# Do you have anything that automatically triggers a "favorite catch phrase" from TV or the movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301 "2021-12-01T17:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/121 "2021-12-05T18:34:30Z")
Speaking of Mahna Manha. There is a video of the song that ends with the two old men, Statler and Waldorf, talking. One of them asks the other something like “The question is, what is a Mahna Mahna”. The other one says “The question is, who cares”. So now anytime anyone on a show says "the question is… , I blurt out “the question is, who cares”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/122 "2021-12-05T20:04:16Z")
Whenever I’m in a car that narrowly makes a light, gotta say “You’re crazy Spicoli, that light was red!” from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. My friend always knew the appropriate response: “It was yellow a minute ago”. Any mention of Key Lime pie evokes the opening of Natural Born Killers. “I haven’t had Key Lime pie in… ten years” “When you had it, did you like it?” “Nah, but that don’t mean much. I was a completely different person back then.” ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/123 "2021-12-05T21:35:29Z")
Whenever I’m ninja’ed at the Straight Dope, I’m all “Missed it by that much!” ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/124 "2021-12-05T22:52:51Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > There is also “Release the Kraken!”, which can be used in a variety of situations, such as letting the dog run crazy, or just before a large belch or flatulence. My employer used “Kraken” as a code name for a product they were developing years ago. So when it was time to do a release, you know what everyone said. > [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Not exactly a phrase, but this song comes up rather often at work: On the 1990s show _[Muppets Tonight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppets_Tonight)_ they replaced “Mahna Manha” with the word “phenomenon”. So now whenever I hear the word “phenomenon”, I have to respond “do dooo do do do”. Someone else beat me to it earlier in the thread, but I also think “Lisa needs braces” whenever I hear about anything about a dental plan. And I mentioned in the Simpsons thread, whenever I hear President Biden say we need to move forward (something that came up fairly often early in his presidency), I expect him to end with “and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/125 "2021-12-05T22:59:04Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Speaking of Mahna Manha. Further speaking of Mahna Mahna: There is a city in western Wisconsin named Menomonie (pronounced muh-NOM-ih-nee). We used to drive up to the Twin Cities fairly regularly, taking Interstate 94, which goes right past that city. When we’d see the sign for it, we would invariably sing, “Menomonie, dah dah dah dah-dah!” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/126 "2021-12-06T01:45:21Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Not exactly a phrase, but this song comes up rather often at work: … a song whose international debut was in a soft-core adult film: [Reddit - Dive into anything](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/4cnj3l/til_the_iconic_mahna_mahna_song_from_the_muppets/) ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/127 "2021-12-06T12:16:10Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > On the 1990s show _[Muppets Tonight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppets_Tonight)_ they replaced “Mahna Manha” with the word “phenomenon”. So now whenever I hear the word “phenomenon”, I have to respond “do dooo do do do”. I never saw the Muppets Tonight version but I did figure out the similarity of the two words. My version is if someone says “phenomenon” I respond with “mahna mahna”. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/128 "2021-12-06T13:48:51Z")
There’s a street called Hercules in a city where I worked. Every day, to and from work, when I’d pass it I’d clap my hands and say “Hercules! Hercules” , a la Mama Klump. God that was an awful job; those 20 seconds were the best part of my day for the entire time I worked there. At my current job(when we were actually in the office) we answer a group phone line and when I turn it on each day I alternate between: Release the Kraken Release the Hounds May the odds be ever in your favor Fire in ze hole Under his Eye May the lord open Let’s be careful out there All right everyone; gird your loins I give you the Griswald family Christmas tree ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/129 "2021-12-06T14:02:25Z")
Too obscure for general use, when someone doesn’t want to do something: **“You’d do it for Randolph Scott.”** [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RVGFGmoltDs/maxresdefault.jpg "You'd do it for Randolph Scott") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVGFGmoltDs) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/130 "2021-12-06T14:06:56Z")
Quite often, we would get yellow or red warnings for weather conditions at my place of work; going to red alert would often prompt the response “Are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/131 "2021-12-06T15:54:24Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > My version is if someone says “phenomenon” I respond with “mahna mahna”. Shouldn’t you reply with “Do do do do do”? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/132 "2021-12-06T16:26:17Z")
Watching the British baking show and their “illusion” cakes last night reminded me that I can’t hear the word illusion without going into Arrested Development mode. “I do _Illusions_” Though I shorten the whole “A trick is something a whore does for money (or candy!)” thing down to just “Hookers do tricks, I do _Illusions_” for quip purposes. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/133 "2021-12-06T16:41:36Z")
^ I don’t get a chance to use this one often enough (Thanks, **Jophiel** for reminding me): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bBSHYlJBvDE/hqdefault.jpg "Bart Simpson - It's an Illusion!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBSHYlJBvDE) ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/134 "2021-12-06T18:08:43Z")
More of a sight gag. When someone like my wife or friends ask for directions and the person says, “walk this way.”; I do the one foot drag shuffle by EYE-gore in Young Dr. Frankenstein. Among those who might be watching, the guys seem to get it immediately. The gals, not so much. Gals seem to be more in tune with dialogue, the guys with stupid physical humor. [Just IMHO, and just in general] ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/135 "2021-12-06T19:14:59Z")
This scene also inspired the title for a song by Aerosmith for their _Toys in the Attic_ album, which became one of their biggest hits. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/136 "2021-12-06T20:09:34Z")
My usual response to “Walk this way” is “If I could walk that way, I wouldn’t need the after shave!” (Or “talcum powder”.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/137 "2021-12-07T01:18:28Z")
> [@Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/1956): > > [I'll bet any quantum mechanic in the service would give his life for a chance to fool around with this gadget. | Quotes with Sound Clips from Forbidden Planet (1956) | Sci-Fi Movie Samples](https://movie-sounds.org/sci-fi-movie-samples/quotes-with-sound-clips-from-forbidden-planet-1956/i-ll-bet-any-quantum-mechanic-in-the-service-would-give-his-life-for-a-chance-to-fool-around-with-this-gadget) Saw the poster for “Forbidden Planet”, and my mind started singing “Ann Francis stars in [Deep Throat 2] Forbidden Planet” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/138 "2021-12-07T01:26:16Z")
“You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” What I notice is that I’ve gone through phases where I might have a Three Stooges catch phrase, a Pink Panther catch phrase, etc. Most of them peak and fade. And stop calling me “Shirley.” ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/139 "2021-12-07T02:16:47Z")
Have goggles ever done anything? This one is indirect and obscure. In high school, early-mid 90s, I was into the rave scene. I had a tape with a song that had a sample that repeated a high pitched question: “What is going on?” and I listened to it over and over and over. At a few points, it follows up with “And why are you being so nice nice?” It working in the context of the song but I didn’t recognize the source of the samples. A few years later, my younger brother (who was often subjected to my music) and I were chilling at (our parents’) home and Coming to America was on but we weren’t actively watching it. Toward the end of the movie, when Eddie’s character is being discovered for who he is, Eddie’s love interest, Lisa, asks, “What is going on?” and “Why are you being so nice to Akeem.” My brother and I looked wide eyed at each other. We’d heard it in the song hundreds of times and it finally clicked. So “What is going on?” is always replied to with “And why are you being so nice nice?” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mksCnb_USuc/hqdefault.jpg "Mix Race - Mixrace Outta Hand") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mksCnb_USuc) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301/140 "2021-12-07T12:55:55Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > I only became aware of the sketch a couple of years ago, but now every time the town is mentioned: “NIAGARA FALLS!!! Slowly I turned…” Same, but for “Buffalo”. > [@Kedikat](#): > > Lego Movie. “Everything is Awesome!” For me, it’s “SPACESHIP!”. And sometimes when the occasion warrants “It’s Freedom Friday! But _still on a Tuesday_!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-anything-that-automatically-triggers-a-favorite-catch-phrase-from-tv-or-the-movies/955301.md?page=8)