# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/121 "2013-09-19T06:06:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > That was an extremely trite catchphrase long before Michael Scott used it. (Wiki cites it being referred to as [an “ancient one liner” as early as 1973](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_the_actress_to_the_bishop), with a variant used by Alfred Hitchcock in 1929. It was used a lot on _Wayne’s World_ in the 1990s.) While it might have been given new life by The Office, it can’t be really called a “catchphrase from a TV series.” The first time I heard it was in 1985, when I attended a concert by The Ventures. One of the band members was speaking into the microphone, when his mic stand collapsed. A roadie ran up to fix the problem, and once it was fixed the band member asked the roadie, “Is this thing going to stay up?” To which the roadie replied, “That’s what she said!” ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/122 "2013-09-19T06:25:17Z")
I don’t, and haven’t watched a lot of television, but there are a few catchphrases I remember, and have become part of my speech. From “Herman’s Head”: “I’m Bracken. I know everything.” (For me: “I’m Osborne. I know everything.” From “Mike Hammer” (starring Stacy Keach): “I’ll make a note.” From “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”: “Works for me!” ---
**Author:** ![Hallucinex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba9def/32.png) [@Hallucinex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallucinex)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/123 "2013-09-19T06:40:24Z")
Her? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/124 "2013-09-19T06:42:51Z")
When will the hurting stop? ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/125 "2013-09-19T07:01:46Z")
Just the facts, ma’am. Annnd…a musical catch phrase: DOM DA DOM DOM!!! DOM DA DOM DOM DOMMMMM!!! ---
**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 19, 2013, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/126 "2013-09-19T09:32:21Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > Shazam Go-o-o-o-l-ly! Surprise, surprise, surprise! ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/127 "2013-09-19T10:05:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ranger Jeff] “Are you free?” [/QUOTE] Judging by the context I think you really mean [Mr Humphries]I’m free![/Mr Humphries], from the same place [interchangable suggestive phrase]… My Pussy. This is shooting fish in a barrel, I’ll stop at three… _Suit you Sir!_ _Nice!_ _Scorchio!_ Meanwhile elsewhere I’ve heard it both ways. This one probably counts as “failed”, let’s say it was successful if anyone can ID it… Trust me, I know what I’m doing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/128 "2013-09-19T11:43:15Z")
_“I’m Rick James, Bitch.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/129 "2013-09-19T12:21:35Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > “Nudge, nudge. Wink wink. Say no more” I think there is a difference between a popular line from one scene or sketch and a catch phrase. “He’s not dead, he’s resting,” is a memorable line. “And now for something completely different,” is a catch phrase. ---
**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 19, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/130 "2013-09-19T12:29:04Z")
Women! Can’t live with 'em … pass the Beer Nuts, Woody! ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/131 "2013-09-19T13:04:44Z")
Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard 1. Scissors cuts Paper 2. Paper covers Rock 3. Rock crushes Lizard 4. Lizard poisons Spock 5. Spock smashes Scissors 6. Scissors decapitates Lizard 7. Lizard eats Paper 8. Paper disproves Spock 9. Spock vaporizes Rock 10. Rock crushes Scissors ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/132 "2013-09-19T16:14:29Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > From “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”: “Works for me!” Actually, in the clear light of morning, I’ve realized that I didn’t get _that_ line from _that_ show. I think it actually came from a 1980s cop show called “Hunter”, and was the title character’s catchphrase. Parker Lewis did, however, have a catchphrase that ended up part of my everyday vocabulary, but damned if I can remember it now. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/133 "2013-09-19T16:30:38Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Actually, in the clear light of morning, I’ve realized that I didn’t get _that_ line from _that_ show. I think it actually came from a 1980s cop show called “Hunter”, and was the title character’s catchphrase. > > Parker Lewis did, however, have a catchphrase that ended up part of my everyday vocabulary, but damned if I can remember it now. One of these? [http://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Parker\_Lewis\_Can’t\_Lose](http://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Parker_Lewis_Can't_Lose) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/134 "2013-09-19T17:31:06Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > Judging by the context I think you really mean [Mr Humphries]I’m free![/Mr Humphries], from the same place [interchangable suggestive phrase]… My Pussy. {snip} Actually, I was thinking more of Capt Peacock asking if a staff member was availble. Any of the staffers would reply “I’m free.” if they were available, but I submit Mr Humphries was the only one who would add the “!” at the end. And I couldn’t think of ONE line concerning Mrs Slocombe’s cat, Tiddles, that was used enough to make it a catch phrase. I think that would be considered more of a recurring joke. However, there was “…and I am unanimous in that…” and “Weak as water!” 😃 ---
**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 19, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/135 "2013-09-19T17:35:10Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > This one probably counts as “failed”, let’s say it was successful if anyone can ID it… > > Trust me, I know what I’m doing. That’s a no-brainer, dude! It’s from _ **Sledge Hammer** _. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/136 "2013-09-19T17:37:55Z")
I know what you’re thinking…and you’re right. Yabba Dabba Doo Hello Dum Dums Burn! \(any dialogue) Bitch\ Do commercials counts? Where’s the beef? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/137 "2013-09-19T17:53:46Z")
Good night and good luck. Goodnight, Chet. Goodnight, David. And that’s the way it is! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/138 "2013-09-19T18:27:59Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard > > 1. Scissors cuts Paper > 2. Paper covers Rock > 3. Rock crushes Lizard > 4. Lizard poisons Spock > 5. Spock smashes Scissors > 6. Scissors decapitates Lizard > 7. Lizard eats Paper > 8. Paper disproves Spock > 9. Spock vaporizes Rock > 10. Rock crushes Scissors 5 and 8 never made sense to me. (I know, understanding Sheldon logic is futile) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/139 "2013-09-19T18:29:16Z")
How many times do I have to tell you, I am NOT a nutritional anthropologist! That’s bananas, and bananas is good. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124/140 "2013-09-19T19:09:39Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > One used lots by my friends and me, “Respect mah authoritah!” Have your friends seen the movie Cartman is quoting? You could freak them right out… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-and-failed-catch-phrases-from-tv-series/669124.md?page=8)