What do you think are the worst TV shows, ever? Jersey Joe put that question out on Twitter and Facebook and got a ton of responses!
THE 411
What: Worst TV Shows ever
Type: Opinion poll
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
The shows that I picked are just my opinion and judging by the good ratings that all three of my picks get — maybe I’m wrong. But, I promise those are three shows you’ll never catch me watching. It was killing me just to find these clips on Youtube!
So, what shows do you think are the absolute worst?
I could go on and on… it was hard to narrow it down to just three!
Is the British version of Family Feud any different than the American version? Let’s find out as Jersey Joe’s friends play a round of Family Fortunes!
Family Fortunes has been on the air in the United Kingdom from January 1980 – December 2002, and revived again under the title All Star Family Fortunes since 2006, where it is broadcast on Sunday evenings.
THE 411
Title: Family Fortunes
What: British version of Family Feud
Broadcast network: ITV
Number of episodes to date: 545
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Les Dennis is certainly no Richard Dawson, but you know you have a good game show, when it’s super popular in other parts of the world as well. It’s also neat to see, even though both of our countries speak English, the answers can be quite different.
Jersey Joe once again challenges his friends to play a round of the 1970s Richard Dawson classic – Family Feud. Will the survey answers from the 70s be the same as if the question was asked today? Let’s find out!
Family Feud went on the air in 1976 with host Richard Dawson. Feud is a spin-off of the Super Match round from another popular 70’s game show Match Game, where Dawson was a popular panelist.
Dawson hosted the show until 1985. He also returned for a single season in 1994. Since Dawson, several other hosts have taken over, with Steve Harvey, the most recent, receiving the series highest syndicated ratings ever since he took over in 2010.
Feud originally aired on the ABC television network. It moved to CBS in the 1980’s and has is currently seen in syndication on local stations, as it always has been.
Feud is also seen in around the world and has been named the 3rd greatest TV game show of all time.
But, once again we see how the times have changed. While the 5 answers on the board are still correct today, there are a few more, modern answers that would have definitely made the list.
THE 411
Name: Family Feud
What: TV game show
On air since: 1976
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
I love Family Feud. If you are a regular viewer of this blog, then you most surely know that. This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the show, but it’s the first time I’ve got to challenge my friends into playing a round. We will definitely have to do this again!
I think Krusty is one of the best characters ever created for The Simpsons. While he may be kid friendly on camera, he’s quite a sleazeball off screen. Between the women, the gambling, the drinking, the cigar smoking, and even run ins with the mob — Krusty has helped to keep the laughs coming, since The Simpsons went on the air 25 years ago.
Jersey Joe challenges his friends to play a round from the original 1970’s edition of Family Feud. Can they figure out what a 1970’s survey audience said, or will they strike out? Find out in this hilarious video!
Family Feud went on the air in 1976 with host Richard Dawson. Feud is a spin-off of the Super Match round from another popular 70’s game show Match Game, where Dawson was a popular panelist.
Dawson hosted the show until 1985. He also returned for a single season in 1994. Since Dawson, several other hosts have taken over, with Steve Harvey, the most recent, receiving the series highest syndicated ratings ever since he took over in 2010.
Feud originally aired on the ABC television network. It moved to CBS in the 1980’s and has is currently seen in syndication on local stations, as it always has been.
Feud is also seen in around the world and has been named the 3rd greatest TV game show of all time.
THE 411
Name: Family Feud
What: TV game show
On air since: 1976
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
I love Family Feud. If you are a regular viewer of this blog, then you most surely know that. This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the show, but it’s the first time I’ve got to challenge my friends into playing a round. We will definitely have to do this again!
Picture it – America, early 1990’s. Whether you were an adult, child, or a stimulated cell swimming around inside Blanche Devereaux – every American is familiar with the hit TV show, The Golden Girls. The sit-com blockbuster has been off the air since 1992 and not counting the one season spin-off the followed, has been airing in reruns ever since. But, finally – all new episodes came back on the air!
It’s the story of four widowed women, sharing a house in Miami, Florida. Each week, viewers got to join in for their troubles, their stories, or their hilarious schemes. Everybody knew actresses Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty. The show went off the air at the height of its popularity, when lead actress Arthur decided it was time to move on. It reappeared the following season on CBS, as The Golden Palace, with the three remaining cast members managing a beachfront hotel. While still funny, the spin-off was never as popular in the ratings and only lasted a single season.
The show has been seen non-stop in reruns, since it left network television. Not just in the United States – but around the world!
You may remember I listed their theme song as one of my top 100 favorites during my summer count down. It was in doing my research for those blogs, I discovered the show had returned to the air – with new episodes!!!! In fact, versions have aired in 7 different countries with the latest and greatest airing in the Netherlands starting in 2012.
So, what makes their version so great?
I actually found a couple of episodes have been posted to YouTube and thought they were worth a look. What makes the Netherlands version stand out, is the fact they use the same exact music, intro and out cues, and even scripts as our version. Many of their stories have been recycled from American plots, just changed to fit their audience. They also have many original stories of their own!
Now, I have no idea what they are saying, but take I thought it would be great to take a look at an episode. Check out the cast and see if you can tell which character is Dorothy, Sophia, Rose, and Blanche. The similarities are pretty easy to spot!
http://youtu.be/gw8QdzlrfGo
One nice thing about their version – no commercial breaks! I also like the design of the end credits, kind of a credit squeeze like we do here, but with the theme music, and you get to see a little bit more of the final scene continue. That will never happen here… we need room for more promos!
In addition to the Netherlands, original versions of The Golden Girls have aired:
• Greece – Chrysa Koritsia – 2008
• Philippines – 50 Carats, O Di Ba?– early 90’s
• Russia – Bolshie Devochki – 2006 (32 episodes)
• Spain – Juntas pero no revueltas – 1996 (1 season) and Las chicas de oro -2010 (26 episodes)
• Turkey – Alt?n K?zlar – 2009
• United Kingdom – The Brighton Belles – 1993 (10 episodes)
THE 411
Title: The Golden Girls
What: sitcom that aired on NBC 1985-1992
# episodes: 173 – cut to 180 for syndication
Status: airing in reruns in US and globally – Netherlands version aired in 2012-2013
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
It may not be manly to admit, but I think this show is freaking hilarious. The jokes were quite adult for what was considered too risqué for TV at the time. Some of them, I can honestly say I missed when the show first aired. (I was also too young!) It’s not one that I will sit back and watch every single episode… but, it’s still good and it does stop me from flipping through channels from time to time. I love seeing classic American TV shows being redone with care overseas. From my understanding, they aired reruns of our version and then decided to proceed with their own, which is why they used our theme music.
It’s great seeing foreign versions of our programming, but I wish it was available on a broader base than it is in our country. If stations are looking for cheap programming, why not overdub or subtitle one of these foreign shows and air it late night or early afternoon? Maybe, at least, for a programming stunt…? Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune have done that with ratings success. There’s a whole catalog of popular shows that fans would love to see another take on.
At least for now, that’s what YouTube is for, I guess!
Here they are – the top 10 of my top 100 TV theme songs summer countdown. Over the past 10 weeks, I’ve been counting down ten at a time what I think are the best TV themes ever created. The list is not just about the music. It’s also about the editing, the style of the credits, and how well they introduce each series.
Just like David Letterman – let’s get to my top 10 list!
#10 LA LAW
Airdates: 1986-1994 (NBC)
http://youtu.be/uT-Ci3HPftg
I’ve always loved that rocking saxophone intro and hit during the credits. Over all 8 seasons, the only change to the credits was the stars, with both Harry Hamlin and Susan Dey, leaving the series and others coming and going.
This show has finally been released on DVD, with seasons 1 through 3 hitting stores in by the end of 2014.
You could look at this show as the template for which all other legal shows would follow. Each episode featured humor as well as hard hitting drama, usually on a recent topic such as the 1992 LA riots.
This show may have also been America’s first introduction to vanity license plates?
#9 ALL IN THE FAMILY
Airdates: 1971-1979 (CBS) & 1979-1983 (CBS, as Archie Bunker’s Place)
All in the Family is one of the most controversial shows to ever hit TV. The series was way ahead of it’s time with all the off color topics that were handled, especially for the 1970s. Racism, same sex, and bigotry were handled with lots of laughs and that kept viewers coming back for more. You never knew what Archie was going to say or who he was going to insult next? Nobody was safe!
The show took years to develop and was originally titled Justice for All, as Archie and Edith’s last name was originally Justice, not Bunker and was to shot for ABC. Here’s a look at the original, rare unseen pilot. You’ll notice the different characters for Meathead and Gloria, as well as a few different lyrics.
Did you also catch the disclaimer “suggested for the mature audience”? That would remain when the second pilot was shot, now titled Those Were the Days.
There are actually several verses of the song that were recorded, but never broadcast. The main reason behind Archie & Edith singing in the first place, was a cost cutting measure, as there was no more money after the first pilot was shot.
All in the Family also has the most amount of spin-off ever for a TV show including, The Jeffersons, Maude, Gloria, and 704 Hauser.
Although the series ended after 8 seasons, it technically continued on as Archie Bunker’s Place for 4 more. The focus of the show shifted from the Bunker house to Archie’s new bar, after most of the cast had no longer wanted to be part of the series. Here’s an episode of Archie Bunker’s Place:
http://youtu.be/KlLiwrIW2w8
#8 THREE’S COMPANY
Airdates: 1977-1984 (ABC)
Originally inspired by a British show, Three’s Company was a ratings blockbuster for ABC, but was just as famous for the behind the scenes turmoil with the cast.
Three roommates, sharing an apartment – with Jack having to pretend he’s gay in order to stay with two women. You can instantly see where the comedy begins, but that was far from the end of it.
The first big change to the show was when the Ropers, the downstairs landlords were given a spin-off of their own, The Ropers. Check out the really bad opening to their show:
After The Ropers leave, Don Knots is brought on as new building manager, Mr. Furley.
The show continued to do well with Knotts, but Suzanne Sommers (Crissy) then demanded a pay raise, producers fought back and had her only appear in one minute taped sequences at the end of the episodes during season 4. After her contract was not renewed, a new roommate played by Jennilee Harrison was brought in as her cousin Cindy. She lasted for one season, before Priscilla Barnes took over the third roommate Terri.
http://youtu.be/j95PL1SlRxU
Ratings started to dip after season 8 and ABC wanted something new, so they kept Ritter’s character and developed a continuation of the show under the title Three’s a Crowd. This show has often been packaged with the Three’s Company episodes under the title, Three’s Company Too.
#7 THE GOLDEN GIRLS
Airdates: 1985-1992 (NBC) 1992-1993 (CBS as The Golden Palace)
Three widows and an elderly mother share a Miami house, a whole lot of cheesecake, and big ratings for NBC on a Saturday night. Who knew that these four older women could be so funny? The NBC executives did!
Most people don’t remember, but in the pilot the girls also had a live in cook, Coco who never again appeared after that episode.
The series also created a spin-off show; Empty Nest that aired in the time slot directly after, featuring The Weston’s who lived across the street. The characters and pilot for Empty Nest was actually part of a Golden Girls episode with a different cast.
After 8 seasons, Bea Arthur decided to leave the show and the series was cancelled by NBC. CBS wanted to continue with the characters, so they created a continuation known as The Golden Palace, where Blanche, Sophia, and Rose ran and lived in a beach front hotel. It lasted for only one season. It wasn’t that bad and would have been fine if they had kept it around for another season (which they very nearly did).
http://youtu.be/jvhV0uDx_44
And now the big announcement – The Golden Girls have made a comeback! Well, in the Netherlands! It began airing in 2012 and is using old scripts and music from the original series. Here’s a look at their opening credits!
#6 THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR
Airdates: 1990-1996 (NBC)
Just about anyone who was watching television in the 90’s can sing the theme song to this show. They kept the opening in tact through most of the show’s run, although it too was cut down in later seasons. Unlike, TBS who cut it down to just a few terrible shots and beats for the reruns. Over all the seasons, there was only one minor cast change, with two different actresses playing the role of Vivian, the mother of the house.
There are several other verses to the theme and a few of them have made it to air. For a handful of early first season episodes, the credits were 40 seconds longer, and contained additional scenes. Take a look…
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was the ultimate rags to riches story, from the means streets of Philly to the post life in LA. Both for the character and actor, Will!
#5 LAVENRE & SHIRLEY
Airdates: 1976-1983 (ABC)
I got in trouble for airing this theme on our high school news. I still don’t know why. Some teachers are just plain mean!
Anyhow, Laverne & Shirley was the story of two Milwaukee roommates who were just trying to make their way in the 1950’s. We all grew up with them, through their jobs, their dates, and their weekly adventures. The series was a spin-off from Happy Days, where both Laverne & Shirley were introduced as love interests for Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
While the show mostly focused on the two title characters, their upstairs neighbors Lenny and Squiggy were also featured. It’s been said that actors David L. Lander and Michael McKean, created the characters while high on pot one night at Carnegie Mellon University. They toured the country with the characters as a comedy duo, before being picked up by the show.
I always loved how Laverne (Penny Marshall) wore an L on all of her clothes. Her favorite drink was milk & Pepsi, a combination I’ve never tried!
After 5 seasons, producers decided to move the characters to Burbank, California. It was explained that they lost their brewery jobs to automation and they wanted to start fresh. The rest of the cast followed. As a result, the opening credits were changed, but the now classic theme song was kept…
Usually, a move like this is a last ditch effort to boost ratings, but the ratings weren’t that bad and the show held on. In season 8, actress Cindy Williams who plays Shirley, became pregnant and after some harsh negations with the network, was let out of her contract. She disappeared after two episodes with a note apologizing to Laverne. The show would continue on as Laverne & Shirley, with Williams name and shots removed from the credits.
But, the show without Shirley just couldn’t make it. Even Lenny was gone by the end of the season. The LA episodes were still good, but they should have kept the series in Milwaukee making beer.
#4 THE FACTS OF LIFE
Airdates: 1979-1988 (NBC)
http://youtu.be/k_GxXRbSFDg
The Facts of Life focused on four girls and their housemother at an all girls school in Peekskill, New York. But, that’s not how the series started.
The head housemaster, Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rea), was actually the housekeeper for the Drummonds on the first two seasons of Diff’rent Strokes. During the second year, NBC executives loved the character and producers sent the Drummonds to visit an all girls school upstate as a potential place for daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato) to enroll. Garrett is offered the job, but turns it down at the end of the episode, only to reconsider and take it during the summer hiatus, leaving her to suddenly disappear from Diff’rent Strokes.
During the first season, there were about a zillion different girls, along with a different headmaster. While the theme song was written by Alan Thicke (who we’ve discussed before), for this season Charlotte Rea herself sings along! Take a listen and look at all the confusion as the editor tries to squeeze the giant cast members into boxes!
http://youtu.be/0TWwFq-z1_4
After the first season was done, producers retooled the show, letting many of the girls go, and reformatted the sets and role of Mrs. Garrett. I kind of wish they would have kept all of the cast, but adding Jo (Nancy McKeon) in season two was pretty cool. The changes worked and the show scored high ratings.
It was during season 6, that the opening credits took on an updated rock version of the theme, but the biggest change was about to happen at the end of season 7, when Charlotte Rae decided to leave the series and passed the torch to her long time friend Chloris Leachman as her sister Beverly Anne to take care of the girls. Check out the updated intro after a retro Saturday night NBC promo.
The show was never as good without Rae and it was cancelled after two seasons in this format. Had she stayed with the show, who knows how long it could have been on the air?
#3 CHEERS
Airdates: 1982-1993 (NBC)
Who wouldn’t want to pull up a stool at the bar where everybody knows your name? If this thing was in my neighborhood, I’d be a regular!
Cheers was a staple of NBC’s Thursday nights, but was almost cancelled after a low rated first season. The producers worked out the bugs and kept the laughs coming with this great group of barflies week after week.
The opening theme has become a TV classic and is featured prominently on the new Cheers slot machine on casino floors!
The show underwent many cast changes, starting in season four with the off-screen death of Coach (Nicholas Colansanto). He’s replaced by Woody (Woody Harrellson) as head bar tender for the rest of the show’s run. Shelly Long, who plays Diane decides she wants to leave the show to pursue an ill fated movie career and is replaced by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), who first manages the bar, then burns it down. Kelsey Grammer as Frasier and his wife Bebe Neuwirth as Lillith would eventually join the cast as main characters as well.
Though all the changes, America still loved to tune in and see former Red Sox player Sam Malone (Ted Danson) keep everything together, no matter what.
Here’s a look at a later set of opening credits, with the awesome song and classic pictures, and the cast changes.
#2 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Airdates: 1987-1994 (Syndicated)
This show has one of the best musical scores in the history of television. Not only did it have excellent writing, excellent acting, it also had a full orchestra that gave every episode an epic feel. I was glued to the TV each week and would sit there for the end credits, just to see the promo for what was coming next week, hoping it would be a new episode.
Star Trek: The Next Generation was a spin-off of the original 1960’s Star Trek series and an earlier version almost made it to the air in the 1970’s as Star Trek: Phase II, using many of the same elements such as the Riker – Troi romance.
The show has been in reruns, non-stop since the series left the air and every episode is now being remastered and released on Blu-Ray.
I’ll still stop and watch every time it’s on. I put in on in the background just about every day at work.
The cast stayed mostly intact, throughout the seven year run with only Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar and Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher, leaving the series.
This show also launched two official spin-offs, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Another spin-off Star Trek: Enterprise has loose connections to this show as well.
Check out the opening credits for the original pilot… notice anything different?
#1 DALLAS
Airdates: 1978-1991 (CBS) & 2012-present (TNT)
So, here’s my pick for the best ever TV theme – Dallas!
The show was must see TV for anyone with a set on Friday nights. It’s the story of Ewing Oil and the crime, corruption, and family battles for the empire.
At the center was tycoon J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), who was the only character to appear on every episode of the original CBS run. The classic Who Shot JR? cliffhanger episode left America gasping to know who pulled the trigger and would the character survive during the six month summer hiatus of 1980.
Through the 14 seasons, there was a large turnover in the cast that is far too many to go into in this countdown blog. Here’s a look at the opening as it appeared during the final CBS season. One mistake they made was getting rid of the iconic three way boxes that were featured on every episode, except for the last two seasons. But, the iconic theme was there in all its glory!
I was too young to fully understand this show during the early seasons, but I know how much I loved the theme. My grandmother would watch the show and I would make sure to stick around for the opening credits, before running away to play with Matchbox cars or whatever I did as a kid.
Most of the main characters stayed including Ewing, Duffy, and Gray, all of which would return for the TNT remake that launched in 2012. It’s awesome that they still kept the music, although they have shortened it a bit for modern audiences. Hard core fans of the show should be able to tell where the music edit is. Take a listen and see if you can spot it…
One thing you can definitely spot is the changes to the Dallas skyline over the two decade hiatus.
Sadly, actor Larry Hagman passed away last year during season two of filming. His character JR was also killed off the show, using some unused takes that had already been shot. The producers paid homage to Hagman with a special orchestration of the theme and special opening credits featuring Hagman, that are nothing short of poignant, touching, and absolutely respectful.
THE 411
What: TV Theme Songs
Use: themes used to open a TV series or cartoon
Purpose: introduce main cast and introduce audience to the theme of the series
Numbers reviewed: 1 – 10
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
So, here they are… the final 10 of my top 100 TV themes! Did you find any of my choices shocking? Again, these weren’t chosen just for the music, but also for the editing style, and how well they introduced the series and characters.
Next week, I’m going to do a special HONORABLE MENTION blog. I have a few shows, that didn’t quite make the list that we should take a special look at. Let me know what you thought of the countdown. I hope that many of your favorites as well as a few surprises made the list.
I don’t own any of the rights to these, nor did I upload them to YouTube. This blog is presented for educational and informational purposes.
We’re at the top 20 mark of my 100 favorite TV themes summer countdown. I hope you’ve enjoyed this as much as I! These top 20 opening themes are some of the best that ever appeared on television. Let’s check out 11-20 and see if you were a fan of these shows, too…
#20 THE JEFFERSONS
Airdates: 1975-1985 (CBS)
They’re movin’ on up!
What started out as a spin-off from All in the Family, The Jeffersons took on a life of its own. Anybody remember George Jefferson as on of Archie Bunker’s neighbors?
After hitting it big in dry cleaning, George and his wife Weezy purchase an apartment in New York City’s Upper East Side. The mismatch between not only the couple, but also their neighbors, and smart mouth maid kept this sit-com on the air for 11 seasons.
The first set of opening credits perfectly set the tone of the series. You see the Jeffersons leaving their Queens home, driving over the 59th St. Bridge to the Upper East Side and entering the front elevator door to their new life. Later versions of the credits kept the same song, but used hilarious b-roll shots of the series.
http://youtu.be/R8aSSqBRvZc
The Jefferson’s apartment building is a real life apartment building in the Upper East Side. I know, I work around the corner, and pass it all the time!
I also found this unusual version of their opening credits when the show was aired in Italy. I have no idea why it was edited this way, but the retro shot of Manhattan is kind of cool… the still shots of the actors are not!
You know a game show is good when it is still on the air after 35+ years! Originally developed as a spin-off to Match Game, Family Feud has kept the pulse of America since the 1970’s. You ask 100 people a question and contestants have to guess their top answers for cash. It’s a pretty simple concept.
The best part of Family Feud’s theme was the original opening where the families would pose behind the large yellow door. When the show returned in 1999, the producers got rid of the doors, but the families still had that freeze frame moment. Sadly, they have abandoned the big family intro in the past couple of seasons and they really need to bring it back.
Everybody knew Richard Dawson as the original and probably the greatest host ever for this series. He kissed every woman and even married one of the contestants!
When the series returned in 1988, it was with a new host Ray Combs, who was never as good as Dawson. After a few years of ratings decline, they brought Dawson back with a new version of the original theme and a new set. This only lasted one season, as the ratings took a major hit during the OJ Simpson trial that caused the show to routinely be preempted.
The show was brought back again in 1999, this time with Louie Anderson as host. He got the job after Dawson turned it down. Louie was hilarious during his first season, but during his second and third seasons, he seemed to lose interest. With Louie as host, the original theme song was abandoned and a cheesy new theme was created. The little riddles to introduce the family are absolutely embarrassing.
http://youtu.be/JQH99_421PQ
After three seasons with Louie, the producers hired Richard Karn (Al from Home Improvement.) He was terrible! I went to a taping once while he was hosting and he lost his place and they had to retape part of the round. He also made a ton of mistakes. For a brief time during his hosting, they brought back the original theme, but then returned to the Louie Anderson music. After three seasons of Karn, producers hired John O’Hurley (Mr. Peterman from Seinfeld) as host. I think O’Hurley was the best behind Dawson. He was funny, personable, and easy to understand. It was during his run that they finally brought back the classic music and had the families pose again!
Since 2010, Steve Harvey has been the host of the show with Joey Fatone as announcer (although he only reads one line that they use over and over again at the opening, so that kind of doesn’t count as announcing.) Production of the show moved first to Orlando and now to Atlanta, where Harvey lives and hosts his radio show. The latest version keeps scoring high ratings, but many of the questions are now quite sexual in nature. I’m not sure I would let my kids watch the latest version of the show.
But, no matter what… Family Feud is still an awesome game show and I hope to see this one on the air for many more years to come.
#18 LAW AND ORDER
Airdates: 1990-2010 (NBC)
Dun… dun…
While the awesome theme and the style of the opening credits to this show haven’t changed during the 20 seasons, the cast sure did. None of the cast from season 1 made it all the way through to the end.
Law & Order detectives take on the hardest criminals in New York City’s mean streets. The series has also spawned four spin-offs including, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, and Law & Order: LA. The latter was an attempt to continue the series, but it was a massive ratings flop. Each version of the show used an opening credit theme similar to the original, except for the LA version, which then changed to the classic style credits once the ratings were already in trouble.
http://youtu.be/kP85px_tZ10
Law & Order takes full advantage of the NYC streetscape and really can’t work anywhere else (see LA flop version). There’s always crime and there’s always a story on the streets of the Big Apple. You also get to see the gentrification of the city as each season passes.
I love the theme song, I love the color palette, and I love the editing style of every version of the credits. There’s still lots more stories to tell. Even though SVU is still on the air, I think they could bring back the original with a new cast.
#17 ROSEANNE
Airdates: 1988-1997 (ABC)
Roseanne was the working class family that everyone could relate to. At least they did until the weird last season where the family hit the lottery. Anyhow, this show was a ratings blockbuster that I’ll still watch if I catch it flipping through the channels.
Roseanne’s opening credits were also quite original. For the first few years, it featured the cast sitting around the kitchen table and would be reshot every season as the kids got older.
In the later years, they switched to morphing headshots in a photo frame, but kept the sax. The kitchen table shots were still the best.
For the final season, most of the cast and producers wanted to end the show, but ABC threw a boatload of money at them, so they pressed on for one more. This was where we got all the fantasy episodes… remember Roseanne as a super hero saving a train that was taken over by terrorists? The last season’s intro was pretty cool and that’s where we finally get words to the theme song! Thanks John Popper!
#16 THE BIG BANG THEORY
Airdates: 2007-present (CBS)
Four geeks trying to make their way in the world is the theme behind one of TV’s current ratings leader. The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for several more seasons and can give anyone hope that they can make it in the real world, no matter if you have common sense or not. While these guys may be geniuses, they have very little life skills… and that’s where the comedy comes from. I would love to challenge them to a round of rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock!
The original pilot for the show had a much different set of opening credits and featured the 80’s rock song “She Blinded Me with Science.” I like how the song and the look of the credits take us quickly forward from the Big Bang to the present.
#15 THE SIMPSONS
Airdates: 1989-present (FOX)
I thought for sure there would be a zillion different Simpsons opening credits uploaded to YouTube, but it turns out that’s incorrect. They too, most police for their videos.
The Simpsons has broken just about every TV milestone and can be considered America’s favorite family since they made their debut on The Tracy Ullman Show back in 1987. Remember those shorts?
I love the opening credits and they really haven’t changed much over the years. The biggest was when the show finally went to HD a few seasons ago. With the upgrade, the credits were reorganized with more sight gags added.
The best part has been Bart’s funny lines he’s writing on the chalk board and the couch gag, which are reworked for each and every episode. It’s not every show that does something unique for their credits each time!
I’m a huge Simpsons fan, but the comedy has gone down hill in the last few seasons. I’m not sure if we’ve done all that we can do with the characters, but the writing and jokes just aren’t on par with the earlier seasons of the show. It almost feels like they’re trying to be too much like The Family Guy. The show did better when they focused on one character and went for the little sight gags. I hope they can do something to boost the creativity and keep this show on the air for many more years. The movie was hilarious, but the weekly series is now lacking.
#14 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Airdates: 1970-2005 (ABC), 2006-present (ESPN)
http://youtu.be/4A_oBNPeHIo
So, what ABC affiliate general manager is not kicking himself in the butt for letting this big money show go to cable?
This selection in my countdown may shock a few people, but it earned its place for two reasons. It has kept the same general opening theme music for decades and also has featured the Monday Night Party intro as well, which is changed each week and reshot each season.
While I love the FOX Sports theme music, ABC’s football theme was first, and I’m glad that they still use it on the ESPN broadcasts.
When Monday Night Football was on regular broadcast television, local stations earned big bucks by selling their share of commercial ad time that was provided by the network. However, many affiliates complained that the long length of the games would delay their 11pm newscasts and cause a drop in ratings. After hearing so many complaints, ABC moved the series to ESPN, where it’s been airing ever since. Sadly, the ratings these stations got back for their 11pm news was short lived. Ratings for all 11pm newscasts are down, now that people get their info off the internet and none of ABC Monday night programs have earned the same ratings. This really was a horrible move on the part of ABC affiliates, who have no one to blame but themselves.
I’m not sure of the exact year ABC started using their now iconic football theme, but check out the game open from 1970 – that’s brought to you by CIGARETTES!
http://youtu.be/8Ldg292epdg
While football on Sunday is awesome and the occasional Monday night matchup is great, both the league and network TV are doing themselves a disservice by adding games on Thursday and Saturday nights. It’s too much football, spread out during the week. NFL games should be more of an event. I, like most people, have to get up for work on Friday… (even some Sunday night games can be painful!) Let’s keep the party where it should be… to two nights a week.
But, let’s check out on more ABC themed MNF open… this one from Halloween 1994!
#13 PARTY OF FIVE
Airdates: 1994-2000 (FOX)
I have to admit, I was not a major fan of this series – but I thought the short opening credits sequence rocked!
Party of Five was a teen drama, which focused on five siblings who had to find a way to live together after their parents are killed by a drunk driver. The show barely escaped cancellation due to low ratings after the first season, but FOX kept it on, and it eventually found an audience.
They must not have been able to secure the rights to use “Closer to Free” internationally. Check out the overdubbed opening credits as seen in Mexico!
#12 DIFF’RENT STROKES
Airdates: 1978-1985 (NBC) 1985-1986 (ABC)
http://youtu.be/iAwagCwJj-g
Does anybody have any real idea what the lyrics to these opening credits mean? I get it’s the story of two orphans from Harlem who go to live with a rich guy in a New York City penthouse… but is the word Strokes a metaphor for a painting on a canvas and that no two are alike? I guess so, because everybody’s got a special kind of story.
Does the voice behind the song sound familiar? That’s actor Alan Thicke, the eventual star of Growing Pains. Thicke actually created the theme song for a number of sit-coms and game shows.
The video shoot from the first season, is similar to The Jeffersons, as it shows their journey from poor to rich in about one verse.
As the series went on, the opening would change to feature new cast shots and b-roll. The kids grew up after each season, Mrs. Garett the original housekeeper left for The Facts of Life, and finally Mr. Drummond gets married and a new woman and her son move in.
Here’s a look at the last NBC season opening:
http://youtu.be/ct5qf3yQHWo
After NBC cancelled the show, ABC picked it up for one more season. Dixie Carter left after fighting with Gary Coleman on the set, so they brought in a lookalike. Since the show changed networks, a new remixed version of the theme was required. Since there are only a handful of episodes of this version of the music, you could say it’s a little rare. It was a cool idea to use all the picture frames, which was high tech at the time!
http://youtu.be/Ubgx8WH84jw
And I found this awesome clip of a Diff’rent Strokes / Knight Rider crossover! I don’t ever remember this… it was clearly a very special two part episode!
http://youtu.be/l3ykuBTVNWo
#11 FRIENDS
Airdates: 1994-2004 (NBC)
http://youtu.be/sLisEEwYZvw
Another show that I wasn’t a big fan of, but I clearly get they’re a group of friends, trying to figure out life in New York City.
The theme song became so popular, it was rewritten with extra verses added, so it could be played on radio. The show lasted for 11 seasons, but the credits were shortened to just the main verse in the later years. Sad, the playing in the fountain opening was kind of unique to this show.
Another big ratings show for NBC, but the time had come to say goodbye. The network was eager to keep some form on this show alive, so they spun-off Joey and sent him to LA to become an actor in his self titled series, Joey.
The show was awful, but yet somehow got renewed for a second season. It was so bad, Family Guy made fun of their character Cleveland when he was spun-off into his own show, wishing him better luck than this. I think we can all say we learned something from this blog this week. It’s not a good idea to send shows from NYC to LA. Just ask Law & Order, that’s a tough change for audiences to handle!
THE 411
What: TV Theme Songs
Use: themes used to open a TV series or cartoon
Purpose: introduce main cast and introduce audience to the theme of the series
Numbers reviewed: 11 – 20
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Well, some unusual choices for my top 20, don’t you think? Next week, I finally reveal my top ten. No spoilers this time, though. See if you can guess who I picked for my number one theme!
I don’t own any of the rights to these, nor did I upload them to YouTube. This blog is presented for educational and informational purposes.
Quentin Tarantino once said in an interview that opening credits in movies are the only mood time a film really gives itself. That can also be said for the opening credits to TV series. Along with the actors’ names, you also get a feel for the show thanks to the visuals and the theme song. Sadly, as TV continues to look for more ways to jam in more ad time, TV themes have mostly gone by the wayside. I long for the days, when you would watch a show and after many weeks, you would have that theme song stuck in your head.
This summer, I’ve decided to list my top 100 favorite TV themes. This started off as a great idea, but turned out to be a much harder task. In fact, I had more than 100 on the list. There were lots that I had to leave behind.
To make my top 100, the show opens had to meet several factors. First, the theme song: if it’s not a catchy tune, then it’s no good. It doesn’t necessarily something you sing along to, but it has to be something that sets the mood of the series. Second, it would have to be the visuals. There’s no sense having an awesome song if you’re going to play it over a black background. I need to know what the show is about and the theme is the perfect fit. Lastly, the theme has to accurately reflect the show. If the show is a comedy, then it needs to have a light and happy theme.
Hopefully, you will enjoy this look back at some of your favorite shows and a few that you’ve probably forgotten about. Along with the showing you the show open, I’ll discuss why I liked the theme, and offer my own insights into the show. In some cases, I will also present alternate versions as well. For better or worse, some shows would change up their themes during the series run.
So, like Casey Casem’s old radio show, here are my top 100 themes. This week, we’re counting down numbers 100 to 91.
That was a look at the season 1 opening when the show aired on NBC. When the series was canceled, a year later in entered syndication, where some of the best episodes took place. When the brought the show back, they dropped the two kids and introduced Bubba, Thelma’s juvenile delinquent grandson.
I had no idea this is a thing, but apparently there’s a Mama’s Family challenge that was going on YouTube. The object is to stare directly at the screen while the Mama’s Family theme played and try not to smile. I don’t know – did this guy succeed?
#99 MAUDE
Airdates: 1972-1978 (CBS)
A spin off of All in the Family, Maude gave America our first look at Bea Arthur. Her priceless facial reactions made her the perfect choice to lead her next, more successful show The Golden Girls less than a decade later.
I love how this open give you a look at a 1970’s New York City. You get to see the now demolished West Side Highway, which I am ever so thankful that I never had to drive on!
One of the craziest things I’ve ever done was to memorize this song after my friend Mike’s 30th birthday party. It seemed like a good idea at the time and I stayed up for hours doing so… in full disclosure, I got talked into it after a few too many libations in a Hoboken bar. Hey, I blew his mind when I came to work the following Monday and sang it word for word! Still, that story’s not as funny as what The Family Guy did to the Maude credits…
http://youtu.be/fjWhDLbr3MA
#98 THE HOGAN FAMILY
Airdates: 1986-1990 (NBC) 1990-1991 (CBS)
http://youtu.be/kjtGXztRJuc
It’s the show that had three different titles and the main star walk off the show.
When it first aired on NBC, the series was known as Valerie starring Valerie Harper. Yes, Rhoda from Mary Tyler Moore. She got into a dispute with the producers and walked off the show at the end of season two. She obviously ticked off the NBC executives as well, so they killed her off!
For season three, they brought in Sandy Duncan to take care of her mourning family and re-titled the show first as Valerie’s Family: The Hogans and then simply to The Hogan Family.
The expression on Sandy Duncan’s face after she catches that ball in the second shot drives me nuts. What would she have looked like if it had bounced off of her head?
Here’s a look at the same show open during the first season Valerie Harper year. Enjoy the bonus commercial for Chic jeans!
#97 AMERICAN GLADIATORS
Airdates: 1989-1996 (Syndicated)
How about those original American Gladiators? I would have given anything to sit in the audience of this show back in the day. I’m sure I would have died running around in those giant spheres or the final Eliminator, but it would have been fun to shoot Nerf balls at the Gladiator for points.
NBC tried to bring this show back in 2008 during the WGA Writer’s Strike, because there’s no script to write. That version, with Hulk Hogan, had very little resemblance of this fun original and flat out stunk. It was only on the air for a few disappointing episodes.
At one point, they tried to bring this as a live show to the Las Vegas Strip, but it got tied up in legal matters. There was a dinner show, similar to Medieval Times, featuring many of the original Gladiators that ran for less than a year in Orlando, Florida during 1996.
#96 HOME IMPROVEMENT
Airdates: 1991-1999 (ABC)
This was a look at the season two and three opening credits for Home Improvement. This was the longest version, before they started cutting back as well to shove more ad time in.
The open changed several times over the years as the kids got older, but generally kept the same basic theme.
Remember when Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson got her start at Tim’s first assistant on Tool Time? No wonder he grunted!
#95 SEAQUEST DSV
Airdates: 1993-1996 (NBC)
It was Star Trek under the sea and NBC was looking to cash in. This show had a ton of potential, but sadly was a victim of constant network tinkering. Like why did they blow up the ship at the end of the first season?
For the third and final season, they picked the whole ship up and put it on an alien planet to add even more sci-fi adventure that just didn’t work. The show got so bad, that the captain Roy Scheider quit after season 2.
#94 NEW GIRL
Airdates: 2011-present (FOX)
This second version of the New Girl theme is 100% better than the first. While the song is still sung by Zooey Deschanel, the original opening had the cast sitting on a coach over a white cyc, while Zooey just kind of danced around.
This is one of the few sit-coms on TV right now that still has a show open. Occasionally, they will cut it short or not use it at all, when an episode runs a little long.
The original working title for the show was Chicks & Dicks. I can see why that didn’t clear the FOX censors.
#93 THE OC
Airdates: 2003-2007 (FOX)
While I was not a regular viewer of this show, I really liked the opening credits. The show used a great deal of indie rock songs and did the same for the opening. Phantom Planet’s California, still gets an occasional play on the radio and at sporting events regarding California teams.
The graphics, cast shots, and b-roll almost make you feel as though you are sitting on a West Coast beach!
The credits changed only very slightly throughout the four seasons.
#92 PUNKY BREWESTER
Airdates: 1984-1986 (NBC) 1986-1987 (Syndication)
As a kid, a remember watching this show, and thinking how cool Punky was with all of her adventures. Now, as an adult, I realize some of the episodes have some very dark tones such as the fight over adoption, drug use, and even sex!
I haven’t seen an episode of this series in decades, but that theme song is still stuck in my head. At least this song does the trick. By the time you get to the end, you completely understand that an old single guy adopts a rag tag orphan girl. That’s a sure recipe for 80’s sitcom success!
They were actually singing this theme one night last year on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and it instantly brought back memories. As a kid, this show was on weekday afternoons and also Saturday mornings! That’s a lot of turtle power!
Another great theme song with another great show open. You knew exactly what you were getting into seeing the start of this show.
I always wanted to dress up as one of the turtles for Halloween, but sadly never have.
I did learn in doing research for this blog that when the show aired in Europe, it had to be retitled Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles due to controversy over some of the weapons used on the show. Check out the altered open and really bad editing.
http://youtu.be/iaNc-fLwXhQ
But, with all of their fighting skills, why couldn’t they ever defeat Shredder?
A new version of this series showed up on FOX, CW, and Nickelodeon a decade later and was only vaguely related to this series.
THE 411
What: TV Theme Songs
Use: themes used to open a TV series or cartoon
Purpose: introduce main cast and introduce audience to the theme of the series
Numbers reviewed: 91 – 100
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
I hope you enjoyed the look at these first nine themes. I had to disqualify one of my original picks, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It seems copies of this open have been taken down from YouTube over a copyright issue with the composer. I’ve found many episodes uploaded to the site, but without the opening credits.
Kick back again with me next week when we take a look at numbers 81-99. We’ll have girls in bikinis, a guy who can do anything with duct tape, and the theme song for a judge!
I don’t own any of the rights to these, nor did I upload them to YouTube. This blog is presented for educational and informational purposes.
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