Can You Complete These Classic TV Catchphrases?
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Movies and TV
No matter how much a person loves a given TV show, it’s almost impossible to remember every last thing all of their favorite characters say or do in each and every episode. Even when confined solely to the biggest laugh lines, people tend to get a little confused with the wording, and some might even screw up the punch lines. In contrast to this phenomenon, just about everyone can remember a given TV show’s catchphrase regardless of how many episodes they may have seen.
In addition to being memorable and repeatable, a good catchphrase needs to be sharp and funny, while also giving first time audiences a glimpse at what these characters are all about. When a catchphrase truly fits the person saying it, the words can double as an description or explanation of their personality. Granted, that isn’t always a factor in audiences being able to repeat these sayings, but it will effect whether or not the sentence is actually funny when they gets used.
When done properly, inserting a pop culture reference into every day situations can make a person the life of the party, but they better make sure they’re saying it right or else they’ll just get confused faces when they wanted laughs. Before an embarrassing situation like this happens to you, make sure you know your stuff by taking our quiz and completing these classic TV catchphrases.
Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory: “_____!”
Cold, uncaring, and completely unaware of the emotions of people around him, Sheldon Cooper very regularly says extremely rude things without considering how people around him will react. He also makes some absolutely bizarre jokes and “pranks” that would otherwise be indistinguishable from every day conversation were it not for his bombastic catchphrase. Because of his peculiar behavior, whenever Sheldon does something mischievous to make himself smile at the expense of his friends, he shouts out the same word to clue them in on what he’s doing.
Bart Simpson, The Simpsons: “Don’t have a _____, man.”
Eventually, fans noticed the greatest character The Simpsons had to offer was the town of Springfield itself, where bizarre things that couldn’t happen anywhere else on Earth take place on a daily basis. Initially, though, the true breakout character was the family’s lovable scamp of an older child, Bart. Part of what made Bart a hit before any of his family members was his rebellious attitude, perfectly captured by his multiple catchphrases. This one, however, was used when things were getting out of control, and he wanted everyone around him to calm down.
Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother: “_____ up.”
Had this quiz chosen to go a slightly different route with things, this next question could have been legend—wait for it, and we hope you’re not lactose intolerant, because the second half of the word is—dary. In fact, some might say that it still is, because just about everything that comes out of Barney Stinson’s mouth (or gets printed on his blog) is worthy of serious praise. Barney himself definitely feels this way, which plays a huge role in the way he dresses, and why he expects his friends to carry themselves in a similar manner.
Jerry and friends, Seinfeld: “Not that there’s anything _____ with that.”
Believe it or not, it was only a couple decades ago that a gay character on a major sitcom was still considered completely taboo. Sure, a LBGQT guest star might pop up for an episode, but they were usually the butt of jokes that would now be considered offensive. Blurring the lines between these two eras was an iconic episode of Seinfeld, when Jerry was falsely “outed” as gay despite the fact he “wasn’t even in.” Throughout it all, though, he wanted to make it clear he had no problems with gay people in general, constantly repeating this phrase.
Regis Philbin, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: “Is that your _____ answer?”
Every game show contestant needs to think extra hard about each decision they make, or else they could lose out on that grand prize they so desperately hope to win. Never before in game show history was this more important than on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which quickly made it one of the most popular trivia series in history. Recognizing the weight of the show from day one, host Regis Philbin came up with a catchphrase to ensure contestants weren’t just thinking out loud before locking in their answers.
Rick Sanchez, Rick and Morty: “Wubba lubba _____ _____.”
A genuinely mad scientist with far too much time on his hands, Rick Sanchez spends most of his day going on insane adventures with his grandson Morty. When the two aren’t traveling through space and time or turning into pickles, they also crack jokes with one another like any other friendly family. While Rick’s sense of humor is often quite crude, adult, and embarrassing, he always manages to keep things light by spouting out this nonsense catchphrase when he’s doing making them. In a tragic twist, according to a birdperson, it means, “I am in great pain, please help me.”
Joey Tribbiani, Friends: “How you _____?”
From the very first episode, the characters of Friends stood out for their adventurous decisions when it came to relationships. By the time it was over, virtually everyone on the show dated one another, or at least joked about a potential hookup. Obviously, they also found plenty of romance outside of their social circle, and none were more interested in pursuing this than playboy wannabe actor Joey Tribbiani. With the number of women he flirts with over the years, it only made sense he’d come up with a quick and efficient way to immediately express his interest.
Arnold Jackson, Diff’rent Strokes: “Whatchu talkin’ about, _____?”
At once precious and precocious, there will never be another child star quite like the incomparable Gary Coleman. With this skills, Coleman became incredibly popular as Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes when he was only 10 years old. Impressively, the young actor was the main focus of most episodes where he often displayed solid acting chops well beyond his age. That said, most audiences only remember a single sentence the kid said, thanks to the fact it spilled out of his mouth almost every episode. Eventually, he said it to almost everyone, but who did he said it to most?
Spock, Star Trek: “Live long and _____.”
Flying through space in the USS Enterprise to boldly go where no man has gone before, the characters of Star Trek often got into some seriously tense situations. On many occasions, the hotheaded Captain James T. Kirk would be quick to get into conflict with the alien beings they encounter, but his best friend and most trusted ally Mr. Spock knew there was a better way. Forever practical and relying on logic over all, Vulcans always choose peace over violence, with this catchphrase doubling as a mantra for Spock’s entire species.
Stan and Kyle, South Park: “Oh my god! They killed Kenny! You _____!”
Poor, poor Kenny McCormick—and we mean that both figuratively and literally. Not only is the kid stuck in by far the poorest family in all of Colorado, he’s also been killed more times than any other character in known literature. For the first several seasons of South Park, Kenny would find a unique way to die almost every single episode. There was nothing his friends could do to stop it, either, but they were almost always on hand to witness his demise and shout this phrase at who or whatever took Kenny’s life.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation: “Make it _____.”
Replacing Captain James Kirk as the Next Generation’s Captain of the USS Enterprise was no easy task, yet Jean-Luc Picard was more than prepared for the role. Played to perfection by Patrick Stewart, Picard is arguably an even greater leader than Kirk ever was, valiantly leading his crew with a clear head no matter how terrifyingly tense the situation became. He was also warm and friendly with his underlings, typically wearing a proud smile whenever granting a request or agreeing with a command by use of his trademark phrase.
Stewie Griffin, Family Guy: “_____ is mine!”
Fans of Family Guy who never watched the first couple seasons may not quite remember this one, as Stewie Griffin himself once admitted he gradually stopped caring about the evil genius dreams of world domination that initially defined his character. However, there’s no overstating how important these thoughts were to Stewie when the Griffin baby was truly a baby, causing him to treat everything he did in life like it was some sort of all important struggle. Greatest of all was his challenge to kill Lois, which wouldn’t come to pass for years, but he achieved minor successes before then.
Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t _____.”
In certain small towns across America, high school football is literally the most important thing bringing the community together. That’s definitely the case in Dillon, Texas, where the Panthers are basically treated as kings. Of course, for all the praise heaped on the top pigskin players, the most celebrated man in town is their coach, Eric Taylor, whose inspirational speeches and stance as a father figure inspire them all to greatness. Nothing gets his message across better than this sentence, which is now synonymous with athletes refusing to quit.
Jeff Probst, Survivor: “The _____ has spoken.”
Separating Survivor from most other reality shows is the fact it’s actually a game show at heart, where the goal to victory is winning the other contestant’s affection. Should they fail to do this, they’ll get voted off the island at the end of an episode, a decision the rest of the cast never takes on lightly. Even if it brings them closer to victory, they don’t want to accidentally vote out someone who could help them survive. No matter what they decide or why, though, host Jeff Probst always announces the decision the same way.
Ross Gellar, Friends: “We were on a _____.”
Of all the relationships documented on Friends, the most popular of all was definitely between Ross and Rachel. Monica and Chandler may have been the ones to tie the knot on purpose, but the other two resonated more with audiences from the beginning. Their breakup also evoked strong emotions from audiences, albeit in split fashion, with some fans siding with Ross, and others feeling Rachel was always right. It all came down to one transgression between them, which absolutely devastating Rachel despite Ross’s very simple explanation, which he repeated dozens of times.
Ricky Ricardo: “Lucy, you got some _____ to do!”
Arguably the first true female television superstar, Lucille Ball was iconic in her ditzy persona, unable to do anything right and always causing a huge mess that her loving husband Ricky has no choice but to clean up. Sometimes, it really isn’t her fault, as things just get out of hand way too quickly for Lucy or her best friend Ethel to deal with them. In most cases, however, she’s absolutely the person to blame, which Ricky is almost always able to recognize by angrily shouting his catchphrase in her direction.
Omar Little, The Wire: “A man’s got to have a _____.”
One of the most critically acclaimed shows in recent history, The Wire had no shortage of memorable characters saying amazing things during the five short years it was on the air. That said, the most unforgettable of all was certainly Omar Little, a Robin Hood of the ghetto who proudly robbed drug dealers for a living. Don’t let this criminal behavior fool you, though, as even once Omar’s life starts to develop a body count, he remains an incredibly moral character in his own mind, with his stance on life all coming down to this mantra.
G.O.B. Bluth, Arrested Development: “I’ve made a _____ mistake.”
This isn’t so much the catchphrase of G.O.B. Bluth as it is one of the many running gags on Arrested Development in general. While several people in G.O.B.’s family says it at one point or another, there’s no doubt the gravelly throated magician says it the most. It also goes without saying that he wasn’t ever exaggerating when he said it, as G.O.B.’s “mistakes” happened to have disastrous consequences for everyone he knew. Like most people who mess up this much, the worst part about it is that G.O.B. almost always should have seen these results coming.
Homer Simpson, The Simpsons: “_____!”
Not doing so hot on this quiz and feeling down about it? Homer Simpson has been there. In fact, he’s been in much, much worse situations, and that’s why he invented the greatest post-modern expression of rage television has yet to offer. Short, simple, and to the point, this catchphrase was originally written in the script as “annoyed grunt,” but Dan Castellaneta’s brilliant interpretation went on to take a life of its own. At this point, virtually every Simpsons character in Springfield has said it, and they all know who came up with it first.
Michael Scott, The Office: “That’s what _____ said.”
On paper, the idea of a boss who left the office satisfied and smiling sounds like something most people would want. Unfortunately, theories don’t always work in practice, as evidenced by the ridiculously uncomfortable antics of Michael Scott. Of course, the plus side is that which would be unlivable in real life is hilarious to watch unfold on TV, with audiences laughing hysterically each time Michael’s failed attempt at humor ruined everyone else’s day. That awkwardness always at it’s peak when he says this phrase, which he uses absolutely every chance he gets, rarely earning so much as a chuckle.
Ralph Kramden, The Honeymooners: “_____, you’re the greatest.”
Arguably the first true sitcom to become a national sensation, The Honeymooners originated not one but two of the mediums best known catchphrases. In retrospect, one of them seems horribly misogynistic and problematic, with bus driver Ralph Kramden threatening to hit his wife so hard she flies to the moon. In stark contrast to that shocking violent phrase, Kramden also experienced moments where he remembered why he and Alice got hitched in the first place, using this far more loving phrase instead. What is it?
Link, The Legend of Zelda: “Excuse me, _____!”
All right, so we know what a few of you are probably thinking—The Legend of Zelda had a cartoon? And Link spoke in it? Yep, both of those things are true, and even if you never saw the critically maligned mess of a show, regularly visiting the Internet is all one needs to become aware of the ridiculous catchphrase the Hylian hero used in it. Contrary to his nature in video games, TV’s Link was a bit sassier and more childish than audiences expected, and nothing summed it up more than this brash, constantly repeated sentence.
Dark Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: “_____ now.”
For all the witty dialogue that makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer an enduring hit to this day, Joss Whedon and his writers rarely relied on catchphrases, preferring to go the action hero route of having Buffy and friends come up with new quips for each slaying. There was one character who relied on repetition, though, in part because she only showed up for a handful of episodes. An alternate timeline version of Buffy’s best friend, Dark Willow is one of the most vicious vamps in Sunnydale, with this catchphrase instilling fear into the hearts of all who hear it.
Kel Kimble, Kenan & Kel: “Who loves _____ soda? Kel loves _____ soda!”
There’s no greater test of whether or not someone is truly a ‘90s kid than running into a room and shouting out the beginning of this catchphrase. Kenan & Kel only lasted three short seasons, but in many ways it’s humor defined an era, with many children identifying with Kel’s outrageous antics and overwhelming love of soda. Kel would probably drink just about any fountain drink he could get his hands on, but there was one in particular which made him go crazy and shout out this famous phrase.
Bender, Futurama: “Bite my _____ metal ass.”
Irascible, irritable, and severely alcoholic, it could be said there were some design flaws when Bender Bending Rodriguez was first built. That didn’t stop him from becoming the most popular character on Futurama for his cantankerous attitude, always capped off by his five favorite words. No matter what the situation, this one simple sentence told all the chumps and chumpettes getting in Bender’s face exactly how he feels about them. Granted, it’s not quite as evocative as his other favorite sentence, “Hey baby, wanna kill all humans,” but it may win points for adaptability.
Dr. House, House, M.D.: “Everybody _____.”
More so than almost any other catchphrase on this list, this often repeated mantra of Dr. Gregory House is absolutely integral to his existence as a character. The smartest and most celebrated diagnostic physician on television, House was the doctor people went to when they had absolutely no other options, because no one knew what was killing them. Despite this feeling of desperation, there was only so much House could do without their help and cooperation, which shockingly few patients were able to provide. Ever perceptive of the world around him, House knows exactly why he can’t trust them.
Steve Urkel, Family Matters: “Did I do _____?”
When Family Matters began, nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel wasn’t even a member of the cast. He didn’t show up until halfway through the first season, but once the overall wearing geek hit the scene, he soon took over most of the action. Before long, the antics of Carl Winslow and his family were completely secondary to the goofball who kept wandering into their house and causing a havoc, usually in a misguided attempt to attract Carl’s daughter, Laura. In most cases, no matter what Urkel did, he would passive-aggressively deflect the blame with this catchphrase.
Barney Fife, The Andy Griffith Show: “Nip it in the _____.”
Friendly, affable, and always looking out for the best interests of his townspeople, Sherriff Andy Taylor was truly one of the best lawmen on television. Unfortunately, his Deputy Barney Fife balanced this out by being one of the most incompetent, fumbling around the jailhouse and causing more problems than he prevents. That doesn’t stop him from desperately seeking justice at all costs, shouting out this catchphrase whenever he feared hooliganism was about to begin. Obviously, it rarely did him or Andy any good, but at least he was able to acknowledge when there was a problem that needing solving.
Bart Simpson, The Simpsons: “Eat my _____.”
Having already covered Bart Simpson’s penchant to warn people against having cows, it’s time to ask about what alternate foodstuff he offers them instead. Naturally, being a total brat, Bart doesn’t actually suggest they eat something tasty, but rather an article of his clothing. Believe it or not, there was even an instance during a Treehouse of Horror where Principal Skinner tried taking Bart up on this, when he and the other Springfield educators became bloodthirsty cannibals. Canon or not, it may not be a total coincidence that Bart has gradually stopped using the phrase quite as often since then.
Flo Castlebury, Alice: “Kiss my _____.”
In an era when many sitcom characters were dealing with financial hardships, Alice and her young son had it particularly tough. On the plus side, the tough broad was willing to fight out their brush with poverty by working hard at Mel’s Diner, where she met the even tougher and more confident Flo Castlebury. When not desperately chasing half the men who enter their diner, Flo spent her time telling the rest of the patrons off for various transgressions, usually with this cutting trademark expression.
Tommy Pickles, Rugrats: “A _____’s gotta do what a _____’s gotta do.”
As the leader of Nickelodeon’s most rambunctious group of toddlers, Tommy Pickles occasionally feels the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders. Not every day can be spent watching Reptar on Ice and playing with toys, especially after his older cousin Angelica gets in on the mix and sends him on risky adventures. Not only is Tommy’s own fate occasionally in jeopardy, but also that of his closest friends Phil, Lil, and Chuckie, meaning he sometimes needs to act fast and think even faster. What does he say when caught in this scenario?
Matt Foley, Saturday Night Live: “I live in a van down by the _____.”
As a sketch comedy show based on loud and outrageous characters, Saturday Night Live may have produced more catchphrases than any other series in history. With more than 40 years of content to choose from, it’s hard to choose the best of all, so for now we’ll just have to settle on the loudest. Shouting out every sentence he speaks, Matt Foley is a motivational speaker with a backstory that makes it clear he’s horrifyingly unfit for the job. In addition to being technically unemployed and thrice divorced, he’s also homeless, living in the absolute worst conditions imaginable.
Henry Pollard, Party Down: “Are we having fun _____?”
By and large, the characters on this list say their characters as much as they do because they love saying them. Even when they don’t make other people laugh, the characters themselves always get at least a soft inner chuckle at the words, or else they’d stop using them. That’s not the case with Henry Pollard, a failed actor who once appeared in a beer commercial and has been unable to escape the single line he spoke in it ever since. Now a bartender for a catering service, patrons nonetheless beg him to speak his most hated sentence every night.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: “It’s _____ time!”
The first hint we’ll give you about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ collective catchphrase is that the title of their show and crime fighting organization really says it all. Action heroes tailor made for children, the Rangers really don’t have all that much in the way of backstory, relying on bright costumes and fancy moves to win over young fans as they battle against Rita Repulsa. Before every major standoff, the Rangers would ditch their everyday visage as high school students and switch into their classic get-up, usually after shouting out this catchphrase.
Seinfeld: “No _____ for you!”
Jerry Seinfeld’s version of New York City was decidedly confrontational and filled with cynics, many of whom were instantly unforgettable in their own way. None caused quite as big a sensation as this guy, though, a local restaurateur who produces hands down the best food in town. The only problem is that he has extremely stringent rules about who is and isn’t allowed in his store, shouting out this catchphrase at anyone who dares break them. Jerry somehow avoids hearing it, and Kramer even becomes his friend, but Elaine and George are amongst the many people who feel its sting.
The Church Lady, Saturday Night Live: “Well, isn’t that _____?”
For the most part, recurring characters on sketch comedy shows are fun and boisterous, able to ensure the audience is having a good time before they even say a word. In the case of the Church Lady, the exact opposite might be true, as no character in history has ever been nearly so judgmental about their audience. Of course, that was the whole point, as this ultra conservative traditionalist was always hilarious as she condescendingly mocked her less than pious guests. Nothing she said was more dismissive than this catchphrases, repeated whenever a guest thought they said something impressive.
Fred Sanford, Sanford and Son: “_____! I’m coming to join you!”
Fred Sanford was never a calm individual, always looking over his back, worried that his son Lamont or someone else might be getting up to no good. Of course, it was usually Fred himself exhibiting the most questionable behavior of all, leading to crazy situations that could even put his life in jeopardy. In addition to run ins with actual criminals, Fred regularly shouts about an unclear heart condition, assuming each shock is going to cause “the big one” that leads to a heart attack.
Prison Guards, Arrested Development: “No _____.”
The entire point of prison is that the people incarcerated there have done something wrong, and thus are having some of their civil liberties taken away as punishment. Even in the rare cases when they’re allowed to interact with society at large and meet with their families, there are certain rules prisoners must follow lest their sentences get longer. This reality leads to one of the best running jokes in Arrested Development, when members of the Bluth family repeatedly break a very simple rule virtually every time they visit father George, Sr. in jail.
Ari Gold, Entourage: “_____ it out.”
Hollywood agents have a general reputation for being uncaring, and seeing the entire world through a lens covered in dollar signs. In many respects, Ari Gold fits this description to a T, but he makes up for it with a genuine appetite for life and an apparent interest in all of his friends getting along. Fully ingratiating himself into client Vincent Chase’s life, Ari is always quick to jump in between any two people having an argument with sound advice on how they can settle things as quickly as possible.
J.J. Evans, Good Times: “_____!”
One word catchphrases are a little hard to remember, unless the character using it says them every single episode, sometimes two or three times. That’s definitely what happened with J.J. on Good Times, especially in later seasons, when the writers would intentionally go out of their way to find reasons for J.J. to keep yelling it. In a rare example of a character being self-aware of their catchphrase, J.J. even starts using it as his own nickname and pastes the phrase across his trademark pajamas.