The Big Bang Theory's Long-Running Gag
Nearly twenty years ago, The Big Bang Theory set up a story that it knew would take hundreds of episodes to finish.
The show's creators used the broken elevator in the building where the characters live as a recurring joke, with the characters having to walk up several flights of stairs every episode.
The elevator remains broken until The Big Bang Theory's penultimate episode, 278 episodes later.
This long-running gag allowed for hilarious and meaningful conversations on the stairs, making the most of the situation.
The show's ability to wait years before paying off a storyline is a testament to its long shelf life.
Author's summary: The Big Bang Theory's broken elevator joke lasted 278 episodes.