'90s TV presented a wonderful range of family sitcoms, many of which had some great running gags. In between an abundance of things seemingly every show had in common - like a pesky neighbor or a house with two sets of stairs (one in the living room, one in the kitchen) - there were some unique recurring jokes that were exclusive to each particular show. Sure, you could bank on the crowd applauding a guest star and cheesy piano music playing during dramatic scenes, but these gags delighted fans and made their shows distinctive. No matter how many times the jokes were made, regardless of if we always knew it was coming, they still managed to draw some type of pleasant recognition. The best of the best, no matter how familiar you became with them, were and still are funny.
The Best Running Jokes from '90s Sitcoms,
Kel Loves Orange Soda
TV Series: Kenan & Kel
Everyone who watched Kenan & Kel knows all about Kel's burning desire for the orange fizzy beverage. Upon spotting a two liter, he'd cradle it, caress it, and give it a kiss. The soda obsession was a regularly expected occurrence anytime Kel was in the presence of the elixir.
“We Were on a Break!”
TV Series: Friends
In the third season, Ross and Rachel broke up - or, as Ross puts it, the two were "on a break." During the couple's brief split, Ross hooks up with someone else, assuming that Rachel's doing the same, and his excuse is that they were on a break. This is mentioned throughout the rest of the series, including in the series finale.
Wilson Never Shows the Bottom Half of His Face
TV Series: Home Improvement
Tim Taylor was close to his neighbor Wilson, who served as Tim's confidant and often provided him with profound advice. But the show made a conscious effort to ensure that we could only see his eyes, and the lower half of his face was always blocked off, typically by the fence separating their yards.
Eric’s “Feeny!” Call
TV Series: Boy Meets World
Eric started off as the cool older brother, but somewhere along the way he becomes an immature, somewhat unintelligent character. In Season 4, he first creates the Feeny Call, which only gets goofier throughout the series, though it remained a highly anticipated, classic moment in each episode.
Falling Off the Water Tower on That '70s Show
TV Series: That '70s Show
The Water Tower is seen on That '70s Show from the first season on. Despite being unsafe, the group goes there often and many of them fall - most commonly Kelso. In one episode, Charlie Richardson falls off the Water Tower and dies. Other characters fall, including Bob, Leo, Red, and Randy, but they all survived their tumbles.
“Aww, Here It Goes!”
TV Series: Kenan & Kel
At the end of every episode of Kenan & Kel, they'd come out in front of the live studio audience and give closing statements. While the show was ending, it wasn't over for the characters, as plotting, scheming Kenan would request Kel to acquire several random items, and meet him at a specific location. Much to Kel's dismay, he'd be reeled into Kenan's shenanigans, saying "aww, here it goes," before running off stage.
Steve Urkel’s “Did I Do That?”
TV Series: Family Matters
Whenever Steve Urkel did something disastrous, which was pretty much every single episode, he'd follow it up by peskily asking, "Did I do that?" It became such a popular catchphrase that when he was breaking a table, shattering a window, or making some kind of mess, you knew exactly what was coming.
They Killed Kenny!
TV Series: South Park
Over and over again, in different manners from episode to episode, South Park's Kenny met his demise. After being killed, the phrases "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!" "You bastards!" were uttered by Stan and Kyle. According to the series creators, the "You bastards" line is being said towards the writers for putting the death in the script.
Michelle Tanner’s Catchphrases
TV Series: Full House
From "You got it dude," to "Aww, nuts," to "Duh," Michelle Tanner had all kinds of regular phrases that she'd blurt out at just the right moment. Full House wasn't afraid to give other characters regular lines, so honorable mention to Joey Gladstone's "Cut it out" and Uncle Jesse's "Have mercy."
Uncle Phil Throwing Jazz Out the Front Door
TV Series: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
When Will's friend Jazz came over, he rarely went longer than a few minutes without irritating Uncle Phil. Whether it was something he said, something he did, or just his general presence, he was thrown out on a regular basis, screaming "Ah!" as he hit the pavement.