee Dee, Phil is front and center with his catchphrase (which is similar to a running gag) “I got Gloria” before proceeding to protect her. His most notable and relatable running gag ironically finds him running as in up and down the stairs where he invariably trips or is slowed by a broken, uneven piece of wood to which he responds, “Gotta fix that step!” Almost every member of his family has fallen victim to his disinterest in both carpentry or calling a carpenter to do what he can’t!
To be honest, until Michael Scott from the incomparable The Office, hit the scene, I had no idea what “That’s what she said” was all about or if that joke was born from him! So well sewn into the humor that emanated from that dimwitted character was that running gag of “That’s what she said!” that the character, Dwight, was able to recount it, much to Michael’s dismay, when he was seriously concussed after a car accident. The running gag played most beautifully in Michael’s romantic relationship with his unhinged, dictatorial boss cum lover, Jan. Before they are intimate, he is called to the mat by her and another superior where he can’t resist saying it even though they are attempting to dissuade him from unprofessional behavior as the office’s superior. When Jan and Michael become lovers and are forced to mediate with the company, Dundler Mifflin, as a result of Jan’s lawsuit regarding her unlawful termination, the phrase is used during testimony by Michael, which confuses counsel. And, in my opinion, this running gag hits its all time high when Jan and Michael host the dinner party from hell and he responds to her pre break up with an angry rendition of his beloved phrase.
Joey from Friends had “How you doin’” to keep audiences entertained for ten seasons and spoke to the character’s healthy sex drive and interest in the opposite sex. The Simpsons had funny bits that circled around their couch, which is more of a running visual gag, changing from episode to episode. Jack Tripper on Three’s Company had visual gags that would not be acceptable by today’s standards as to how he presented as a gay man when he wasn’t. Full House had Uncle Jesse needing to say “Have Mercy” when struck by something interesting or attractive. A far heavier Josh Peck said, “hug me, brother!” on Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh before getting a lot more mileage out of the phrase in David Dobrik’s vlogs via YouTube. Parks And Recreation got a laugh out of the character Ron constantly wearing a red shirt a day after coitus and speaking of coitus, who can forget Sheldon Cooper teaching much of America a word that almost sounded like a euphemism for sex, his need for three knocks on a closed door, or his quirky oversharing of a bathroom schedule for bowel movements?
By far, my favorite show for running gags would have to be Arrested Development. The way the entire Bluth family would employ the simplest of running gags with the word “Her?” got me every time. It was their collective way of questioning why one character was attracted to a woman the rest of the family might not consider worthy of romantic interest or entanglement. “No touching” had a run when the patriarch George Bluth was incarcerated and the chicken dance played perfectly for comedic effect and was employed when one member of the family feared trying something new and the rest of the Bluths were around to make him feel foolish.
Ah, the running gag. It’s a very powerful yet subtle device that writers take for granted and often ignore when penning their masterpieces. But, I truly feel, if you know your characters inside and out, a running gag will find its way organically into the writing of a truly inspired script. A running gag proves to an audience that you know your character as well as they want you to or else why did Kenny need to die in almost every episode of South Park if it wasn’t working?