clam

[Mullins, Bill]

 From National Review Online:

http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/04_11_05_corner-archive.asp#045364

"In the sitcom business, we call that a clam. No one knows where the term
originates, several people claim "clam" as their own, but the term describes
any phrase which has had all traces of humor or wit sucked out by constant
and careless use. "Houston, we have a problem." "Is that your final answer?"
"Who are you are what have you done with Kathryn?"

Clams can also be references that have lost what little zing they might have
once had. Viagra. Gandhi. White House interns. Milli Vanilli. (You can see
that sitcom writers are a rigorous bunch.) "