HRWiki:Running gag

From Homestar Runner Wiki

A WikiProject to discover (or rediscover) the definition of a running gag, and what to do with topic-unifying articles that aren't.

A running gag may have several definitions and requirements:

• A running gag is an amusing situation or line that constantly reappears throughout the site. Often the repetition of the running gag is exactly what makes it so humorous.

• A running gag is like an inside joke, only bigger in scope.
  • Its appearances are connected or may refer to its previous appearances.
  • There may be an underlying trigger that kicks off the joke and future appearances of it.
  • It has to be the same joke, or similar enough in premise.

• A running gag is a simple comedic element that recurs.

• An inside joke is something that's not funny unless one knows what it's referring to. A running gag is something that's funny per se, but is funnier if one knows it's been done many times before on the site.