Decades after going off the air, the family sitcom, The Brady Bunch, is still remembered for middle sister Jan Brady (Eve Plumb) screaming "Marcia Marcia Marcia!" out of pure jealousy over her seemingly perfect older sister (Maureen McCormick). Even though the line was only said in one episode, over the years, it became known as Jan's catchphrase.
In the game of television shows, a catchphrase is something that sets some players apart from others. It can not only become synonymous with the original character, but it can also create recognizability for the show itself.
"Dy-no-MITE!"
James "J.J." Evans Jr., (Good Times)
A spinoff of Maude and All In The Family, Good Times brought just that with every episode. One of the most popular characters on the show was James "J.J." Evans Jr. (Jimmie Walker), the oldest child of the Evans family, known for his silly catchphrase, "Dyn-o-MITE!".
J.J. had a tendency to shout out "Dyn-o-MITE!" whenever he experienced great excitement. In a way, it highlighted the character's adorable charm and goofy traits, making this catchphrase a standout for 1970s TV and television history as a whole.
"It's Me, Stan."
Stan Zbornak (The Golden Girls)
Like The Munsters, The Golden Girls deserves a movie reboot. But no revival would be complete without the inclusion of Stanley "Stan" Zbornak (Herb Edelman), Dorothy's mooching ex-husband that is the epitome of a hapless schmuck, who has his own catchphrase: "It's me, Stan."
Much to the chagrin of Dorothy and everybody around him, Stan seemed to find great humor in always announcing himself. It reflected his confidence, but also showed a bit of a need for attention, serving as a reminder of his entrance.
"Did I Do That?"
Steve Urkel (Family Matters)
Steve Urkel of Family Matters is the epitome of ironic success. Having been intended as a short-lived character, Jaleel White's Steve Urkel catapulted the show to new heights. The king of the nerds would not only be known for his self-titled "Urkel Dance," but also for his signature catchphrase: "Did I do that?"
Like Homer Simpson with "D'oh!" Urkel usually said this whenever he was in some kind of trouble due to his incessant shenanigans. Urkel's catchphrase was so popular that it was included in a 1991 pull-string doll modeled after the character's likeness.
"Bird Is The Word."
Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Family Guy is one of the most innovative animated adult sitcoms in television history. While raunchy in its humor, the show is also known for its silliness. Griffin family patriarch Peter (Seth MacFarlane) is perhaps the silliest of all of them, especially with his catchphrase: "Bird is the Word."
In season 7's "I Dream of Jesus," Peter would fall into an asinine obsession with a record of "Surfing Bird," The Trashmen's 1963 hit single, breaking into song and dance at every opportunity. Even though Stewie and Brian destroyed the record, the catchphrase has sporadically popped up throughout the seasons.
"How You Doin'?"
Joey Tribbiani (Friends)
At its peak, Friends ruled the world. Eighteen years after its final episode, Friends has cemented its status as one of the best television shows of all time. The running gags are perfectly timed by the show's six core characters, one of which is Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc).
A soap opera actor, Joey thought he was a suave ladies' man, as seen with his catchphrase "How you doin'?" Along with his charming smile and head nod, Joey usually used this catchphrase whenever he was attempting to hit on an attractive woman. Ironically, Joey's catchphrase eventually became a real-life pickup line.
"You Got It, Dude!"
Michelle Tanner, Full House
A beloved family sitcom, Full House became a household favorite in the late '80s and early '90s. The show revolves around single dad Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) raising his three daughters. In this sister trio, the youngest daughter, Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen), was definitely a little ham, as seen with her catchphrase, "You've got it, dude!"
Michelle's catchphrase wouldn't be complete without her signature thumbs up, signaling her approval. Similar to "Legend-wait for it-dary" on How I Met Your Mother, other characters on Full House also began to use this signature catchphrase.
"D'oh!"
Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
Popular for decades, Homer Simpson (Dan Castanella) of The Simpsons has paved the way for other animated dads, such as Peter Griffin and Bob Belcher. The Simpsons family patriarch is a lovable idiot, but he is also rather clumsy.
"D'oh" is Homer's catchphrase, which he typically shouts upon being injured. Oftentimes, he says this in place of taking accountability for his actions. Homer's catchphrase has also been seen in the show's theatrical film The Simpsons, in addition to being spoken by other characters throughout the series.
"Legend-wait for it-dary."
Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
A compelling comedic deuteragonist, Barney Stinson was both a scene stealer and a showstopper on How I Met Your Mother. "Nothing Suits Me Like A Suit" is a standout moment in which he sings about his love for suits, but Barney's catchphrase made him shine even brighter in the world of HIMYM.
The womanizer's catchphrase was typically said before a momentous occasion, showing his true spirit of partying and brotherhood. The catchphrase has even lent itself to being said by the other main characters, but it will always belong to Barney.
"Bazinga!"
Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
Chuck Lorre's The Big Bang Theory made science nerds into the cool guys with its "adorkable" brand of humor. Although his ineptitude with sarcasm shined through in earlier seasons, the quirky Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) became king of the comebacks with his favorite zinger: "Bazinga!"
Sheldon tends to use the phrase in a "gotcha!" or "I told you so" manner, but it is not always appropriately timed, despite being so funny. "Bazinga" became such a favored catchphrase that it even inspired a novel compound "BaZnGa" in 2017, made up of barium, zinc and gallide (according to LiveScience).
"That's What She Said!"
Michael Scott (The Office)
Whether it's the BBC original or NBC's adaptation, The Office was known for its kooky characters. Michael Scott, regional manager of Scranton's Dunder Mifflin branch, is perhaps the wackiest. Steve Carell especially brought the character to life with Michael's catchphrase: "That's what she said."
An American spin on the British expression "said the actress to the bishop," Michael's decades-old catchphrase became symbolic of the character, despite the fact that he didn't invent it. While often used as sexual innuendo, the delivery of the line always landed, especially when Michael would say it at the worst possible times.