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These are lines so famous that, were one to hear it spoken, they would know what it’s from. That applies even if they’ve never seen the show itself. They’re not even all catchphrases per say, but they are certainly phrases that are catchy.
10) “D’oh!” from The Simpsons
The Simpsons wasn’t even the first to use the “annoyed grunt” sound “D’oh!” It actually originated from Jimmy Finlayson in the old comic duo Laurel and Hardy movies. The only difference was that Homer Simpson voice actor, Dan Castellaneta, shortened it by removing a few os.
Naturally, The Simpsons has been around for nearly 40 years, and it almost certainly has at least a few more years to go. It’s hard to imagine someone not having seen at least one episode just to understand the hype (especially in the ’90s). Even if they haven’t, Melissa McCarthy says it in Ghostbusters, Andy says it in Toy Story (using Mr. Potato Head as One-Eyed Bart), and it’s used multiple times in Family Guy as well as an episode of South Park.
Stream The Simpsons on Disney+.
9) “I Am the One Who Knocks!” from Breaking Bad
If there’s a questionable one on this list, it’s “I am the one who knocks!” from Breaking Bad. It was a highly popular show, but it’s not as if everyone has seen it, and the question arises whether this amazing and terrifying line really is known on the universal scale.
But here’s the thing: social media. To this day this particular line is all over Instagram Reels. It’s also experienced spikes of popularity in meme form. So, let’s say someone who has never seen Breaking Bad sees one of those, which is likely. They know Bryan Cranston and they know it’s not from Seinfeld or Malcolm in the Middle just as they know that the actor was, in fact, part of Breaking Bad. It was highly publicized just how much of a hard left turn it was for the actor from his beloved Malcolm role. They’ll then associate this line to Breaking Bad and be correct in doing so.
Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix.
8) “Make It Work” from Project Runway
Plenty of people watch reality television. There are just as many who see the “Reality” in that classification as the joke it is and avoid them at all cost.
Even that latter category has heard “Make it work,” spoken by Tim Gunn in Project Runway. They’ve likely also heard Gunn’s name associated with it. This is partly because Gunn himself has appeared in other programming—either as himself or himself thinly disguised as a character—and said it. Examples include Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, Inside Amy Schumer, and the Disney Junior show Sofia the First.
Stream Project Runway on Peacock.
7) “Whatchu Talkin’ ‘Bout Willis?” from Diff’rent Strokes
Diff’rent Strokes is a pretty old show, but people still quote Gary Coleman’s iconic line “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout Willis?” And, even though Coleman himself passed nearly 20 years ago, people still know Coleman’s name and the fact that he was the one who said it.
To that point, it is a bit questionable that someone would hear the line and think Diff’rent Strokes. However, there’s a very good chance they’ll think the name Gary Coleman or picture the late, short statured fan-favorite actor.
6) “You Got Some ‘Splainin’ to Do” from I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy wasn’t the first sitcom, but it was the most important. It was the first to be a four-quadrant hit, the first to use a three-camera setup, and the first to film in front of a live audience.
So, naturally, its most iconic line has stuck in the pop cultural lexicon for over 70s years. Even if you haven’t heard Ricky Ricardo say “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do” or any variety of it, it’s quite likely you’ve heard it elsewhere. For instance, in Stakeout, The Fairly OddParents, The Nanny, Veronica Mars, Kim Possible, and Rocko’s Modern Life. “Lucy, I’m home!” is another one that gets referenced from time to time, including in the 1997 movie Hercules and Ed, Edd n Eddy.
Stream I Love Lucy on Paramount+.
5) “No Soup for You!” from Seinfeld
“No soup for you” is a great line because it comes from the mouth of a man who takes his work extremely seriously. Arguably too seriously. And when he tells you you’re not getting soup for a year, you’re just flat-out not getting that soup for a calendar year.
As for why it’s so well known, part of it has to do with Larry Thomas’ stern line delivery and another part is just how silly it is. But, most of all, it’s a line people hear their Seinfeld fan family members say while they’re making food, not even always just soup. Other lines that just about everybody knows come from Seinfeld include “Serenity now!” and, of course, “Newman!”
Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.
4) “Oh My God, They Killed Kenny! You Ba***rds!” from South Park
South Park was a major cultural touchstone in the late ’90s. On one hand, those who watched it loved it from moment one, and it blew up in its first season, which certainly doesn’t always happen. Then there were the seemingly millions of people who hadn’t seen it and still were fine just assuming it was evil incarnate.
One of the things its detractors just loved to harp on was the fact that one little boy, Kenny, always died horrible deaths. They were “genuinely” offended by that and talked about it on the news. Then there were those who got the joke and quoted Kyle or Stan’s (or Kyle and Stan’s) line “Oh my God! They killed Kenny! You ba***rds!” Be it from detractors or fans, this line couldn’t be avoided.
Stream South Park on Paramount+.
