So many of the most memorable lines in television comedy lean heavily on the context of the scene, or the setup to the zinger. Archer, for example, builds such rapidly escalating manic energy in its back-and-forth between characters that it takes pinpoint control on behalf of the writers and voiceover artists to land a punchline on a but a single phrase.
Only, sometimes a single phrase is more than The Funny requires. Sometimes, even one word is too much. These are the shows with characters who consistently deliver the goods with one syllable.
13. “BAM!” (Emeril Lagasse—Emeril Live; Elzar—Futurama)
The chef with breathless (and often sweaty) energy could at times appear on the verge of spontaneous human combustion. For the sake of kitchen sanitation, it’s good that that never happened, but his regular shouted exaltation often provided a good jump-scare with that in mind.
Futurama couldn’t resist ribbing Emeril in his ample chops. Multi-limbed, egotistical celebrity alien chef Elzar would lay his “BAM!” down any time it suited him, whether cooking or not.
12. “Well…” (The 10th Doctor—Doctor Who)
Many Whovians would say that, over the decades of regeneration, David Tennant’s 10th Doctor is their favorite. One of the reasons why might have something to do with how much he could get across with only this:
11. “Yyyup!” (Lana Kane—Archer)
Probably the closest thing to a sensible character at her agency—and certainly the best spy—Lana Kane deserves to exploit a shortcut in shutting down the near-continuous (and pointless) arguments with her coworkers. Especially Sterling Archer, who enjoys pushing her buttons so much, it probably comes in just behind alcohol and lacrosse as a hobby.
10. “Zoinks!” (Shaggy—Scooby Doo)
Why the rest of the Scooby Gang keeps Shaggy around is anyone’s guess, what with him being singularly useless as an investigator, as well as a colossal drain on the group’s sandwich-based resources. Way to go, you cowardly hippie—you gave away the gang’s position again with your famous yelp: