He gave me a nod of recognition.

Of course, in a way, the gag plays on the same wry nod of recognition - we do remember, and we remember the comic who fools with it.

After getting a nod of recognition, the store assistant darted through a throng of tourists towards a squat man in shorts and baseball cap.

Father and daughter responded with nods of recognition and, inevitably, much merriment.

The callbacks and in-jokes engender nods of recognition but nothing like laughter.