The Most Famous TV Show Quotes That Became Pop Culture

The Impact of Memorable TV Show Quotes

TV shows from all genres have left a mark on pop culture thanks to many elements, including some memorable quotes, and some became so famous that even people who have never watched the show use them. Many TV shows are instantly recognizable thanks to their characters, who were so likable, relatable, funny, or interesting that they became the image of the show, while others became widely known for one specific scene that went viral either for its emotional charge, funny elements, or for some mistake caught by the audience.

Din Djarin sits atop a blurrg on Nevarro in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 7

Many TV shows have become part of TV history thanks to one quote that had a great impact on the audience. Some TV shows were defined by one specific quote that became so popular that even those who haven’t watched the show know exactly where it came from and who said it, and even use it in their daily lives. In some cases, that one quote became part of pop culture, so much so that it ended up defining an entire franchise and has been referenced and even parodied in other TV shows and movies due to its legacy.

The Mandalorian - “This is the way”

The Mandalorian left Star Wars fans with not just one of the best TV shows from this universe and the greatness of Grogu, but also with a quote that many now use in different contexts, regardless of knowing its full origin or not. The line that became Din Djarin’s (Pedro Pascal) catchphrase in The Mandalorian is “this is the way”, even though it was first spoken by the Armorer (Emily Swallow). The line is about what it means to be a Mandalorian and the code of traditions and ideals that come with being one, though not all Mandalorians follow this nor do they follow “the way” as Din and other Mandalorians do.

How I Met Your Mother - “It’s gonna be legen – wait for it, and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant ‘cause the second half of that word is – dary!”

Throughout nine seasons, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) made sure to leave fans of How I Met Your Mother with a long list of memorable quotes. The most memorable ones are those that include his now famous “wait for it” dramatic pause, but the one that’s known and quoted by fans and those who have never watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother is the one where he combined “legendary” with “wait for it”. The result is a quote that is as funny as it is usable, and even though it has evolved to the point where it’s simply said “it’s gonna be legen – wait for it… – dary”, it’s still How I Met Your Mother’s most famous quote.

140311_2756195_How_I_Met_Your_Mother___Barney_Stinson_Inter (1)

South Park - “Oh my God, they killed Kenny!”

South Park is packed with running gags that fit with the show’s unique and dark sense of humor. Among them is Kenny being killed in some absurd way at some point in every episode, leading one or more of his friends to exclaim “oh my God, they killed Kenny”. However, after many deaths, Kenny was semi-permanently killed in the episode “Kenny Dies”, though he later returned but now in a less recurrent role. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker said they grew tired of finding ways to kill Kenny in almost every episode, and that Kenny was too much of a “prop” and was “not even a character” (via ESPN), but viewers still loved him.

Kenny in the hospital with Cartman and Chef next to him in South Park

The X-Files - “The truth is out there”

“The truth is out there” became The X-Files’ tagline and can be seen in the opening credits, right before the name of the show’s creator (Chris Carter) appears and the show begins. The line is fitting with the show’s themes of aliens and other supernatural entities being completely real, but Agent Scully (Gillian Anderson) gives it another, more personal meaning when she tells Agent Mulder (David Duchovny) that “the truth is out there, but so are lies”. This X-Files quote is so usable that it can fit in a variety of contexts, though everyone knows its origins are linked to one of the biggest sci-fi TV shows in TV history.

Gillain Anderson's Scully sitting down in the original X-Files