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Running Gags Research Paper

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The Running Gags of Arrested Development There are two types of comedic television shows: Shows that are funny, and shows that aren’t. This is a strange and somewhat contradictory statement, but it is true. There are a great deal of comedic shows on television right now, and they all claim and work to be the funniest, but only a few truly succeed at it. One show in particular is Arrested Development. A key component to this show, one that has led to it’s huge cult following and overall success, is it’s extensive use of running gags. Running gags are literary devices that are in the form of comical references or jokes that repeatedly appear throughout a work of literature or in this case a television show. They are used in many types …show more content…

These characters are developed and are rendered funny through running gags. The running gags help to develop the joke about how each character is so flawed but yet they think their behavior is normal. Michael’s main goal is to care for his father’s business as well his own family, yet we are constantly reminded as to why these people do not deserve to be taken care of, yet they cannot take care of themselves. That is why the ‘family first’ gag is so humorous. It makes the absurd antics of this entire family seem normal and manageable, because they are a normal family who cares for one another, which they clearly don’t. Lucille, being the mother, should love and care for her children, and always put them first. The repeated insults towards Lindsey as well as the constant reminder of her distaste for Gob show how she is not even remotely close to how a mother should act. It is an excellent parallel to normal sitcom mothers who care for the family, but Lucille has no compassion whatsoever, and her constant display of that make her that much more funny. She doesn’t care, she sees no error in her ways, and she will never change. The running gags make this show so humorous because they constantly reinforce and remind us of the flaws in each character, and how they become funnier the more we are exposed to

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