Chapter 59

Hello everyone! With so many great shows to choose from, on multiple viewing platforms, it can be shocking to remember that television is a relatively new medium. By the time the 1960s rolled around, though, television was finding its groove. As the Library of Congress notes, 90% of Americans owned a TV set by 1960—a leap from the 9% who owned one the decade before.

Television’s skyrocketing popularity led to some of Hollywood’s most enduring shows, from animated gems (“The Flintstones”) to cherished sitcoms (“The Dick Van Dyke Show”). The success of other endeavors, like the groundbreaking sci-fi series “Star Trek” and the espionage thriller “Mission: Impossible,” led to franchises that continue to thrill audiences today. The decade also birthed the dark comedy “The Addams Family,” introducing baby boomers to many memorable characters.

But let’s go back to the simpler days before streaming made keeping up with the latest TV shows nearly impossible. It’s time to look back on the iconic catchphrases from “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Looney Tunes,” and other 1960s gems. Here is a list of famous quotes from some of the most beloved TV shows of the 1960s. See which ones ring a bell.

I was born at the very end of the time known as “The Baby Boom”, like many other people who enjoy SOL. I admit that I knew every quote listed, even if Sweetie had never heard most of them. How many do YOU recall?

“Th-Th-Th-That’s all, folks!”
If you’ve watched any “Looney Tunes” cartoons—initially released in the 1930s— then you’re well aware of their typical endings where Porky Pig (usually) wrapped things up with this catchphrase. The line was inspired by voice actor Joe Dougherty’s real-life stutter and was later protested by the National Stuttering Project of San Francisco in 1991.

“We have a really big show, tonight.”
From 1948 to 1971, legendary TV host Ed Sullivan opened many of his Sunday variety shows with these enticing words. It often proved true. “The Ed Sullivan Show” was home to iconic performances like Elvis’ 1956 set and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance, the first time the legendary band would perform on live American television.

*”You unlock this door with the key of imagination.”
Rod Serling intones these words at the beginning of every “Twilight Zone” episode, inviting viewers to invest in whatever sci-fi horror parable they’re about to witness. While its role in “The Twilight Zone” television show is unforgettable, many have probably encountered this iconic phrase while riding Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—right before the floor drops under them.

“Nip it in the bud.”
As the deputy sheriff of the fictionalized sleepy central town of Mayberry, North Carolina, on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Barney Fife (Don Knotts) took any sign of trouble seriously, insisting the characters must “nip it in the bud.” He often took things hilariously too far as a result, but his heart was in the right place.

“Yabba-dabba-doo!”
Stone Age “The Flintstones” patriarch Fred Flintstone (Alan Reed) often utters this seemingly nonsense expression to express excitement in the classic cartoon. The classic quote can be traced back to Reed, who reportedly drew inspiration from his mother, who used to quote a Brylcreem commercial: “A little dab’ll do ya.” In the original “Flintstones” script, Fred simply said, “Yahoo!”

“Oh, Rob!”
Before starring on her comedy show, Mary Tyler Moore became a household name for her work as housewife Laura Petrie on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The actor coined the famous “Oh, Rob!” catchphrase, which Laura often whined in response to her TV writer husband’s (Dick Van Dyke) antics.

“I’m smarter than the average bear.”
The lovable Yogi Bear’s declaration that he’s “smarter than the average bear” is often hilariously ironic given the misadventures and sticky situations he often gets himself into on “The Yogi Bear Show.” The quote has become a common phrase over the years, typically referring to someone better at something than the average person.

“Y’all come back now, ya hear?”
This phrase was uttered at the end of each episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The quote refers to the characters’ everyday Southern hospitality, even after moving from the Ozarks to a posh Beverly Hills, California, home.

“And that’s the way it is.”
For 19 years, legendary anchorman Walter Cronkite signed off from his nightly broadcast with these blunt words. Cronkite’s former producer, Sandy Socolow, later told CNN the tag-line originated after studio executives disapproved of his original sign-off, in which he encouraged viewers to check their local newspapers the following day.

“Here’s Johnny!”
From 1964 until 1992, Ed McMahon used this catchphrase to introduce iconic “The Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson. Stanley Kubrick memorably paid homage to this famous quote in his 1980 film “The Shining,” in which Jack Nicholson’s terrifying character, Jack Torrance, yells the same thing as he hacks down a door with an axe.

“Ruh-roh!”
In the futuristic world of “The Jetsons,” even family dog Astro chimes in on the action, often expressing his dismay at a situation with his signature phrase, “Ruh-roh!” This quote was later adopted by fellow cartoon dog Scooby-Doo, voiced by the same actor, Don Messick.

“A three-hour tour.”
If you’ve ever wound up trapped in a situation that’s taken a ridiculously long time, you’ll relate to this “Gilligan’s Island” quote. Performed as part of the show’s theme song lyrics, it explains how the show’s characters set off on what they thought was a simple “three-hour tour” off the coast of Honolulu, only to end up shipwrecked together.