Every TV show wants one, but few achieve it: a catchphrase. The best ones not only propel their show into the limelight, but eventually take on a life of their own, sometimes getting into the dictionary, sometimes even electing a president.
Catchphrase: “D’oh!”
From: The Simpsons (1989–)
Here’s the Story: Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, came up with Homer’s signature line himself. “It was written into the script as a ‘frustrated grunt,’” he explains, “And I thought of that old Laurel and Hardy character who had a grunt like ‘D’owww.’ Matt Groening (Simpsons creator) said ‘Great, but shorten it.’ …No one thought it would become a catchphrase.” But it did—in a big way. The sitcom is seen by more than 60 million people in more than 60 countries. In 2001, “D’oh!” earned a spot in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Catchphrase: “Holy _______, Batman!”
From: Batman (1966–68)
Here’s the Story: Uttered by Robin (Burt Ward) whenever he was dumbfounded, this silly phrase helped make the show a hit… and also led to its demise. During the first season, which aired two nights a week, Batman was fresh. ABC quickly realized that one of the things viewers loved was Robin’s quirky line, so they milked it for all it was worth. But by the end of the second season, the plots were all recycled and the “Holy whatever, Batman!” had lost its impact. It didn’t do much for Burt Ward’s career either; he was never able to get past the Boy Wonder image.
In the 1995 film Batman Forever, Chris O’Donnell’s Robin gave a nod to this famous catchphrase in the following exchange with Val Kilmer’s Batman: “Holy rusted metal, Batman!” exclaims Robin. “Huh?” asks Batman. “The island,” explains Robin, “it’s made out of rusted metal…and holey…you know.” “Oh,” says Batman dryly.
Fore! Golf probably comes from the Dutch word Kolf, which means “club.”
Catchphrase: “What’chu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?”
From: Diff’rent Strokes (1978–86)
Here’s the Story: Gary Coleman’s snub-nosed delivery helped keep Diff’rent Strokes going for eight years. After the show’s demise, the struggling Coleman began to use it at public appearances and in TV cameos to help keep his career afloat. But in recent years he’s grown so sick of the line—and the TV business in general—that he’s vowed never to say it again.
Catchphrase: “Sock it to me!”
From: Laugh-In (1968–73)
Here’s the Story: The phrase came from pop music (Aretha Franklin’s Respect). But the popular variety show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In turned it into a mindless slapstick sketch…and repeated it week after week. Here’s how it worked: An unsuspecting person (usually Judy Carne) would be tricked into saying “Sock it to me!” Then he or she was either hit by pies, drenched with water, or dropped through a trap door. Viewers loved it; they knew what was coming every time, and they still loved it. It quickly became an “in” thing to get socked.
This catchphrase was more than popular—it may have altered history: On September 16, 1968, presidential candidate Richard Nixon appeared on the show. He was set up in the standard fashion but surprised everyone by changing the command into a question: “Sock it to ME?” It did wonders for Nixon’s staid, humorless image, and may have helped propel him into the Oval Office.
Catchphrase: “Beam me up, Scotty.”
From: Star Trek (1966–69)
Here’s the Story: Although Captain Kirk (William Shatner) never actually said this exact phrase (the closest he came was on the Star Trek animated series: “Beam us up, Scotty”), it has somehow been transported everywhere—feature films, advertisements, and even bumper stickers (“Beam me up, Scotty—there’s no intelligent life down here.”) Sometimes it even finds its way into the news: when 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult committed suicide in 1997, expecting to leave their bodies and join with a spaceship, the press dubbed them the “Beam Me Up Scotty” cult.
Pound for pound, wood is stronger than steel.