thumb|A running gag in [[The Jack Benny Program radio show was that Benny owned a high-security vault in his basement, which would produce dramatic sound effects when broken into.]]
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling. Though they are related, catchphrases are not considered to be running gags. For example, a character may present others with a proposition that is so ridiculous or outrageous it is likely to be self-mocking to the point where the original request has little or no chance of actually being carried out and results in a humorous effect.-->
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