I’m a list person, and nothing lifts my spirits more than a good ol’ best-of list. TV Land has compiled the 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases, a countdown scheduled to air the week of December 11, and while there are the obvious phrases that made the cut (what would the list be without Homer’s ”D’oh!”?), there are a sizable number that are missing as well. This leads to my favorite thing about best-of lists; the part where you waste your life away thinking of all the things the listmakers failed to mention. Below are some list absentees we considered here at PopWatch headquarters:
- "Make it work." (Tim Gunn, Project Runway)
- "Hell to the no!" (Whitney Houston, Being Bobby Brown)
- "Eat my shorts!" (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)
- "Hated it!" ("Men on Film"’s Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier, In Living Color)
- "Goooooal!" (soccer sportscaster Andres Cantor)
- "How rude!" (Stephanie Tanner, Full House)
Since TV Land’s list also includes statements made by public officials on TV, why not a most famous utterance by our last president denying ‘’sexual relations” with a certain young lady?
What makes a catchphrase stick? Sure everyone was saying "You are the weakest link!" in a haughty British accent a few years ago, but it’s all but forgotten these days. And I’m sorry, but why does a phrase from How I Met Your Mother make the list? Who voted for that one? More importantly, who actually watches this show on a regular basis to make such a suggestion?
Did your favorite TV catchphrase make it on the list? Which famous line do you think made it to No. 1?
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Though “How I Met Your Mother” is newer, it is one of the funniest shows on television right now and definitely one of the most relatable comedies to people of my younger generation. This underrated show is legendary!
Here are few that could’ve been contenders…
1) “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” (MedicAlert ad)
2) “COME on!” (Will Arnett as Job, Arrested Development)
3) “I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not” (SNL)
4) “He’s just not that into you” (Sex and the City)
5) “He’s dead, Jim.” (Dr. McCoy, Star Trek)
I second “COME on” (GOB, from Arrested Development). Funniest. Show. Ever.
I’m amazed “Nanu Nanu” from Mork and Mindy didn’t make it.
“How I Met Your Mother” is definitely an extremely bright spot on television and proof that the traditional multi-camera sitcom can succeed (if well written). My coworkers and I talk about three shows the day after they air- “The Office”, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “HIMYM”. Barney is an amazing character and with Malcolm and the Middle and Will and Grace no longer around to clog the Supporting Actor category, Neil Patrick Harris should be getting some recognition. Doogie who?
BURN! (Ashton Kutcher, that 70’s show)
How about…
“By the power of Grayskull!” (He-Man)
“Go Go Gadget _____” (Inspector Gadget)
“Oh, Boy” (Quantum Leap)
“Hi Ho Silver, AWAY!” (Lone Ranger)
“It’s a Gift and a Curse” (Monk)
“@#$%&” (Deadwood)
“Just Jack” (Will and Grace)
“I could’ve had a V8″ (V8 Commercials)
“I Pity the Fool!” (A-Team)
“Hidee Ho There Neighbor” (Home Improvement)
“Engage” ST:TNG
i have to say i watch HIMYM regularly and find it so funny each and every week. While I don’t know if it’s gotten popular enough to have it on the list, it’s popular in my household. This sitcom has the goods.
Ummm…
1) We were on a break!!! (Ross Gellar on Friends)
2) Beam me up, Scotty. (Star Trek)
3) Anything having to do with any reality contesting commenting on another being there for the “right reasons”. i.e. “She doesn’t deserve to be here, she just wants to be an actress! She’s not here for the “right reasons” I’m here to fall in love!” -any female/contestant on The Bachelor The “right reasons” span the reality/gameshow world…just an example
“Is that your FINAL answer?”
To the person named Jenn, “Beam me up, Scotty” was never uttered in any episode or movie of Star Trek.
i can’t believe “sit on it” from Happy Days was not on the list !
Here are a few that could’ve been:
1) “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Seinfeld.
2) “Seriously?!?” Grey’s Anatomy
3)”For me to POOP ON!” Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Conan O’Brian Show.
4) “Hug it out, b*tch!” Jeremy Piven, Entourage
5) “It’s a good thing.” Martha Stewart show
I can’t believe “Denny Crane” from Boston Leagal made the list. Is that show still on?
yawn: is that your final answer was on the list.
“C*********!” (Mr. Wu, Deadwood)
“Lucy, you got some ’splaining to do”…
HELLO, NEWMAN!
i love himym; lets go to the mall!
“Note to self, I DON’T NEED TO SEE THAT!”
-The Indomitable Valerie Cherish
A couple SNL skits launched better catchphrases with a single airing than some of the recurring ones listed:
“Buh bye” (David Spade)
“I need more cowbell” (Christopher Walken)
Other misc. honorable mentions:
“Missed it by that much.” (Maxwell Smart)
“Gilligan!!!” (The Skipper)
“That’s it, I’m putting you on notice!” (Stephen Colbert)
“Hah Hah!” (Nelson Muntz, The Simpsons)
“That’s a-one spicy meatball” (Alka-Seltzer ad)
“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” (Johnny Cochran)
And there can be no excuse for leaving off the catchphrase that inspired the orignal TV-watching drinking game:
“Hi, Bob” (Entire Cast, The Bob Newhart Show)
“Did I do that?” – Urkel, Family Matters
oh and “you got it, dude” from michelle tanner in full house
cocka cocka cocka…and the various forms from arrested development…lets just start posting great AD lines…i guess im just buy-curious
3 Things…
I don’t think of those actual historical quotes as catchphrases. “Ask not” and “I am not a crook” gotta go.
HIMYM? Gotta go with a no. But I guess it helps to have your show on a network with the same parent company as the list makers.
And Denny Crane? An excuse to bring William Shatner (A TV Land regular) to the network and gives a place to point to say “HIMYM is ok, cause we put on an ABC show too.”
List is a no-go.
100% agreement on “Hated It” and “Missed It By That Much”.
Where’s “They’rrrrre Grrreat!”?
“That’s what she said.” The Office (US)
“Dude, this is pretty f*****d up right here.”
“Respect my authoritah!!”
“TIMMY!!” All from South Park (I could name a lot more though)
“What the deuce?!”
“Giggity-giggity-goo!!” Family Guy
“Huh?… HUH?”
“Oh, f*** me…” (after Dangle gets his bike stolen for the 1000th time)- Reno 911
and the catchphrase that never caught on that should have.. “CAPTAIN PLANET!!!!!” – Robot Chicken
Sorry about that Chief, the best line from Get Smart
Oscar Oscar Oscar from the Odd Couple
I’m surprised they left off Jackie Gleason’s other great catchphrase from the beginning of his 1960s variety show: “And awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go!”
And then there are three more from “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in”:
“Veeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrry interesting” (Arte Johnson)
“You bet your sweet bippy” (Dick Martin)
“Here come de judge” (Sammy Davis Jr./Pigmeat Markham)
And from “Welcome Back Kotter”: “Up your nose with a rubber hose.”
my personal best is from Arrested Development: “her?” (it could also be “him?”, depending on the person). if this show were even more famous, this catchphrase could have definetely made the list.
How about “Everybody lies” from House? I use it all the time (which everybody around me finds annoying…)
“sponge worthy”?