Television’s 25 best catchphrases

A catchphrase is a way to build a character and give an identity to a television show. TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 most notable catchphrases on TV shows in the history of the medium. Here is one viewer’s opinion of the best 25 catchphrases of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

 

25) “Kiss my grits!” (Flo Castleberry, Alice)

24) “Dy-no-mite!” (J.J. Evans, Good Times)

23) “This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.” (Mission: Impossible)

22) “Resistance is futile.” (Star Trek, The Next Generation)

21) “How you doin’?” (Joey Tribbiani, Friends)

20) “Yadda, yadda, yadda.” (Elaine Benes, Seinfield)

19) “Baby, you’re the greatest.” (Ralph Kramden, The Honeymooners)

18) “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” (Jim McKay, Wide World of Sports)

17) “You look mahvelous.” (Fernando, Saturday Night Live)

16) “Danger, Will Robinson!” (The Robot, Lost in Space)

15) “To the Batmobile!” (Batman, Batman)

14) “Yabba Dabba Do!” (Fred Flintsone, The Flintstones)

13) “Eat my shorts.” (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)

12) “Live long and prosper.” (Commander Spock, Star Trek)

11) “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” (Adventures of Superman)

10) “Good night, John Boy.” (The Walton family, The Waltons)

9) “I’m listening.” (Frasier Krane, Frasier)

8) “Come on down!” (Johnny Olson, The Price is Right)

7) “Make it so.” (Captain Picard, Star Trek the Next Generation)

6) “Book’em, Danno.” (Detective Steve McGarrett, Hawaii Five-O)

5) “Let’s be careful out there.” (Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, Hill Street Blues)

4) “And that’s the way it is.” (Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News)

3) “Aaay!” (Fonzie, Happy Days)

2) “D’oh!” (Homer Simpson, The Simpsons)

1) “Heeere’s…Johnny!” (Ed McMahon, The Tonight Show)

The All Time Best Theme Songs for TV Shows

A television show’s theme song can be an important aspect of the program, often setting the mood of the show. TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 best theme songs for TV shows in the history of the medium. Here is one TV viewer’s opinion of the 20 best TV theme songs of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

20) Laverne & Shirley (ABC, 1976-1983)
19) The Sopranos (HBO, 1999-2007)
18) Star Trek (NBC, 1966-1969)
17) The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC, 1962-1992)
16) The Greatest American Hero (ABC, 1981-1983)
15) Sesame Street (PBS, 1969-present)
14) Get Smart (NBC, 1965-1970)
13) The Flintstones (ABC, 1960-1966)
12) Dallas (CBS, 1978-1991)
11) The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970-1977)
10) Cheers (NBC, 1982-1993)
9) Batman (ABC, 1966-1968)
8) Happy Days (ABC, 1974-1984)
7) Gilligan’s Island (CBS, 1964-1967)
6) The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968)
5) Welcome Back Kotter (ABC, 1975-1979)
4) Hawaii Five-O (CBS, 1968-1980)
3) M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-1983)
2) The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-1985)
1) Hill Street Blues (NBC, 1981-1987)