Running gag

A joke or comic motif that recurs across a work or series, gaining humor through repetition, variation, or recognition.

Repetition comedy: Humor produced by repeating words, actions, images, or situations. A running gag is a recurring form of comedy built on repetition.
The Simpsons: An American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and broadcast since 1989. Its recurring jokes include the couch gag at the start of many episodes.
Callback (comedy): A joke that draws humor from referring to an earlier joke or moment. A callback may occur only once, whereas a running gag is defined by recurrence.
Audience participation: The active involvement of an audience in a performance or cultural work. Familiar gags can prompt audiences to anticipate or echo their next appearance.
Comic timing: The timing and pacing that shape the effect of a joke or comic action. A gag’s return depends on when it appears, not only on what repeats.
The Muppet Show: A television variety show featuring Jim Henson’s Muppets, originally broadcast from 1976 to 1981. Recurring backstage disasters and character routines create gags across episodes.
Inside joke: A joke whose humor depends on shared knowledge within a particular group. A running gag can be understood by an audience without private group knowledge.
Characterization: The methods by which a narrative presents and develops characters. A recurring habit can reveal a character’s temperament more efficiently than exposition.
Callback: A joke that refers back to an earlier joke, event, or detail. Callbacks can turn a prior gag into a later punchline.
Monty Python's Flying Circus: A British sketch-comedy television series created by the Monty Python troupe. Recurring figures and absurd motifs connect sketches beyond conventional punchlines.

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