History RunningGag / WesternAnimation

* There's a running gag in the series ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', regarding faithful sidekick Ron Stoppable's [[ComedicUnderwearExposure disappearing pants]]. They regularly get slashed open or pulled off of him, exposing his [[GoofyPrintUnderwear rather colorful collection of boxer shorts]]. There's even been some LampshadeHanging on it; in "Showdown at the 'Crooked D'", when confronted with the fact, he claims it's only happened "six or eight times;" in "Exchange", when it happens once again, Ron bemoans his misfortune with a "Oh, man! Even in Japan!"
** This itself is almost becoming a running gag; in the episode "Ill Suited", his reaction is "Oh, man! Even as a senior!" This however was lampshaded and solved in Season 4 as Wade made an unbreakable titanium {{phlebotinum}} belt for Kim to give Ron.
** In "Clean Slate", where Kim gave Ron the belt, he later used the belt to close a steam pipe, thus making his pants fall down again.
** Which culminated in a montage of previous falling-pants incidents, as Kim (who was suffering from EasyAmnesia at the time) finally remembered her relationship with Ron, and declared "I love you" to him for the first time. [[Heartwarming/KimPossible Crowning Moment Of Heartwarming]]? Yeah.
** Without exception, at least once each recurring villain from the RoguesGallery in ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' has forgotten Ron's name. Senior Sr. and Monkey Fist remember his name a bit better than everyone else, however Dementor and Dr. Drakken have NEVER remembered his name.
** Ron himself commented on this in one episode, speaking to Monkey Fist: "You know, you're the only bad guy who ever remembers my name. I respect that."
** Whatever the plot-relevant class, sport, or administrative duty is, Mr. Barkin will be covering it today as [[TwoTeacherSchool the regular teacher is unavailable]].
** In the first season, upon seeing an enormous obstacle/opponent that they would have to face, Ron would often exclaim:
--> '''Ron:''' "That would be so ''cool'' if it wasn't gonna hurt us!"
** Ron being 'micro chipped' by Wade.
** The number of {{Almost Kiss}}es between Kim and Ron became a gag in Season 4. However, if you're a K/R fan, you might see it as a MomentKiller.
** Motor Ed's verbal tic. Seriously.
** After "Rappin' Drakken", that plan's horrific failure becomes a running gag that spans Season 4 -- mostly via Shego's snark or someone only remembering him because of the shampoo. It was even what lead to Drakken being freed from prison by Warmonga who caught the transmission and thought he was the Great Blue. This culminates in him being able to easily put together a Mass Hypnosis plan because "there was plenty of the mind control shampoo left over."
** Several episodes, particularly the ones with two shorts that were more humor related instead of one full story, have the running gag of Kim getting stuck with the worst luck or having a much harder time dealing with something while Ron skates through the sitch with good luck and a total lack of interest. This includes Ron being bumped up to first class on a commercial flight -- twice -- while Kim is stuck in coach (Ron has the decency to try to pretend it wasn't awesome, though he fails), Kim being totally blindsided and humiliated by having the tell the truth all the time while it makes Ron instantly popular, Ron bonding with an overgrown roach monster while Kim is so grossed out she constantly freaks out (after telling Ron not to worry about bugs, no less), both episodes that focus on Felix and the first half of "Sick Day".
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Peggy's tenuous grasp of the Spanish language, especially her pronunciation.

* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Peter blowing off the front of Cleveland's house while he's in the tub (causing the tub to fall off the second floor into the front yard as Cleveland yells "No no no no no noooo!"), Joe re-gaining the ability to walk and instantly becoming crippled, Peter's spontaneous battles with a giant chicken, the evil monkey in Chris's closet (Though this one has been resolved).
** In an in-episode example ("To Love And Die In Dixie") Peter is attacked by a raccoon at increasingly random times.
** The Vaudeville duo "Play me off..." (also resolved), Giggity Giggity, and Stewie talking to Brian about the book he is writing in a high pitched voice are other examples.
** Consuela the maid's "No,...no...", and "more Lemon Pledge"
** "[indrawn hiss]...aaaahhhh...[indrawn hiss]...aaaahhhh..."
** Every time Peter asks if someone has heard, the person says "Heard what?" Peter then proceeds to sing the lyrics to "Surfin' Bird" to an annoying degree. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in one episode where Peter loses his memory and turns on a jukebox that plays the song, but Peter unplugs it and says the song is annoying.
** Similar to ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' example below where Groundskeeper Willie keeps getting axed in the back, in the episode "Three Kings", which is three short segments parodying Creator/StephenKing stories, whatever character Joe portrays will always start with the ability to walk, but will have his legs crippled sometime before the end of the segment.
** The Kool-Aid Man breaking through the wall of a courtroom like he does in the 1970s-80s TV commercials whenever a number of people say "Oh, no!" (The drink-mix mascot also makes cameo appearances in other episodes, including one in which he witnesses something else break through a wall and realizes that it can be annoying.)
** Episodes in Seasons 4 through 8 would often feature some non-human creature having a case of VocalDissonance in the form of having Bruce's voice. These included Franchise/{{Jaws}}, a giant bee, the Franchise/{{Alien}} queen, and a giant rat.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''.
** Timmy's parents often ask him where he got a particular item that he has acquired by wish. Timmy replies, [[BlatantLies "uuuhh...internet?"]].
*** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in an episode where this exchange occurs, followed by Dad asking, "and where did you get the Internet?" to which Timmy couldn't respond anything in time, and made his Dad faint because he became suspicious that Timmy was involved in robbery.
*** When Timmy gets suddenly rich: "Internet... Inheritance... [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs I, uh, inherited the internet!]]"
** When someone brings up [[NoodleIncident Super Toilet]], followed by Cosmo freaking out and yelling "So. much. CLOGGING!!".
** A character's parent knocking on their offspring's door, followed up by the parent saying that while they respect their offspring's privacy by knocking, they're asserting their authority as their mother/father by coming in anyway, and the parent smashing the door down with a pillar.
** [[BerserkButton "FAIRY GODPARENTS!"]], complete with [[WildTake insanely hilarious spasms]]. [[EvilTeacher Mr. Crocker]] is bound to have a fairy-related spasm sooner or later in any episode he appears in.
** Although, in one episode where Timmy wishes himself out of existence, we get to see Crocker as he would have been if not driven fairy-mad. He is seen as a highly appreciated philosophy teacher, yet still spasms as he says "EXISTENTIALISM!"
** ''Timmy'' spasming in Crocker's DayInTheLimelight special when he finds out that Crocker had fairies as a kid, immediately followed by him asking his fairies to hit him if he ever did that again. He does, they do.
** When Timmy wishes the present was the space-age future that people in the 60s-80s predicted it to become, Crocker becomes a muscular janitor convinced that [[RobotWar robots will revolt against humanity]] and spasms "ROBOTS ARE EVIL!"
** Every single episode in this show has its own running gag!
** Several very common ones often appear:
*** "Dinkleberg!"
*** "Curse you X!"
*** "Yay X!"
** Mr. Turner's obsession with eggnog.
** "Pipe Down!" has a gag where people yell so loudly that their clothes burst right off of them.
** Another Creator/ButchHartman series, ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'' as well as WesternAnimation/BunsenIsABeast, has some running gags, too. Running gags are apparently Butch's bread and butter for his comedy shows.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''
** Whenever Archer suspects Lana to have feelings for him, he feels compelled to inform her that she has entered the '''DAAAYNJA ZOOOONE'''.
** Archer trying to get someone (usually Lana) who is evidently and purposely ignoring him to respond to a minor comment he's just made:
--->'''Archer''': Lana.
--->'''Lana''': ''*Pointedly ignoring him*''
--->'''Archer''' ''(more firmly)'': LANA.
--->'''Lana''': ''*Still ignoring him*''
--->'''Archer''' ''(screaming)'': '''LAAAAANNAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'''
--->'''Lana''' ''(exasperated)'': WHAT?!
--->'''Archer''' ''(in a normal voice)'': ''Danger Zone!''
** Lana's big and strong man hands.
** Archer's elaborate voice mail greeting pranks that make people think he's in at first, only to realize he's not later. This doesn't help at all when people try to help him on his missions and end up getting pranked.
** Brett gets accidentally shot or hit by ricochets a lot (in one instances, the bullet ricochets all the way downstairs). At least he dies doing "what he loves".
** Carol's fetish for getting the SHIT choked out of her.
** The absolutely disgusting state of the carpets at ISIS. "Because that's how you get ants."
** "Barry, you ass!"
** "Phrasing!"
** Archer vomiting when someone mentions his mother's sexual activities.
** Archer never reading the dossiers before missions. Although he claims to have skimmed it once before one. Due to him having mission success without reading them, it's unlikely that he ever will.

* In addition to the vast number of things that happen OnceAnEpisode, in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' almost every scene that involves something being built or things being moved around will include the giant creepy-looking baby head from "One Good Scare Oughta Do It!" appearing at some point.
** Also, "Aren't you a little young to be (insert dangerous job here)?" "[[BluntYes Yes, yes we are.]]"
** Phineas and Ferb has so many running gags, it might qualify for a gag marathon.
*** "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
*** "Hey, where's Perry?" "Oh, there you are, Perry."
*** Candace and whatever CassandraTruth she's trying to inform her Mom of this time.
*** Isabella becoming visibly upset whenever someone uses her CatchPhrase. Anyone but Phineas, that is.
*** [[MadScientist Doofenshmirtz]] and his traumatic childhood in various flashbacks.
*** The number of times they play with the CatchPhrase moments might also qualify.
*** Doof's ridiculous traps for Perry the Platypus.
*** Nagging Wife: "What did you expect, that a [object] would fall out of the sky?" And then it does. Sometimes on top of her.
*** (insert character name) is out, peace!
*** People mistaking Doofenshmirtz for a pharmacist
*** "What if a satellite falls out of the sky?"
*** The Lice Duo, Olga and Chicago Joe, are in (or at least mentioned) in several episodes. [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Never really explained, though...]]
*** A pigeon '''will''' crash into anything Phineas and Ferb have built provided it is tall enough. Subverted in one episode where Ferb installs a sliding panel to let it through.
*** Doofenshmirtz's evil jingle.
*** Agent P's entrances to his secret lair, and by extension, his briefings with Major Monogram.
*** In big chaotic crowd scenes, someone will be trying to protect their [[SkewedPriorities watermelon]] of all things.
*** Buford saying, "I am so in love with her right now."
*** Doof's inability to recognize Perry the Platypus without his NiceHat.
*** What is up with the [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext floating baby head]]?
*** "Secretly, I'm very lonely."
*** "The Viking is right!"
*** The [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext talking Zebra that calls Candace Kevin]] shows up a lot, usually when Candace is dreaming or hallucinating. It's even been {{Lampshaded}}. She realizes she's dreaming, and says so. Jeremy says that it would explain the talking zebra, but she says that she sees him all the time.
-->'''Phineas''': I'm just saying that as a NonSequitur, a talking zebra seems a little—
-->'''Isabella''': Forced?
-->'''Phineas''': Yeah, forced.

* A "Treehouse of Horror" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' had a running gag where Groundskeeper Willie was given the axe. Right in the back. In every story. He acknowledged this in the third story as he was killed.
-->"OHH, I'm bad at this..."
** ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is full of running gags, including but by no means limited to:
** Probably the most famous one, Homer strangling Bart.
** [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield Springfield's exact location is never given]], or even hinted at too closely.
** Sideshow Bob's appearances always include him stepping on a rake at some point, since his scene with [[OverlyLongGag the infamous many rakes]] in the episode "Cape Feare".
** Bart's prank phonecalls to Moe's Tavern.
** Nelson pointing and laughing at other peoples' unfortunate mishaps.
** Homer referring to something as his lifelong dream, often only to have all his previous "lifelong dreams" listed to him.
** Mr. Burns never remembering Homer's name.
** Helen Lovejoy saying "Won't somebody ''please'' ThinkOfTheChildren?"
** The ever changing [[CouchGag couch gag.]]
** On the same vein, Bart WritingLines on the blackboard.
** "Mmmmmmmmm, (food!...)" which changes depending on what food Homer notices at the time. It doesn't even have to ''be'' food.
** "Hi, I'm Troy [=McClure=]. YouMightRememberMeFrom... "
*** Tragically, this gag has been [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim forced into retirement]] with the passing of Phil Hartman.
** “Hi, everybody!”, "Hi, Dr. Nick!"
** All the times the show has [[BitingtheHandHumor made fun of FOX]].
** If a Simpson shows kindness toward an animal, it WILL be eaten by another animal.
** If an elephant shows up in a scene, it's probably going to stick someone's head in it's mouth.
** Maggie ''[[TheVoiceless never talks]]''. Even in stories set in the future, ''some'' contrivance will prevent her from speaking.
*** As a part of the latter, Maggie is usually depicted as being a chatterbox (IE every scene in "Lisa's Wedding" has her tying up the phone, but when we cut to Maggie we only see her roll her eyes when taken to task).

* Series 9 and 10 of ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' had Greenback activating a "hit box," which contained a mallet that bopped Stiletto on the head whenever he said something stupid.

* On ''WesternAnimation/EsmeAndRoy'', Roy does something overly dramatic. He then asks if it's "too much" and either Esme or the monster that they're monster-sitting agrees "a little."

** Similar to ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' example below where Groundskeeper Willie keeps getting axed in the back, in the episode "Three Kings," which is three short segments parodying Creator/StephenKing stories, whatever character Joe portrays will always start with the ability to walk, but will have his legs crippled sometime before the end of the segment.

** Good news, everybody!

*** In "Decision 3012," 40% wire.

* There's a running gag in the series ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', regarding faithful sidekick Ron Stoppable's [[ComedicUnderwearExposure disappearing pants]]. They regularly get slashed open or pulled off of him, exposing his [[GoofyPrintUnderwear rather colorful collection of boxer shorts]]. There's even been some LampshadeHanging on it; in "Showdown at the 'Crooked D'", when confronted with the fact, he claims it's only happened "six or eight times;" in "Exchange," when it happens once again, Ron bemoans his misfortune with a "Oh, man! Even in Japan!"

** After "Rappin' Drakken," that plan's horrific failure becomes a running gag that spans Season 4 -- mostly via Shego's snark or someone only remembering him because of the shampoo. It was even what lead to Drakken being freed from prison by Warmonga who caught the transmission and thought he was the Great Blue. This culminates in him being able to easily put together a Mass Hypnosis plan because "there was plenty of the mind control shampoo left over."
** Several episodes, particularly the ones with two shorts that were more humor related instead of one full story, have the running gag of Kim getting stuck with the worst luck or having a much harder time dealing with something while Ron skates through the sitch with good luck and a total lack of interest. This includes Ron being bumped up to first class on a commercial flight -- twice -- while Kim is stuck in coach (Ron has the decency to try to pretend it wasn't awesome, though he fails), Kim being totally blindsided and humiliated by having the tell the truth all the time while it makes Ron instantly popular, Ron bonding with an overgrown roach monster while Kim is so grossed out she constantly freaks out (after telling Ron not to worry about bugs, no less), both episodes that focus on Felix and the first half of "Sick Day."

** Zuko's ship being damaged in Season 1: being buried under an avalanche (ep. 02), being set on fire by Zhao's catapult (07), losing the miniboat over a waterfall (09), being struck by lightning (12), a Shirshu ripping a hole in the deck (15), and finally being ''blown up'' in the season finale.

* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' actually makes a running joke of the main character, Bob's ''many'' [[CatchPhrase catchphrases]] ("This is bad...''very'' bad", "''Stay frosty!''", "That was easy enough"). Having other characters use them, and referring to the fact that if Bob was with them, he'd probably say one of those lines.
** Remember that running gag, Al?
** [[AC:..."WHAAAT?"]]
* One can always tell when a ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' adventure is about to come to a close when Boris finds one last thing to say to Natasha as their plans lie in ruins around them:
-->'''Boris:''' SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH!
** This running gag even gets a little shout-out during the Oogle Bird adventure, when Boris yells to the bird, "Aw, shut up your beak!"
** "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"
* In every adaptation, ''[[WesternAnimation/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam and Max]]'' always fight over answering the phone screaming "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" Sam always wins. There have only ever been two exceptions to this. In the episode "A Glitch In Time" Max inadvertently changes the timeline, causing Sam to become a mild-mannered monk running a Discount Pet Wash. When the phone rings, Max screams "I GOT IT!", then turns to Sam who just stands there, then sighs and answers the phone.
** For the other exception, boogie on down to the entry in the Video Games section.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooInArabianNights'', the "Sinbad" story frequently features the evil Captain's run-down boat being sunken by something, and then the luxury cruise ship WesternAnimation/MagillaGorilla was supposed to get on passing by after that.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooAndScrappyDooShow'' Has Scrappy's love of putting ketchup on the most...unlikely of foods.
* A "Treehouse of Horror" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' had a running gag where Groundskeeper Willie was given the axe. Right in the back. In every story. He acknowledged this in the third story as he was killed.
-->"OHH, I'm bad at this..."
** ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is full of running gags, including but by no means limited to:
** Probably the most famous one, Homer strangling Bart.
** [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield Springfield's exact location is never given]], or even hinted at too closely.
** Sideshow Bob's appearances always include him stepping on a rake at some point, since his scene with [[OverlyLongGag the infamous many rakes]] in the episode "Cape Feare".
** Bart's prank phonecalls to Moe's Tavern.
** Nelson pointing and laughing at other peoples' unfortunate mishaps.
** Homer referring to something as his lifelong dream, often only to have all his previous "lifelong dreams" listed to him.
** Mr. Burns never remembering Homer's name.
** Helen Lovejoy saying "Won't somebody ''please'' ThinkOfTheChildren?"
** The ever changing [[CouchGag couch gag.]]
** On the same vein, Bart WritingLines on the blackboard.
** "Mmmmmmmmm, (food!...)" which changes depending on what food Homer notices at the time. It doesn't even have to ''be'' food.
** "Hi, I'm Troy [=McClure=]. YouMightRememberMeFrom... "
*** Tragically, this gag has been [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim forced into retirement]] with the passing of Phil Hartman.
** “Hi, everybody!”, "Hi, Dr. Nick!"
** All the times the show has [[BitingtheHandHumor made fun of FOX]].
** If a Simpson shows kindness toward an animal, it WILL be eaten by another animal.
** If an elephant shows up in a scene, it's probably going to stick someone's head in it's mouth.
** Maggie ''[[TheVoiceless never talks]]''. Even in stories set in the future, ''some'' contrivance will prevent her from speaking.
*** As a part of the latter, Maggie is usually depicted as being a chatterbox (IE every scene in "Lisa's Wedding" has her tying up the phone, but when we cut to Maggie we only see her roll her eyes when taken to task).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'':
** Starting with the episode "The Astrosmurf", the cartoon had a joke that went like this: Papa Smurf would lead the other smurfs on a long journey. One would start to get tired, and ask "Is it much farther Papa Smurf?" and he'd reply, "Not far now." Then the scene would shift, another smurf would ask the question again, and he'd reply the same way. After four scene-shifts and being asked the question four times, he'd finally lose patience and reply, "YES IT IS!!" After that episode, the joke, or a version of it was used frequently throughout ''the whole run of the series'', whenever there was a scene involving a long walk or journey. ( Even Gargamel, who tagged along with Smurfs in one episode, complained about the journey being too long.) In fact, in a late season, the joke was lampshaded; after the question was asked a second time, Papa Smurf snapped, "Oh, now don't start ''that'' again!"
** Brainy had a running gag that ended a lot of episodes. One of the smurfs would get upset at his annoying lectures, and he'd be thrown out of the village, land on his head, and make some sort of funny comment. (For instance, in "The Gingerbread Smurfs" episode, it happened when it was clear he hadn't learned a thing, and said, "I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles!") One time the episode ended outside the village, and he was thrown ''into'' it, surprised that had actually happened.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': "Oh my God, TheyKilledKenny!" "You bastards!"
** Other than the obvious ones, such as Kenny dying, there are other, smaller ones such as Cartman's almost unvarying goal to get "ten million dollars". It's never explained why he wants ''exactly'' ten million dollars, and the closest they get to it is when another character reveals their own plan to get ten million dollars, they say "that's how scams work."
*** In "Cartmanland", it is revealed Cartman always wanted one million dollars to buy a theme park. Why he wants the other nine is never shown.
** Whenever Darryl Weathers shows up, he'll inevitably yell out "DEY TOOK AR JERBS!" or a variation of it.
*** "THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!"
*** "DEY TOOK ERR JERBS?!"
*** "DEY TOOKUR JEEOBS!"
*** DRR TRRKA JRR!!
*** DURKA DUR!
** During the earlier seasons at least, there is at least the outline of one of the aliens from the first episode's heads once per episode. EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE.
** On the DVD release of the first season, Matt and Trey have "Fireside chats" between the episodes, in which they have a dog named "Old Scratch" who changes breed (and even changes into stuffed animals) each time he is seen.
** There was also more than one mention of Cartman wanting to give Kyle AIDS. Until he does.
** Scott is a dick.
** "You know, I [[AnAesop learned something today]]."
** "RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!"
** "I'm gonna need about tree fitty."
** "Herro this is Shitty Wok." or when he says "Dem Mongorians broke down my shitty wall!" A.K.A him saying shitty instead of city.
** Season 19 has PC Principal making a speech and--GODDAMMIT, LESLIE, SHUT YOUR FUCKING PIEHOLE!
*** The season also has Caitlyn Jenner running people over with her car, a reference to her infamous February 2015 collision. "Buckle up, buckaroos!"
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' and ''Cartoon Planet'', WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost has what is essentially a reflex to shoot Zorak whenever the latter says something incredibly insulting. This got a skit/episode dedicated to lampshading it in both series. The former had Zorak faking his death after getting shot repeatedly, and the latter had Brak incurring Space Ghost's wrath simply because he "isn't animated to explode" like Zorak is, with the mantis taking all the heat(rays).
** The show has a habit of mocking interviewees when they try to get their plug out of the way, even cutting them off in the middle of it. Eventually one of his guests calls out Space Ghost on this behavior, and then tries to use it to segue into his own plug, at which point the show suddenly cuts to NonSequitur StockFootage of a panda.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Whenever there's a panicking crowd, a guy can often be heard shouting: "My leg!"
*** Parodied in the episode "Squid Baby", with "My face, my face!... Also my leg, but mostly my face!"
*** An entire episode, simply titled "My Leg!" was made around this gag. It explains how Fred, a background fish, was the one who always said it, and how he always did it in an attempt to be with a Nurse he's in love with.
** How about Old Man Jenkins as a running gag character? Or his name, rather, considering that it's apparently the name of several different elderly fish in Bikini Bottom.
*** As of lately, there's been one consistent design for Old Man Jenkins, and another old fish who originally went by that alias was renamed 'Old Man Walker'.
** "Chocolate? Did you say CHOCOLATE!?!"
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'', we have the reaction to King Neptune's baldness; "B-B-B-Bald! Bald! Bald!" "[[EyeScream My eyes]]!"
** Various things [[MadeOfExplodium randomly exploding in a mushroom cloud for little to no reason.]] [[MemeticMutation Naturally gets combined with the "WTF!!! BOOM!!! meme quite often.]]
** Mrs. Puff getting arrested, when it's usually [=SpongeBob's=] fault. She even spent one whole episode in prison.
** Patrick [[BigEater spending so much time at the Krusty Krab]] that Mr. Krabs sometimes forgets that he doesn't work there.
--->'''Patrick:''' ''(reading card)'' "One of your shipmates has been a bad pirate! Send him to the brig!" Hmmm. It's off to jail for you, Mr. Krabs!\\
'''Mr. Krabs:''' Patrick, you're fired!\\
'''Patrick:''' But I don't even work here!\\
'''Mr. Krabs:''' Would you like a job, starting now?\\
''(hands him a Krusty Krab hat)''\\
'''Patrick:''' Boy, would I!\\
''(snatches the hat back)''\\
'''Mr. Krabs:''' You're fired!
** Plankton getting crushed by a piano in "Fear of a Krabby Patty".
** "Rock Bottom" has a couple, such as [=SpongeBob=] missing the bus, which makes up a large part of the episode, and [=SpongeBob's=] balloon hitting the bus driver.
** One involving Plankton and Karen. She would suggest a way to steal the formula, but he dismisses her for being random or bothering him, [[GladIThoughtOfIt then he would say the exact same idea.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'': Early Cuyler always robbing the same convenience store, and blowing off the old man's left hand.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': The series continues the Star Wars legacy of characters claiming to have a bad feeling about things.
** In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E10LairOfGrievous "Lair of Grievous"]] Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb says ''"I have a bad feeling about this."'' when Grievous tells them to please enjoy all his home has to offer, as its been prepared for univited guests like them and he's destroyed their transportation and long range communications abilities.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' seems to have a tendency to see Steven's TV set get destroyed every few episodes.
** Steven himself destroys the TV in "Gem Glow" when he summons his mother's HardLight shield only to accidentally send it flying.
** Holo-Pearl stabs the TV in "Steven the Sword Fighter"
** The Wailing Stone's vibrations shatter Steven's TV in "Rose's Room", and [[MissingTheGoodStuff just as Steven was about to unlock the secret ending]] to ''[[FictionalVideoGame Golf Quest Mini]]''.
** In "Back to the Barn", Peridot smashes the TV set in order to salvage it for parts.
** In "Know Your Fusion", Smoky Quartz accidentally smashes the TV while doing tricks with their KillerYoyo.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': Batman was missing from Gotham [[spoiler:and really under Braniac mind control]]. After Superman as Batman leaves after talking to Gordon, one of the cops standing around remarks "Did he look taller to you?". This is carry-over from the print comic running gag where characters often expect Batman to be taller.
* ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats'': Mac can't drive straight no matter what vehicle he's in. Molly loves to remind him of this.
** "This is Feral! Bring me chopper backup!"

* ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'': Dave peak molt stage gives him wings and strength, but tends to be the most short-lived of them all. So he either enters it too late or exits it just as soon as it would help the group's situation.
-->'''Wolf''': It's like realizing you could be useful makes you useless.

* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' has Uncle hitting Jackie in the head with a two-fingered strike each time he does or says something wrong. He also hit other characters such as Captain Black, Tohru, [[EnemyWithout Dark Jackie]], Super Moose, and Hsi Wu. In one occasion, he hits himself because he blames himself for the kidnapping of Tohru, and in one episode, he gets hit by Dark Jackie and the two start hitting each other repeatedly.
** [[CatchPhrase "One more thing..."]] Every episode, Jackie insists that Jade stays at home, or with some adult, or at any attraction they were at, only for Jade to find some loophole to his request and just appear on the battle scene; and Jackie is always surprised that she never listens.
** And this was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in a certain episode, with a dialogue that went like:
--->'''Jackie:''' ''(talking to Jade on the phone)'' Okay then. But you stay where you are and don't do anything! ''(turns off phone)''\\
'''Uncle:''' Jade never doesn't do anything.\\
'''Jackie:''' I know, but I feel like I have to say it.

* The Running Gag of the AnimatedAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'' is that the titular character constantly gives characters atomic wedgies at random. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ISLV6Biu0o Lt.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5CWMx-QoaU Kellaway]] gets the [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments brunt]] of said gag.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'' incorporates an intentionally blatant running gag: the episode is framed as a "behind the scenes" documentary where Garfield gives advice on comedy. One of his first pieces of advice is that the secret of humor is to repeat something until it becomes funny. As part of the setup, the lights are often lowered to show a clip. Each time they are to be raised, Garfield calls "Lights!", in response to which several hands appear, offering him lightbulbs. His reaction grows in intensity with each occurrence, starting with "Not funny" and progressing to his final...y being incapacitated by helpless side-splitting laughter when it occurs for the final time.
-->'''Garfield:''' [[LampshadeHanging Take note:]] if you do the same stupid joke over and over, [[SoUnfunnyItsFunny eventually it turns into a running gag and becomes funny.]]
** The show itself made constant references to the Klopman Diamond.

* In addition to the vast number of things that happen OnceAnEpisode, in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' almost every scene that involves something being built or things being moved around will include the giant creepy-looking baby head from "One Good Scare Oughta Do It!" appearing at some point.
** Also, "Aren't you a little young to be (insert dangerous job here)?" "[[BluntYes Yes, yes we are.]]"
** Phineas and Ferb has so many running gags, it might qualify for a gag marathon.
*** "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
*** "Hey, where's Perry?" "Oh, there you are, Perry."
*** Candace and whatever CassandraTruth she's trying to inform her Mom of this time.
*** Isabella becoming visibly upset whenever someone uses her CatchPhrase. Anyone but Phineas, that is.
*** [[MadScientist Doofenshmirtz]] and his traumatic childhood in various flashbacks.
*** The number of times they play with the CatchPhrase moments might also qualify.
*** Doof's ridiculous traps for Perry the Platypus.
*** Nagging Wife: "What did you expect, that a [object] would fall out of the sky?" And then it does. Sometimes on top of her.
*** (insert character name) is out, peace!
*** People mistaking Doofenshmirtz for a pharmacist
*** "What if a satellite falls out of the sky?"
*** The Lice Duo, Olga and Chicago Joe, are in (or at least mentioned) in several episodes. [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Never really explained, though...]]
*** A pigeon '''will''' crash into anything Phineas and Ferb have built provided it is tall enough. Subverted in one episode where Ferb installs a sliding panel to let it through.
*** Doofenshmirtz's evil jingle.
*** Agent P's entrances to his secret lair, and by extension, his briefings with Major Monogram.
*** In big chaotic crowd scenes, someone will be trying to protect their [[SkewedPriorities watermelon]] of all things.
*** Buford saying, "I am so in love with her right now."
*** Doof's inability to recognize Perry the Platypus without his NiceHat.
*** What is up with the [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext floating baby head]]?
*** "Secretly, I'm very lonely."
*** "The Viking is right!"
*** The [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext talking Zebra that calls Candace Kevin]] shows up a lot, usually when Candace is dreaming or hallucinating. It's even been {{Lampshaded}}. She realizes she's dreaming, and says so. Jeremy says that it would explain the talking zebra, but she says that she sees him all the time.
-->'''Phineas''': I'm just saying that as a NonSequitur, a talking zebra seems a little—
-->'''Isabella''': Forced?
-->'''Phineas''': Yeah, forced.

** The number of {{Almost Kiss}}es between Kim and Ron became a gag in season 4. However, if you're a K/R fan, you might see it as a MomentKiller.

* A key element of the humor in ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'' is the numerous running gags, from Phil Ken Sebben's "Ha ha... DoubleEntendre", to Peter Potamus' "Did you get that thing I sent ya?", to Mentok's mindtaking, to Reducto's paranoia and obsession with small things... It's a long list.




* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'', Pepper Mills constantly bothers historical celebrities for their autographs, not realizing until after she's gotten it that the person in question is not the pop cultural celebrity she has mistaken them for.
* The size of Dib's head on ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. The people who worked on the show never got tired of it; in fact, the staff [[http://www.zimwiki.com/index.php?title=God_save_the_Dib subtly modified the proportions of his head over the run of the show just for that gag!]]
** [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne My head's not big!]]
** Several episodes have a character suffer a spinal injury and scream "MY SPINE!!"



* In ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', there were two recurring gags throughout the years Brainy sneaking behind Helga and breathing heavily and [[OffhandBackhand her punching him]], and [[TheChewToy Eugene]] always getting involved in some kind of accident usually on his bicycle.
** "I'm okay."
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
** Roberto robs the same bank three times in a row, in the ''same episode''.
** Zoidberg's limited knowledge or the human body, his financial status, and him losing [[BizarreAlienBiology an organ he doesn't need]]. It's a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} when it's discovered that Zoidberg is actually a doctor of Art History.
** Good news, everybody!
** [[MadLibsCatchPhrase Sweet (something) of (somewhere)]]! Lampshaded in "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back", where he's so freaked out that he can't come up with a real saying and actually ''says'' "Sweet...something of...some place."
*** A simile involving a "green snake" and "sugar cane" (climbing faster than a green snake up a sugar cane, hungrier than a green snake in a sugar cane field, etc.).
*** '''"MY MANWICH!!"'''
** I'm Scruffy. The janitor.
*** I've never seen ''you'' before.
*** Scruffy's never seen you before neither.
** Bender proclaiming that he's 40 percent something, including titanium in "A Head in the Polls", dolomite in "Jurassic Bark", and zinc.
*** ''Attack of the Killer App'' adds 40% chromium to Bender.
*** And ''All the Presidents' Heads'' makes him 40% scrap metal.
*** In "Decision 3012," 40% wire.
*** As an elephant seal in ''Naturama'', he's 40% ass.
*** He's also 60% storage space, [[http://www.halolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/halolz-dot-com-futurama-330.04percentbender.jpg and a few other things that don't really... add up]].
** [[CameraFiend Neat! *click*]]
** [[HesDeadJim He's dead.]]



* ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam'' has A TON. Henry getting beat up by Mr. Foot, the duo LampshadeHanging, and many, many, more...

* ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'' has a running gag of [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Pete]] motioning to a poster for an opera [[AtTheOperaTonight where he plans to overthrow Minnie]]. Everytime it's shown, a small tune plays, noticed only by Pete.

* The chief weakness of ''Planet Sketch'' was that it tried to make ''all'' its jokes into running gags. In the end, there was very little incentive to watch multiple episodes, since they were all exactly the same.
* Hot dog stands being knocked over in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}''. The joke made a brief reappearance in one of the sequels.
** Ben getting an alien he doesn't want (most of the time, when he wants Four Arms, he will get Gray Matter).
---> '''Ben''': [''As Gray Matter.''] I said ''MUSCLE'' not ''MINUSCULE''!
---> '''Ben''': [''As Ripjaws while dangling off of Roosevelt's nose (Mount Rushmore).''] Oh, sometimes I ''hate'' this watch!
---> '''Ben''': [''As Gray Matter.''] Sometimes I think this thing just plain hates me.
---> '''Ben''': [''As Gray Matter.''] Huh? Oh, no no no no no. Anything but being a micro-munchkin!
* 'Victor and Hugo -- Bunglers In Crime' -- In every episode (with one exception) a small, growling dog would appear out of nowhere, run up Victor's trouser leg and remove his underwear. [[RuleOfFunny No explanation is given]] other than that it is funny -- particularly for Hugo.
** The daft radio/TV announcements used to open (almost) every episode.

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'': Tigress being mistaken for a man.
** "The Princess and the Po"
-->'''Mei Li:''' I never have any friends. Not real friends like you have. Like the cricket and that ''mean man with the stripes''.
** "Big Bro Po" has this:
-->'''Tigress:''' Hey there, you. Um...settling in ok?
-->'''Bian Zao:''' Yes ''sir''!
** "Father Crime"
-->'''Croc Bandit:''' We caught that tiger dude.
-->'''Tigress:''' Tiger ''lady''!
** Fung the lead Croc Bandit flinging his helmet on the ground in rage. And yelling "DARN IT!" And pronouncing Gah-Ri's name wrong.
** Tong Fo's huge eyes being mentioned and followed with this retort:
-->'''Tong Fo''': They're not big! I have a small skull...
* Pretty much all of the jokes in ''WesternAnimation/FriskyDingo'' are made entirely of this. The only time new jokes are generally made is to make them into even more running gags.

* ''WesternAnimation/NedsNewt'': Ned's parents entering his room just as he's talking to Newton (the giant shapeshifting newt), upon which Newton quickly transforms into some supposedly innocuous object (such as the Venus of Milo), which Ned's parents remark upon but don't mind too much.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'': Trina going into Diary Mode.
** Corey giving his end of episode's {{Spoof Aesop}}s.
** Mina getting abused.
** Trina failing to kiss Nick Mallory.
** People assuming Laney's a boy.
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Peggy's tenuous grasp of the Spanish language, especially her pronunciation.
** Any song Chuck Mangione plays eventually turns into ''Feels So Good'', if he's not already playing it.
** Chuck Mangione in general, actually.
** Hank is sometimes unable to understand Boomhauer, but never for the obvious reason.
** Dale's continued need to smoke, even in under odder circumstances. At one point, when he's about to have his mouth covered, he quickly flips it into his mouth before hand. And after that, smoke can be seen coming out of his nose.
* "Hey, ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''. Wanna ''[do something mundane and entirely unrelated to the crisis at hand]''?"
** Despite his triumphant theme song, the Huntsman's complete lack of crime to fight. "Darn the luck!"
** Duncan (Dexter's older, meaner brother) being constantly tormented by Freakazoid, and nobody believing him when he whines about it later.
** Emmett Nervend.
** Though only in one episode: "That was quite a jolt, Freak."
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': Batman being a part-time member of the League. This actually originated back in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}}'' has one in which when Pepito accompanies the girls on a trip, the taxi always leaves him behind at first.
* ''Franchise/{{Bratz}}'': Rock Angelz[[note]]Essentially the pilot episode of the TV series.[[/note]] has one involving Kirstee and Kaycee, (whom the Bratz themselves refer to as the "Tweevils"[[note]]Because they are twins, and "seriously evil".[[/note]]) where one of them, who just had a nose job, occasionally hits her nose on something (including the ground in one scene).
-->"Ow! My nose!"
* The WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck short ''WesternAnimation/ModernInventions'' can be best described in three words:
-->'''Robot Butler''': Your hat, sir.
** There's also ''Mickey's Revue'', which was WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}'s first appearance, where this happens each time Pluto is given the VaudevilleHook[[note]]Although, the second and third time it happens, it's a mechanical arm and a lasso respectively.[[/note]]
-->"Ah-HYYUCK-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-AHHH-ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"[[note]]After the third time, the two goats stting above him have had enough, and knock him out with a hammer. Then they mock him by doing the exact same laugh.[[/note]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'':
** Mindy's excuses for not joining the gang in their trips to outer space, to say nothing of her need to mention that she's "not allowed to go past Jet's yard". Becomes averted by Season 2 once she turns five years old, and is now allowed to go into space with him.
** Mindy is constantly sneaking up on Mitchell whenever he spies on Jet, which he finds uncomfortable. He even lampshades this a few times. This shows that she's the only one of Jet's group who knows of Mitchell's plans to learn Jet's alien secret and expose him.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyFriendsTiggerAndPooh'':
** There's a small running gag that Lumpy is apparently unable to recognize Tigger and Pooh so long as they're wearing their Super Sleuth outfits. Even when Darby tells him they're just Tigger and Pooh, he insists she's pulling his leg.
** Tigger refers to the coloring on Raccoon's face as a mask, only for him to insist "It's not a mask."

* ''WesternAnimation/MerrieMelodies'' "Cross Country Detours" has a literal running gag - an Alaska Husky dog with a California-Or-Bust determination. The climate? The surfing? No...
-->'''Husky''': [[ToiletHumour Trees! Trees! All mine!]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'':
** Being the "eediot" that he is, Stimpy is pretty much a walking, visual running gag[[note]]Just ask his long-suffering roommate Ren.[[/note]], which comes to a head in the infamous [[Recap/RenandStimpy2x07SonofStimpy Son of Stimpy]] episode, which blatantly implies that Stimpy is literally that stupid.[[note]]And all so [[Creator/JohnKricfalusi the creator]] could prove a point about "fake pathos". Both the series article and the episode article have more information.[[/note]]
** That said, Ren losing his temper is another one, along with Ren going insane, whether it be due to "[[Recap/RenandStimpy1x03SpaceMadnessTheBoyWhoCriedRat space]] [[SpaceMadness madness]]" or [[Recap/RenandStimpy1x06BlackHoleStimpysInvention Stimpy's "happy helmet"]].
** "No sir, I don't / didn't like it."
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Marinette/Ladybug and Adrien/Cat Noir both secretly fantasize about a future life together, which includes a pet hamster. However, they are always snapped out of their [[ImagineSpot Imagine Spots]] right before saying the name of the hypothetical hamster.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}'': Villainous characters [[MultiArmedAndDangerous having four arms]]. In the 8th season, there's even a MaskOfPower that gives this ability to the wearer, and when Jay sees it in action he {{lampshade|Hanging}}s how often it happens.
* ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' has Fozzie telling bad jokes, and either the other babies giving him a FirstNameUltimatum, or imagining he's being hit with rotten tomatoes. There's also Gonzo opening the closet door to find various different weird (and sometimes scary) things behind it. There's also the show's use of various film and TV clips usually as part of various gags, not to mention Baby Piggy blowing off or otherwise mistreating Gonzo.
** "Good [whatever Animal just ate[[note]]Or in some cases, a pun related to whatever he just ate.[[/note]]]! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"[[note]]Although Dave Coullier's Animal laugh comes off as sounding like "YA, ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya!".[[/note]]
* In some of the later installments of the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Literature/IfYouGiveAMouseACookie'', Oliver giving Mouse whatever object it is that kicks off the events the episode (for example, a piece of chalk), only to admit that he doesn't know what will happen next if he gives it to him and asking what he wants it for.
* ''WesternAnimation/Hero108'':
** There's two {{running gag}}s involving Woo the Wise. First is his robe lifting up at random moments, which [[ComedicUnderwearExposure exposes his red underwear]], much to his shock and embarassement (bonus points if he's trying to make an important presentation when that happens). Another one is saying that he knows what he's doing, [[KnowNothingKnowItAll yet in his mind he panics that he has no idea and his head is as empty as a balloon]].
** Season 1 has one where Ape Truly attempts to give gold to the animal rulers to get them to join Big Green, only to get rejected and [[DistressedDude captured]], resulting in First Squad having to come and rescue him. Come Season 2, and this joke gets [[RunningGagged abandoned completely]].
* On ''WesternAnimation/MackAndMoxy'', Mack's go-to solution to a problem is to suggest the building of a rocket ship, which nobody else ever thinks is a good or practical idea.
-->'''Mack''': What does everyone have against rocket ships?
* At the end of each installment of ''WesternAnimation/JoJosCircus'', [=JoJo=] is asked what she learned and starts to reply, only be literally dragged off to be placed on stage as the "Spotlight Moment Song" plays to relate what she learned there on-stage. You'd think she'd get used to it.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StainesDownDrains'', Stanley has a slight phobia about dirt and germs. And so, of course, he is routinely forced to travel into the town's drain system.

* ''WesternAnimation/HandyManny'':
** The tools speculating that for once Manny needs something so unusual that Kelly won't have it at her supply shop, only for her to indeed have it.
** Mr. Lopart refusing help from Handy Manny saying that he can do something himself, only to end up [[ButtMonkey in a pickle]] because of it.


* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' actually makes a running joke of the main character, Bob's ''many'' [[CatchPhrase catchphrases]] ("This is bad...''very'' bad", "''Stay frosty!''", "That was easy enough"). Having other characters use them, and referring to the fact that if Bob was with them, he'd probably say one of those lines.
** Remember that running gag, Al?
** [[AC:..."WHAAAT?"]]
* One can always tell when a ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' adventure is about to come to a close when Boris finds one last thing to say to Natasha as their plans lie in ruins around them:
-->'''Boris:''' SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH!
** This running gag even gets a little shout-out during the Oogle Bird adventure, when Boris yells to the bird, "Aw, shut up your beak!"
** "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"
* In every adaptation, ''[[WesternAnimation/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam and Max]]'' always fight over answering the phone screaming "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" Sam always wins. There have only ever been two exceptions to this. In the episode "A Glitch In Time" Max inadvertently changes the timeline, causing Sam to become a mild-mannered monk running a Discount Pet Wash. When the phone rings, Max screams "I GOT IT!", then turns to Sam who just stands there, then sighs and answers the phone.
** For the other exception, boogie on down to the entry in the Video Games section.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooInArabianNights'', the "Sinbad" story frequently features the evil Captain's run-down boat being sunken by something, and then the luxury cruise ship WesternAnimation/MagillaGorilla was supposed to get on passing by after that.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooAndScrappyDooShow'' Has Scrappy's love of putting ketchup on the most...unlikely of foods.

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'': A regular gag throughout the show is Mr. Peanutbutter calling every time he and Bojack accidentally meet up at the same place a "crossover episode", as both worked on family sitcoms during the 1990s and a crossover between their two shows was one of his biggest dreams. [[spoiler:It finally gets paid off in the final season, when they come across the old set of Mr. Peanutbutter's show at the pop culture wing of the Smithsonian and Bojack humors him by suggesting they finally act out that crossover. Mr. Peanutbutter is so overwhelmed with joy that he breaks down in tears partway through their improv skit.]]
** [[DoesNotLikeSpam Honeydew melon seems to appear just to annoy many characters, mostly Bojack]], [[spoiler: until the series finale]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheHollow'': Kai constantly think they're DeadAllAlong and asks for confirmation.
* ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'': Dave peak molt stage gives him wings and strength, but tends to be the most short-lived of them all. So he either enters it too late or exits it just as soon as it would help the group's situation.
-->'''Wolf''': It's like realizing you could be useful makes you useless.
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' has quite a lot of these, most notably:
** Among other things, Muriel's using vinegar in almost everything she makes.
*** And almost everyone not liking vinegar. This includes liking what she makes and immediately hating it once they find out that there's vinegar in it.
** Eustace pulling out his mask to frighten Courage.
** Muriel playing the sitar.
** Eustace complaining about his possessions such as his chair, hat, or truck.
** Muriel asking for or giving tea.
** Di Lung's car suffering severe damage in its every appearance.
** Di Lung yelling "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE ''GOING'', YA '''''FOOL'''''" at people, usually [[HypocriticalHumor for hypocritical reasons]].
** Eustace complaining about Courage sitting at the table.
** "There's something wrong here! Or my name's (something completely random/foreign)...and it's not."
** Whenever Courage runs into a locked door, he usually pulls bone-saws, arc welders, ''heavy artillery'' or whatever in the hopes of opening it. Naturally, it never works.
** Poultry seems to be a recurring theme for villains, with many being chickens, ducks, and geese.
* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' has Uncle hitting Jackie in the head with a two-fingered strike each time he does or says something wrong. He also hit other characters such as Captain Black, Tohru, [[EnemyWithout Dark Jackie]], Super Moose, and Hsi Wu. In one occasion, he hits himself because he blames himself for the kidnapping of Tohru, and in one episode, he gets hit by Dark Jackie and the two start hitting each other repeatedly.
** [[CatchPhrase "One more thing..."]] Every episode, Jackie insists that Jade stays at home, or with some adult, or at any attraction they were at, only for Jade to find some loophole to his request and just appear on the battle scene; and Jackie is always surprised that she never listens.
** And this was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in a certain episode, with a dialogue that went like:
--->'''Jackie:''' ''(talking to Jade on the phone)'' Okay then. But you stay where you are and don't do anything! ''(turns off phone)''\\
'''Uncle:''' Jade never doesn't do anything.\\
'''Jackie:''' I know, but I feel like I have to say it.
* ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'': "No one can [perform an action] like Gaston."
** This was so popular, it's gone viral and is used a lot in WebAnimation/YouTubePoop.
** Horace always answering with NotActuallyTheUltimateQuestion.
** Something always preventing [[WesternAnimation/TheAristocats O'Malley and the Alley Cats]] from performing at the club. On one occasion, O'Malley himself quips "Should have seen that one coming."
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Stumpy's sister being mentioned before somebody realizes that Stumpy has no sister[[note]]WordOfGod states that he has 37 sisters.[[/note]].
** Stumpy being DraggedIntoDrag.
** Mr. Cat making [[RuleOfThree three]] statements to justify something, with the third one [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers being completely irrelevant to the other two.]]
** Somebody calling Olaf an auk [[IAmNotWeasel instead of an emperor penguin.]]
** Somebody making fun of [[TheNapoleon Olaf]] for being short.
** [[AlphaBitch Pretty]] trying to attract Mr. Cat and [[AllLoveIsUnrequited failing horribly.]]

* In every adaptation, ''[[WesternAnimation/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam and Max]]'' always fight over answering the phone screaming "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" Sam always wins. There have only ever been two exceptions to this. In the episode "A Glitch In Time" Max inadvertently changes the timeline, causing Sam to become a mild-mannered monk running a Discount Pet Wash. When the phone rings, Max screams "I GOT IT!", then turns to Sam who just stands there, then sighs and answers the phone.
** For the other exception, boogie on down to the entry in the Video Games section.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': "Oh my God, TheyKilledKenny!" "You bastards!"
** Other than the obvious ones, such as Kenny dying, there are other, smaller ones such as Cartman's almost unvarying goal to get "ten million dollars". It's never explained why he wants ''exactly'' ten million dollars, and the closest they get to it is when another character reveals their own plan to get ten million dollars, they say "that's how scams work."
*** In "Cartmanland", it is revealed Cartman always wanted one million dollars to buy a theme park. Why he wants the other nine is never shown.
** Whenever Darryl Weathers shows up, he'll inevitably yell out "DEY TOOK AR JERBS!" or a variation of it.
*** "THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!"
*** "DEY TOOK ERR JERBS?!"
*** "DEY TOOKUR JEEOBS!"
*** DRR TRRKA JRR!!
*** DURKA DUR!
** During the earlier seasons at least, there is at least the outline of one of the aliens from the first episode's heads once per episode. EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE.
** On the DVD release of the first season, Matt and Trey have "Fireside chats" between the episodes, in which they have a dog named "Old Scratch" who changes breed (and even changes into stuffed animals) each time he is seen.
** There was also more than one mention of Cartman wanting to give Kyle AIDS. Until he does.
** Scott is a dick.
** "You know, I [[AnAesop learned something today]]."
** "RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!"
** "I'm gonna need about tree fitty."
** "Herro this is Shitty Wok." or when he says "Dem Mongorians broke down my shitty wall!" A.K.A him saying shitty instead of city.
** Season 19 has PC Principal making a speech and--GODDAMMIT, LESLIE, SHUT YOUR FUCKING PIEHOLE!
*** The season also has Caitlyn Jenner running people over with her car, a reference to her infamous February 2015 collision. "Buckle up, buckaroos!"
* The Running Gag of the AnimatedAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'' is that the titular character constantly gives characters atomic wedgies at random. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ISLV6Biu0o Lt.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5CWMx-QoaU Kellaway]] gets the [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments brunt]] of said gag.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'' incorporates an intentionally blatant running gag: the episode is framed as a "behind the scenes" documentary where Garfield gives advice on comedy. One of his first pieces of advice is that the secret of humor is to repeat something until it becomes funny. As part of the setup, the lights are often lowered to show a clip. Each time they are to be raised, Garfield calls "Lights!", in response to which several hands appear, offering him lightbulbs. His reaction grows in intensity with each occurrence, starting with "Not funny" and progressing to his final...y being incapacitated by helpless side-splitting laughter when it occurs for the final time.
-->'''Garfield:''' [[LampshadeHanging Take note:]] if you do the same stupid joke over and over, [[SoUnfunnyItsFunny eventually it turns into a running gag and becomes funny.]]
** The show itself made constant references to the Klopman Diamond.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''.
** Timmy's parents often ask him where he got a particular item that he has acquired by wish. Timmy replies, [[BlatantLies "uuuhh...internet?"]].
*** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in an episode where this exchange occurs, followed by Dad asking, "and where did you get the Internet?" to which Timmy couldn't respond anything in time, and made his Dad faint because he became suspicious that Timmy was involved in robbery.
*** When Timmy gets suddenly rich: "Internet... Inheritance... [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs I, uh, inherited the internet!]]"
** When someone brings up [[NoodleIncident Super Toilet]], followed by Cosmo freaking out and yelling "So. much. CLOGGING!!".
** A character's parent knocking on their offspring's door, followed up by the parent saying that while they respect their offspring's privacy by knocking, they're asserting their authority as their mother/father by coming in anyway, and the parent smashing the door down with a pillar.
** [[BerserkButton "FAIRY GODPARENTS!"]], complete with [[WildTake insanely hilarious spasms]]. [[EvilTeacher Mr. Crocker]] is bound to have a fairy-related spasm sooner or later in any episode he appears in.
** Although, in one episode where Timmy wishes himself out of existence, we get to see Crocker as he would have been if not driven fairy-mad. He is seen as a highly appreciated philosophy teacher, yet still spasms as he says "EXISTENTIALISM!"
** ''Timmy'' spasming in Crocker's DayInTheLimelight special when he finds out that Crocker had fairies as a kid, immediately followed by him asking his fairies to hit him if he ever did that again. He does, they do.
** When Timmy wishes the present was the space-age future that people in the 60s-80s predicted it to become, Crocker becomes a muscular janitor convinced that [[RobotWar robots will revolt against humanity]] and spasms "ROBOTS ARE EVIL!"
** Every single episode in this show has its own running gag!
** Several very common ones often appear:
*** "Dinkleberg!"
*** "Curse you X!"
*** "Yay X!"
** Mr. Turner's obsession with eggnog.
** "Pipe Down!" has a gag where people yell so loudly that their clothes burst right off of them.
** Another Creator/ButchHartman series, ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'' as well as WesternAnimation/BunsenIsABeast, has some running gags, too. Running gags are apparently Butch's bread and butter for his comedy shows.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool'', Yzma orders Kronk to "Pull the lever. in order to access her secret laboratory" This often produces comical results.
** Whenever Kronk is called into [[SdrawkcabName Principal Amzy's]] office he has to be reminded that she's Yzma. He seems unable to see through her PaperThinDisguise.

* In addition to the vast number of things that happen OnceAnEpisode, in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' almost every scene that involves something being built or things being moved around will include the giant creepy-looking baby head from "One Good Scare Oughta Do It!" appearing at some point.
** Also, "Aren't you a little young to be (insert dangerous job here)?" "[[BluntYes Yes, yes we are.]]"
** Phineas and Ferb has so many running gags, it might qualify for a gag marathon.
*** "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today."
*** "Hey, where's Perry?" "Oh, there you are, Perry."
*** Candace and whatever CassandraTruth she's trying to inform her Mom of this time.
*** Isabella becoming visibly upset whenever someone uses her CatchPhrase. Anyone but Phineas, that is.
*** [[MadScientist Doofenshmirtz]] and his traumatic childhood in various flashbacks.
*** The number of times they play with the CatchPhrase moments might also qualify.
*** Doof's ridiculous traps for Perry the Platypus.
*** Nagging Wife: "What did you expect, that a [object] would fall out of the sky?" And then it does. Sometimes on top of her.
*** (insert character name) is out, peace!
*** People mistaking Doofenshmirtz for a pharmacist
*** "What if a satellite falls out of the sky?"
*** The Lice Duo, Olga and Chicago Joe, are in (or at least mentioned) in several episodes. [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext Never really explained, though...]]
*** A pigeon '''will''' crash into anything Phineas and Ferb have built provided it is tall enough. Subverted in one episode where Ferb installs a sliding panel to let it through.
*** Doofenshmirtz's evil jingle.
*** Agent P's entrances to his secret lair, and by extension, his briefings with Major Monogram.
*** In big chaotic crowd scenes, someone will be trying to protect their [[SkewedPriorities watermelon]] of all things.
*** Buford saying, "I am so in love with her right now."
*** Doof's inability to recognize Perry the Platypus without his NiceHat.
*** What is up with the [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext floating baby head]]?
*** "Secretly, I'm very lonely."
*** "The Viking is right!"
*** The [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext talking Zebra that calls Candace Kevin]] shows up a lot, usually when Candace is dreaming or hallucinating. It's even been {{Lampshaded}}. She realizes she's dreaming, and says so. Jeremy says that it would explain the talking zebra, but she says that she sees him all the time.
-->'''Phineas''': I'm just saying that as a NonSequitur, a talking zebra seems a little—
-->'''Isabella''': Forced?
-->'''Phineas''': Yeah, forced.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' has tons of these, though most of them only lasted for one season. The Total Drama Wiki has a [[https://totaldrama.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_running_gags full list of running gags]] for those who are interested.
* There's a running gag in the series ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', regarding faithful sidekick Ron Stoppable's [[ComedicUnderwearExposure disappearing pants]]. They regularly get slashed open or pulled off of him, exposing his [[GoofyPrintUnderwear rather colorful collection of boxer shorts]]. There's even been some LampshadeHanging on it; in "Showdown at the 'Crooked D'", when confronted with the fact, he claims it's only happened "six or eight times;" in "Exchange," when it happens once again, Ron bemoans his misfortune with a "Oh, man! Even in Japan!"
** This itself is almost becoming a running gag; in the episode "Ill Suited", his reaction is "Oh, man! Even as a senior!" This however was lampshaded and solved in Season 4 as Wade made an unbreakable titanium {{phlebotinum}} belt for Kim to give Ron.
** In "Clean Slate", where Kim gave Ron the belt, he later used the belt to close a steam pipe, thus making his pants fall down again.
** Which culminated in a montage of previous falling-pants incidents, as Kim (who was suffering from EasyAmnesia at the time) finally remembered her relationship with Ron, and declared "I love you" to him for the first time. [[Heartwarming/KimPossible Crowning Moment Of Heartwarming]]? Yeah.
** Without exception, at least once each recurring villain from the RoguesGallery in ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' has forgotten Ron's name. Senior Sr. and Monkey Fist remember his name a bit better than everyone else, however Dementor and Dr. Drakken have NEVER remembered his name.
** Ron himself commented on this in one episode, speaking to Monkey Fist: "You know, you're the only bad guy who ever remembers my name. I respect that."
** Whatever the plot-relevant class, sport, or administrative duty is, Mr. Barkin will be covering it today as [[TwoTeacherSchool the regular teacher is unavailable]].
** In the first season, upon seeing an enormous obstacle/opponent that they would have to face, Ron would often exclaim:
--> '''Ron:''' "That would be so ''cool'' if it wasn't gonna hurt us!"
** Ron being 'micro chipped' by Wade.
** The number of {{Almost Kiss}}es between Kim and Ron became a gag in season 4. However, if you're a K/R fan, you might see it as a MomentKiller.
** Motor Ed's verbal tic. Seriously.
** After "Rappin' Drakken," that plan's horrific failure becomes a running gag that spans Season 4 - mostly via Shego's snark or someone only remembering him because of the shampoo. It was even what lead to Drakken being freed from prison by Warmonga who caught the transmission and thought he was the Great Blue. This culminates in him being able to easily put together a Mass Hypnosis plan because "there was plenty of the mind control shampoo left over."
** Several episodes, particularly the ones with two shorts that were more humor related instead of one full story, have the running gag of Kim getting stuck with the worst luck or having a much harder time dealing with something while Ron skates through the sitch with good luck and a total lack of interest. This includes Ron being bumped up to first class on a commercial flight - twice - while Kim is stuck in coach (Ron has the decency to try to pretend it wasn't awesome, though he fails), Kim being totally blindsided and humiliated by having the tell the truth all the time while it makes Ron instantly popular, Ron bonding with an overgrown roach monster while Kim is so grossed out she constantly freaks out (after telling Ron not to worry about bugs, no less), both episodes that focus on Felix and the first half of "Sick Day."
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': The series continues the Star Wars legacy of characters claiming to have a bad feeling about things.
** In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E10LairOfGrievous "Lair of Grievous"]] Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb says ''"I have a bad feeling about this."'' when Grievous tells them to please enjoy all his home has to offer, as its been prepared for univited guests like them and he's destroyed their transportation and long range communications abilities.
* The RunningGag on ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' about Raven's obsession with the secrecy of her room was repeated exactly [[RuleOfThree three times]]:
-->'''Raven:''' They went into my room. No one should ''ever'' go into my room.\\
'''Cyborg:''' We're in Raven's room. We should not be in Raven's room.\\
'''Raven:''' That's ''my'' room! '''''Nobody''''' goes in my room!
** Others can be said to be Starfire's culture and its... odities.
** Or Cyborg's obsession with food.
** Or Beast Boy's obsession with tofu.
** Or Starfire's love of foods no-one else would eat. "This tangy yellow beverage is most delicious!" "Uh, Starfire?" "That's mustard." "Is there more?"
** The episode "Spellbound" has Raven's obsession with a book she was reading. Each time she read, the scene is visualized for the audience. And every time she's interrupted, the scene would stop/freeze/burn as it would if it were an old-school projector film. It got worse every time Raven is interrupted, as her temper grows shorter.
** Beast Boy has very little resistance to hypnosis. And the only thing to get him out of it is to make him laugh. Something that's a running gag in Mad Mod episodes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Peter blowing off the front of Cleveland's house while he's in the tub (causing the tub to fall off the second floor into the front yard as Cleveland yells "No no no no no noooo!"), Joe re-gaining the ability to walk and instantly becoming crippled, Peter's spontaneous battles with a giant chicken, the evil monkey in Chris's closet (Though this one has been resolved).
** In an in-episode example ("To Love And Die In Dixie") Peter is attacked by a raccoon at increasingly random times.
** The Vaudeville duo "Play me off..." (also resolved), Giggity Giggity, and Stewie talking to Brian about the book he is writing in a high pitched voice are other examples.
** Consuela the maid's "No,...no...", and "more Lemon Pledge"
** "[indrawn hiss]...aaaahhhh...[indrawn hiss]...aaaahhhh..."
** Every time Peter asks if someone has heard, the person says "Heard what?" Peter then proceeds to sing the lyrics to "Surfin' Bird" to an annoying degree. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in one episode where Peter loses his memory and turns on a jukebox that plays the song, but Peter unplugs it and says the song is annoying.
** Similar to ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' example below where Groundskeeper Willie keeps getting axed in the back, in the episode "Three Kings," which is three short segments parodying Creator/StephenKing stories, whatever character Joe portrays will always start with the ability to walk, but will have his legs crippled sometime before the end of the segment.
** The Kool-Aid Man breaking through the wall of a courtroom like he does in the 1970s-80s TV commercials whenever a number of people say "Oh, no!" (The drink-mix mascot also makes cameo appearances in other episodes, including one in which he witnesses something else break through a wall and realizes that it can be annoying.)
** Episodes in seasons 4 through 8 would often feature some non-human creature having a case of VocalDissonance in the form of having Bruce's voice. These included Franchise/{{Jaws}}, a giant bee, the Franchise/{{Alien}} queen, and a giant rat.
* A key element of the humor in ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'' is the numerous running gags, from Phil Ken Sebben's "Ha ha... DoubleEntendre", to Peter Potamus' "Did you get that thing I sent ya?", to Mentok's mindtaking, to Reducto's paranoia and obsession with small things... It's a long list.
* The ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' wiki often follows up something that makes fans happy with "and there was much [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail rejoicing (yay...)]]". There are also a multitude of jokes about various incarnations of Ultra Magnus dealing/not dealing with things (based on a line from TheMovie). Also, whenever there's a picture of [[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated Animated]] [[TheStarscream Starscream]] or one of his [[CloningBlues clones]], it's almost inevitably accompanied by a relevant quote about [[Series/RedDwarf Arnold Rimmer]].
** Bonecrusher hates that he was forgotten on this list.
** Bonecrusher also hates that he was added to this list.
** Bonecrusher ''especially'' hates being added to the [[OverlyLongGag "overused" jokes list]].
** Any image of a bird alternate mode, some sort of flying alternate mode or just tangentially related to flying will be accompanied by the [[SignatureStyle Furmanism]] "like a vast, predatory bird...".
*** Furmanisms as a whole.
** Movie Optimus Prime wants YOUR FACE. Occasionally bleeds into other continuities if faces are involved.
** The infamous "Know that I am ''Razorclaw''" speech from the Universe comic. There are multiple characters named "Razorclaw", and ''all'' of them get a reference to it.
** Another one that repeats over and over again throughout the franchise; if a decepticon named ''Cy-Kill'' ever shows up, expect him to be dead within 5 pages, usually by Megatron.[[note]] For those uninformed; Cy-Kill was the BigBad (aka, Megatron's counterpart) in ''WesternAnimation/ChallengeOfTheGoBots'' and when Hasbro later bought up Tonka and locked the trademark, writers have taken a liking to poke fun at their old [[DuelingShows competitors]] expense.[[/note]]
** Skywarp(s) like to shove people down the stairs. [[note]]The wiki feels like Skywarp is just the type of bot who'd enjoy pushing people down stairs; there's no canon basis for this.[[/note]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has a few running gags.
** Zuko's ship being damaged in Season 1: being buried under an avalanche (ep. 02), being set on fire by Zhao's catapult (07), losing the miniboat over a waterfall (09), being struck by lightning (12), a Shirshu ripping a hole in the deck (15), and finally being ''blown up'' in the season finale.
** [[YuppieCouple The Cabbage Guy]] getting his [[FruitCart cabbage cart]] smashed. ("My cabbages!"). Lapses for the second season before making a surprise return late in the third season when the playwright traveling the world interviewing people to research the Avatar's journey met "a surprisingly knowledgeable merchant of cabbage".
*** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', Cabbage Corp is mentioned in several episodes before appearing, with a statue of its familiar-looking founder standing by his cart. As the owner is being arrested and his company's assets frozen, he cries out "Not my Cabbage Corp!".
** Various characters forgetting that Toph can't see, to the point where Toph once {{lampshades}}, "I mean, seriously, what's ''with'' you people?! I'm '''''BLIND!'''''" Toph herself isn't above taking advantage of it in order to pick on others, but one time she gets defensive about not being included in an activity that would ''require'' sight to do. They also subverted it once where Toph mocks Sokka for asking her to take the wheel of an airship, but he wasn't actually talking to her.
---->'''Sokka:''' Take the wheel!\\
'''Toph:''' ''(smirks sarcastically)'' That's a great idea! Let the blind girl steer the giant airship!\\
'''Sokka:''' ''(dryly)'' I was talking to Suki.\\
'''Toph:''' ''(stops smiling)'' Thaaat would make a lot more sense...
*** Taken to extreme when in order to end a rift between Toph and Katara, Sokka writes an apologetic letter supposedly from Toph and sends it to Katara who is not fooled as being blind 'Toph can't write!', Aang still enthusiastically suggests they try again reversing the recipient of the fake letter but Sokka realises 'we may face the same problem'.
** Sokka's fake beard in the third season. Then his alias of "Wang Fire" went on to become a MemeticBadass.
** His [[TerribleArtist terrible drawing skills]] that go from "Lake Laogai" all the way to the GrandFinale. Toph thinks he's a great artist, which is nice of-- heyyyy...
** Every time a character (usually Sokka) tells a bad joke, there is a moment of silence, [[ChirpingCrickets followed by an off-screen cough.]]
** Katara's water bending always gets Sokka wet throughout season one followed with
---->'''Sokka:''' KATARA!\\
'''Katara:''' Sorry Sokka.
* The episode "[[Recap/DarkwingDuckS1E8ComicBookCapers Comic Book Capers]]" of ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' has a character whose name ''is'' Little Running Gag. He threw pies and ran through the scene for no reason. Oh, the name? He was a stereotypical Native American: "Ha! That's my assistant, 'Little Running Gag'." "Oh! I get it. It's a running gag..."
** Also:
--->'''Gosalyn:''' If you don't come [to Honker's birthday party], I won't clean my room.\\
'''Drake:''' You never clean your room.\\
''(...)''\\
'''[[FutureMeScaresMe Dark Warrior Duck]]:''' I should have recognized you as a bad egg from the start. You never cleaned your room.\\
''(...)''\\
'''Darkwing:''' You're, uh... [[YouAreGrounded you're grounded]]!\\
'''Gosalyn:''' Grounded?! What for?\\
'''Darkwing:''' ''(not wanting to tell her he's trying to protect her from Taurus Bulba, now BackFromTheDead)'' Um, for... not picking up your room.\\
'''Gosalyn:''' I never pick up my room! You're gonna have to do better than that!
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' had a similar joke to Darkwing's literal running gag, only with a clown (making it even more literal).
** Buster and Babs "No relation" gag.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' go out for pizza once every weekend... the pizza place is NEVER the same theme twice.
** On a few occasions, the pizza restaurant has even changed mid-episode.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' frequently has Yakko, Wakko, and Dot running by in the other characters' segments, pursued by Ralph the Guard. WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain would also frequently appear in the background in other segments doing the same thing they do every night. Other characters occasionally get into the act as well.
** And:
--->'''Yakko & Wakko:''' [[HeadTurningBeauty HELLOOOO NURSE!]]\\
'''Dot''': Boys. Go fig.
** Yakko's typical response to an InnocentInnuendo or other off-color joke is to turn to the audience and say "Goodnight everybody!"
** Dot introducing herself as "[[OverlyLongName Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the Third]]... but [[SomeCallMeTim you can call me Dot]]. [[BerserkButton Call me Dottie and you die.]]"
** Speaking of ''Pinky and the Brain'', it has its own. In addition to its OnceAnEpisode gags ("The same thing we do every night" and "AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering"), there's also the matter of Pinky answering Brain's rhetorical questions with a cultural reference that actually fits the question (if not the way Brain intended).
** The episode "Survey Ladies" is a one-episode example. The titular survey ladies pop out of everywhere, pestering the Warners. It goes to the point where it's lampshaded by Dot.
--->'''Dot: '''See, it's a running gag thing. I think everyone gets it now.
** Another one-episode example was the full thirty-minute "King Yakko". Several times, someone held up a piece of polka-dotted clothing in front of Dot and quizzically said, "Polka dot?" Which caused Wakko to pull out an accordion and the three siblings (and everyone else present) to dance the Polka.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooInArabianNights'', the "Sinbad" story frequently features the evil Captain's run-down boat being sunken by something, and then the luxury cruise ship WesternAnimation/MagillaGorilla was supposed to get on passing by after that.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooAndScrappyDooShow'' Has Scrappy's love of putting ketchup on the most...unlikely of foods.
* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'', Pepper Mills constantly bothers historical celebrities for their autographs, not realizing until after she's gotten it that the person in question is not the pop cultural celebrity she has mistaken them for.
* [[DaChief Captain Fanzone's]] car gets destroyed whenever it shows up in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated''. He also [[WalkingTechbane can never get technology to work properly.]]
-->"This is why I HATE machines!"
* The size of Dib's head on ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. The people who worked on the show never got tired of it; in fact, the staff [[http://www.zimwiki.com/index.php?title=God_save_the_Dib subtly modified the proportions of his head over the run of the show just for that gag!]]
** [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne My head's not big!]]
** Several episodes have a character suffer a spinal injury and scream "MY SPINE!!"
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' has "I needed that!" from Ratchet everytime someone breaks a piece of equiptment Ratchet needed (usually Bulkhead). Even gets called back to in the movie by bumblebee.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars Transformers'' has several for the characters; Megatron's "''[[VerbalTic Yessss]]''" and his taking his rubber ducky with him into the regeneration tank, [[VitriolicBestBuds Rattrap and Dinobot's]] constant exchange of argues, everyone telling Rattrap to shut up whenever he declares that "We're all gonna die!" (which he actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]], once), Waspinator's [[TheChewToy many, many,]] ''[[CosmicPlaything many]]'' [[TheWoobie slaggings]], Inferno referring to Megs as "My Queen", etc.
* Jim Moralès could tell you all about ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'''s example, but he'd rather not talk about it.
** "I'm not scrawny, I'm [[InsistentTerminology svelte!]]"
*** And then Odd proceeds to [[BigEater eat Jeremie's lunch]] along with his own.
** In Season 4, practically everyone calling [[spoiler:Xana-possessed William]] 'pretty-boy' or some variation of it.
** [[DesignatedVictim XANA sure hates Yumi.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' actually makes a running joke of the main character, Bob's ''many'' [[CatchPhrase catchphrases]] ("This is bad...''very'' bad", "''Stay frosty!''", "That was easy enough"). Having other characters use them, and referring to the fact that if Bob was with them, he'd probably say one of those lines.
** Remember that running gag, Al?
** [[AC:..."WHAAAT?"]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', there were two recurring gags throughout the years Brainy sneaking behind Helga and breathing heavily and [[OffhandBackhand her punching him]], and [[TheChewToy Eugene]] always getting involved in some kind of accident usually on his bicycle.
** "I'm okay."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' includes several, including 24's [[TheAllegedCar Nissan Stanza]] and 21 complaining about not being told about things, such as the fact that the wings on the henchmen's costumes are actually flight-capable.
** Monarch and taxi drivers. Every time he has to take a taxi, he either orders that the driver be killed or shoots the driver himself with a tranq dart.
** In season 4, every mention of the organization SPHINX was followed up either by a choir saying "Sphinx!" or Shore-Leave saying it himself in his best CampGay voice.
* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'': Any time Shake handles something, which he ends up flinging to the ground, it explodes. Notable examples including from TV remotes, to the Satellite dish he used to cook hot dogs, to three one dollar bills (which took the time to slowly drift to the ground before exploding), and causing a chain reaction once by flinging an object into the television, the object exploding, then the television exploding a few seconds later. It's implied this isn't just a visual gag by characters silently backing away from the explosion.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'': Early Cuyler always robbing the same convenience store, and blowing off the old man's left hand.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
** Roberto robs the same bank three times in a row, in the ''same episode''.
** Zoidberg's limited knowledge or the human body, his financial status, and him losing [[BizarreAlienBiology an organ he doesn't need]]. It's a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} when it's discovered that Zoidberg is actually a doctor of Art History.
** Good news, everybody!
** [[MadLibsCatchPhrase Sweet (something) of (somewhere)]]! Lampshaded in "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back", where he's so freaked out that he can't come up with a real saying and actually ''says'' "Sweet...something of...some place."
*** A simile involving a "green snake" and "sugar cane" (climbing faster than a green snake up a sugar cane, hungrier than a green snake in a sugar cane field, etc.).
*** '''"MY MANWICH!!"'''
** I'm Scruffy. The janitor.
*** I've never seen ''you'' before.
*** Scruffy's never seen you before neither.
** Bender proclaiming that he's 40 percent something, including titanium in "A Head in the Polls", dolomite in "Jurassic Bark", and zinc.
*** ''Attack of the Killer App'' adds 40% chromium to Bender.
*** And ''All the Presidents' Heads'' makes him 40% scrap metal.
*** In "Decision 3012," 40% wire.
*** As an elephant seal in ''Naturama'', he's 40% ass.
*** He's also 60% storage space, [[http://www.halolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/halolz-dot-com-futurama-330.04percentbender.jpg and a few other things that don't really... add up]].
** [[CameraFiend Neat! *click*]]
** [[HesDeadJim He's dead.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' and ''Cartoon Planet'', WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost has what is essentially a reflex to shoot Zorak whenever the latter says something incredibly insulting. This got a skit/episode dedicated to lampshading it in both series. The former had Zorak faking his death after getting shot repeatedly, and the latter had Brak incurring Space Ghost's wrath simply because he "isn't animated to explode" like Zorak is, with the mantis taking all the heat(rays).
** The show has a habit of mocking interviewees when they try to get their plug out of the way, even cutting them off in the middle of it. Eventually one of his guests calls out Space Ghost on this behavior, and then tries to use it to segue into his own plug, at which point the show suddenly cuts to NonSequitur StockFootage of a panda.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}}'' has tons of running gags. One of the funniest was a GoryDiscretionShot whenever BJ ate a bug.

* Series 9 and 10 of ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' had Greenback activating a "hit box," which contained a mallet that bopped Stiletto on the head whenever he said something stupid.
-->'''Stiletto:''' Ow! Ow! And Ow!
** The entire series has DM getting exasperated with Penfold whenever he says something...out of place:
-->"Penfold, shush!"
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' has a few: Kid Flash's habit of picking up souvenirs, Robin's backformations and prefix removal, Superboy's hatred of monkeys, and Artemis nearly drowning has officially been repeated three times, so it counts, too. They're starting to play around the various gags, as well, with Kid Flash complaining about forgetting a souvenir and Robin using one of his created words in a deadly serious context.
* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', Mr. Dink always says things are "very expensive". Subverted in an episode where he notes something was "surprisingly cheap".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'':
** Starting with the episode "The Astrosmurf", the cartoon had a joke that went like this: Papa Smurf would lead the other smurfs on a long journey. One would start to get tired, and ask "Is it much farther Papa Smurf?" and he'd reply, "Not far now." Then the scene would shift, another smurf would ask the question again, and he'd reply the same way. After four scene-shifts and being asked the question four times, he'd finally lose patience and reply, "YES IT IS!!" After that episode, the joke, or a version of it was used frequently throughout ''the whole run of the series'', whenever there was a scene involving a long walk or journey. ( Even Gargamel, who tagged along with Smurfs in one episode, complained about the journey being too long.) In fact, in a late season, the joke was lampshaded; after the question was asked a second time, Papa Smurf snapped, "Oh, now don't start ''that'' again!"
** Brainy had a running gag that ended a lot of episodes. One of the smurfs would get upset at his annoying lectures, and he'd be thrown out of the village, land on his head, and make some sort of funny comment. (For instance, in "The Gingerbread Smurfs" episode, it happened when it was clear he hadn't learned a thing, and said, "I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles!") One time the episode ended outside the village, and he was thrown ''into'' it, surprised that had actually happened.
* One can always tell when a ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' adventure is about to come to a close when Boris finds one last thing to say to Natasha as their plans lie in ruins around them:
-->'''Boris:''' SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH!
** This running gag even gets a little shout-out during the Oogle Bird adventure, when Boris yells to the bird, "Aw, shut up your beak!"
** "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': Batman was missing from Gotham [[spoiler:and really under Braniac mind control]]. After Superman as Batman leaves after talking to Gordon, one of the cops standing around remarks "Did he look taller to you?". This is carry-over from the print comic running gag where characters often expect Batman to be taller.

* 'Victor and Hugo - Bunglers In Crime' - In every episode (with one exception) a small, growling dog would appear out of nowhere, run up Victor's trouser leg and remove his underwear. [[RuleOfFunny No explanation is given]] other than that it is funny - particularly for Hugo.

* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Omi's misuse of slang. Even the villains were stunned by the third season.

* ''WesternAnimation/AtomicPuppet'':
** Joey and AP breaking a hole in their room's roof whenever they leave to fight crime.
** Joey and AP shouting "VictoryPose!" and striking one after they defeat the villain of the episode.
** AP [[HurlItIntoTheSun throwing things into the sun]] (or suggesting to do so) as a method of disposing threats.
** AP (and sometimes other characters) bringing up Joey's "spaghetti arms", to Joey's annoyance.

* ''WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim'' has a running gag at the end of each episode in which either Jim, Peter or one of the villains had a cow fall on top of them.

* ''WesternAnimation/WildAnimalBabyExplorers'' has Sammy the Skunk randomly playing hide-and-seek with the other characters and they never quite know when he's going to do it.
-->'''Benita''': Sammy just loves-loves-loves to hide! And we love-love-love to find!

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Turbo}} Turbo FAST]]'':
** White Shadow groaning in exasperation every time Turbo brags about winning the Indy 500.
** The Teen Rec Center getting destroyed. In "Hawaii Five-No", one of the things Burn forces the FAST crew to do is to rebuild it.

* On ''WesternAnimation/DanielTigersNeighborhood'', when the characters are baking something and the timer on the oven dings, saying "X is ding... I mean done."
* The Disney series ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'', had a few of these also. Examples include:
** Almost invariably, Launchpad would crash whatever craft he's piloting/operating, even when it should be impossible (for example, a rocket car on tracks). Lampshaded throughout the series by various characters (including Launchpad).
** The nephews' Jr. Woodchuck Guide Book almost invariably has a solution or numbered plan to solve whatever crisis befalls them, no matter how unlikely or outlandish it may be (such as instructions on how to pilot an alien spaceship).
** Going back to Launchpad, "Launchpad's Civil War" has the impossibly-old veterans of the Battle of Duck Ridge constantly reminding Launchpad how his ancestor, Rhubarb [=McQuack=], screwed up.
---> "...that lousy, rotten, bungling polecat [=McQuack=] (''{{gasp}}'') lost us the Battle of Duck Ridge!"
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'':
** Not only does Launchpad still crash something in every one of his appearances, he also has a tendency to go off on [[HeroOfAnotherStory wild off-screen adventures with one of his ex-girlfriends]].
** About OnceAnEpisode characters will react to a plot twist with [[DoubleTake "Wait, what?"]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DinosaurTrain'':
** The Conductor's mother and the doting way in which she treats her son, though sometimes embarrassing him.
** Don's obsession with holes, as well as him not understanding the names of some dinosaur species (especially ''Ornithomimus'', whose name he forgot at least twice).
** At least with all the songs that made it onto the "Dinosaur Jams" album, there's a running gag with every song sung by the Conductor. He says that something [[ThatRemindsMeOfASong reminds him of a song]], resulting in the Pteranodon kids/Buddy asking for him to sing it, only for him to insist that they couldn't possibly want to hear him sing. They beg for him to sing it and he immediately launches into song, with everyone else present soon joining in.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' seems to have a tendency to see Steven's TV set get destroyed every few episodes.
** Steven himself destroys the TV in "Gem Glow" when he summons his mother's HardLight shield only to accidentally send it flying.
** Holo-Pearl stabs the TV in "Steven the Sword Fighter"
** The Wailing Stone's vibrations shatter Steven's TV in "Rose's Room", and [[MissingTheGoodStuff just as Steven was about to unlock the secret ending]] to ''[[FictionalVideoGame Golf Quest Mini]]''.
** In "Back to the Barn", Peridot smashes the TV set in order to salvage it for parts.
** In "Know Your Fusion", Smoky Quartz accidentally smashes the TV while doing tricks with their KillerYoyo.

* The BreakingTheFourthWall gags in ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'', which occurred darn near constantly throughout the show's run and (depending on who you ask) ended up run into the ground mercilessly by the show's end. There really was NoFourthWall by the series finale.

* On ''WesternAnimation/EsmeAndRoy'', Roy does something overly dramatic. He then asks if it's "too much" and either Esme or the monster that they're monster-sitting agrees "a little."

** Fung the lead Croc Bandit flinging his helmet on the ground in rage. And yelling "DARN IT!" And pronouncing [[ItsPronouncedTroPay Gah-Ri's]] name wrong.

*** What is up with the [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext floating baby head]]?

* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooInArabianNights'', the "Sinbad" story frequently features the evil Captain's run-down boat being sunken by something, and then the luxury cruise ship Sinbad/MagillaGorilla was supposed to get on passing by after that.

* in The Yeah Toast show, Morshu says "Holy Crap this shouldn’t happen every day.

** Mindy is constantly sneaking up on Mitchell whenever he spies on Jet, which he finds uncomfortable. He even lampshades this a few times.

* The WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck short ''Modern Inventions'' can be best described in three words:

** Whenever the red-haired redneck shows up, he'll inevitably yell out "DEY TOOK AR JERBS!" or a variation of it.

* ''[[Franchise/WinnieThePooh My Friends Tigger & Pooh]]'':

* In ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'', Mindy's excuses for not joining the gang in their trips to outer space, to say nothing of her need to mention that she's "not allowed to go past Jet's yard".

*** [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Let's hope not.]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} This is a family show!]]

** And;
-->'''Yakko & Wakko:''' [[HeadTurningBeauty HELLOOOO NURSE!]]\\

** or:
-->'''Yakko:''' Mwah! Goodnight everybody!
** or:
-->'''Dot:''' [[OverlyLongName Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the Third]]... but [[SomeCallMeTim you can call me Dot]]. [[BerserkButton Call me Dottie and you die.]]

-->'''Dot: '''See, it's a running gag thing. I think everyone gets it now.

** Parodied in the episode "Squid Baby", with "My face, my face!... Also my leg, but mostly my face!"

** A character's parent knocking on their offspring's door, followed up by the parent saying that while they respect their offspring's privacy, they're asserting their authority as their mother/father by coming in anyway, and the parent smashing the door down with a pillar.