For all its random, unpredictable elements, Rick and Morty has a number of amusing running gags that have helped define it and give it a distinct sense of character. From classics like "Pickle Rick" and Rick's beloved Szechuan sauce, the show's identity has been solidified by these memorable bits.
Like many comedies, running gags can play a role in coaxing laughs of recognition from the fandom. They often prove particularly funny in Harmon and Roiland's show, thanks to the warped zaniness that characterize many of these gags. With four seasons in the books and tons of great mind-bending moments, there's plenty to choose from - but which are the funniest?
10 Rick Giving Jerry A Hard Time
Poor Jerry. While this zany figure proves to be naive and klutzy more often than not, he gets a harsh amount of belittlement and razzing from his father-in-law, who makes it clear that he doesn't approve of him. The two spend much of the series subtly - and sometimes not-so-subtly - fighting for position as the Smith patriarch.
Classic zingers from Rick, such as "I don't like your unemployed genes in my grandchildren, Jerry" serve as amusing reminders of this bitter rivalry.
9 Summer's Nonchalant Phone Usage
In this day and age, heavy phone usage is pretty prevalent - and Summer's certainly no exception to this. Whether there's something major going down - or the Smith family is just hanging out - she'll often be seen casually scrolling through her phone.
In "Rickmancing the Stone," Morty even notes that their stint of hiding in a Colorkian echo nest was jeopardized by her ringing phone. Naturally, she not only shrugs it off - but even seems prideful of her typical carefree nature.
8 Random Vignettes And One-Offs
While Rick and Morty itself tends to be quite random, Harmon and Roiland occasionally wander even farther off the beaten path of the established universe with unrelated vignettes. These departures from canon and general structure make for some pretty funny moments, given how unpredictable and zany they can be.
A fan-favorite example is Rick and Morty tuning into interdimensional cable channels, where semi-improvised one-off sketches are shown. These wacky bits range from an over-the-top action movie trailer to an odd advert involving fake doors. These running gags seem to have been established as a "once-per-season" event, as seasons three and four each had their own warped versions of these bits. This includes an onslaught of Morty's recalled memories, and a vignette story train, respectively.
7 Mr. Poopybutthole Appearances
It's made clear early in the laugher "Total Rickall" that viewers are in for a weird, wild ride - as a peculiar character named "Mr. Poopybutthole" is introduced. While he's initially made out to be a parasitic false memory, it turns out he's in fact real.
Somehow, this just makes this mysterious character even more bizarre, especially when he shows up sporadically in a handful of future episodes. This includes a couple of post-credit sequences where he talks of the long wait until next season and a stint on "One Crew Over the Crewcoo's Morty." His unknown backstory and unexplained cameos are a great representation of this show's strange, wondrous nature.
6 The Council And Citadel Of Ricks
Rick and Morty often plays with the idea of boundless possibilities and renditions. This is conveyed not just through the many colorful alien worlds, but also through alternate dimensions. This premise is explored in "Rick Potion #9," which throws a curveball at viewers by having Rick and Morty travel to a new dimension and replace their recently-deceased selves there.
But this fun concept is really taken to the next level in "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind," which introduces a whole space colony of Ricks and Mortys. This bizarre locale is revisited at the end of season one - and the viewer is taken for an epic, emotional journey in season three's "Tales From the Citadel."
5 Goofy Alien Names
Given the complexities and mind-bending nature of Rick and Morty, having a more surface-level wacky counterbalance to some gags can go a long way. This more lighthearted silliness is conveyed in many ways, but one of the funniest comes in the form of the alien names.
Fans can't help but chuckle at some of the blatantly goofy, juvenile monikers, which include gems like Mr. Poopybutthole, Squanchy, Scroopy Noopers, and Dr. Glip-Glop. It's admirable that R&M can invoke laughs from jokes about quantum physics and something as simple as funny words in the same measure.
4 Rick's Garage Adventure Ramblings
It's tough not to chuckle at Rick's childlike, almost maniacal giddiness when he breaks into his adventure-related rants. These garage ramblings, which mostly happen at the beginning or end of a season, have Rick going off about things like "100 years of Rick and Morty adventures" and his desire to get McDonald's' coveted Szechuan sauce.
Another bit from season three has Morty joining in on the excitement - until they find that Summer is in the background poking fun of them. Despite her "ruining the season four premiere," as Rick and Morty claim, Summer's mockery puts a humorous twist on the gag.
3 Fourth Wall Jokes
It's easy to overdo the self-aware humor and self-parodying - though in a zany sci-fi cartoon like this, it tends to work. Harmon and Roiland seem to realize this, as there's no shortage of fourth wall breaking and "meta" moments. Many times during these bouts, Rick and Morty are addressing their own show or the viewer more than each other or other characters.
Examples range from mentions of "improvisational tones," to in-jokes about writer fights, to something as simple as waving goodbye to the audience. Ironically, these gags addressing the show add yet another layer to the boundless, trippy nature of the show itself.
2 Rick's Wacky Catchphrase
Yes, Rick seems to have a number of catchphrases, but for the purpose of brevity, the focus here will be on his most famous - "wubba lubba dub-dub." What began as a seemingly goofy one-off was soon revealed to be a bit darker and more meaningful. Birdperson tells Morty that in his language it means "I am in great pain, please help me." Morty explains that he's using it ironically - and so the plot thickens...
Either way, it's hard not to laugh a bit when seeing the genius scientist resort to mindless hand waving and wacky, (seemingly) nonsensical phrases.
1 Rick's Sporadic Belching
As R&M illustrates, funny gags can range from sophisticated to flat-out goofy or childish. This running gag would definitely be the latter, but that doesn't make it any less hilarious. Viewers are often reminded of Rick's drunken ways multiple times per episode - by way of brief, unexpected belches that interrupt his dialogue.
These sporadic burps bring out the show's more lighthearted and goofy side amidst some heavier moments. And really, it's just a classic, timelessly funny sound!
January 04, 2021 at 02:30AM
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Rick And Morty: 10 Funniest Running Gags, Ranked | ScreenRant - Screen Rant
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