What is the game called where you keep the ball in the air and catch it with a thingy and try to pop all of the bricks on the screen?

The game you're referring to is commonly known as "Breakout" or "Arkanoid." In these games, players use a paddle (the "thingy") to bounce a ball and break bricks on the screen. The objective is to clear all the bricks while preventing the ball from falling off the bottom of the screen. Various power-ups and challenges often enhance gameplay.