Category: Television

“You can’t touch music… but music can touch you.”

From: Regular Show

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Mordecai

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Cartoon Network original program, Regular Show. The show revolves around two best friends, a raccoon named Rigby and a blue jay named Mordecai. It generally follows their lives and misadventures with their other friends.

The quote comes from the episode, “This is My Jam“. The duo find an old cassette tape and, after playing it, the song gets stuck in their head. They eventually get the it out but the song then manifests in physical form as a giant cassette tape with arms and legs. Rigby tries attacking the song as he’s sick and tired of it. But when he tries to, he passes right through him while the cassette tape is able to slap him around. Mordecai then delivers the quote to explain why this is the case.

Geek wisdom: Physical things can affect you and so can emotional things. Things such as simply being with friends, being all by your lonesome, remembering things from your past and, yes, music can affect you despite not really interacting with you physically.

“For the record, I don’t believe I’m better than everyone else. Just that I’m better than you.”

From: Wednesday

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Wednesday Addams

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Netflix supernatural comedy/mystery show, Wednesday. Developed by Tim Burton and based on the Addams Family franchise of comics, movies and television shows, this new TV show follows Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) transfers to Nevermore Academy, a school for monsters and outcasts. While at the school, Wednesday discovers she has psychic powers and must try to solve a couple of mysteries all the while trying to navigate the weird social structure of the school itself.

The quote comes from the episode “Woe is the Loneliest Number“. Wednesday joins a boat race in the hopes of putting Nevermore Academy’s queen bee, Bianca Barclay (played by Joy Sunday), in her place. Before they start the race, Bianca tries to insult Wednesday regarding her place in the school’s hierarchy. Wednesday rebuffs the insult and references Bianca’s insecurities towards Wednesday by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: There are always going to be people who are going to be better than you at some things. The good thing is the opposite is also true: you are going to be better at other things than these same people.

“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘would and idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”

From: The Office (US)

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Andy Bernard

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the US version of The Office, which ran from 2005 to 2013. It was adapted from the BBC comedy show of the same name. The Office is essentially a mockumentary that takes place in the Scranton branch of the fictional company called Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company.

The quote comes the episode “Business School.” During the opening minutes of the episode, Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) asks the “assistant to the regional manager” Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) asks him what is the best advice he’s ever given him. Dwight responds that the answer would be “don’t be an idiot.” He then expounds in a talking heads portion how he has demonstrated this in his life, delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom:  It’s always best to think before we act. Sometimes, even just a slight pause to contemplate how our actions will impact or affect others may be enough to conclude if something would be a good idea or a bad idea.

“There’s a platypus controlling me!”

From: Phineas and Ferb

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. The show revolves around Phineas and Ferb, two brothers who, thanks to their inventive minds as well as engineering skills, manage to create and build various fantastical object in order to enjoy themselves during their summer vacation. Their sister, Candace, always wants to “bust [her] brothers” by telling on them to their mom. However, Phineas and Ferb’s creations usually vanish before their mom arrives. This is usually due to some mishap, usually caused by their pet platypus, Perry, who also a secret agent, and his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

The quote comes from the episode Brain Drain. In the episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz puts a mind control helmet on his nemesis, Perry the Platypus, and he is able to control everything he does. Later, as they goes to pick up his daughter at a junk yard where a party is being held, a mishap happens and Phineas, Ferb and their friends are able to control Perry the Platypus with their gaming controllers. Thinking Dr. Doofenshmirtz is the final boss of the game they’re playing, they attack him while controlling Perry. While escaping, Dr. Doofenshmirtz falls down a hill, gets his hands covered with glue and gets records attached to his fingers. Perry then puts the mind control helmet on him and controls him to do rap called “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” in front of his daughter and his friends. He delivers the quote (in song) which the crowd believes is a metaphor instead of being literal.

Geek wisdom: Although Dr. Doofenshmirtz was using the quote literally, the metaphorical way of thinking of it is also true. We all have something that is telling us what to do, both literally and figuratively. It can be hard to find that balance between these outside forces and what we want to do but that’s just the way life is.

“We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?”

From: Doctor Who

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Doctor Who

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the British sci-fi program, Doctor Who. The long running program started way back in 1963 on the BBC. The program follows The Doctor and his various “companions” throughout various adventures in his time machine, the TARDIS.

The quote comes near the end of the episode entitled “The Big Bang.” The Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) visits his companion, Amy Pond (usually played by Karen Gillan but, in the scene, she was played by Caitlin Blackwood) on the night when they first met when she was seven years old. In order to save the universe (as well as restore Amy Pond’s parents back into the timeline), The Eleventh Doctor states he has to leave this current timeline.

The Doctor mentions Amy will probably not remember him at all but that’s not exactly true. She won’t remember him or the adventures they had together. Rather, she’ll be thinking of them as kind of a story she imagined. This is when The Doctor delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: No one can live forever… physically. However, when we do pass on, there will be people who will remember us, leaving a legacy of our limited time on this world. Now, people will remember us as they will remember what we’ve done and what we did not do. So, it’s up to us regarding if we are leaving a good or a bad legacy behind us.

“That boy ain’t right.”

From: King of the Hill

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Hank Hill

The story behind the quote: 

The quote comes from the animated sitcom King of the Hill, which recently got a revival which you can watch on Hulu in the United States. Created my Mike Judge, the show generally follows the Hill family, particularly the Hill patriarch, Hank Hill, as well as his friends and next door neighbors, as they deal with the someone exaggerated eccentricities of mundane, everyday life of midwestern America.

The quote is actually kind of a catchphrase spouted by Hank Hill (who is also voiced by Mike Judge) but not all the time as Hank’s wife, Peggy (voiced by Kathy Najimy), has also delivered a version of the quote. Either way, the quote will always be given whenever Bobby Hill (voiced by Pamela Adlon) does something seemingly strange that the adults don’t seem to understand.

Note: This is actually kind of a duplicate post from here. I made a mistake when I made that old post but it was not searchable for some reason. So, I thought I didn’t use this quote yet and I made a new post, which is this one!

Geek wisdom: Different generations will always have trouble understanding each other and, at times, the things the younger generation will do will feel strange and dumb. But they just might be just trying to do something different the older generation never thought of doing. What was “not right” in the past might become pretty normal in the future.

“You’ll realize that someone loved you. And that means that someone can love you again! And that’ll make you smile.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Homer Simpson

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the longest running animated series in the United States, The Simpsons. Making it’s first debut way back in 1989, The Simpsons has been, as of this writing, on broadcast television for 36 seasons.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “Eeny Teeny Maya Moe,” which is the 16th episode of the 20th season. In the episode, we see Moe Szyslak, the owner of Moe’s Tavern, meet a woman named Maya online. When they meet face-to-face, it turns out the woman is a little person. The two eventually hit it off but Moe is unable to stop making jokes about Maya’s height. The two eventually break up because of Moe’s general insecurity.

The quote comes from the end of the episode. Homer Simpson stops by Moe’s Tavern. Moe is still depressed regarding Maya. This is when Homer tells this is a good thing as at least he starting to get back out there again. He closes out this pep talk by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: It is better to have love and lost than to never love at all. While that saying doesn’t mean that much to the brokenhearted, Homer’s words do ring more true. Just because you have lost your love, that doesn’t mean you’ll never find love ever again. If you’ve found it once, there’s a good chance you can find it again.

“I’m going to Yemen!”

From: Friends

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Chandler Bing

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the incredibly popular ’90s sitcom, Friends. The show is about six eclectic friends who live in New York and go about living their lives. The show was a smash hit and is still very popular, airing on reruns all around the world.

The quote comes from the 4th season episode entitled The One With All The Rugby. In one of the storylines of the episode, Chandler Bing (played by the late Matthew Perry) runs into an old girlfriend, Janice (played by Maggie Wheeler). While Janice would like to rekindle their romance, Chandler doesn’t and tries to come up with an excuse to not get back together without outright rejecting her. The excuse he comes up with is he’s being transferred to Yemen for work. However, the lie works too well and Janice, wanting to spend as much time as possible before Chandler leaves, accompanies him to the airport.

Instead of just coming clean, Chandler actually buys a ticket to Yemen and, when he realizes Janice won’t leave until she sees him actually flies off, he does board the plane and, with a mixture of disbelief and despair, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Some people would rather continue with a lie than commit to the truth. There are times when their reasons for doing so may be noble or distasteful. Whatever the case, the truth is usually better.

“Disappointed!”

From: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Sovereign/Hercules II

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 90’s action-fantasy series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The show, starring Kevin Sorbo as the titular demigod, has Hercules going on all kinds of fantastical adventures as he tries to defend the innocent from evil.

The quote comes from the episode titled “Stranger in a Strange World.” This is the first appearance of Sovereign, an evil version of Hercules from a different dimension. He eventually is transported off his dimension and, when he realizes he’s not in the world where he rules, he yells out the quote in question.

While most people believe Kevin Sorbo mistakenly read the script and said what was supposed to be a note on how to deliver the line, he has since explained that he adlibbed this as he was copying a scene from A Fish Called Wanda wherein one of the characters opens up a safe and seeing it’s empty, delivers the same quote. While some do believe this was a gaffe on Kevin Sorbo’s part and he is making this up, there is really no way to know.

Geek wisdom: It’s okay to express your emotions from time to time. However, at the same time, we cannot simply let them control ourselves. Take the time to let out your feelings but it may not be a good idea to let your emotions control what you do next. Process your emotions and take some time before you evaluate your next actions.

“There’s coffee in that nebula!”

From: Star Trek: Voyager

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Janeway

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1995 sci-fi series, Star Trek: Voyager. The third series to come out of Star Trek‘s revival, which started with Star Trek: The Next Generation, this series follows the adventures of the starship USS Voyager. The series follows the USS Voyager and its crew, led by Captain Janeway (portrayed by Kate Mulgrew). After getting transported all the way to the Delta Quadrant, she must lead her crew on the arduous mission to get all the way back home to the Alpha Quadrant.

This week’s quote comes from The Cloud, which is the sixth episode of the first season of the show. In order to save on power, the USS Voyager has stopped using their replicators to create food, leading to one of their new crew members, Neelix, to cook food derived from whatever edible materials they can scrouge up. However, as Neelix is a resident of the Delta Quadrant, he doesn’t exactly know how to cook for beings from the Alpha Quadrant. Now desperate for more common niceties like coffee, Captain Janeway learns that they are passing a nebula that may help restore some of their energy reserves and even power up their replicators for replicating food. This is when she gives the order to change course to the nebula and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People, when desperate, will start to do strange things in order to get what they want. While that can be a driving force for good, it can also lead people to do silly, unnecessary and even dangerous things. You do have to measure whether or not the risk is worth the reward or is it better to just to not do anything as it’s not worth the trouble.