80s TV catchphrases that still make us smile decades later
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!
1. “The plane! The plane!”
’80s TV catchphrase from Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo on Fantasy Island (1977-1983)
2. “Nanu nanu.”
Robin Williams as Mork on Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
MORE: Mork & Mindy intro and calling Orson
3. “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”
TV catchphrase of the ’80s from Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes (1978-1986)
4. “No problem!”
ALF, aka Gordon Shumway (voice of Paul Fusco) on ALF (1986-1990)
5. “Kiss my grits!”
Catchphrase from Polly Holliday as Flo, from Alice (1976-1980) & Flo (1980-1981)
6. “Oh noooooooooooo!”
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)
8. “Norm!”
Said in unison by everyone at the bar to Norm (George Wendt) on Cheers (1982-1993)
9. “The balcony is closed.”
Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel on their movie review shows, including At the Movies.
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)
TV catchphrases of the ’60s | TV catchphrases of the ’70s | TV catchphrases of the ’80s
One Response
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…