"I was like; he was like; they were like; she was like; it was like..." AAAGH! If the word 'like' was struck from the lexicon, some people would have nothing to say!
It's simply become a verbal placeholder, allowing the brain to attempt to catch up and insert the next appropriate word (assuming there's enough brain power there in the first place!). I just stick with the good old fashioned 'errr...'