# sitcoms--not what they said, but how they said it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763 "2002-04-21T03:44:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/21 "2002-04-22T10:38:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > \*\* > There are probably dozens of quotes from Blackadder that fit the bill. \*\* "Baldrick, go forth into the street and let it be known that Lord Blackadder wishes to sell his house! Percy, just go forth into the street." Simple, but it cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/22 "2002-04-22T14:18:22Z")
I swear to God, I thought turkeys could fly. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/23 "2002-04-22T14:21:50Z")
Gee, all the \* Get Smart \* lately, and not this? When the Chief sends Max on a mission, telling him he will be in mortal danger every step of the way, and Max replies: “And, LOVING it.” ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/24 "2002-04-22T19:13:54Z")
I have to go with “I’m out!” hilarious 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/25 "2002-04-22T19:42:39Z")
Jack Soo as Nick Yamana on Barney Miller, after eating some hash brownies, explains that he likes the way they get ‘mooshy’ when he dips them in his coffee. Throughout the rest of the episode, whenever anyone talks to him, all he’ll say is: “Mooshy, mooshy.” The most memorable line from a great series. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/26 "2002-04-22T20:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*The best single word ever spoken in a _Cheers_ episode comes at the end of John Cleese’s 1987 guest appearance as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce, noted couples counsellor. Having declared early on that Sam and Diane were clearly not suited to each other, he is gradually driven insane by Diane’s attempts to convince him otherwise. His final four-minute rant, coming after numerous intrusions and phone calls and arguments from Diane declares that _yes_, Sam and Diane are perfect for each other, _yes_, they will have the perfect relationship, and if he is wrong (he shouts out the hotel room window for all of Boston to witness) he swears to kill himself in the most disgusting manner possible. > > Whereupon, Diane turns to Sam and smugly comments, “See?” \*\* IIRC, the line (which certainly qualifies) was “Told you.” (A local radio station is using Cleese’s “the most perfect couple since the beginning of time” in their promos. Always cracks me up.) Some others I’ve liked: “Now I know why dogs lick their genitals.” (Red Dwarf. The line following it is totally unnecessary, BTW.) “Dinsdale.” “The district attorney is a Republican.” (It’s not funny at all out of context, but it’s the best line in _Miracle on 34th Street_) “Daddy’s gonna kill Ralphie.” “Not craw. CRAW!” (from the first _Get Smart_ episode. Probably considered offensive today, but I think it still works.) “I have a cunning plan…” ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/27 "2002-04-22T20:40:17Z")
From a recent episode of _Friends_: “I do not want my child’s first words to be ‘How you doing?’” (The last three words were uttered in a precious child-like voice.) ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/28 "2002-04-22T20:42:55Z")
Art Carney in \* The Honeymooners \* “Hellooooo, Ball” (he could sell a joke that was probably old even then) ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/29 "2002-04-22T21:29:36Z")
“Hello, Newman” The barely concealed malice made this that much funnier. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/30 "2002-04-22T21:36:18Z")
**nineiron** , I busted out laughing when I read the “feet” line. I had forgotten about it, but you reminded me how funny it was. I’d also like to add a couple Seinfeld ones: No soup for you! Not that there’s anything wrong with that! ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/31 "2002-04-22T22:32:35Z")
_Blackadder_ again: Oooh _God_. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/32 "2002-04-23T05:51:26Z")
Not a sitcom, but from _Young Frankenstein_: Put the candle back. And from _The In-Laws_: Serpentine! ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/33 "2002-04-23T05:58:54Z")
Bruce Campbell Evil Dead II “Workshed!” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/34 "2002-04-23T14:31:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > > “Now I know why dogs lick their genitals.” (Red Dwarf. The line \*\* This brings back a memory of the best delivered, unscripted line: On \*\* Mad About You \*\* Paul is sitting on the couch waiting for Ira to ring the doorbell. His wife Jamie and her best friend Fran are in the other room. Fran’s son Ryan is in a grade school show and Jaime has to go cause Fran is her friend, Paul has to go cause Jamie is going and Ira has to go cause Paul is going. So Paul is on the couch with Murray the dog, who lifts his leg and starts licking (the dog, not Paul). Paul Reiser the actor’s eyes get huge as he looks around, obviously thinking “What do I do now?” The stage crew and aucidence is going nuts laughing. Finally, the actor Paul thinks up the perfect line, slips back into the character Paul and says: If I could do what you’re doing, I wouldn’t have to go out tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/35 "2002-04-23T14:49:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Mooshy Mooshy That kills me too. I’m also glad to see someone remembers _Best of the West_. Frog was the ultimate character. Not technically a sit-com, but whenever I see the clip of the old Carol Burnett show where Tim Conway is describing the siamese elephants (joined at the trunk) he saw at the circus, I nearly pee myself. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/36 "2002-04-23T17:00:25Z")
Seinfield: Hel_looooow!_ ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/37 "2002-04-23T17:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Why A Duck \* > \*\*Not technically a sit-com, but whenever I see the clip of the old Carol Burnett show where Tim Conway is describing the siamese elephants (joined at the trunk) he saw at the circus, I nearly pee myself. \*\* _hhnort!_ ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/38 "2002-04-23T18:24:18Z")
George Constanza: “_George is getting angry!_” _-me_ ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/39 "2002-04-23T19:04:13Z")
For me it is Frank Barone, on the sitcom, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” “Holy crap!” is his recurring tagline, and the sheer number of ways that Peter Boyle can deliver that line - angry, shocked, or, most often, giddily anticipating an imminent catastrophe - never fails to get me laughing. - FCF ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763/40 "2002-04-24T10:36:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > \*\ ***nineiron** , I busted out laughing when I read the “feet” line. > > I had forgotten about it, but you reminded me how funny it was. > > \*\* And don’t forget the follow-up from Joey, who actually liked the meat trifle: “What’s not to like? Cake…good. Custard…good. Meat…goooood.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-not-what-they-said-but-how-they-said-it/104763.md?page=3)