The catchphrase is one of pop culture's greatest, lasting gifts; love them or hate them, you sure as heck know them - unless you're above modern entertainment or just under a rock. TV Land cable network recently released its list of the top 100 TV catchphrases, but the Daily's Arts Department has only one thing to say: Haaave mercy. With over a quarter of the list's phrases mined from shows of the '70s and only a smattering of catchphrases from shows our generation could have seen before they were in syndication, we must humbly compile our list: the Top Ten TV Catchphrases College Students Still (Proudly) Say.
10) "Cut. It. Out!" Uncle Joey, "Full House" - Joey was supposed to be a comedian on "Full House." The trouble was, even the show's young fans rarely found him even remotely funny. It's no wonder he shacked up with the Tanner family, because it's simply impossible that his Popeye impressions made for a successful stand-up act. "Cut it out!" and its accompanying hand motions is just one glaring example of poor Joey's sad, cheesy jokes that will forever resonate with children of the '90s.
9) "Make it work!" Tim Gunn, "Project Runway" - On "Project Runway," Tim Gunn's role is always a little ambiguous. Does he affect the judging? Is his advice always sound? Usually, he comes over to a feverishly working designer with some unreachable vision and slashes his or her dreams with a mere hand on his chin and furrowed brow. Then, he drops the bombshell: "Make it work," three belittling words that have the power to send artists into a dark abyss of doubt and shame. Tim Gunn may not sit next to Michael Kors on the final panel, but he wins the catchphrase contest any day.
8) "DUN dun" sound, "Law & Order" - After hearing, "In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by ...," it's hard to keep flipping through channels to bypass the segmented drama and intrigue of "Law & Order," if for no other reason than the "DUN dun" sound that goes along with each scene change. Apparently inspired by the echoing sound of a jail cell door closing, but also interpreted as the hammering of a gavel, "DUN dun" translates the viewer's complex emotions into the comforting assurance that the killer-rapist-drug dealer is being successfully tracked down.
7) "Get out!" Elaine Benes, "Seinfeld" - Elaine's stock shocked reaction could win over audiences and physically bowl over unfortunate bearers of surprising news. It's not quite killing the messenger, but it's pretty darn close. Now that's a powerful catchphrase.
6) "Dude!" Cousin Cody, "Step by Step" - The lovable, oafish, brah of J.T. in this blatant "Brady Bunch" rip-off was a man of few words, but with this unforgettable oath, he always seemed to get his point across. Cody, a somewhat unlikely cultural icon to Generation Y, said what every suburban, white pre- and early teen wanted to say, but didn't for fear of being labeled a surfer. That's courage.
5) "Cocaine's one helluva drug," Rick James, "Chappelle's Show" - Objectively, "I'm Rick James, b-tch!" is this episode's (and series') funniest line, but after having been repeated 19,000 times (nearly all of them complete out of context), the "cocaine" line has supplanted it as the show's most noteworthy catchphrase. The fact that the Superfreak himself is actually the one who says it is important, but like any great catchphrase, the modicum of truth that it contains is the clincher.
4) "Time out," Zack Morris, "Saved by the Bell" - Not only could Zack Morris stop the heart of every pre-teen girl in America, he could actually stop time with just two little words. Boldly reclaiming "Time out!" from the realm of nursery school punishment, Morris, a true innovator, took control of his life, Bayside High and the fourth dimension - and showed us that we could, too. Einstein, are you taking notes in your Trapper Keeper?
3) "You are the weakest link. Goodbye," Anne Robinson, "The Weakest Link" -- Coo coo ca-choo to you, Ms. Robinson, for your icy, icy cold catchphrase that so sadistically dashed the hopes and dreams of the luckless, mostly dense contestants on your otherwise unmemorable faux-intelligent game show. The Daily loves you more than you will know (whoa whoa whoa).
2) "Hello, Nurse!" Yakko and Wakko, "Animaniacs" - Did any of us really understand what this meant? This randy howl from the rowdy young Warner Brothers (but not their Warner sister, Dot) came at a juncture in our lives when we were too young to understand lustful attraction or the blatant sexism of the archetypal sexy nurse character given no name other than "Hello, Nurse." Out of the mouths (and into the ears) of babes!
1) "Damn, Gina!" Martin, "Martin" - The best part about this catchphrase is Martin Lawrence's intonation. Somewhere in between a creaking door and the sound an ostrich might make if it had a tail long enough to step on and you did, this labored screech always made for a good laugh when imitated. We bet Gina didn't like it, though. And neither did our mothers when we picked up this little mid-'90s exclamation.
- compiled by the Daily Arts Department
