A television catchphrase is a powerful thing; nail the wording and intonation and it can propel a character into immortality. For instance, if it wasn’t for “Aaay!” people would primarily know the Fonz as a creepy middle-aged man who desperately wanted to be best friends with some teenagers. So, what are the 10 greatest catchphrases in television history? I’m glad you asked. Here they are.

10 ‘Ooh, Betty’

Frank Spencer, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em

Accidents will happen ... Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em. Photograph: BBC2

A good catchphrase is one that can be easily replicated, and none are replicated quite as easily as “Ooh, Betty”. You simply put your finger to your mouth, look sheepish and make a noise like a deflating haemorrhoid cushion. It’s easy and, once you’ve got the hang of it, you can throw in a confident “The cat done a whoopsie on the carpet”. And what’s cooler than repeating a catchphrase from a 40-year-old sitcom? Nothing, that’s what.

9 ‘Pretty, pretty good’

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Too wry, eh ... Larry David as himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Photograph: Channel 4

The success of “Pretty, pretty good” lies in its potential for everyday use. People ask how you are all the time, and it’s much more fun to shout back “I’m pret-tay, pret-tay, pret-tay good” like a sour old Jewish millionaire than to just mumble and shrug like you usually do.

8 ‘Yabba dabba doo’

Fred Flintstone, The Flintstones

Dinosaur Sr ... Fred Flintstone. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext/Hanna-Barbera

Although the first Flintstones script called for voice actor Alan Reed to simply yell “Yahoo!”, in the heat of the moment, Reed gleefully ad-libbed “Yabba Dabba Doo” by folding it in with the Brylcreem slogan “A little dab’ll do ya”. The success of the catchphrase not only spawned a mangy fruit punch drink called Yabba Dabba Dew, but also helped to conceal Fred Flintstone’s true nature as an angry misogynist layabout with a crippling gambling addiction.

7 ‘You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment’

Francis Urquhart, House of Cards

Political animal ... Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart in House of Cards. Photograph: PA

As good a catchphrase as this is – it managed to keenly encapsulate the slippery relationship between politicians and the media – it makes the list because it stands the test of time better than anything that Kevin Spacey has ever said in the ongoing House of Cards remake.

6 ‘That’s what she said’

Various, The Office

There’s something in the water ... Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly Flax in The Office (US). Photograph: NBC/Rex Features

A catchphrase is usually limited to a single character. Not so with “That’s what she said”, an update of “As the actress said to the bishop” that gradually infiltrated the entire cast of The Office (US). This arguably makes it the most realistic catchphrase in this list – no other captures the incestuous shared-air nature of modern workplaces, where inane in-jokes take hold out of nowhere.

5 ‘Is it because I is black?’

Ali G, Da Ali G Show

Staines massive attack ... Ali G at the MTV Europe music awards. Photograph: John Rogers/Getty

This one can be intellectualised for ever. “Is it because I is black?” is a stinging comment on race and class and urban deprivation, delivered by a privately educated Oxbridge graduate. However, it’s included here because 17 years ago Richard Madeley did an Ali G impression on This Morning and it was so unbelievably incredible that it deserves to be mentioned as often as possible.

4 ‘Live long and prosper’

Spock, Star Trek

Paint a Vulcan picture ... Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Photograph: CBS/Getty

With the possible exception of Bill and Ted’s “Be excellent to each other”, no catchphrase in history has managed to convey an entire spiritual worldview as succinctly as “Live long and prosper”. How better to demonstrate your basic compassion than with a simple wish for a long and happy life? Never mind that it was probably ripped off from Shakespeare, it’s still better than “May the force be with you”.

3 ‘Damn it’

Jack Bauer, 24

Son of a gun ... Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. Photograph: Sportsphoto/Allstar/Sky1

Had 24 ended up on something like HBO, the fabric of the show would be completely different. Jack Bauer’s catchphrase “Damn it” only came into being because the network banned all other expletives. And the censorship undoubtedly works in 24’s favour. “Damn it, Chloe” has pace and urgency; “Chloe you great big twatting shit”, on the other hand, does not.

2 ‘D’oh!’

Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

The story of d’oh ... Homer Simpson. Photograph: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection/Alamy

Fred Flintstone yelled “Yabba dabba doo!” to express dumb joy and 30 years later Homer Simpson yelled “D’oh!” to express dumb frustration. It’s the perfect response to being outfoxed by the world at every turn, which all of us are all the time. “D’oh!” is the human condition writ large.

1 ‘Hey now’

Hank Kingsley, The Larry Sanders Show

‘You wanted to see me?’ Jeffrey Tambor as Hank Kingsley in The Larry Sanders Show. Photograph: Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock

What does “Hey now” even mean? It’s as pointless and hollow as you can get. And that’s the point. “Hey now” is a catchphrase schemed up for its own sake, a meaningless noise invented by a pathetic man whose only goal was to have a catchphrase. It’s a work of art.