I Always Wanted to Say That

"I'm gonna say it!!! Number 8 on the list of Lines I Want To Shout At Least Once In My Life! FIRE MAIN CANNON!!"

— Haruna, Negima! Magister Negi Magi

Kind of the meta-Stock Phrase. A character says a 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. Sometimes phrased as "I've been waiting years/all my life to say that." Naturally, simply saying the words together doesn't count. It has to be a situation where the person can say it and mean it, completely straight.

A variation, usually used after an Obligatory Joke, is "Someone had to say it!"

The Genre Savvy's way of Playing with a Trope.

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

Contrast I Can't Believe I'm Saying This.

Here is a compilation with a lot of examples of this trope.

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Examples:

Advertising

• A 2022 Jack Daniels ad showed various people performing impulsive actions (such as a bartender performing a Bar Slide and a couple at a restaurant ordering "one of everything"), and immediately quipping, "I always wanted to do that".
• A 2023 Mythbusters-themed commercial for Tide Pods; when it's shown that Tide Pods and cold water can remove a large, varied amount of food stains from a white shirt and deliver a pristine shirt without any scratches, the myth is declared "Busted", with the main on the right quipping that he's always wanted to say that.

Anime & Manga

• Azumanga Daioh: An interesting variant, Tomo arrives late for class specifically so she can get the Standing in the Hall punishment, with her excuse being "I've always wanted to try it!"
• Bakuman。:
  • When Saiko and Shujin are tailing Hattori, they invoke this in the following exchange:
    Shujin: I hope he takes a Taxi.
    Saiko: How come? It's easier to follow him on foot.
    Shujin: I want to get in a taxi and say "Follow That Car!"
    Saiko: ...Tell me you're not just doing this for fun.
    Shujin: I'm just saying that'll make it feel more realistic.
  • And it actually happens; Hattori does take a taxi, and when the pair jump on the next one, Shujin says exactly that. Even the driver plays on it:
    Shujin: Follow That Car!
    Driver: [chuckles] It's been 5 years since I last heard that.
• Black Butler: In one episode, Ciel comes into possession of a camera that reveals the photographed person's most precious (but dead) thing (be it person, animal, or other). Ciel orders Meirin, Bardroy, and Finny to secretly take Sebastien's picture. As the three were extremely worried that they would be fired, they all excitedly shout "Yes, my lord!", then say the trope name verbatim.
• Call of the Night:
  • When Yamori asks Nazuna for her contact info so he doesn't have to search halfway across town for her every time, Nazuna replies with this trope:
    Nazuna: There's this line I've always wanted to say, but can I say it now?
    Yamori: G-go ahead...
    Nazuna: "Do you do LINE?"
    (Beat)
    Yamori: ...I don't.
    Nazuna: I don't either!
    Yamori: Then why did you ask?!
  • Yamori does the same bit later while investigating a possible stalker:
    Yamori: There's a detective line I've always wanted to say. Can I?
    Nazuna: Ooh, what's that?
    Yamori: "When work's over, gather everyone together. If what I've deduced is correct, the culprit will definitely come to the crime scene!"
    Nazuna: So cool...
• Dominion Tank Police. Da Chief does the "Go ahead, make my day!" line, and when his men congratulate him on being just like Dirty Harry, admits he always wanted to say that.
• Dream Eater Merry: Yumeji takes a slash from a sword while in a dream for Merry saying "As a guy...it was a situation I wanted to try doing once."
• 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, 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."
• Dr. STONE: Yo Uei used to be a police officer before the petrification, and apparently he always wanted to say the Miranda Rights. He gets to do it after shooting Ibara in the hand.
• Genshiken:
  • "Not even my own father hit me." in the manga after Kanji is on the receiving end of a slap by Kasukabe. Kasukabe, being completely out of the anime loop, takes it seriously at first until the other club members congratulate him.
  • In Nidaime, Kuchiki uses Hato's crossdressing as an excuse to say, "There's no way anyone that cute could be a real girl," and then says he can die happy now.
• Gravion does an variant on this. Klein Sandman suddenly caps off the titular Super Robot's combination sequency by 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.
• Haruka Nogizaka's Secret: Haruka has a moment of this when she uses the fact she's cosplayed as Shana to do the "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" catchphrase.
• Horimiya: Hori's father says this after pretending to act like a Boyfriend-Blocking Dad when talking to Miyamura for the first time.
• Lord El-Melloi II Case Files: When Flat Escardos and Gray are attacked by monsters, Flat yells at Gray to run while he holds them off. She gets confused because she is the warrior between them, then he beams and says he always wanted to say that.
• Negima! Magister Negi Magi: In Chapter 281, the page quote comes from Haruna as she prepares her Cool Ship's Wave-Motion Gun.
• No Game No Life: Sora and Shiro, before their game with Kurami, refuse to back down because "our favorite thing is saying 'no' to people who think they've got an absolute advantage." They then both celebrate saying their fourth favorite quote.
• Nyaruko: Crawling with Love!: Nyarko and Mahiro undergo a "Freaky Friday" Flip in one episode; in the preview for the next, Nyarko-in-Mahiro takes advantage of having a male voice to shout "I'll correct that kind of adult, you philistine! Sniping the target!" Two things worth noting: Mahiro didn't really have a "male voice" to begin with, and Nyarko would probably have said those quotes in her own body, too.
• One Piece: The Enies Lobby arc has an instance where Rob Lucci is implied to be a fan of The Lord of the Rings.
  Lucci: I can't let you pass. At least let me say that.
• Persona 4: The Animation:
  • In the opening of the 6th episode, Igor is not in the Velvet Room so Margaret says "Welcome to the Velvet Room" in his place and then invokes this trope.
  • As Kanji is chasing the Investigation Team, Yosuke makes a good attempt at invoking this trope by reminding Chie of the line in the movies, "You keep going and I'll handle this guy" and telling her that it's her chance to say it. Chie even concedes that Yosuke has a point before Yukiko dissuades her.
  • Said by none other than Adachi when he arrested Rise's stalker and said: "Save it for the station, pal".
• Samurai Pizza Cats: In Episode 10, "Hot and Cold Kitties," of the English version, The Big Cheese announces that he has always wanted to say "Fire all phasers" before directing his monster to start attacking the city.
• Xabungle does this a lot, being a slapstick comedy sandwiched between two mecha anime buns...
  Jiron: Special move! Xabungle Punch! Hehe, I've always wanted to say that.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: One of the few non-virtual duels is preceded by Ai telling fellow Artificial Intelligence Pandor that they should "Take it outside".
  Ai: Let's take this outside, punk!
  [jump cut to Ai and Pandor standing on top of the plane]
  Ai: I always wanted to say that line.

Comic Books

• In JLA: Virtue and Vice, seven of the Justice Leaguers have been taken over by the Seven Deadly Sins. In a move that surprised no one, envy got Kyle Rayner, due to his perpetual jealousy of Hal Jordan. At one point, Plastic Man yells to him "All right, Mr. Green-with-Envy, fire! (Been dyin' to say that.)"
• In one episode of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic, Raphael gets to point a gun (actually a stun-ray) at an enemy's face and invites him to "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 "You have done well, Grasshopper" just once.
  • After the reboot, Michelangelo always wanted to tell someone that their evil space empire's butt was about to get spanked by the Rebellion, and got that opportunity with Krang.
• 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... I just like saying quiet. Too quiet."
• In the Amazing Spider-Man comic, after finishing Doctor Octopus' new suit, Mysterio exclaims "It's alive!", but not before mentioning that he's always wanted to say that.
• While pulling a Big Damn Heroes moment in Blue Beetle, Brenda's crime lord aunt leads with "Say hello to my little friend!" and remarks sotto voce that she's always wanted to say that.
• Dominion Tank Police. Da Chief gets his own Dirty Harry moment.
• In The Brave and the Bold #191, the Joker shows up 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!"
• X-Men:
  • From Astonishing X-Men: The team is 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
    Beast: I always thought I'd have more fun if I ever got to say this, but that's no moon...
  • In X-Men: Gold #1, when newly appointed team leader Kitty Pryde rallies the team:
    Kitty: To me, my X-Men!
    Old Man Logan: You always wanted to say that, right, Kitty?
    Kitty: Like you have no idea.
• At the conclusion of the first story arc of Fables, Bigby gathers everyone for "the parlour scene" - the classic whodunnit ending where the detective gathers all the important characters together to tell them who did what, and how, and how they figured it out. He notes that he's always wanted to do it, only to have another character point out that they're not in a parlour. A shade impatiently, he overrides this objection and proceeds to lay it all out anyway.
• One of the early installments of Buffy season 8 features Warren saying "This isn't over, slayer." just before he's teleported out by a witch. Then, as he disappears, he remarks "I just do not get tired of saying that..."
• In an issue of Justice League International our heroes are fighting the robotic Manhunters. Dr. Fate has run off to follow a hunch. Superman (somehow) has missed this:
  Superman: Did anyone see where Doctor Fate went?
  Hawkgirl: He went thataway! You know, I've been waiting years to say that!
• In Martian Manhunter Annual #2, J'onn has solved the mystery of why Gorilla City has declared war on humans and arrives in front of the apes and the League.
  J'onn: I expect you're wondering why I called you all here today.
  Thought Caption: Call me whimsical, but I've waited years for the appropriate time and place to say that.
• #2 of the second The Shade miniseries:
  Von Hammer: [thought caption] I'm Will von Hammer, Private detective and sex machine to all the chicks.
  Actually, I'm not, but I always wanted to say that.
• In The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye, Swerve claims that he had always wanted to say 'But that's a whole other story' and 'Impossible! Our laserfire is just making him stronger!'
• In Diabolik, Eva Kant admitted she had always wanted to say "In the name of the law, you're under arrest" after doing just so. The fact she's a wanted thief and murderer, and before going into thieving (or killing anyone) was an industrial spy, must have made her really giddy when a disguise for a heist finally gave her the chance.

Comic Strips

• Hägar the Horrible once ordered his men to the lifeboats. When told they didn't have any, he explained he always wanted to say that.
• Garfield:
  • In this strip, Jon tells Garfield "Stop whatever you're doing" and later admitted he "just always wanted to say that".
  • Likely the same thing happens in this strip, where Garfield had really, really wanted to make that joke, and Arlene had finally given him the right set-up line.
  • Jon YELLS "ROCK AND ROLL!" out of the blue and admits that he "always wanted to yell that". Unfortunately for Garfield, he was drinking coffee when Jon yelled, which causes Garfield to spit out his coffee in shock and spill it all over himself.
• In one Pearls Before Swine series, a group of moles are having a convention at a hotel, and the ZZE crocs keep trying to crash their party and eat them. When the lead mole wonders how the crocs found out about the convention, one of them suggests that they have a mole in their midst.
  "I've waited ten years to use that joke."
• One The Far Side panel showed a group of vultures and one of them says, "Well, I suppose you're all wondering why I've asked you here today...Ha, I've always wanted to say that."

Fan Works

• 30 Minutes That Changed Everything:
  Harry handed the waitress two galleons. "Keep the change," he added. He had always wanted to say that.
• The Body Reflects the Heart, the Shadow Reflects the Soul: Kenzo Okuda has been waiting a long time to taunt a giant spider with the "Old fat spider spinning in a tree!" poem by J. R. R. Tolkien.
• Boldores and Boomsticks: Ruby is happy she can say "It's Quiet… Too Quiet" when she doesn't see any Grimm while on a mission.
• Days of Justice: Hawkman and Hawkgirl ask for Danny's help in dealing with a ghost. After Danny agrees to help...
  Danny: Lead the way. If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?
  Hawkgirl: Seriously?
  Danny: What? I've always wanted to say that!
• In The Great Alicorn Hunt, one of the first things Twilight does after the Mane Six's coronation is to walk into a bookstore and buys one of everything, saying that she's always wanted to do that.
• Goblin Communications:
  Harry quickly scanned the page and added his best writing on the line.
  "Thank you. Pleasure doing business with you." He giggled as he finished. "I've always wanted to say that!"
• In Grow Young With Me a waitress' coworker catches her and Harry in the back room together.
  Abby: It's not what it looks like!
  Margaret: You sure about that? 'Cause it definitely just looks like Harry, here, is showing you his toy.^noteA Batgirl action figure Abby bought for Harry's four-year-old daughter. And I mean that in the most innocent way possible.
  Abby: Yeah, but I've always wanted to use that line. You know...like in the films.
• In Harry Potter and the Herald of the Dreamland Hermione offers to show Harry to Platform 9 and 3/4.
  Hermione: Come with me if you want to live! I've always wanted to say that!
• Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality:
  • Harry combines it with a Star Wars reference. The fact that most of the wizards don't get it just makes it funnier:
    "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.
  • And another one:
    Harry took a deep breath, feeling the water gurgle harmlessly in his lungs.
    They'd fought in the forest, and he hadn't gotten a chance to say it.
    They'd fought in the corridors of Hogwarts, and he hadn't gotten a chance to say it.
    They'd fought in the air, broomsticks issued to every soldier, and it still hadn't made sense to say it.
    Harry had thought he wouldn't ever get to say those words, not while he was still young enough for them to be real...
    The Chaos Legionnaires were looking at Harry in puzzlement, as their general swam with his feet pointing up toward the distant light of the surface, and his head pointed down toward the murky depths.
    "Why are you upside down?" the young commander shouted at his army and began to explain how to fight after you abandoned the privileged orientation of gravity.
• In Harry Potter and the Phoenix Burning a de-aged, time-travelling Harry makes a joking remark to an eleven-year-old Sirius.
  "You're not serious are you?" the boy asked eyeing Harry strangely, why would anyone want to do the test early? Harry eyed the boy who'd one day turn into his godfather and sighed with satisfaction before grinning broadly.
  "Of course not, you are!" Harry said cheerfully, he'd always wanted to say that to his godfather and now he'd been handed the chance on a silver plate.
• Harry Potter, Unexpected Animagus:
  Sirius: Senior Account Manager Knutsack, may I present Harry Potter, son of James and Lily Potter. Harry...Knutsack.
  Remus: How long have you been waiting to say that?
  Sirius: 14 years, so don't ruin the moment!
• Hero Academia D×D: Izuku gets a little If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her... speech from Sirzechs, who then laughs and explains he'd been wanting to do that for a while, but Rias had never expressed interest in anyone before meeting Izuku.
• Heroic Myth: Bell wants to face a poisonous monster, but has no protection. Hermes says, "Well then, I suppose I'll have to say the words that everyone wants to say at least once in their life! I was prepared for something like this! Though I really wish I didn't have to say it here…" He then reveals items that can temporarily protect against poison.
• Leaving Hogwarts:
  "ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!" Harry roared, and then looked at the startled faces of his fellow pupils. "What?" he shrugged, "I always wanted to shout that!"
• "The Magic School Bus: The Movie": Implied through facial expressions in a fake trailer where every character delivers their catchphrase by the end of the trailer; due to reasons, Ralphie is driving the bus and with a wide grin on his face, delivers Miss Frizzle's "Seat-belts, Everyone!" as he starts the bus so they can rescue Miss Frizzle from Hell.
• Make a Wish: Harry goes into a valley near Salzburg and sings "The hills are alive, and they're eating people" because he's wanted to do it ever since he saw The Sound of Music during primary school.
• A Marriage Courtship:
  Rhaegar: Should I be concerned?
  Harry: About [Neville's] safety or our previous and/or current relationship?
  Rhaegar: I plead the fifth.
  Harry: Isn't that an American saying?
  Rhaegar: Yes, I have always wanted to say it though, I like watching American TV shows.
• Mass Effect: End of Days: Human ambassador Anita Goyle introduces herself by saying "Take Me To Your Leaders". It gets immediately lampshaded.
  Ariel: You really couldn't hold yourself back?
  Anita: I really couldn't.
• Neither a Bird nor a Plane, it's Deku!: Firestorm is very excited to use All Might's trademark "I/we are here!" while pulling off a Big Damn Heroes moment together.
  All Might: There won't be anymore evildoing going on today, Villain!
  Firestorm: For we are here! I've always wanted to do that.
• During Nightmare Night and Nyx, Bruce Mane — who'd dressed as Bat Stallion for Luna's Nightmare Night party — does a Christian Bale-like interrogation on a couple of members of the well intentioned conspiracy trying to eliminate Nyx to find out what their plan is. Afterwards, he privately admits to Applejack in an aside that he's always wanted to do that.
• In Not Just A Stick: A Wand Crafter's Story Harry's aunt has him use a homemade wand to locate his mother's trunk in the attic.
  Harry: How did the wand know where her trunk was and even who Lily was?
  Aunt Petunia: It's magic!
  Harry: How long have you been waiting to use that?
  Aunt Petunia: Years, Harry. Years.
• Reapers Among Fairies: Ichigo starts giving the Fairy Tail characters training. He tricks Natsu into doing the embarrassing and useless, "Amazing Headband of Justice in place, Amazing Armor of Justice protect me!" chant. After Natsu humiliates himself, Ichigo laughs and says he always wanted to do that to someone ever since that time Urahara tricked him into saying it.
• Silent Trio 2: Harry and the Hufflepuff:
  "I suppose you are wondering why I called you all here?" Harry said, then smiled. "I ALWAYS wanted to say that!"
• In The Strongest Affinity Harry, who's been working at Ollivander's wand shop since shortly after the Final Battle, claims the name hasn't been changed because Ollivander adopted him in order to keep the business in the family.
  Teddy: Oh Merlin, your faces. Harry can't lie worth shit, and you both ate it up.
  Harry: Sorry, but Teddy's right... I can't usually lie worth shit. I've been waiting to use that story on someone for years.
• This Bites!:
  • After Cross fails to learn Kureha's secret to eternal youth (guessing the most prominent theory in the fandom):
    Cross: Still, in the future, I'll have a legitimate reason to use the phrase "once more, the secret to eternal youth has eluded me!"
  • Itomimizu, the Foxy Pirates' announcer, finally gets his chance to start and interrupt the SBS.
  • In Chapter 43, Cross pulls Joseph Joestar's "Your Next Line Is" gag, then says that he had been waiting to do so for a long time.
  • Cross apparently has a bucket List Of Things He Wants To Say At Least Once In The Right Context^TM.
    1. (During the Davy Back Fight) LLLLET'S GET READY TO RRRRUMBLLLLLLLLE!
    2. (After gathering all the Supernovas in the Sabaody Archipelago) I suppose you're all wondering why I've gathered you here.
    3. (At the first use of the Gaon Cannon) FIRE MAIN CANNON! ^note Franky stole this one on Little East Blue.
    4. (During the attack on Thriller Bark) The cavalry has arrived!
    6. (While talking to Trafalgar Law) CURSES! Once more the secret to eternal youth has eluded me!
    9. (When invading Judge Baskerville's courtroom) Order in the court.
    10. (During Marineford when he starts to cough up blood due to a belly wound acquired in the Seventh Hell, to the rightfully concerned Luffy) 'Tis only a flesh wound.
  • In chapter 48, Cross is happy he finally gets to use the world "bamboozle".
  • In the Strong World chapter, both Shiki and Dr. Indigo are happy they get to use Cross' favorite taunt, "Pi~ra~te!"
• This time as a Namikaze:
  Naruto: [walks into his apartment after a day of training] Hinata-chan?
  Hinata: Naruto-kun.
  Naruto: Hold on. [walks out and closes door before bursting through it] HONEY! I'm home! Hehehehe. Always wanted to say that.
• Turnabout Storm has several characters shouting Objection! When The Judge does it, he says he now understands why everybody does it, it's fun.
• Universe Falls: In "Keeping It Together", Mabel relishes a chance to say "We've got you cornered!" when the Mystery Shack crew and the Crystal Gems encounter Peridot at the Gem Kindergarten.
• In Xtreme Freak Harry explains the control center of his newly-recreated mindscape to his bonded ice phoenix and a sentient book created by Merlin.
  Harry: ...The categories include defense, repair, expansion, attacking, research, learning, sorting, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I always wanted to say that.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series combines this with a Double Entendre:
  Yami: And now I put Tea in face-down position. I always wanted to say that.
• Zero Context: Taking Out the Trash has a disguised Mismagius crow that it always wanted to say "Fulminus venite!" after using Thunderbolt to incapacitate someone.

Films — Live-Action

• Back to the Future Part III:
  • After hijacking a steam locomotive, Doc Brown blows the engine's whistle, saying, "I've wanted to do that all my life!" There's a Shout-Out to this in Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express where the boy protagonist does the same thing and says the same line.
  • Earlier in the movie, Doc and Marty are discussing how to catch up to that train on a short timeframe. Doc is more familiar with the local area than Marty (or at least, more familiar with traveling around it with 19th-century technology), so he points out that they will have to "cut 'em off at Coyote Pass!" This does not receive an explicit remark, but considering that Doc is explicitly stated to be a fan of the Old West several times in the series, maybe Zemeckis just figured it wasn't needed.
• In the TV adaptation of the comic The Bogie Man, the detective hunting for Francis Clunie (who believes himself to be an amalgam of Humphrey Bogart characters) seizes the opportunity to say "Round up the usual suspects!", adding "I always wanted to say that."
• The Faculty When Principal Drake gets stabbed not once but twice by two different teachers, both teachers say "I've always wanted to do that" afterwards.
• In Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, During the Defense Force's assault on Gamera at night, a taxi driver taking Asagi to the site of the attack drives his cab through a police barricade that's trying to cut off people from accessing the road to the attack for their safety. Shortly after doing so, the driver goes into hysterics over doing so:
  Driver: (laughs hysterically before regaining his composure) Oh man I've always wanted to do that!
• In Ghostbusters (1984), a slight variation.... Venkman— "hold on, I've always wanted to do this—" (yanks tablecloth, spilling cutlery and dishes on the floor) "AND THE FLOWERS, ARE STILL STANDING!"
• 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 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, by Professor McGonagall of all people, after using the Piertotum Locomotor spell (animates the suits of armor to defend Hogwarts). Especially cute is the schoolgirl giggle she gives while delivering the line to Molly Weasley.
• Jumanji: The poor Butt-Monkey cop, Carl, has been thoroughly abused (along with his car) for the entire movie. But the cherry on the top is toward the end when he takes the children's aunt to their home, and they hear screams inside. When Carl can't get the door open, he grabs his gun, grins at Aunt Nora, and says "I've always wanted to do this," and tries to kick the door in. The key word here is "tries." Instead, the monsoon on the other side of the door breaks through the door and sends them down the street with a couple of alligators.
• Kick-Ass: As he's getting ready to blow up Hit-Girl with a bazooka, the Huge Goon says, "I always wanted to say this...Say hello to my little friend!"
• 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, he thought it was all an act.) Both he and the police pursuing him had "always wanted to do that."
• The Mask. When the police arrive to arrest Tyrell's gangsters:
  Charlie: Officers, arrest those men! I always wanted to say that.
• A very well-done cinematic variation comes from The Paper when Henry wants to stop the titular newspaper from going out bearing an incorrect front-page article:
  Henry: We stop and replate. Go upstairs and write up what you've got. Tell Lou to send down "They Didn't Do It".
  Michael McDougal: Hey Henry, are you going to say it? You gotta say it.
  Henry: Use the same art they used for "Gotcha!"
  Michael McDougal: Come on, how often do you get the chance? You can't just do it and not say it, come on!
  Henry: I - Stop the presses!
• 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!"
• Repossessed "My name is Barbara Walters, and this is 20/20. I always wanted to say that!"
• Sphere:
  Ted: We Come In Peace! [aside to Harry] I always wanted to say that.
• In Spy Kids, when Carmen and Juni first meet their robot clones and fight each other's counterpart, she says it almost word-for-word when punching the Juni clone, only to shake off the pain on her hand after doing so (as he is a robot, he is made of metal, just like the others).
• In Star Trek: Nemesis, Picard tells a rambling Data to shut up before noting "Fifteen years, I've been waiting to say that."
• Strippers Vs. Werewolves: When the werewolves have two of the girls cornered in an apartment, one of them says "Little pig, little pig, let me come in.". The others look at him, making him say he always wanted to say that in defence.
• Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie: "Land ahoy! I always wanted to say that."
• Xanadu has Danny saying this when he opens the titular club:
  Danny: Opening night...whatever you want, it's on the house! You know, I've always wanted to say that line!

Literature

• The opening narration to Animorphs #2 chapter 16 reads as follows:
  It Was a Dark and Stormy Night.
  Sorry, I've always wanted to write that. But it really was a dark and stormy night.
  • And in book 16, Jake tells everyone (who are all in elephant or rhino morph) to charge. Marco remarks that "I bet he always wanted to say that."
  • Marco and "Let's do it," Rachel's catchphrase. He just wanted to say it first.
• Harry Dresden: movie, comic, book, and magic nerd, gets this gem in Proven Guilty, Book 8 of The Dresden Files while investigating some phobophages:
  Lieutenant Murphy: You think that was someone trying to look like a movie monster?
  Harry Dresden: Someone...or something.
  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.
• The following exchange from Soul Music:
  "'That's a harp he's playing, Nobby,' said one of them, after watching Imp for a while.
  'Lyre.'
  'No, it's the honest truth, I'm—' The fat guard frowned and looked down.
  'You've just been waiting all your life to say that, ain't you Nobby,' he said. 'I bet you was born hoping that one day someone'd say 'That's a harp' so you could say 'lyre,' on account of it being a pun or play on words.'
• From A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore:
  "You are shot?"
  "In the leg. It's Only a Flesh Wound." Charlie had waited his entire life to say those words and he felt very macho at that moment.
• Deconstructed in the novel The Silence of the Lambs. After discovering a bizarre set up involving a head in a jar and wooden phalluses, Starling says, 'We're not in Kansas anymore.' She immediately feels like a phony.
• Into the Looking Glass:
  • Master Chief Miller took advantage of an opportunity to use a phrase he had waited "most of his adult life" to say when kept from entering Disney World to investigate a possible gate by local security. The phrase? "We're in no mood for Mickey Mouse."^note For those not familiar with the idiom, "Mickey Mouse" is also derisively used to refer to silly/stupid stuff, often in the form of "Mickey Mouse shit".
  • In the next book in the series, the captain of humanity's first starship is beside himself with delight when he gets to say things like "Engage warp drive" and "Ahead Warp 1."
• Garrett, P.I.:
  • In Dread Brass Shadows, Crask remarks that it's the first time he's seen Garrett without some wiseass remark. Garrett speculates that Crask has been waiting for ages to say that.
  • Garrett himself invokes it when he gets to say "Egad", at the sight of Morley's foppish new look in Petty Pewter Gods.
  • And when he tells off Medford Shale, his great-uncle, in Faded Steel Heat, he recalls having always wanted to do that when he was a kid and had to suffer the old fart's grousing in silence.
• In Life, the Universe and Everything, Trillian can hardly contain her glee when saying "Take Me to Your Leader" to the Krikkiters.
• In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter is excited when he gets the chance to say "Ten-four" on the police radio.
• Tanya Huff's Smoke and Shadows series includes a main character who works on a genre TV show; he and all of his friends are extremely trope-savvy, and the tropes, usually lampshaded, occur on a roughly one-per-page basis. In the third book, Smoke and Ashes, a character calls another to tell him "There are six kinds of Hell breaking loose and heading your way!" When challenged, he cheerfully admits he's always wanted to say that.
• Lawrence Block:
  • In The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart, Bernie Rhodenbarr has been falling in love with an Anatrurian patriot named Ilona who is now returning to her homeland with her other Love Interest in order to liberate it. Bernie encourages them to go and gives them the proceeds of his latest theft. While describing this to Carolyn afterward, he enthusiastically points out that he got to give the "hill of beans" speech from Casablanca in real life.
  • In The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons Carolyn is ecstatic because while tailing the man who hired Bernie to steal a Button Gwinnett apostle spoon, she finally gets a chance to say "Follow that cab!"
• Star Trek: New Frontier: A ship commanded by the Romulan rogue Sela has the Excalibur (currently captained by Will Riker) in a standoff. When she finds out he's in charge, she naturally gives the order:
  Sela: I've been waiting to say this for ages: Fire at Will.
• The Lincoln Lawyer:
  • Mickey is told not to leave town by Detective Lankford at one point when they are waiting on ballistics analysis that could implicate Mickey in Raul Levin's murder. Lankford is highly amused by this.
    Det. Lankford: [laughing] Man, I thought they only said that in movies. But there, I just said it! I wish my partner had been here.
  • Mickey gets one of his own in The Crossing. While arguing a pretrial motion against an ADA named Wright, he drops the line "Mr. Wright is Mr. Wrong." Bosch, who was in attendance waiting to meet Mickey after the hearing, says that he heard that line.
    Mickey Haller: I've been waiting years to get that guy on a case and be able to say that.

Live-Action TV

• 30 Rock:
  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've wasted it on you [Liz].
• In an episode of Andy Richter Controls the Universe, one of Andy's co-workers kept using the sort of cliched phrases that show up on this page, and remarking afterwards that he'd always wanted to say that. Situations that warranted such phrases kept coming up, and Andy grew tired of his co-worker saying them, so he asked him if he might stop. "But I only have two left." He managed to cross off the last two and was rewarded with a great sense of fulfillment.
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: During the Season 3 finale, Coulson distracts Hive with a holographic projection. When Hive realizes the deception, Coulson takes a moment to revel in the opportunity:
  Coulson: I've always wanted to do this. "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
• Angel: At the end of season 2, the gang finds themselves in an alternate dimension determined to rescue Cordelia who was swept through earlier. It's a demon dimension where humans are slaves. The gang is captured and sent before the monarch for sentencing only to discover Cordelia's been made the monarch due to a prophecy about her visions. The servants expect her to demand the death punishment as required and her friends want her to free them. Her response? "Off with their heads!" followed quickly by "Just kidding!" and a sheepish acknowledgment that she always wanted to say that.
• Ash vs. Evil Dead: In the first season finale, Kelly smacks a panicking Heather and tells her to get a hold of herself, and then admits she's always wanted to do that.
• In The A-Team, on a mission, they are posing as employees of a taxi firm. When HQ radios in for an update, Face replies that "It's Quiet… Too Quiet", then notes he always wanted to say that.
• The Avengers (1960s) had a moment near the end of the episode "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station", after Steed and Mrs. Peel have defeated the villains while on a train, Steed wonders what they should do next, and the character who's helped them suggests they stop the train, adding he's been waiting to do so all his life. He doesn't get to do it.
• Batwoman (2019). When Luke Fox says "Batcave to Batwoman" the first time, Batwoman accuses him of always having wanted to say it, which he unconvincingly denies.
• In the Broad City episode "B&B-NYC," Trey checks each room in Abbi's apartment for intruders, saying "Clear!" as he finishes each room. Afterwards he says, "I always wanted to do that. You know, 'Clear!'?"
• Quoth Richard Castle: "I've worked... a lot of murder cases, waiting patiently for the day I could unequivocally exclaim: the BUTLER did it!"
• In the Charmed episode "Siren Song", Paige says "Abracadabra" and the front doors are magically repaired:
  Piper: You did all that with "abracadabra"?
  Paige: Nah. I used a spell. I just always wanted to say that.
• Chuck:
  Orion: This disc will self-destruct in 5 seconds... always wanted to say that.
• The Closer, Season 1, Episode 10.
  DA Yates: I've waited my whole career to say this: "The Butler Did It."
• Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, after finally getting an excuse to do The Khan when Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan made the headlines.
• Death in Paradise
  • "Death in the Clinic": (series 2, episode 3), the Commissioner lets the detectives run with a case that he doesn't believe should be investigated, simply so he can say "You've got 24 hours to solve this case."
• Doctor Who:
  • "Tooth and Claw" has a variation in which Rose tries to get Queen Victoria to say "We are not amused." Her delight when Queen Victoria does indeed say it is short-lived because she also exiles her and the Doctor and sets up the Torchwood Institute to fight him if he returns.
  • "The Sound of Drums":
    The Master: We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, I love saying that!
  • "Voyage of the Damned" features the following dialogue from the Doctor:
    The Doctor: Take Me to Your Leader! [grins] I always wanted to say that.
  • Which he has, at least twice — just not as the Tenth Doctor. "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" confirms it's a line he can never resist.
  • "Voyage of the Damned" also features the Doctor finally getting to say "Allons-y, Alonso!" after wanting to say it since "Army of Ghosts". And there's the way his face lights up when he finds out Alonso's name.
  • "The Eleventh Hour": The Eleventh Doctor says "Who da man?!" Admittedly, he didn't say outright that he always wanted to say that line, but you can tell from his body language that he's just been waiting for the right moment for it. He immediately promises to never say it again.
  • This exchange from "The Power of Three":
    Rory: There are soldiers all over my house and I'm in my pants!
    Amy: My whole life I've dreamed of saying that, and I miss it by being someone else.
  • The Doctor gets a unique opportunity in "The Husbands of River Song" after a lifetime of being the Phrase Catcher — and makes the most of it.
    The Doctor: Oh! My! GOD! It's bigger... on the inside... than it is... on the outside! My entire understanding of physical space has been transformed! Three-dimensional Euclidean geometry has been torn up, thrown in the air and snogged to death! My grasp of the universal constants of physical reality has been changed... forever. Sorry, I always wanted to see that done properly.
• In one episode of The Drew Carey Show Drew's neighbor is on a horse talking to Drew and at one point offends him, whereupon Carey says, "Now get out of here, you — ooh, I have wanted to say this my whole life — and the horse you rode in on!"
• Hood on Eleventh Hour, with "Sorry, duty calls!"
• Even Stevens: In the episode "Dirty Work", Louis and Twitty are cutting down a tree for their Lumberjack Club presentation, and Louis delivers this line before shouting TIMBER!
• Frasier: In "Mixed Doubles", Frasier asks Martin if Daphne is at home.
  Martin: Gee, I don't know. Daphne! DAPHNEEE! DAPHNEEE!
  Frasier: [frustrated, leaving the room] For Heaven's sake, I could yell!
  Martin: [to Niles] I've been waiting 30 years to do that.
• A variation on General Hospital. As a couple begins making out in his office, the man turns and sweeps everything off his desk. His confused girlfriend points out, "We have a perfectly good couch right here." The man replies, "I know. I've just always wanted to do that."
• The Girl from Tomorrow had a taxi driver who had always wanted to be told to "Follow That Car".
• In Hang Time, when the team set up their own courtroom, due to Vince and Mary Beth's fued getting out of hand, Danny imediately jumps up and shouts "Objection!" as soon as the trial starts, before appologising and saying he's always wanted to say that.
• In one episode of Herman's Head, as Herman discusses a Zany Scheme with Louise, she dramatically pipes that it was Crazy Enough to Work. Responding to his puzzlement she explains that there are two lines she had always been dying to try, and that was one of them. The other? — "Captain -- it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin' palm tree overboard! That one's gonna be a little harder to work into conversation." Later in the episode, Louise's voice is heard triumphantly intoning that phrase over the din of a busy party and the audience is left wondering what gave her the necessary opening.
• In Home Improvement, Al says this after he gets the chance to say "I told you never to call me here!"
• Homicide: Life on the Street: In the fifth season episode "Double Blind", Pembleton has been interviewing the neighbor of a shooting victim in the building they live in, and the neighbor happens to be an airline pilot. When Pembleton has to leave, he tells the neighbor, "Don't leave town." The neighbor is upset, until Frank laughs and admits he was just kidding. As he and Bayliss leave the building, Pembleton says, "I've always wanted to say that."
• 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."
• Used every time someone does a "true Daily Double" on Jeopardy!
• Hot in Cleveland In the Season 1 Finale, Melanie, Joy and Victoria enter Elka’s storm cellar which is full of valuables. When Joy notices a Tiara she asks Elka who she is, Elka than claims to be Anastasia the last surviving member of the Romanov dynasty. She isn’t Anastasia she just always wanted to say that, she than takes out a knife and says she has to kill the girls which is also something she always wanted to say.
• Laverne & 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."
• In the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Outlaw Country", when the team is in The Wild West, Ray is disappointed that Sara got to say "this isn't my first rodeo" because he really wanted to say it. Later, Nate notes he has always wanted to say "I'm gonna cut them off at the pass" when he gets to say it.
• From Lois & Clark:
  Mayson Drake: Stop the presses! [beat] I've always wanted to say that in a newsroom.
  Lois Lane: Nobody really says that, it's just something they do on TV.
• The Magicians (2016): When Eliot and Fen are arguing with their daughter Fray (who unexpectedly grew to a Bratty Teenage Daughter in a month due to Year Inside, Hour Outside), Fen suddenly gets a big grin on her face.
  Fen: I finally get to say this: Don't talk to your father and I like that.
  Eliot: My turn: Go to your room.
  [Fray storms off while Eliot and Fen giggle helplessly]
• 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:
  Mama: Alright, scum, spread 'em!
  Iola: Thelma, he can't hear you. He's out cold.
  Mama: I know. I just always wanted to say that.
• The Mentalist:
  • In one episode, Patrick Jane tells a group of journalists to "Stop the press" and then asks if that's the right phrase or not.
  • Another episode sees him excitedly jumping up and down crowing, "The Butler Did It! I've always wanted to say that!"
• Monk:
  • From the pilot "Mr. Monk and the Candidate":
    Sharona: Are we gonna let it go?
    Monk: Hell, no.
    Sharona: What are we gonna do now?
    Monk: We're gonna follow the money. Mm, ah! I've always wanted to say that!
  • Another variation from Season 2's "Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" (given how rarely Captain Stottlemeyer manages to beat Monk to the solution):
    Stottlemeyer: Monk, I'm going to say something I've wanted to say for a long time.
    Monk: What is it?
    Stottlemeyer: I just solved the case.
  • In another episode, Season 6's "Mr. Monk and the Birds and the Bees," Monk is away and unable to do The Summation.
    Natalie: Tim, I've been waiting a long time to say this: here's what happened.
  • In Season 7's "Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever", we infer that Natalie is saying this in subtext when she signs off her lottery appearances with Monk's normal line, "You'll thank me later."
• Moonlighting did this when Dave Addison held a Summation Gathering. "I suppose you're wondering why I gathered you all here. I always wanted to say that."
• Ms. Marvel (2022): In episode #4, after Kamala tussles with Kareem, aka Red Dagger, some police start running toward them.
  Kareem: Come with me if you want to live!
  Kamala: What?
  Kareem: Just kidding, I always wanted to say that. But really, we should go, there's someone you need to meet.
• In the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Attack of the The Eye Creatures", Servo asks everyone on the ship about how to make out. Joel tells Servo, "You know something, Mister, you ask too many questions," kisses Servo and then declares "Y'know, I've always wanted to do that!" His excessive mugging to the camera indicates that he was using the phrase ironically.
• MythBusters: When testing different firing methods and comparing their accuracies, Adam remarks that he's always wanted to hold a gun Gangsta Style.
• NCIS
  • "Deception":
    Abby: Permission to speak freely, SIR!
    Gibbs: You always do, Abby.
    Abby: I know. I just always wanted to say that.
  • "Enemies Domestic"
    McGee: Thanks. G100 grade ball bearings, 12 penny nails, plastic casing, copper wire, electrical tape.
    Abby: And, with a little bit of ingenuity, you too can build one of these. A claymore mine, MacGyver.
    McGee: MacGyver?
    Abby: Been keeping that one in my back pocket for a while.
• Eric gets into the act on NCIS: Los Angeles when told to put the office on Lock Down so that they can discuss Classified Information.
  "Commencing Shadow Mode. I've always wanted to say that."
• Power Rangers:
  • In Power Rangers Zeo: While the Rangers are riding on horses chasing a runaway bus, Rocky says "Let's head 'em off at the pass!", with Adam invoking this trope immediately afterward.
  • Sensei Kanoi of Power Rangers Ninja Storm during the episode where he gets trapped in Shane (the red ranger)'s body. Answering the communicator, he says, "Go for Sensei", then says the aforementioned line.
  • Syd of Power Rangers S.P.D., invokes this after saying "You do the crime, you pay the time."
  • Chip of Power Rangers Mystic Force commented in the episode "Long Ago" that he'd always wanted to say things were "quiet... too quiet."
    • In the next episode, "Inner Strength", he invokes this after shouting "All aboard!" at a magically conjured train station.
• QI: Series O: Oddballs
  Jimmy Carr: [after receiving a klaxon] Does someone get paid when that sound effect goes off?
  Klaxon: [immediately after] Yes.
  Jason Manford: They've been waiting 15 years to do that gag.
• In the Quantum Leap episode "Piano Man", after Sam Beckett leaps into a nightclub pianist, Al greets him with a hammed-up "Play it again, Sam.... I always wanted to say that."
• Red Dwarf had a funny inversion of this in Rimmerworld:
  Lister: This might sound like a bit of a corny line, but... can't even bring myself to say it.
  Rimmer guard: Say what?
  Lister: Take us to your leader.
  Kryten: Oh, sir, how could you?
• 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!"
  Tim: I can't believe you said "Step on it!"
  Daisy: Why?
  Tim: I wanted to say it.
• From the Stargate SG-1 episode "Beachhead":
  Cameron: If you do not disengage the Stargate within 30 of our "Earth minutes", we will shut down the gate for you.
  ...
  Daniel: Earth minutes.
  Cameron: Yeah, I've always wanted to say that.
  Vala: Well, now you have.
• In an episode of Taxi, Louie realizes there's nobody in the garage except him. (Everyone has gone to support Bobby, something he thought was a waste of time.) He smirks, picks up the intercom microphone, and sings a few lines from "From This Moment On". Then he laughs, "I always wanted to do that!"
• Taskmaster: In Series 12, Episode 5, Greg Davies, before saying "Lovely darts." during the final task of the show, announces it's a phrase he's wanted to say on television for many years.
• Exaggerated in this sketch from That Mitchell and Webb Look, where a brain surgeon at a dinner party remarks that everything is "hardly brain surgery". Then exaggerated further when a rocket scientist shows up.
• Top Gear: "Back to the studio." Played with when Clarkson anticipates the line, May says it before he can, and Clarkson in turn cuts off Hammond as he is about to say it.
• Veronica Mars:
  • Subverted in the episode "An Echolls Family Christmas":
    Veronica: I have to say, I was a bit miffed. I was this close to being able to say "The Butler Did It"! But no, it was the butler's son.
  • Played straight in the season 2 episode "Happy go Lucky":
    Veronica: Do you know how long I've wanted to go to Stanford?
    Wallace: Since middle school?
    Veronica: Elementary, my dear Wallace. (Beat) Do you know how long I've waited to say that?
• In the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, one episode features Robin Williams as one of the four players, and after the first game, Drew admits, "I've always wanted to say this, a thousand points for Robin!"
• The Wire: Rawls outlines the Baltimore police department's latest stat-fixing initiative.
  Rawls: We are dealing in certainties. You will reduce the UCR felonies by 5% or more, or... I've always wanted to say this: "Let no man come back alive."
• Xena: Warrior Princess: In "Send in the Clones", Xena tells Gabrielle she has something on her shirt, then flicks her nose when she looks down. Xena says she always wanted to do that.
• In the revival of The X-Files, Scully tells someone knocking on their basement door the very first thing Mulder said to her, "Nobody here but FBI's most unwanted". When he stares at her in disbelief, she replies "Have been waiting 23 years to say that."
• Young Blades:
  • Used humorously in the first episode by d'Artagnan (the son of the Dumas character), who stops Jacqueline in the middle of the "all for one, one for all" catchphrase:
    Jacqueline: But I've been waiting my whole life to say that!
    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.

Music

• The tropetastic "I Always Wanted To Say 'I Always Wanted To Say That'" by Spray.

Pro Wrestling

• In the Dec 6, 2010 edition of WWE Raw, circumstances had led to CM Punk subbing for Michael Cole in reading the e-mail from the Raw General Manager, a role that Punk played up for all its worth.
  CM Punk: I've always really wanted to do this. I HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL!
  • The funniest part is that when Punk did it, everyone cheered for him, opposed to booing like they do with Michael Cole.
• During Steve Austin's feud with the Hart Foundation, Bret Hart says this before Austin is presented with a Temporary Restraining Order:
  Bret: You know up in Canada we have a name for people like you. We call 'em hosers. Waited a long time to say that...

Video Games

• In AI: The Somnium Files, Pewter always reminds Date that he can only remain in Somnium for six minutes at a time. In the sequel, circumstances lead to Date being Mission Control for Mizuki Kuranushi entering a Somnium. When he gives her a reminder of the Somnium time limit, he says it's something he had always wanted to say.
• Battlefield: Bad Company: Haggard says this, as an explanation for responding to "Drop your weapons or we will take them by force." with "Oh yeah? Says You and What Army?!" - though at the American army which they just defected from. Therefore, the situation isn't that fitting, and Haggard apparently just really wanted to say that.
• Batman: Arkham Knight: Solve a few of the Riddler's riddles and he'll have this to say:
  Riddler: Oh Batman, you've barely begun to solve my conundrums. In fact, Gotham remains RIDDLED with them... oh I've been waiting years to use that one!
• Braveland Pirate:
  Fire mage: Burn, heretic! Oh, I have wanted to utter this phrase for so long. Good thing I studied phiromancy for five years.
• The first character you meet in The Chinese Room happens to be a talking scarecrow. If you pick the conversation choice "What lies north, yonder?" the response begins with an aside comment.
  (Because you've always wanted a chance to justifiably say "yonder", and if this isn't it then by Godot nothing ever will be.)
• A physical variation found in Completing the Mission. Charles, a veteran pilot for the military, has on his mind what's known as, "The Greatest Plan", which involves crashing his method of aerial transportation head-first into the side of a structure. Both of the times he's done it in Infiltrating the Airship and Fleeing the Complex, they both resulted in failure, with only Henry remembering the events of it unfolding due to having a Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory. But when Charles succeeds at doing so in CtM...
  Charles: I've always wanted to do that.
• In Driver: San Francisco, one sidequest involves chasing some criminals who robbed a church. As soon as the mission starts:
  Tanner: I've waited years to say this...
  Cop: Say what?
  Tanner: We're on a mission from God!
• Growing Up: In the description for the part-time coach assistant job, the protagonist says that they've always wanted to shout, "Drop and give me 20!"
• Massmouth 2: Trooper's ghost quotes The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: "I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." When Massmouth asks if he is really back from the dead to help him, Trooper answers that no, he just always wanted to say that quote.
• In Max Payne, Vladimir says the titular trope after saying he has "An Offer You Can't Refuse".
• Mortal Kombat X has the "always wanted to hear" version when Takeda goads Kano into saying "That's not a knife!"
• In the original Paper Mario, Toad Houses^note the free inns you run across on your journey 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 always 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.)
• Persona 4: Rookie policeman Adachi says this after he gets to use the line "We'll hear your excuses back at the station," which also happens to one of the battle victory catchphrases of police officer Katsuya in Persona 2.
• Persona 5: Ryuji will regularly claim he's "always wanted to say that" as a justification for dropping various Phantom Thief cliches, such as the text he puts on your over the top Calling Cards, throughout the story.
• Persona 5 Tactica: After the Phantom Thieves defeat the final boss and try to escape the Collapsing Lair, they reach their ride, Lavenza's Velvet Train. While Lavenza begins reciting a standard safety protocol about the train, Ann asks her to skip that part since they're in a hurry, much to Lavenza's disappointment, as she's wanted to say the whole thing once.
  Lavenza: Welcome back, everyone.
  Morgana: Miss Lavenza! There's no time! Please get us out of here!
  Lavenza: Understood. In that case, this train will be departing momentarily. Please be sure to keep your hands, feet, and tails inside of the windows at—
  Ann: Let's skip that part for now, okay!? Just get us out of here, please!
  Lavenza: (disappointed) What a shame. I wanted to do that at least once...
• In Star Wars: The Old Republic part of the Nar Shadda questline has a private investigator enlist your aid in rescuing some kidnapped Republic officers. If you're playing as a Jedi, he sends you off with, "May the Force be with you," and notes that he always wanted to say that.
• Super Smash Bros.:
  • In Super Smash Bros. Melee, if you use Falco's special taunt in the Star Fox-themed stages (also applies to the rehashed Corneria stage in Brawl), this may come up:
    Fox: All ships report in!
    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.
  • In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when Snake and Otacon discuss Captain Falcon by Codec, the two enthusiastically spout off some of Cap's most iconic phrases.
    Snake: You know, seeing Captain Falcon here reminds me... We should do that thing we've always wanted to try...
    Otacon: Ohhhh yeah! That thing! Good idea! OK, ready? Go!
    Snake: Falcooooon Punch!
    Otacon: Falcon Kiiiiiiick!

Visual Novels

• Katawa Shoujo has Rin Tezuka saying this to Hisao after getting high on cold medicine.
  Rin: Wait. I can walk you to the door. It's the least a gentleman can do. I have always wanted to say that.
• In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice For All, a dapper villain kidnaps Maya: not his usual forte, but the particular situation required it. After making his demands, he concludes with "Oh, yes, that's right. Now that I am playing the role of the kidnapper, I can't pass up this chance to say, 'And don't even think about callin' the cops!'"
  • In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the bellboy calls Phoenix 'Detective' adding that he knew Phoenix isn't a detective, but he always wanted to say that. He also writes an affidavit, despite Phoenix telling him it's not necessary, simply because he's always wanted to write one. Additionally in game 1, Phoenix and Maya are saved from certain death at the hands of the mafia by the timely entrance of mostly-inept Detective Gumshoe. He greets their gratitude with the phrase "Just doin' my job." and notes that he always wanted to say it.

Web Animation

• In Red vs. Blue Season 4, while Sarge has Simmons at gunpoint, a returning Church knocks Sarge out while saying "BOOYAH!". Church then notes that he's always wanted to say booyah.

Webcomics

• 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 (he's all alone when he does this), and then cackles, "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?"
• Alasdair in Out at Home slaps his friend Kate while screaming "SNAP OUT OF IT, WOMAN!" He always wanted to do that.
• The Order of the Stick:
  • The reveal of Elan and Nale's father.
    Tarquin: Elan... I am your father. [dramatic unmask for a resemblance reveal} Oh MAN! I've always wanted to say that line!
    • Made even better by the Genre Savvy response:
    Elan: Growing up without a father was totally worth it just for that reveal!!
  • When Hieronymus Grubwiggler (who is a parody of Frankenstein) creates a bone golem out of Roy's skeleton, he says: "It's alive! ALIVE!" Then he explains that he is not an undead but a golem and comments:
    Grubwiggler: Which I guess technically makes my statement of, "It's alive," inaccurate, but I just love saying that.
• Irregular Webcomic!:
  • Done by the author; a reader suggested a joke to him, but it took him seven years to use it.
  • Done by Captain Paris of the "Space" theme; in its portion of the Series Fauxnale, she announces they're going to deliver cargo, declaring "Second star to the right... and straight on till morning!" She then admits this trope when Iki Piki points that would result in the Legacy heading straight into a black hole. In the first Space strip since the webcomic's return, it gets retconed that there's legitimacy in Paris's command, just as long as they avoid the black hole.
• In Roommates we get this:
  Jareth: How I've longed to say this... You have no POWER over me.
• Servants of the Imperium has the Inquisitor who waited his whole life for an opportunity to say the old Commissar line, "Drive me closer, I want to hit them with my sword!"

Web Original

• SF Debris's review of the TNG episode "Code of Honor", in which Tasha Yar greatly figures. Now, it's time for....YAR'S REVENGE!
  "I have waited a quarter of a century for that joke to come naturally, and it was so worth it."

Web Videos

• The Spoony Experiment has a Running Gag referencing a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode which urged the viewers to reference Mad Max: 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!" The best part? On MST3K itself where this originates, the entire sketch is about it being a lame joke with a series of contrived setups that Crow and Tom are eager to invoke. Mike is so infuriated by the lameness, he has to be bound and gagged before the sketch can begin. Thus it's in the spirit of the gag to invoke this trope mercilessly as Spoony does.
• A slight variation from Yogscast. In the episode "The Oasis" of Shadow of Israphel, part of their ongoing Minecraft Series, Lewis Brindley and Simon Lane are watching Shiplord Hubert drift away on a boat.
  Simon: Is he leaving? Does that mean I can say it? Is he going? I'm just dying to. From the moment I saw his name, I've been dying to say it, Lewis.
  Lewis: Go on, then. Go on.
  Simon: See you later, shiplord!
• In his review of Cyber City Oedo 808, Bennett the Sage plays a clip from Commando after Arnold Schwarzenegger impales the main villain (also named Bennett) on a steam pipe, when Arnie quips "Let off some steam, Bennett," Bennett (the reviewer) replies he is, then chastises himself for waiting 160 episodes to make that reference.

Western Animation

• The Simpsons: In "The Wife Aquatic", 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: During the reanimation of the cyborg Coldstone, David Xanatos joyfully yells, "It's alive! Aliiive!" then turns to Demona with a huge grin and says the trope name. Which is really quite understandable, considering that the preceding scene was just one hunchbacked assistant short of a Frankenstein reenactment.
• In Ed, Edd n Eddy:
  Edd: Time's a'wastin! *pause* I've always wanted to say that.
• Numbuh 4 of Codename: Kids Next Door once had to rescue his brother and his parents when the Dodgeball Wizard captured them. When he said "this time" It's Personal, Numbuh 2 wondered what he meant by "this time" since he never met the wizard before. Numbuh 4 simply admitted he always wanted to say that and then he even repeats the phrase.
• In Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century Dierdre (one of Sherlock's band of Irregular teen misfits) has been sent to follow a suspect. She calls out to the cabbie and says, "Follow that hovercab! I always wanted to say that."
• The Real Ghostbusters did this on occasion, in reference to the tablecloth scene from the movie (listed above).
  • One time, Venkman offered to swing from a chandelier to help capture a ghost, but Spengler accused him of making the offer because it was something he always wanted to do. He then added, "Well this time, what you've always wanted to do is something I've always wanted to do." Venkman happily yielded the chandelier to Spengler.
  • In "The Grundel", the team needs to find a number quickly. Ray tells Slimer to "go through the phone book". The ghost does, literally, and comes out with the number written on his stomach. Peter teases Ray about having been waiting to say that, saying he's had that look on his face.
• After Long Feng's arrest in Avatar: The Last Airbender:
  Sokka: Looks like Long Feng is Long Gone! Ahh, I've been waiting to use that one.
• In The Looney Tunes Show, Daffy becomes CEO of a company via Seemingly Profound Fool and is thrilled that he finally gets to say "Hold my calls."
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003):
  Mikey: It's quiet...maybe too quiet. Always wanted to say that!
• Archer gives us this gem:
  Archer: I've waited all my life to say this exact phrase: I'M COMMANDEERING THIS AIRBOAT!
• The Fairly OddParents!: One of the things that makes Crocker like the idea of having a child is being able to go to a restaurant and say "table for two".
  • In the Pilot, Cosmo as Darth Vader: "I am your father! I always wanted to say that." and in one of the later episodes does the same thing: "I am your father! Your godfather!"
  • In "Presto Change-O, Timmy is in Mr. Crocker's body, and relishes the idea of giving someone an F as Crocker has been prone to doing to his students (especially Timmy).
  Timmy: Always wanted to do this... F! [gives AJ an F]
• In Bionicle: Legends of Metru Nui, when the Toa bring the Great Disks to the Colliseum:
  Matau: HELLO, METRU NUI! <aside to teammates> I always wanted to loud-shout that!
• An "I've always wanted to do that" example in ReBoot: During the festivities at Enzo's birthday, Big Bad Megabyte crashes the party, and brings out... a guitar, with a dial turned to 11. Megabyte begins jamming, almost painfully because of how loud it is. Then Bob steps up to face him, seeming angry at him for crashing the party. Then he commands his keytool to turn into a "BFG"... a Big Fucking Guitar, and thus begins a rocking guitar duel, between the Hero and the Big Bad! After finishing, Megabyte says the line (with emphasis on the "always"), gives birthday-boy Enzo his guitar, and leaves without causing trouble.
  • Another example occurs in the second half of Identity Crisis when Bob and Dot commandeer a viral binome transport, and Bob tricks one of the guards with an impression: "You! Look lively or I'll have you deleted!" and tells Dot that he's always wanted to do that.
• On Peter Rabbit, Benjamin with "Let's hop to it!" in "Benjamin's Strawberry Raid." He starts to say it again, then stops himself, seeming to realize that saying it a second time just kills the impact.
• In Darkwing Duck, Negaduck gets one:
  Negaduck: Today St. Canard; tomorrow the world! I always wanted to say that.
• In "Seashell Serenade" from Ella the Elephant, Frankie calls "Ships ahoy!" when he sees some ships coming in on the lake, then says that he always wanted to say that.
• In Totally Spies!, in the episode "Evil Airlines Much?", after foiling the villain's plans and landing the plane, we have this when the spies see the passengers off the plane, still in their flight attendant disguises:
  Sam: [to the departing passengers] And thanks for flying with us! [Alex Sweatdrops while Sam blushes sheepishly] I always wanted to say that.
• Ben 10: Alien Force pulls this with one of Big Chill's phrases.
  Big Chill: Freeze! Hahah... I always wanted to say that...
• In "The Amazing Computer Science Tool" from Sid the Science Kid, Sid's mother Alice asks to say and gets to say "Let's all go to the Super Fab Lab" after saying that she always wanted to say it.
• Ready Jet Go!: Sean says this after saying "There's not a moment to lose!" and "Come on Zerk! Back to the house! And step on it!" in "Back to Bortron 7".
• Tangled: The Series: In "Rapunzeltopia", after realizing that she can control the dreamscape she's trapped in, Rapunzel recites this trope almost verbatim after she clocks Mother Gothel with a frying pan.
  "I have ALWAYS wanted to do that!"
• Before singing the "Mailtime" song for the first time in Blue's Clues & You!, Josh comments "I can't believe I get to sing this song."
• Muppet Babies (1984): In the episode "Nice to Have Gnome You," after they've been transformed into mice, Skeeter asks Scooter if he's a man or a mouse, leading Scooter to snarkily reply, "Very funny, sis." Skeeter then says the trope name.
• Camp Lazlo: Nina mentions that she always wanted to say "Take me to your leader" in the episode where the Squirrel Scouts mistake the Jelly Beans for aliens.
• Static Shock: In "Static Shaq", Shaquille O'Neal guest stars as himself and helps Static take on bad guys. When they are beaten, Shaq asks one who is hanging from the ceiling, "How's the weather up there?" then says he always wanted to say that.
• Star Trek: Lower Decks has a "always wanted to do that version" regarding Shaxs. It's something of a Running Gag during the first three seasons where he'll suggest ejecting the warp core as a solution to a problem even if it clearly wouldn't help. This finally comes to a head in the season 3 finale when the crew finds themselves in a situation where doing that is actually a good idea. Shaxs is practically in tears when Captain Freeman gives him the order, and the entire crew lines the corridors to cheer for him getting to live out his dream as he heads down to engineering.

Real Life

• A slight inversion by Joe Buck with his final call of the 2004 World Series.
  Buck: [the ball is hit] Back to Foulke! Red Sox fans have longed to hear it! The Boston Red Sox are world champions!
• In 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers called up infielder Chin-Lung Hu. On the rare occasions he got on base, at least some announcers were unable to resist invoking this trope when saying that Hu's on first.
• This Damn You Autocorrect entry invokes this.
• An industry-specific example: "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 (such as 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!"
• The sentence "The book is on the table" is an example of a basic sentence taught to ESL students in a few countries. As such, students from said countries cannot wait to see a book on a table somewhere where English is the primary language...
  • Some American students of French have a similar experience with "La salade est sur la table" ("the salad is on the table"), used to practice vowel pronunciation.
• Many people who answer a phone in an office for the first time and need to transfer the caller invoke this trope after asking them to hold.
• Australian Rules Football: In 2016, the Western Bulldogs made the Grand Final for the first time since 1961. In the final seconds of the Preliminary Final, TV commentator and former Bulldogs captain Luke Darcy announced, "I've been wanting to say this for as long as I can remember: The Bulldogs go through to a Grand Final!"
• One incident involving a conversation between an ATC and an airliner pilot on approach to a busy airfield: The ATC advises the airliner captain to follow behind a smaller Fokker airplane that was set to land ahead of him, and advises the airline pilot to say when he can see the other plane. The pilot responds, "Approach, I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight."
• A disgruntled property owner didn't really say anything like that when confronting the KENS news team during a broadcast about then-recent brushfires ravaging the area, but his body language as he dropped an F-bomb live on television all but screamed it.

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