"Never Mind" - The apologetic statement made by Emily Litella
(Gilda Radner), an elderly woman with a hearing problem seen on the
"Weekend Update" segment of NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in the late 1970s.
Dressed in a simple dress and a sweater, Emily peered through her bifocals
and read an editorial response only to discover in the middle of her
report that she had gotten the theme of her story wrong. A typical
example: "What is all this fuss I hear about the Supreme Court decision on
a "deaf penalty." It's terrible. Deaf people have enough problems as it
is..." When the on-air reporter pointed out her error, she crinkled her
nose and humbly said to the audience "Never Mind." Other twisted topics
included "Soviet Jewelry" and "Violins on Television"
"Nip it in the bud!" - Expression used by deputy Barney Fife (Don
Knotts) during a conversation with sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) on
the sitcom THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW/CBS/1960-68. Concerned about youthful
vandals, Barney advised Andy to "Nip it in the bud! You go read any book
you want on the subject of child discipline, and you'll find everyone of
them in favor of bud nipping."
"No Brag, Just Fact!" - Favorite expression of grizzled cavalry
scout Will Sonnett (Walter Brennan) who sought the location of his son
James "Jim" Sonnett (Jason Evers), a wanted gunman and killer on the
western adventure THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT/ABC/1967-69. Occasionally, when
facing down a nasty gunman, Will put the fear of God in his opponent by
saying "Some say Jim is fast. Well he ain't. I am. No brag, just fact."
"Not now, Gilligan!" - On the sitcom GILLIGAN'S ISLAND/CBS/1964-67,
the skipper of a shipwrecked charter boat, Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale, Jr.)
was always saying this phrase to his bumbling first mate Gilligan (Bob
Denver). Usually, Gilligan's interruptions were sincere, but since
Gilligan had proven himself a klutz so many times before, he was not taken
serious until it was too late.
"Now cut that out!" - Familiar yell of comedian Jack Benny (a.k.a.
"The Cheapest Man in the World") who starred on THE JACK BENNY
SHOW/CBS/1950-65. An exasperating "Well!" and a questioning "Hmmm" were
his other favorite expressions.
