Say What?

The ever-nostalgic American cable channel TV Land is planning a weeklong celebration of television’s 100 greatest “quotes and catchphrases,” December 11 to 15. Included among the memorable utterances are the Robot’s frequent admonition from Lost in Space (“Danger, Will Robinson!”), attorney Joseph Welch’s history-making rebuke to Red-baiting Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy (“Have you no sense of decency, sir?”), Jackie Gleason’s signature line (“How sweet it is!”), and the once-ubiquitous catchphrase used in commercials for the Wendy’s fast-food chain (“Where’s the beef?”).

However, a few familiar phrases from crime-fiction shows (or series that arguably belong within this genre) also make TV Land’s cut:

• “Book ’em, Danno.” (Steve McGarrett, Hawaii Five-O)

• “Just one more thing ... (Lieutenant Columbo, Columbo)

• “The truth is out there.” (Fox Mulder, The X-Files)

• “Who loves you, baby?” (Lieutenant Theo Kojak, Kojak)

• “Let’s be careful out there.” (Sergeant Philip Freemason Esterhaus, Hill Street Blues)

• “Would you believe?” (Maxwell Smart, Get Smart)

• “This is the city ...” (Sergeant Joe Friday, Dragnet)

Even before the TV Land specials air, you can find its whole list of quotable quotes here.

READ MORE: “The Great Quotes TV Land Missed,” by Ken Levine.