TV Guide's 50 Greatest Catchphrases of All Time
This list has indelible and infinitely quotable words spoken by iconic TV characters and personalities are forever etched in as cultural influence in television history. Excluding shows that had less than two seasons or received mixed, negative and/or panned reception. No specific ranking. Not including extra well-known quotes within the shows added on list.
Honor Mention "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"-Different Strokes
Honor Mention "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"-Different Strokes
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- StarsJohnny CarsonEd McMahonDoc SeverinsenHost Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities."Heeeere's...Johnny!"-Ed McMahon
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield."D'oh!"-Bart
"Eat my shorts." — Bart - CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends."Yada, yada, yada."-Jerry
"No soup for you!" — The Soup Nazi
"Get out"-Elaine - CreatorDavid CraneMarta KauffmanStarsJennifer AnistonCourteney CoxLisa KudrowFollows the personal and professional lives of six twenty to thirty year-old friends living in the Manhattan borough of New York City."How you doin'?"-Joey !
- StarsWalter CronkiteRoger MuddCharles KuraltIn 1962, the veteran news anchor Douglas Edwards was replaced with Walter Cronkite. The news show initially used the title "Walter Cronkite with the News", but was soon re-titled to "CBS Evening News". It was the first half-hour weeknight news broadcast on network television. The show dominated the ratings among the network evening news programs for nearly two decades, and Cronkite became known as "the most trusted man in America" (after being given this title in a poll). Cronkite faced mandatory retirement in March 1981, at the age of 65. He was soon replaced by a younger news anchor, Dan Rather."And that's the way it is."-Walter
- StarsDon PardoBill CullenJack NarzThe original version of an American icon, "The Price is Right" rewarded contestants with valuable prizes for their ability to price items."Come on down!"
- StarsGeorge ReevesNoel NeillJack LarsonThe Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet.""Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"
- CreatorJackie GleasonStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsA bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience."Baby, you're the greatest." — Ralph
"Bang, zoom, straight to the moon, Alice!"-Ralph
"One of these days ... one of these days, pow right in the kisser!"-Ralph
"Homina, homina, homina,"-Ralph - CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsAlan ReedMel BlancJean Vander PylThe misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles."Yabba dabba doo!" — Fred
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsGeorge O'HanlonJanet WaldoMel BlancThe misadventures of a futuristic family."Ruh-roh!" — Astro
- CreatorBob KaneEric RadomskiBruce TimmStarsKevin ConroyLoren LesterEfrem Zimbalist Jr.The Dark Knight battles crime in Gotham City with occasional help from Robin and Batgirl."To the Batmobile!" — Batman
- CreatorBruce GellerStarsPeter GravesBarbara BainGreg MorrisAn elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture."This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."
"Your mission should you choose to accept it." - CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets."Live long and prosper." — Spock
"I'm a doctor not a ..."-Bones
"He's dead Jim."-Bones
"Fascinating"-Spock
"Beam me up, Scotty."
"Space, the final frontier ..."-Captain Kirk - CreatorDigby WolfeStarsDan RowanDick MartinGary OwensThe original rapid fire sketch comedy show."Sock it to me!"
- CreatorRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsPeter FalkMike LallyJohn FinneganLos Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and ingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes."Just one more thing..." — Columbo
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry."Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" — Jan
"Oh, my nose!" -- Marcia - CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day."Stifle!" — Archie
- CreatorNorman LearStarsRedd FoxxDemond WilsonLaWanda PageThe misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son."Elizabeth, I'm coming." — Fred
- CreatorAbby MannStarsTelly SavalasDan FrazerKevin DobsonA bald, lollipop sucking police detective with a fiery righteous attitude battles crime in his city."Who loves ya, baby?" — Kojak
- CreatorEarl Hamner Jr.StarsJon WalmsleyMary Beth McDonoughEric ScottThe life and trials of a 1930s and 1940s Virginia mountain family through financial depression and World War II."Good night, John Boy." — The Walton family
- CreatorJames L. BrooksStan DanielsDavid DavisStarsJudd HirschJeff ConawayDanny DeVitoThe staff of a New York City taxicab company go about their job while they dream of greater things."Tenk you veddy much." — Latka
- CreatorSteven BochcoMichael KozollStarsDaniel J. TravantiMichael WarrenBruce WeitzThe lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct."Let's be careful out there." — Esterhaus
- CreatorDavid AngellPeter CaseyDavid LeeStarsKelsey GrammerJane LeevesDavid Hyde PierceDr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist."I'm listening." — Frasier
- CreatorPhil RosenthalStarsRay RomanoPatricia HeatonBrad GarrettThe comical everyday life of sports columnist Ray Barone and his dysfunctional family."Holy crap!" — Frank !
- CreatorDavid ShoreStarsHugh LaurieOmar EppsRobert Sean LeonardUsing a crack team of doctors and his wits, an antisocial maverick doctor specializing in diagnostic medicine does whatever it takes to solve puzzling cases that come his way."Everybody lies." — House
- CreatorRob ThomasStarsKristen BellJason DohringEnrico ColantoniAfter her best friend is murdered, and her father is removed as county Sheriff, Veronica Mars dedicates her life to cracking the toughest mysteries in the affluent town of Neptune."Who's your daddy?" — Keith
- CreatorSam DenoffBill PerskyStarsMarlo ThomasTed BessellLew ParkerAn aspiring actress moves from her hometown of Brewster, New York, to try to make it big in New York City, having to take several offbeat "temp" jobs to support herself in between her various auditions and bit parts."Oh, Donald!" - Ann Marie
- StarsBetty WhiteDel MooreJack NarzThe day-to-day events in the lives of a newly-married couple. Each episode consists of three short, unrelated sketches in which characters often break the imaginary fourth wall."Elizabeth, aren't you ashamed?" - Jack Narz
- CreatorMel BrooksBuck HenryStarsDon AdamsBarbara FeldonEdward PlattMaxwell Smart, a highly intellectual but bumbling spy working for the CONTROL agency, battles the evil forces of rival spy agency KAOS with the help of his competent partner Agent 99."Sorry about that, Chief" - Maxwell Smart
"Would you believe?"-Maxwell Smart
"Missed it by the much." - CreatorJack WebbStarsJack WebbBen AlexanderOlan SouleSgt. Joe Friday and his partners methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles."The name's have been changed to protect the innocent."
"Just the facts, ..."-Joe Friday
"This is the city..."-Joe Friday - CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsDaws ButlerDon MessickJimmy WeldonYogi, a smooth, talkative forest bear looks to raid park goers' picnic baskets, while Park Ranger Smith tries to stop him."Smarter than the average bear, Boo Boo!"-Yogi
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsJoseph BarberaStarsDon MessickCasey KasemNicole JaffeA group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function."Rooby, rooby, roo" -Scooby
"I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those meddling kids and that dog."-Villains
"Zoinks!"-Shaggy - CreatorSusan HarrisStarsKatherine HelmondRod RoddyRichard MulliganThe soap-operish antics of two families: the Campbells and the Tates."You want me to get that?"
- CreatorJames L. BrooksAllan BurnsStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerGavin MacLeodThe lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home."You've got spunk!"-Lou Grant
- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceThe wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments."You've got some 'splaining to do!"-Ricky
"Lucy, I'm home."-Ricky - CreatorJames BurrowsGlen CharlesLes CharlesStarsTed DansonRhea PerlmanJohn RatzenbergerThe regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name."Norm!"
- CreatorSusan HarrisStarsBea ArthurBetty WhiteRue McClanahanFour previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times."Picture this ....."
"Back in St. Olaf....." - CreatorAndy BreckmanStarsTony ShalhoubJason Gray-StanfordTed LevineThe series follows Adrian Monk, a brilliant former San Francisco detective, who now consults the police as a private consultant whilst battling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder."It's a gift......and a curse."-Adrian Monk
"Here's what happened."-Adrian Monk - StarsJack BennyEddie 'Rochester' AndersonDon WilsonThe comic misadventures of the "skinflint" comedian and his friends."Well!"
"Now cut that out" - CreatorCharles M. SchulzStarsBill MelendezJeremy SchoenbergAngela Lee SloanEvery Saturday morning The Peanuts Gang does skits, mostly taken from newspaper strips."Good grief!"-Charlie
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner."You have now entered the Twilight Zone..."
- CreatorPaul GermainJoe AnsolabehereStarsAndrew LawrenceAshley JohnsonJason DavisComic tales of a group of good friends, four boys and two girls, during breaks in primary school, as they grow up, relate to each other, and have brushes with authority."This whomps."-T.J.
"How moist.-"Randall - CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts."The truth is out there."
- CreatorMichael JacobsApril KellyStarsBen SavageRider StrongWilliam DanielsAn adolescent with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he endures the trials of growing up alongside a good friend."Feeny! Fe-he-he-heeny!"-Eric
- CreatorCraig BartlettSteve VikstenJoe AnsolabehereStarsFrancesca Marie SmithJamil Walker SmithDan CastellanetaThe everyday life of Arnold, a fourth-grader in the city of Hillwood, Washington, who lives in a multi-racial boarding house with his grandparents and a motley assortment of friends and neighbors."Move it, Football Head!"-Helga
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, tedium and romance."That's what she said."-Michael Scott
- StarsJack LescoulieThe June Taylor DancersRay BlochLive variety show with Jackie Gleason."How sweet it is."
- StarsGeorge BurnsGracie AllenBea BenaderetNeighbor Blanche Morton frequently joined Gracie in escapades which annoy hubby Harry and provides George with an opportunity to offer a humorous soliloquy."Say good night Gracie."-George
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances."We've got a really big show!"
- CreatorSheldon LeonardAaron RubenDanny ThomasStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsWidower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie, live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry, North Carolina. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney Fife."Nip it!" -Barney Fife