14 Recurring Gags That Crack Us Up Every Time

You’d think hearing the same joke over and over again would eventually get old. And without careful handling and proper timing, they would certainly do, and yet the greatest movies and sitcoms have a way of making us laugh with what seems to be the same old move.

What we’ve gathered here are just some of the best recurring gags from both movies and TV shows, at least according to us. After all, humor is subjective, so your mileage may vary. But you’ve got to admit that at least some of these still give you a chuckle.

Slap Bet, How I Met Your Mother

The famous bet between Marshall and Barney became one of the greatest recurring jokes in television history. Knowing that Marshall had 5 surprise slaps ready to unleash on his friend kept audiences laughing for seasons.

Kenny Dying in Every Possible Way, South Park

Kenny McCormick meets his doom in bizarre ways episode after episode. Following up his sudden deaths with Stan and Kyle yelling their iconic catchphrase never gets old, especially since Kenny always manages to return perfectly fine.

Troy and Abed’s Morning Show, Community

Parodying ordinary morning shows, these 2 roommates host a cheerfully upbeat program complete with personalized mugs and a rotating guest. The fact that they are broadcasting to an entirely imaginary audience just makes it funnier.

My Cabbages, Avatar The Last Airbender

Introduced in an early episode, the poor traveling merchant simply wants to sell his produce. Having Aang and his friends repeatedly destroy his cart while he screams out in agony remains an absolutely timeless animated gag.

Jim’s Elaborate Pranks on Dwight, The Office

Throughout 9 years of rivalry, Jim Halpert engages in an endless litany of incredible pranks. From conditioning Dwight with Altoids to putting his belongings inside a vending machine, the sheer dedication to annoying him is amazing.

Kramer’s Dramatic Entrances, Seinfeld

Cosmo Kramer abruptly sliding through Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment doorway at completely unexpected times is an iconic piece of physical comedy. The wild variations and pure slapstick energy turn a simple entrance into a legendary television joke.

Frank Reynolds Appearing in Bizarre Places, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

This erratic character has a hilarious habit of suddenly emerging from the most unexpected and weird locations imaginable. Seeing him crawl out of weird hiding spots to surprise the rest of the gang never stops being funny.

Holt’s Complete Lack of Emotional Expression, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The extremely stoic police captain delivers absolutely deadpan reactions to the most chaotic situations imaginable. Trying to guess whether he is feeling intense joy or devastating sadness based on his completely blank face is always wonderful.

Ron Swanson’s Love of Breakfast, Parks and Recreation

This rugged parks director firmly believes there is no sadness that cannot be cured by a massive plate of breakfast food. His willingness to take a free breakfast buffet anytime and anywhere perfectly defines his character.

Howard’s Mother Never Being Seen, The Big Bang Theory

Simon Helberg plays Howard, a scientist whose incredibly loud and overbearing mother yells at him constantly from offscreen. Hearing their chaotic arguments echo through the house without ever actually seeing her face is a brilliant choice.

Colin Robinson Draining People’s Energy, What We Do in the Shadows

While his roommates Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja drink blood, Colin Robinson is an energy vampire. Watching him intentionally bore ordinary office workers with dull conversations to feed on their sheer exhaustion is a fantastic comedic concept.

Kenneth’s Apparent Immortality, 30 Rock

Played by Jack McBrayer, this overly cheerful television page drops constant, confusing hints about his actual age. The subtle clues suggesting he has somehow been alive for centuries make him the weirdest breakout character on television.

Marty Being Called Chicken, Back to the Future

Whenever this time-traveling high school student hears someone question his bravery, he completely loses his temper. Watching him throw logic away and risk history just because somebody used a specific word is a fantastic character flaw.

We Were on a Break, Friends

The endless debate over relationship technicalities followed these 2 characters for years. Screaming this exact defensive phrase at the most inappropriate moments became the ultimate defining argument of the entire famous sitcom.