Hioooo? Hi-Ooooo? What is this?

skaterboarder87 · February 10, 2003, 7:36pm

Have you ever heard someone follow up a fairly lame joke with “Hi-oooo” (sounds like “Hi”, then an extended “o”)? What exactly does it mean, and how is it really spelled? I hope this makes sense.

malaka · February 10, 2003, 7:42pm

My WAG is that they are attempting to sound like Ed McMahon from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Or At least like Phil Hartman doing an impersonation of him.

bayonet1976 · February 10, 2003, 7:42pm

I always assumed it was a reference to Ed McMahon from his tonight show days, this was one of his “signature sounds”, IIRC.

skaterboarder87 · February 10, 2003, 7:52pm

Ah, awesome, thanks guys. Now what is the proper way of spelling it (or as close as you can get)?

nineiron · February 10, 2003, 8:06pm

Hi-yo!

skaterboarder87 · February 10, 2003, 8:20pm

Is it pronounced “Hi-Yoooo”? It always sounded like “Hi-ooo” to me.