TV

White college girl: I would definitely want to be a doctor, if I didn't have to go to medical school.

–Fordham University

Nurse to another: Well, it seems that the themes of the day were UTIs and pregnancies.

–NYU Student Health Center

Overheard by: had neither

Black male pre-teen to mother: I know all about doctors, 'cause I watch shows about that. (pause) Actually, I watch Dr Phil.

–1 Train

Guy to two girls: I had to fire my doctor, I didn't like what he told me.

–39th & Lexington

Doctor, drawing on napkin and displaying results to student: This is you…in 40 years, in a fugue state. In Turkey. Dissociative fugue–learn neurology!

–168th & Fort Washington

20-something girl to mom: If I had a million dollars, I would spend 90% of my time watching tv, or doing nothing, like playing on the computer.
Mom: See? That is the type of attitude we need to talk about, you should want something!
20-something girl: Okay, I will read books.
Mom: (sighs)

–Penn Station

Overheard by: amazed by ignorance

Thug #1: Yo, we’re in a serious predicament!
Thug #2: Nigga, where did your foolish ass learn that shit?
Thus #1: Law & Order.

–Times Square

Overheard by: becca

Asian teen #1 (pointing to friend sitting nearby): Hey, Richard*, are you tall?
(friend shrugs) Okay, you can be shaggy! (pointing to kid sitting next to him) And you can be Scooby-Doo!
Asian teen #2 (from the other side of the car): Ooh! I wanna be Fred!

–7 Train

Overheard by: Bastian

(about the Sex and the City movie)
Woman #1 : Yeah, I never saw the series but I think I'll still understand the movie.
Woman #2: Oh, yeah. I watched the whole series 'til the end.
Woman #1: Which one's Carrie?
Woman #2: Sarah Parker is Carrie. Yeah, and she was with this guy for a loooooong time. A loooong long time.
Woman #1: Yeah?
Woman #2: Yeah, they call him “Mista bits.”
Woman #1: What do they call him?
Woman #2: Mista bits.

–Downtown E Train

Overheard by: E

Female MTA employee: I ain’t seen you in forever! Did you start working nights again?
Male MTA employee: Yeah… It was alright. But then I got bored, so I started watching soap operas again. I can’t believe Tad still looks the same.
Female MTA employee: Shit, you like him?
Male MTA employee: Hell yeah, I’m OG.

–4th Ave & 9th St station

Overheard by: Tacologic

Guy: Yeah, his nickname is ‘SpongeBob,’ because he looks just like him.
Girl: Oh?
Guy: Yeah, his head is really square, and he’s got this buzz cut…
Girl: Is he full of holes?
Guy: Well, sort of — he’s got eczema.

–Delancey & Orchard St

Ugly skinny girl: I swear to god, if you compare us to The Golden Girls one more time, we're not friends anymore.
Cute fat girl: Okay, fine. (pause) God you can be such a Dorothy sometimes.

–54th & 5th

Guy: I totally agree with the idea behind Family Ties.

–Grassroots Tavern, St. Marks Place

Passenger #1: It's like he's trying to have his cake and eat it too.
Passenger #2: I don't get that. I mean, if I bought the cake, why wouldn't I eat it?
Passenger #1: That's not the point, if you eat the cake it's not there anymore. Get it?
Passenger #2: Then why did I buy the cake in the first place?
(15 minutes later)
Passenger #2: But what about the cake?
Passenger #1: So did you watch The Hills last night?

–Downtown A Train

Overheard by: Dr.C