Once you start listening for catchphrases in everyday life—you can’t stop hearing them. From the radio era’s “Holy mackerel!” to Fonzie’s “Ayyy!” to Urkel’s multiple go-to lines on Family Matters, we explore the irresistible quotables from sitcoms, movies and social media that have burrowed into our collective lexicon. Oh, just one more thing… bazinga! (Did I do that?)
This episode was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
Thank you to Luke Winkie, Stephen Langford, Doug Dietzold and The Good, the Bad and the Sequel podcast, and Shawn Green for the suggestion and Urkel clips.
If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, you can email us at DecoderRing@slate.com
If you haven’t yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends. If you’re a fan of the show and want to support us, consider signing up for Slate Plus. As a member, you’ll get to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads—and your support is crucial to our work. Go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gender Reveal Party
Bart Simpson Mania
Ice Cream Truck
Pillow Talk
Chuck E. Cheese Pizza War
Videomate: Men
Truck Nutz
Baby Shark
The Grifter
Sad Jennifer Aniston
The Incunabula Papers
Hotel Art
The Paper Doll Club
The Basement Affair
Clown Panic
The Johnlock Conspiracy
The Laff Box
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Slow Burn
Slate Debates
What Next | Daily News and Analysis
The Gist
How To!