Jersey Shore has had plenty of memorable moments through its run, including both the original series as well as the revival, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Some of the best and most underrated moments have been about nice things the cast has done for one another. But the most talked-about ones are, of course, the controversies – from the fights to the rumors, the drama, and the scandal.
Amidst all of the chaos, the series has also had some pretty great running gags, some of which have been carried over from the original series and others that are brand new, yet still make fans laugh every time they present themselves.
Mike Banging His Head Into The Wall
It became one of the most iconic scenes of the show and certainly Mike's most iconic scene: after getting frustrated at being blamed for drama in Ronnie and Sam's relationship, Mike literally banged his head against the wall. But he didn't realize it was a concrete wall and he ended up needing medical care.
The resulting image of Mike wearing sunglasses and a neck brace has become a meme. Not only has the scene been replayed and mentioned again and again in the revival, but Mike has also even worn a T-shirt featuring his likeness from that moment.
Angelina & The Chicken Tenders
One of the newest running gags, after Lauren heard rumors about Angelina being caught on camera outside of a guy's apartment, the investigations began. Angelina, however, was more angered at being accused of littering chicken tenders on the ground than she was about the accusations of cheating.
Any time the issue is brought up, Angelina is adamant that she would never order chicken tenders, thus it couldn't possibly be true.
"The Party's Here!"
Nicole's first famous line, she declared it as soon as she walked into the Shore house in the original series. She continues to pronounce this line on numerous occasions, including when she showed up to surprise Mike for his sober-versary drive-by party, one of the nicest things the cast has done for one another.
Others have also used it as a running gag to declare their arrivals for a momentous occasion of vacation.
Vinny As A Stripper
Vinny had a stint as a stripper for Chippendale's in Las Vegas and the friends never let him live it down. Any chance they get to mention it, they do. And in fact, any chance Vinny gets to mention it himself, he does.
Not only are clips shown of Vinny on stage, but he will sometimes do stripper moves or allude to his time as a stripper, wearing the gig as a badge of honor. But the running gag is the friends making fun of him for it, even though he's quite proud of his performance.
The Blow-up Dolls
When Jersey Shore: Family Vacation was first announced, there was one person missing: Sammie was the only original cast member (not including Angelina) that wasn't initially involved in the project; indeed, she still isn't.
To make it seem as though she was with them anyway, Pauly D brought a blow-up doll that looked like Sam and sat it on the couch to surprise the houseguests when they walked in. Since then, he has brought along blow-up dolls of any female friend who is missing to sit in their places until they arrive.
Mike Running Whenever He Hears A Siren
It's no secret that Mike spent time in jail for tax-related offenses, which was a big story on the show. One of his running gags is that, whenever a siren is heard in the background, whether it's a passing ambulance, a nightclub DJ and their sound effects, or something entirely different, Mike puts on a scared face and runs.
He does this in jest, of course, making light of a very serious situation in his life. But it gets everyone laughing every time.
The Note
"The Note" happened in the original series and the origins of the note and the fight it caused are still constantly mentioned on the show as one of the most entertaining and memorable moments. After witnessing Ron's disrespectful behavior at a club, Nicole and Jenni wanted to let Sam know but didn't want to outright tell her for fear that they would get blamed and she would be upset with them.
So, they wrote a seemingly anonymous note and left it for her, sparking a massive fight in the house. While not funny at the time, the moment has become a running gag as the friends say they will "write a note" whenever they want to talk about something serious.
Mike's Love Of Food
Mike has a serious love of food, which he balances with a strict workout regimen. Likely because he works off so many calories, he has to intake a lot as well. And he isn't shy. Any time the crew goes to a restaurant, Mike seems to order one of everything on the menu.
In one hilarious scene, while waiting outside for Lauren to finish a doctor's appointment, Mike secretly ordered a burger to eat in the car, knowing full well Lauren wanted to go for lunch after. It's adorable to see his face light up at an amazing spread of food.
Calling Zack "24"
When Jenni first revealed that her new boyfriend was 24 years old, the guys got a good laugh out of it. Of course, there was a clear double standard since no one would have batted an eye had it been one of the guys, all in their 30s, dating a 24-year-old woman.
Nonetheless, even though Zack has become closer with them all, and he's no longer 24, it remains a running gag to refer to him as such, and even makes jokes about him being a "baby."
Pauly D Prank Wars
Pauly D loves pranks so much that he even secured a separate reality TV series, Revenge Prank, (one of many spin-offs of Jersey Shore) where he, along with Vinny, prank unsuspecting people. He declares himself the prank war champion, and on every season, he pulls off some type of crazy prank.
From inviting Angelina on vacation without telling anyone, to having Uncle Nino appear on stage in a Speedo during Vinny's show and pulling the double book on the girls, Pauly's plans are always elaborate but they always work and bring tons of laughs to the show.