# George Takei: 'Oh, my!' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822 "2010-04-21T02:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/1 "2010-04-21T02:52:04Z")
In George Takei’s Sharp Aquos Quattron commercial, he exclaims ‘Oh, my!’ Is that a reference to something he said in _Star Trek_? Is it a reference to something else? Or is it just for the commercial? ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/2 "2010-04-21T02:56:44Z")
I know back when Stern was on public radio he made a sound bite of Takei saying it when he was a guest on his show, and he’d play it as a sound effect regularly. Not sure if that’s where it originated or just gained popularity though. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/3 "2010-04-21T02:59:43Z")
I saw the “Where No Fan Has Gone Before” episode of Futurama recently, and Takei said “Oh, My!” in that, also. So, whether or not it originated with Howard Stern, it seems to have become a catchphrase of his. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/4 "2010-04-21T03:08:29Z")
George was the guest announcer on The Stern Show a few weeks ago and talked about the ad. He said he put that line in himself as it has become somewhat of a catchphrase since its use on the Stern show over the years. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/5 "2010-04-21T03:09:04Z")
Seconded on the catchphrase business. He played a presidential waiter on the Disney Channel show _Cory in the House_\*, and when he ate a bad shrimp on Air Force One, and the lower GI consequences hit, that was what he said on the way to the bathroom. I think he might have said it on Star Trek once, as well, but I have no cite for it. \*And yes, I _am_ very ashamed that I know this, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/6 "2010-04-21T03:10:41Z")
Ah. I never liked Howard Stern. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/7 "2010-04-21T03:31:21Z")
Just for clarity, it’s 100% George Takei and has been probably forever. It’s just one of his natural mannerisms. Howard Stern recognized its awesomeness and made it famous, but George has (probably) always been saying it. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/8 "2010-04-21T04:07:00Z")
Was it one of Captain Kirk’s catch phrases? I know they were his dying words in Generations. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/9 "2010-04-21T04:08:39Z")
George Takei and William Shatner have always hated each other, so I doubt they ever cross-pollinated speaking mannerisms. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/10 "2010-04-21T04:13:51Z")
More correctly, Takei hates Shatner while Bill probably didn’t (doesn’t?) think anything in particular about George. In either case, Kirk’s dying words being the same as Takei’s catchphrase is, as **Ellis Dee** implies, almost certainly coincidental. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/11 "2010-04-21T06:21:59Z")
[George Takei in a brutally funny bit on some basketball player guy or something](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1iQODC5OI) I’m straight, but I thought this bit was brilliantly funny, something you’d never expect the straight-laced character of Hikaru Sulu to say… sadly, there was no expected “Oh My!” gag here ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/12 "2010-04-21T06:25:43Z")
In Third Rock From the Sun, there’s an episode where the family gets a whole bunch of room service stuff charged to George’s account at a hotel. When he’s talking to the receptionist, he looks at his bill and says, “5,000 dollars?! Oh well, I’m rich.” The receptionist says, “Er, sir, that’s 50,000 dollars.” “Oh my.” ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/13 "2010-04-21T08:16:38Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > More correctly, Takei hates Shatner while Bill probably didn’t (doesn’t?) think anything in particular about George. In either case, Kirk’s dying words being the same as Takei’s catchphrase is, as **Ellis Dee** implies, almost certainly coincidental. I think that’s the impression Shatner tries to display publicly, but it’s clear to me by both his words and deeds that he has always hated George. Whether that hatred is/was based on a personal thing or if it’s just the general way an egomaniac hates everyone who draws any attention away from them I couldn’t say, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/14 "2010-04-21T15:46:59Z")
That’s why I hate everyhone here. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/15 "2010-04-21T15:51:39Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > [George Takei in a brutally funny bit on some basketball player guy or something](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1iQODC5OI) > > I’m straight, but I thought this bit was brilliantly funny, something you’d never expect the straight-laced character of Hikaru Sulu to say… > > sadly, there was no expected “Oh My!” gag here That was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/16 "2010-04-21T17:51:28Z")
Here’s how [Takei and Shatner](http://comixed.com/2010/04/14/4-koma-comic-strip-hellooo/) really feel about each other. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/17 "2010-04-21T17:58:03Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > [George Takei in a brutally funny bit on some basketball player guy or something](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1iQODC5OI) > > I’m straight, but I thought this bit was brilliantly funny, something you’d never expect the straight-laced character of Hikaru Sulu to say… > > sadly, there was no expected “Oh My!” gag here > [@levdrakon](#): > > That was hilarious. Seconded. My regard for Mr. Takei has increased immeasurably. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/18 "2010-04-21T18:20:20Z")
I guess I have assumed that Takei was building on that one classic voice/character - the guy who was always the shop clerk in the movies from the 30’s who was servile but dismissive to the lead character - would say things like “Yesssss” with that deep voice that started high but ended low - whenever he is referenced on the Dope folks chime in with his name and a clip - hopefully it will happen here. I think it is the same influence with Jon Stewart, when he sets up a buffoon and they cut back to Stewart, who says “Go Onnnnn” in the same sort of way… ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/19 "2010-04-21T19:03:14Z")
Howard Stern used to goof on a tape of Takei that was apparently recorded without his (Takei’s) knowledge. The spoofer/phone caller really egged him on, pretending that he was Ricardo Montaban, and George said Oh MY quite a lot. This was played over and over again on Stern. And it was pretty funny as those things go. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822/20 "2010-04-21T19:09:05Z")
I remember watching Comedy Central’s roast of Shatner. He rode onstage on one of his horses. When it was Takei’s turn to make his remarks, he said, “Bill, I’ve been waiting 40 years to say this to you. FUCK YOU AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON!” He put every ounce of his emotion into it. You could see his rage clearly expressed on his face and I think Shatner was actually taken aback at the ferocity of Takei’s outburst. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-takei-oh-my/536822.md?page=2)