I Always Wanted to Say That: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Kind of the meta-[[Stock Phrases|Stock Phrase]]. A character says a [[Stock Phrases|cliche line]] (or famous quote from a movie) in some appropriate situation and sends up the lameness of it by noting he was wanting an opportunity to say it.

 

A slight variation is when a character has always wanted to ''hear'' [[Phrase Catcher|the phrase said to them]]. A common [[Lampshade Hanging]], for example, of any cabbie who is told to [[Follow That Car!]].

{{examples}}

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'' combines this with a [[Double Entendre]]:

{{quote|'''Yami:''' And now I put [[The Chick|Tea]] in face-down position. I always wanted to say that. }}

* ''[[Gravion]]'' does an variant on this. Klein Sandman suddenly caps off the titular [[Super Robot]]'s combination sequency by [[Transformation Name Announcement|introducing the title mecha in a badass way]]. When Sandman's assistant asks "What was that?", he responds "I always wanted to do that," followed by a [[Twinkle Smile]]. His maids even [[Squee]] over him.

* In Episode 10, "Hot and Cold Kitties," of the English version of [[Samurai Pizza Cats]], The Big Cheese announces that he has always wanted to say "Fire all phasers" before directing his monster to start attacking the city.

* ''[[Durarara!!]]'': Shizuo Heiwajima, one of the strongest human beings in existence, found being attacked by [[Honor Before Reason]] Seiji hilarious when he and Celty encounter Celty's goal. Nevertheless, he took Seiji's [[You Shall Not Pass]] behavior with great aplomb. "I've always wanted to say this! Go on ahead and leave him to me!" Because Seiji amuses him, Shizuo only ''gently'' headbutts him to unconsciousness.

** In episode 13, [[Inspector Javert|Kinnosuke Kuzuhara]] mentions that he always wanted to say this if he ever ended up hunting down a supernatural entity: ''"Don't screw with the cops, monster."''

* The Enies Lobby arc of ''[[One Piece]]'' has an instance where Rob Lucci is implied to be a fan of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

{{quote|'''Lucci:''' ''[[You Shall Not Pass|"I can't let you pass.]] At least let me say that."''}}

 

== Comic Books ==

* In one episode of the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage]]'' comic, Raphael gets to point a gun (actually a stun-ray) at an enemy's face and invites him to "[[Dirty Harry|Make my day!]]" (predictably thinking that he'd always wanted to say that).

** At an earlier stage in the same fight a turtle reflected on the possibility of making Splinter say [[Kung Fu|"You have done well, Grasshopper"]] just ''once''.

* While Peter Parker is sneaking around his neighbourhood in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', suspecting that the Green Goblin is nearby, he thinks to himself: "[[It's Quiet... Too Quiet|It's quiet... too quiet...]] I just like saying quiet. Too quiet."

* In an issue of ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'', the Joker breaks out of the asylum ([[Cardboard Prison|again]]), this time to help Batman solve the murder of the Penguin. Batman reluctantly accepts his help, and when they find that the Penguin had faked his death in order to cover a major crime, they capture him as the police arrive. The Joker says "Take him downtown and book him!" Then he turns to Batman and says "I always wanted to say that!"

* From ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|Astonishing X-Men]]'': The team are trying to locate the Breakworld's interplanetary attack system, and they believe it's on a nearby moon. That's when The Beast notices something

Actually, I'm not, but I always wanted to say that. }}

 

{{quote|'"All wings report in," said General Potter. They'd rehearsed this during their one training session on Saturday.

'"Red Leader standing by," said Seamus Finnigan, who had no idea what it meant.

'"Red Five standing by," said Dean Thomas, who'd waited his entire life to say it.}}

 

== Film ==

* A very well-done cinematic variation comes from ''The Paper'', when Henry wants to stop a paper from going out bearing an incorrect front-page article:

{{quote|'''Henry:''' We stop and replate. Go upstairs and write up what you've got. Tell Lou to send down "They Didn't Do It".

* During a chase scene in ''[[The Man Who Knew Too Little]]'', Wallace drives over a series of traffic cones ''just right'' to launch them into the air. (In his defense, [[And You Thought It Was a Game|he thought it was all an act]].) Both he and the police pursuing him had "always wanted to do that."

* Variation in ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'': at the end of the newsroom scene at the beginning of the movie, Gonzo screams "STOP THE PRESSES!!!!" When asked what happened, he replies, "I don't know. I've always wanted to say that."

* In ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', a slight variation.... Venkman-- "hold on, I've always wanted to do this--" (yanks tablecloth, spilling cutlery and dishes on the floor) "[[I Meant to Do That|AND THE FLOWERS, ARE STILL STANDING!]]"

* In the [[Woody Allen]] movie ''Play It Again, Sam'' the main character gives a heartfelt speech to a woman in the airport. When the listener is impressed by his words, he admits "It's from ''[[Casablanca]]''. I've waited my whole life to say it!"

* ''[[Kick-Ass]]'': "[[Scarface|Say hello to my little friend!]]"

* '''[[Superman Returns|WRRROOOOOOOOONG!!!!]]'''

* ''[[The Mask (film)|The Mask]]''. When the police arrive to arrest Tyrell's gangsters:

{{quote|'''Charlie:''' Officers, arrest those men! I always wanted to say that.}}

* ''[[Sphere]]''

{{quote|'''Ted:''' [[We Come in Peace]]! ''(aside to Harry)'' I always wanted to say that.}}

** Especially cute is the schoolgirl giggle she gives while delivering the line. One suspects she's wanted to use that spell for some time.

*** Probably ever since she learned that spell.

 

== Literature ==

* The opening narration to ''[[Animorphs]]'' #2 chapter 16 reads as follows:

{{quote|[[It Was a Dark and Stormy Night]].

'''Murphy:''' How long have you been waiting to use that one?

'''Harry:''' Years. The opportunity doesn't come up as often as you'd think. }}

{{quote|"'That's a harp he's playing, Nobby,' said one of them, after watching Imp for a while.

'Lyre.'

* In ''[[Dexter|Dearly Devoted Dexter]]'', Dexter is excited when he gets the chance to say "Ten-four" on the police radio.

* In three books starting with ''Surfing Samurai Robots'' (1988), Mel Gilden told of Zoot, from the planet T'toom. [[Aliens Steal Cable|T'toom has been picking up our radio broadcasts]] and managed to figure out our languages ([[Aliens Speaking English|speaking English became the "In" thing]]). Zoot, fascinated with [[Philip Marlowe]], [[Casual Interstellar Travel|visits Earth]] [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]], and then ... well, he calls himself [[Ascended Fanboy|"Zoot Marlowe, from Bay City" and acts as a private eye]], complete with loads of [[Private Eye Monologue|metaphors and similes]] that'd make Chandler proud. An old guy providing information in one of the books admits he'd always wanted to be able to pick up the phone, growl, "That you, Marlowe?" and have the answer be "Yes."

 

== Live Action TV ==

* In ''[[The A-Team]]'', on a mission, Face radios in to inform the rest of the team that "[[It's Quiet... Too Quiet]]", then notes he always wanted to say that.

* ''[[Spaced]]'' features a variation on this trope in the episode "Help". At one point, when Tim and Daisy are being pursued by hooligans, they leap into a minicab, and Daisy yells "Step on it!"

** "Voyage of the Damned" features the following dialogue from the Doctor:

{{quote|'''Doctor:''' Take me to your leader! *grins* I always wanted to say that.}}

{{quote|'''Master:''' We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, I love saying that!}}

* ''[[Monk]]'', "Mr. Monk and the Candidate":

{{quote|'''Sharona:''' Are we gonna let it go?

'''d'Artagnan''': And I've spent my whole life ''hearing'' it. }}

** In a later episode, King Louis tries to say the catchphrase and is met with similar resistance. He ends up using it, and quoting "I Always Wanted to Say That" exactly, in a [[Deleted Scene]] [[Dream Sequence]].

* On ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000|MST3K]]'', Joel once kissed Servo, and declared "Y'now, I always wanted to do that!". His excessive mugging to the camera indicates that he was using the phrase ironically.

* In the "Three Days of Snow" episode of ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', as Barney and Ted are closing up the bar, Barney says "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!" (quoting the song "Closing Time"), then turns to Ted and explains, "I've always wanted to say that. In a bar, I mean."

'''Cameron''': Yeah, I've always wanted to say that.

'''Vala''': [[Completely Missing the Point|Well, now you have]]. }}

{{quote|'''Orion''': This disc will self destruct in 5 seconds...always wanted to say that.}}

* ''[[Mama's Family]]'': In one episode, Mama manages to apprehend an infamous burglar by knocking him out with a cardboard sign. Right after she does so:

* On ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'', Al says this after he gets the chance to say "I told you never to call me here!".

* ''[[Laverne and Shirley]]'' had short messages as it cut to commercial breaks. One of them was Shirley saying, "No no no! Don't touch that dial! ...I always wanted to say that."

{{quote|'''Jack''': There's a war going on out there and you're going to have to pick a side. I've always wanted to say that, and I can't believe I wasted it on you [Liz].}}

 

== Music ==

* The tropetastic "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGC1zFjQ8Ts I Always Wanted To Say 'I Always Wanted To Say That']" by Spray.

 

== Professional Wrestling ==

{{quote|'''[[CM Punk]]:''' I've always really wanted to do this. [[Borrowed Catchphrase|I HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL]]!}}

 

== Video Games ==

'''Slippy''': This is Slippy! I'm alright, I'm alright!

'''Peppy''': Peppy here! I'm a little shaken... but I'm okay. ''([[Beat]])'' Sorry. I've always wanted to say that. }}

{{quote|'''Big Chill''':Freeze! Hahah...I always wanted to say that...}}

* In ''[[Paper Mario]]'', Toad Houses<ref>the free inns you run across on your journey</ref> have a slogan: "Refresh your Body and Soul!" The Toad you can find hiding in a wardrobe in a guest room of Peach's Castle aways wanted to say it; you give him an opportunity when you come along. (However, you have to already have found him. Recommendation: Come back after fighting Bowser the first time.)

 

== Web Comics ==

* ''[[Dominic Deegan|Dominic Deegan, Oracle For Hire]]'': At the conclusion of the "Battle For Barthis" arc, Dominic (having just manipulated events to bring down the arc's villain) does a reversed variation of the trope. Realizing the situation is perfect, he thinks, "I've always wanted to say this!", looks around, and then cackles, "''[[The Chessmaster|Dance, puppets! Dance!]]''"

* In ''[[The Dreamland Chronicles]]'': #973, Scott Sava makes a particularly terrible 'cliffhanger' pun, and apologizes for it with "How often do you actually get to say that?"

 

== Web Original ==

* ''[[The Spoony Experiment]]'' has a [[Running Gag]] referencing a ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' episode which urged the viewers to reference ''[[Mad Max]] 3: Beyond Thunderdome'' whenever the word "thunderdome" is used in their life. If something in a movie reminds Spoony of ''Mad Max'', he'll ask "Can't we just get ''beyond'' Thunderdome?" and celebrate the reference. During a recent spate of such jokes where it seemed like he was working one in every few weeks, Spoony humped the air and cried "I! CANNOT! BE! STOPPED!"

* In [[SF Debris]]' review of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "Code of Honor", character Tasha Yar gets to finally have... "[[Yars Revenge]]!". Chuck notes that he's been waiting years to work that joke into a review.

 

== Western Animation ==

* In ''[[The Simpsons]]'', Lisa bursts into a church and cries, "Repent, repent, before it's too late!" and follows it up with a giggle and "I've always wanted to say that in a New England church!"

* In ''[[Gargoyles]]'': David Xanatos joyfully yells, [[Frankenstein's Monster|"It's alive! Aliiive!"]], then turns to Demona, grinning, and says the trope name, when he participates in creating the reanimated cyborg character Coldstone. Which is really quite understandable, considering that the preceding scene was just one [[The Igor|hunchbacked assistant]] short of a ''Frankenstein'' reenactment.

* [[Archer]] gives us this gem:

{{quote|'''Archer''': I've waited all my life to say this exact phrase: I'M COMMANDEERING THIS AIRBOAT!}}

 

== Real Life ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140301223922/http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/12789/the-new-guy-5/ This] Damn You Autocorrect entry invokes this.

* An industry-specific example: [[wikipedia:Man bites dog (journalism)|"Man Bites Dog"]] is a Journalism 101 example of newsworthiness. Everyone in the industry knows the phrase. So whenever an event occurs that CAN have this headline applied to it (usually someone assaulting a police dog), you can bet that this will be the headline and that the entire staff of the news source is thinking, "Finally got to use it in real life!"

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Stock Phrases]]

[[Category:Truth in Television]]