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Best Sitcom Catchphrases

The 20 Best Sitcom Catchphrases in TV History

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“What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” –Arnold Drummond, 'Diff’rent Strokes'

Diff'rent StrokesHulton Archive/Getty Images

Plucky orphan Arnold Drummond (Gary Coleman) would often express skepticism at something his older brother Willis said by using this phrase.

“You got it, dude.” –Michelle Tanner, 'Full House'

Full HousePhoto courtesy of Warner Bros.

Full House was a show full of catchphrases, but this one from precocious young Michelle Tanner (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) was probably the most memorable and the least annoying, because it was at least kind of cute.

“Lucy, you got some explaining to do!” –Ricky Ricardo, 'I Love Lucy'

I Love LucyHulton Archive/Getty Images

Okay, so Ricky (Desi Arnaz) pronounced it more like “splaining” with his Cuban accent, but either way it was the exasperated husband’s way of calling his troublemaking wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) to task for her latest scheme.

“Did I do that?” –Steve Urkel, 'Family Matters'

Jaleel WhiteFotos International/Getty Images

Nerd extraordinaire Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) was always causing some sort of damage, often thanks to his strange experiments. No matter how often he wreaked havoc, he always seemed surprised to have been the culprit.

“Missed it by that much.” –Maxwell Smart, 'Get Smart'

Get SmartSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) had plenty of catchphrases, almost all related to his uncanny ability to screw up his missions. This one was generally used when Smart was nowhere near the target he’d been assigned.

“That’s what she said.” –Michael Scott, 'The Office'

Steve CarellPhoto courtesy of NBC

The Office’s Michael Scott (Steve Carell) certainly isn’t the first person to have said this in response to a potentially dirty statement by someone else, but he’s the one who turned it into a ubiquitous, irritating art.

“Let’s hug it out, bitch.” –Ari Gold, 'Entourage'

Jeremy PivenPhoto courtesy of HBO

Entourage’s Hollywood super-agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) approaches everything aggressively, including resolving arguments. When he wants to put a dispute to bed, he asks for a hug, but in a manly way.

“I kill me.” –Alf, 'Alf'

AlfCourtesy of PriceGrabber

Even if the Tanner family wasn’t inclined to laugh at Alf’s jokes, the alien life form himself was always amused by his own humor, and would never hesitate to say so.

“Are we having fun yet?” –Henry Pollard, 'Party Down'

Adam ScottPhoto courtesy of Starz

This Party Down catchphrase was only something former actor Henry Pollard (Adam Scott) said under duress, repeating the popular slogan he once uttered on a beer commercial.

“No touching.” –Prison guard, 'Arrested Development'

Arrested DevelopmentCourtesy of PriceGrabber

Although this phrase started as an admonition from a prison guard to prisoner George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor) not to touch his visiting family members, it eventually spread to other uses throughout Arrested Development.

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