Take me to your leader (phrase)
Science-fiction catchphrase said by an alien to a human.
"Take me to your leader" is a catchphrase from science-fiction cartoons, typically uttered by an alien who has just arrived on Earth in a spaceship and encounters the first human they see. In animated works, the line is often twisted for humor—for example, through a pun tailored to the situation, or when the alien mistakenly addresses an animal or object as if it were an intelligent Earthling. The phrase's extraterrestrial use is thought to have started with a 1953 cartoon by Charles Addams in *The New Yorker*, which showed two aliens saying "Kindly take us to your President!" to a horse. By the time the *Mr. Zero* episode of *Adventures of Superman* aired on October 27, 1952, the line was already a well-known cliché. The phrase also appears in parody science-fiction media, such as when Luke Skywalker says, "If it's not too much of a cliché, take me to your leader. If it is too much of a cliché, take me anyway," in the 2008 novel *Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor*. In Robert Zemeckis's 1997 film *Contact*, the line is not used. In Douglas Adams's 1982 novel *Life, the Universe and Everything*, Trillian does not address the inhabitants of Krikkit with the phrase. On the BBC series *Doctor Who* (1963–present), the Doctor often says it in a tongue-in-cheek or annoyed tone. In the 2018 film *Bumblebee*, a Decepticon quotes the line after requesting human technology to search for the Autobot Bumblebee. In Larry Niven's *Protector*, Jack Brennan, after transforming into a protector, jokingly tells his finders "Take me to your leader" when they mistake him for an alien. In the series premiere of *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* (2022), Captain Pike wryly uses the line during a covert mission on an uncontacted planet and is then taken to meet the planetary leader. In *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.*, Agent Phil Coulson says the phrase when captured.
- First recorded extraterrestrial usage
- 1953 cartoon by Charles Addams in The New Yorker
- Earliest known context
- 1893, British captain William T. Wawn described the phrase in the context of Europeans trading with indigenous peoples in the South Pacific
- Popularized by
- Science-fiction cartoons and parody media
- Notable early appearance
- October 27, 1952, Mr. Zero episode of Adventures of Superman
- Common variation
- Puns or addressing animals/objects as intelligent earthlings
Lore & Background
The phrase was first described in 1893 by British captain William T. Wawn in the context of Europeans trading with indigenous peoples in the South Pacific. Its extraterrestrial usage is believed to have originated in a 1953 cartoon by Charles Addams in The New Yorker magazine, where two aliens tell a horse "Kindly take us to your President!" By October 27, 1952, when the Mr. Zero episode of Adventures of Superman aired, the phrase was already a popular cliché.
The phrase appears frequently in parody science-fiction media. Notable examples include Luke Skywalker's line in Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor (2008): "If it's not too much of a cliché, take me to your leader. If it is too much of a cliché, take me anyway." It is not used in Robert Zemeckis's 1997 film Contact, and in Douglas Adams's Life, the Universe and Everything (1982), Trillian does not address the inhabitants of Krikkit with the phrase.
Reader's Guide
The phrase "Take me to your leader" has become a staple of science-fiction and parody media, symbolizing the archetypal first contact scenario between humans and extraterrestrials. Its origin in a 1953 New Yorker cartoon by Alex Graham established the extraterrestrial context, and by 1957 it was already a popular cliché. The phrase's flexibility allows for comic variations, such as puns or aliens addressing animals, which has contributed to its enduring presence in popular culture. Its use in works by authors like Douglas Adams and in series like Doctor Who and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds demonstrates its adaptability across genres. The phrase also appears in song and album titles, further cementing its cultural footprint. While its earliest recorded use was in a non-extraterrestrial context by Captain William T. Wawn in 1893, the phrase's science-fiction identity remains dominant.
Did You Know?
- The extraterrestrial usage is believed to have originated in a 1953 cartoon by Alex Graham in The New Yorker magazine.
- British captain William T. Wawn described the phrase in 1893 in the context of Europeans trading with indigenous peoples in the South Pacific.
- In the 2018 Bumblebee film, one of the Decepticons quotes the phrase after requesting to use human technology.
More in Extraterrestrial life in popular culture 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced