12 Surprising Origins Of Your Favorite Characters’ Iconic Catchphrases and Mannerisms
![12 Surprising Origins Of Your Favorite Characters’ Iconic Catchphrases and Mannerisms](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/3/9/893939_320x180.jpg)
Ah, yes, the power of a phrase. It can bring us joy or make us laugh, it can evoke deep emotions or make us think. It can bring us back to a certain time or place, or even make us feel nostalgic. It can inspire us to greatness or make us feel like we’re part of a larger movement. It can even make us feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
This list is a tribute to the power of words, to the catchphrases that have become part of our collective consciousness. From Mike Myers and Dana Carvey’s impersonation of Lorne Michaels to Wesley Willis’ classic "Whip the Llama’s Ass" to Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance in Forrest Gump, these phrases have shaped our culture and our language.
We really hope you enjoy this list of some of the most iconic catchphrases in history. So, without further ado, let’s get cracking.
Evil, with a pinky.
![DR. EVIL his mannerisms, including the pinky raise It's said that Mike Myers took the idea for Dr. Evil from Dana Carvey's impersonation of Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels, which included a special way of lifting his little finger. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/1/893731.jpg)
New Line Cinema,
Sam Aronov/Shutterstock
ITMA: Catchphrases before Homer.
![HOMER SIMPSON d'oh The 1940s BBC radio comedy It's That Man Again was really popular for its catchphrases like Don't mind if I do, and D'oh!, which was used decades before Homer Simpson made it famous. GRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/3/893733.jpg)
20th Television,
Wiki Commons
"Wubalubadubdub" - Curly meets 'Rick and Morty'.
![RICK AND MORTY wubalubadubdub The nonsense phrase was inspired by the Three Stooges; it was supposed to be like that sound Curly makes that you can't quite describe. The final version ended up being so dumb, the writers hoped it wouldn't catch on. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/6/893736.jpg)
Adult Swim,
Columbia Pictures
"Zoinks!" and "like" - the Casey Kasem way.
![SHAGGY that high- pitched voice Casey Kasem was the voice of Shaggy in the 1969 Scooby-Doo cartoon, and a big influence on Shaggy's voice was another popular TV character from Our Miss Brooks, who spoke in a high squeaky voice and was always very breathy. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/7/893737.jpg)
Hanna-Barbera,
CBS
“Whip the Llama’s Ass”: A classic.
![WINAMP it really whips the llama's ass! WINAMP 00:00 DJ Mike Llama-Liama Whippin 56 kbps 22 kHz mono steroo FL EC N SHUPPLE The phrase and the sound of a llama being whipped became popular because of a song by Wesley Willis called Whip the Llama's Ass. It then got used as the signature sound of Winamp. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/9/893739.jpg)
Nullsoft,
Rita_Kochmarjova/Shutterstock
Suffering Savior, indeed.
![SYLVESTER THE CAT thufferin' thuccotash! Thufferin' thuccotash! was actually a way of saying suffering savior. Succotash, which is a corn and bean dish, was just a word put in to replace savior (probably to avoid blasphemy). CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/2/8/893728.jpg)
Warner Bros.,
AS Foodstudio/Shutterstock
"I Want My MTV" - George Lois’ genius.
![MTV SIC TELEVISION MTV i want my MTV I WANT MY МАУРО! Ad guy George Lois came up with the phrase I Want My MTV to get young people off the couch and to call their cable companies to demand that MTV be added to their services. Не swiped a maple syrup tagline - II Want My Maypo. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/4/893734.jpg)
MTV,
Maltex Co.
Depp channels Richards for Sparrow.
![CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW the way he acts Johnny Depp based his portrayal on Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, copying his mannerisms and overall attitude. Pirates were the rock stars of their time, he thought, and the coolest rock star to him was Richards. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/5/893735.jpg)
Disney,
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
M’kay, Mr. Mackey.
![MR. MACKEY m'kay? Mr. Mackey is the school counselor at South Park Elementary, famous for his catchphrase M'kay, which he says at the end of most of his sentences. Turns out, he's based on Trey Parker's counselor, Mr. Lackey, who would really say, M'kay? CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/2/9/893729.jpg)
Comedy Central
Tom Hanks: Oscar-winning actor, inspired by his brother’s B-movie character.
![FORREST GUMP the way he acts Tom Hanks apparently took inspiration from his brother Jim's B-movie character Jeeter Buford in Buford's Beach Bunnies. So, yeah, without one weird movie you've probably never heard of, there's no Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/2/893732.jpg)
Paramount Pictures,
Axis Films International
Cartman: A Classic Blend of Misogyny and Neanderthalism.
![ERIC CARTMAN the way he acts Cartman is a spiritual successor to a popular All in the Family character. I'd say within the first season, we kind of realized Cartman's like a little Archie Bunker, says Trey Parker. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/0/893730.jpg)
Comedy Central,
CBS
Classic comedy inspiration.
![BUGS BUNNY the way he acts and talks The phrase What's up, Doc? and Bugs' iconic behavior were based on the 1934 romantic comedy It Happened One Night, starring Clark Gable. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/8/893738.jpg)
Warner Bros.,
Columbia Pictures