Running Gags

Running Gags
The Nostalgia Critic does tend to use running gags throughout his reviews. However, most are often self-contained to the one video. These include (but are not limited to) the "Ambiguous Gay Duo" theme and escape/suicide attempts in Batman & Robin, the ruler hitting him over the head in Captain Planet, "Ba-bomb" in Super Mario Bros., the repeated use of the word of 'Genius!' to describe Surf Ninjas, and constant references to the line "That's a lot of fish" in Godzilla (1998). He also has a running gag of "Duck-Tits Woo Hoo!" in his Howard The Duck review, a callback to "Duck-Tales Woo Hoo!" which was first featured in Top 11 Catchiest Theme Songs. In the video of The Top 12 Greatest Christmas Specials, the Nostalgia Critic was continually interrupted by a singing novelty Christmas tree, only to finally shoot it off-screen. In the Jingle All the Way video, he imitated Arnold Schwarzenegger in a mocking manner, while also exclaiming needing to eat somebody.

Of course!
This running gag was first introduced in the Street Fighter episode. Whenever the Nostalgia Critic explains that the film's villains "plans to, you guessed it, take over the world", it cuts to M. Bison (Raul Julia) shouting "Of course!" It was then used again in the same video during the Mortal Kombat review. Since then, this gag has since been used in Batman & Robin review (twice), Masters of the Universe review and the Double Dragon review. In the Double Dragon review, the Nostalgia Critic even breaks the fourth wall and says that he's never going to get sick of that joke.

Or do they?!
This running gag was first introduced in the Super Mario Bros. review, whenever the Nostalgia Critic explains that the film's heroes "live happily ever after, Or do they?!", it then cuts to the film ending on a cliffhanger, Since then, this gag has since been used in the Mortal Kombat review, the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation review (twice) and the Godzilla (1998) review, In the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation review, the Nostalgia Critic uses the gag at the end of the film, but states that they actually do live happily ever after.

"KAAAAAHHHHN!"
This running gag consists of a quick clip of Captain Kirk shouting "KHAN!" in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan played after the mention of the word "Khan" or variant of it. It was first introduced in the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation video. Every mention of main villain Shao Khan is quickly followed up by the Star Trek clip, which starts to annoy the Nostalgia Critic after a while. In the Top 11 Disney Villains video, the clip is played after the first mention of Jungle Book character Shere Khan, which instantly annoys the Critic. It is played again when the Critic mentions Kaa (another character from The Jungle Book), but the Critic stops the clip mid-cry.

"Y'know, for kids!"
This running gag is based off of NC's reaction to movies that are supposedly for kids, but, they tend to have a more adult theme in mind. For example, this comment was made in the Howard the Duck review when a female duck was shown in a bathtub without her breasts covered. It has also been used in the review of Pokemon: The First Movie.

The 9mm pistol
This centers on the Critic producing a pistol and either threatening something (or someone) annoying him, or in preparation for a suicide attempt, as in Howard the Duck. This gun has been used to kill Santa in Jingle All The Way, attack several villains in The Top 11 Disney Villains, kill and be-head annoying characters in Tom and Jerry: The Movie, kill an annoying dancing Christmas tree in The Top 12 Greatest Christmas Specials, shoot the song in Nicktoons and appeared many more times. It's earliest appearance is in the Nostalgia Critic's second review, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, where the Nostalgia Critic kills himself during a song by all the animated characters about the "million wonderful ways to say 'no'".

"Ba-ba-ba-ba!"
Used as a sarcastic exclamation to something obvious which is supposed to be surprising. This was first seen in The Wizard when the child catcher expresses surprise at the sight of an elevator, which the Critic then mockingly imitates. It has since been used occasionally, such as in Batman and Robin, The Secret Behind Nostalgic Sports Movies and Jingle All The Way.

"Adventure HO!
This running gag started in January 2009's "Nickelodeon Month" and featured the The Nostalgia Critic posing in front of an action scene as if an adventure was starting. After the first time, the critic would show confusion or an annoyance with the subject. Adventure Ho! was said because it was a way to explain a plot such as the show "Rugrats" being about babies.