The 10 most famous 80s TV catchphrases everyone was saying back then

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80s TV catchphrases that still make us smile decades later

Before streaming and DVR, watching TV was an event. If you missed an episode, you had to wait for a rerun — unless you were lucky enough to own a VCR. The 1980s made it easier than ever to rewatch favorite moments, and along with them, TV catchphrases became part of everyday conversations. If someone said “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” or “Kiss my grits,” you didn’t need context — you just knew.

Not all 80s catchphrases came from scripted TV. Siskel and Ebert closed their movie reviews with “The balcony is closed,” a sign that the discussion was over. And on Saturday Night Live, a clay figure named Mr. Bill met his fate every week with an exaggerated “Oh noooooooooooo!”

Even if you haven’t watched these shows in years, their catchphrases are hard to forget. Some still show up in pop culture today, while others live on as inside jokes among those who grew up in the 80s. Either way, they’re a reminder of a time when TV wasn’t just something to watch — it was something to talk about.

We remember those days well… and that’s why here we have compiled these popular TV catchphrases of the ’80s! Of course, since so many series spanned more than one decade, not all of these catchphrases are just from the eighties — but you can be, like, totally sure that people heard them often over the years between 1980 and 1989.

For more, be sure to see Famous catchphrases: ‘Excuuuse me’ & other lines we loved to repeat (1978), as well as TV catchphrases of the ’60s and TV catchphrases of the ’70s.

Do you remember these famous ’80s TV catchphrases?

Which of these lines from the ’80s do you remember — and are there any that you still find yourself saying every now and then?

Are we missing any of your favorites? Let us know your top TV catchphrases of the ’80s in the comments section below!

10 top TV catchphrases of the '80s


1. “The plane! The plane!”

’80s TV catchphrase from Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo on Fantasy Island (1977-1983)

The plane! The plane! - Fantasy Island


2. “Nanu nanu.”

Robin Williams as Mork on Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)

MORE: Mork & Mindy intro and calling Orson

Nanu nanu - Mork


3. “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”

TV catchphrase of the ’80s from Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes (1978-1986)

What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?


4. “No problem!”

ALF, aka Gordon Shumway (voice of Paul Fusco) on ALF (1986-1990)

TV catchphrases ALF


5. “Kiss my grits!”

Catchphrase from Polly Holliday as Flo, from Alice (1976-1980) & Flo (1980-1981)

Kiss my grits


6. “Oh noooooooooooo!”

Mr Bill on Saturday Night Live, starting in 1976

Mr Bill on Saturday Night Live, starting in 1976


7. “Let’s be careful out there.”

Michael Conrad as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)

Let's be careful out there - Hill Street Blues


8. “Norm!”

Said in unison by everyone at the bar to Norm (George Wendt) on Cheers (1982-1993)

TV catchphrases Cheers


9. “The balcony is closed.”

Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel on their movie review shows, including At the Movies.

TV catchphrases of the '80s - The balcony is closed - Siskel and Ebert


10. “Make it so.”

Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

MORE: Star Trek: The Next Generation launching soon (1987)

Make it so - Picard


TV catchphrases of the ’60sTV catchphrases of the ’70sTV catchphrases of the ’80s

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Comments on this story

One Response

  1. The catchphrases I remember from the 80s are:
    “You look mahvelous!” (Billy Crystal’s Fernando, SNL)
    “I’m Gumby, dammit!” (Eddie Murphy’s Gumby, SNL)
    “Where’s the beef?” (Wendy’s commercial)
    “Go ahead – make my day!” (Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry – not a TV catchphrase, but probably the definitive catchphrase of the era)
    Those are just a few that come to mind…

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