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The Powers That Be (TV series) Quotes

The Powers That Be is a Sitcom that appeared on TV in 1992 on NBC. The Powers That Be completed its run in 1993.

The Powers That Be lasted 2 seasons and 21 episodes. It features Ron Burla as producer, Marvin Hamlisch as composer, and Dan Kuleto as head of cinematography. The Powers That Be is executive produced by Norman Lear. The Powers That Be is created by David Crane (producer).

The Powers That Be is recorded in English and originally aired in United States. Each episode of The Powers That Be is 30 minutes long. The Powers That Be is produced by Norman Lear and distributed by Sony Pictures Television.

The cast includes: Elizabeth Berridge as Charlotte, David Hyde Pierce as Theodore, John Forsythe as Bill, Eve Gordon as Jordan, Valerie Mahaffey as Caitlyn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Pierce, and Eve Gordon as Joe.

The Powers That Be Quotes

David Hyde Pierce as Theodore

  • (David Hyde Pierce) "I'm going to get Mummy a glass of water and ten milligrams of something."
  • (Unnamed) "Well, Theodore, darling, where's your overcoat? You're going to catch your death."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "From your lips to --"
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Death. You think of it as your friend, then it turns on you."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "What do you think a person should do if he has something important to tell but he's been sworn to secrecy by the people he loves and cares for?"
  • (John Forsythe) "Well, I think that --"
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Margaret poisoned the new First Lady."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "A big problem. Caitlyn got a haircut and she lost her mind."

Valerie Mahaffey as Caitlyn

  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "If I ever talked back to my mother like that --"
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Probably'd lose a leg."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Why don't you break free from the shackles fashioned by wealth and status?"
  • (Unnamed) "Caitlyn, those are the shackles that straightened your teeth, which got you a husband."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Theodore, I was hoping we could do something. Together. In bed."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Oh. Is it next month already?"
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "If it weren't for your silly job, we'd get to go to England with Mummy and Daddy. Why do you have to be a congressman?"
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "To get to the other side."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Mummy, please let's not talk about d-e-a-t-h in front of Pierce."
  • (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) "Mother, I've been able to s-p-e-l-l for some time now."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Maybe there's a better way of life for me, one that isn't wrapped up in pride and vanity."
  • (Unnamed) "What kind of life might that be, dear?"
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Would you go up and watch television for a little while? This isn't something you should be exposed to at your age."
  • (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) "Hey, can I watch cable? "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is on tonight."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Whatever."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Theodore, it's all your fault."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Probably."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "The press, Pierce, remember the press."
  • (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) "Mother. Mother, look at me, please. I am not a photo opportunity."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Pierce, go upstairs."
  • (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) "How about if I just go home?"
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "How 'bout if I have the dog put to sleep?"
  • (Unnamed) "What's this? Why this is the family bible. I've never actually seen this open."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Yes, Mummy, I've been reading it. And, you know, it's true what they say. The book is better than the movie."
  • (Unnamed) "Caitlyn has difficulty with criticism."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Mother has difficulty with feelings. She has none."

Eve Gordon as Jordan

  • (Unnamed) "I wanted to spend my final moments among loved ones."
  • (Eve Gordon) "Keep looking."

John Forsythe as Bill

  • (John Forsythe) "Well, I'm not gonna let anything ruin my day."
  • (Unnamed) "Uh, too late, Senator. I got Margaret here on the phone."
  • (John Forsythe) "He gave me a very strange look."
  • (MacNicol, Peter) "You mean the kind of look that says, "I have a towering intellect but your IQ can be measured on a thermometer?""
  • (John Forsythe) "I'm still puzzled as to why the Brotherhood Coalition is honoring me. I mean, there are so many others who have done so much more for black people in this country than I have. Maybe I'll mention that in my speech."
  • (Unnamed) "Mmm, humility, nice touch, yes. But be sure not to go on too long, dear. From what I understand, they like to get right to their dancing."
  • (John Forsythe) "Now, Margaret, that is just the kind of stereotyping that the Coalition is trying to put an end to."
  • (Unnamed) "Well, obviously they still have work to do."
  • (John Forsythe) "Well, at least think about it."
  • (Unnamed) "I have thought about it, Bill, and frankly I would rather give that Roseanne woman a sponge bath."
  • (John Forsythe) "We're going to have a nice family dinner."
  • (Unnamed) "Don't you think we should find a nice family first?"
  • (John Forsythe) "Theodore, tell us about your day."
  • (David Hyde Pierce) "Well, thank God, it's almost over."

Elizabeth Berridge as Charlotte

  • (Unnamed) "Oh, for Heavens sakes, look at these windows. They're filthy, Charlotte, they must be cleaned upstairs and down."
  • (Elizabeth Berridge) "Um, no, it's supposed to snow, Ma'am."
  • (Unnamed) "Well, how will we know if we can't see out the windows?"

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Pierce

  • (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) "Mother, can we go home? It's midnight and I've got school tomorrow."
  • (Valerie Mahaffey) "Pierce, did I complain when you were a baby and the nurse got up with you at midnight?"

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