# Good and failed catch phrases from TV series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124 "2013-09-18T03:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/81 "2013-09-18T18:15:37Z")
What is it, McHale? Wha, wha, wha, what? Why is it me? Why is it always me? I could just scream! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/82 "2013-09-18T18:18:19Z")
> [@ruh-roh](#): > > I think it was only used in the show once, and never caught on with the masses, but whenever I was trying to fix something and someone would ask “what are you doing”, I would often reply “cross circuiting to channel B”. The episode was “Obsession,” I believe. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/83 "2013-09-18T18:19:42Z")
Weeeeeeeel, doggies! Oh, for…! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/84 "2013-09-18T18:29:20Z")
Successful catch-phrases: “It’s!”…“Monty Python’s Flying Circus!” “I reversed the polarity of the neutron flow.” “Brave heart, Tegan.” “Wibbely Wobbely timey wimey stuff.” “Oh, THAT Henny Youngman!” “Sock it to me!” “Hellooooo.” “Nanu! Nanu!” or “Shazbot!” or “Mork calling Orson…come in Orson…” Failed catch-phrases: Wayyyyyyy back in early 80s, the child actor Ricky Schroeder (now an adult actor going by “Rick Schroeder” - no ‘y’) starred in a “Diff’rent Strokes” knock-off called “Silver Spoons” about a precocious adolescent adopted by a quirky rich bachelor. This show had Ricky at varying intervals mugging at the camera and exclaiming “Oh God! Oh no! Oh God! Oh no!” in an obvious attempt to copy “Wha’choo talkin 'bout, Willis?” line. Suffice to say…it was never as popular. (But at least Ricky didn’t get molested by a pervy bike shop owner.) “Geronimo!” never quite caught on as an 11th Doctor catch-phrase. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/85 "2013-09-18T18:32:38Z")
Failed catch phrases… That can only mean that a character was given a phrase that the writers HOPED would take off and that everyone would be repeating, but which fell flat because it just sounded dumb. \*\*\*Happy Days \*\*\*launched a lot of successful phrases, but poor Chachi Arcola was stuck with a dud of a line that he had to say far too many times: “Wah wah wah!” (Younger folks won’t believe this, but that was SUPPOSED to sound sexy!) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/86 "2013-09-18T18:42:30Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > You look fabulous! Wasn’t that “_mah_-velous”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/87 "2013-09-18T18:44:41Z")
**[Doorbell rings on _Soap_:]** **Jessica:** Would you like to get that, Benson? **Benson:** No, that’s all right. You can get it. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/88 "2013-09-18T18:46:05Z")
I love it when a plan comes together. Frack! Oh…just one more thing… Evening everybody. Norm! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/89 "2013-09-18T18:47:04Z")
Oh, Mister _Grant_…! Aw, come on, Mare! Lou! Lou! Lou, Lou, Louuuuuuuuuu! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/90 "2013-09-18T18:47:37Z")
Oh, Rob! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/91 "2013-09-18T18:48:08Z")
I ain’t gettin’ on no airplane! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/92 "2013-09-18T18:50:47Z")
Its a little known fact… Florida. That dump! Let’s just say _enquiring_ minds want to know! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/93 "2013-09-18T18:58:20Z")
Why, thank you, Thing! ---
**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:** [September 18, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/94 "2013-09-18T19:01:35Z")
Stifle yourself, you dingbat, you! Oh, put it in a sock, Benson! You raaaaannnngggg? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/95 "2013-09-18T19:04:03Z")
good Up and atom! failed Up and let’s 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:** [September 18, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/96 "2013-09-18T19:06:39Z")
Tish! You spoke French! Good evening. I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not. But NOOOOOOOO! We are two wii-iiiild and crr-aaaaazy guys! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/97 "2013-09-18T19:07:48Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Up and atom! Up…And…At…Them. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/98 "2013-09-18T19:09:08Z")
If anyone needs me I’ll be in my room… ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/99 "2013-09-18T19:13:39Z")
Thunderbirds are go! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/100 "2013-09-18T19:13:51Z")
Shut yer vag, Lois! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124.md?page=6)