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[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Jersey Joe’s Top 100 TV Themes (1-10)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : August 7, 2014
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Category: Archive, Been, Columns, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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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.

 

Image credit – Eduardo Basto

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Jersey Joe’s Top 100 TV Themes (11-20)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : July 31, 2014
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Category: Archive, Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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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!

 

 

#19 FAMILY FEUD

Airdates: 1976-1985 (ABC), 1988-1993 (CBS), 1977-1995 & 1999-present (Syndicated)

 

 

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.

 

Image credit – Paul-W

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Jersey Joe’s Top 100 TV Themes (71-80)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : June 19, 2014
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For the past two weeks, we’ve counted down the bottom 20 of my 100 top TV themes of all time.  This week, we’re in the 70’s!

 

Anyhow, let’s take a look at the next group of ten.

 

#80 THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

Airdates: 1962-1971 (CBS)

 

http://youtu.be/QtvTE3m5jpM

 

A poor, backwoods family finds oil and moves to Beverly Hills?  It happened in this sitcom that was on for so long; it started off in black and white and ended in full blown color.

 

I guess for the original opening, they weren’t able to take the cast for a real drive down Rodeo Drive, so they used some really bad rear projection.  You can see how the scene bumps up and down as the camera car hits a pot hole, but the cast shot stays steady.

 

However, when the show transitioned to color, they got it right and reshot part of the opening credits, including a real live shot driving down Rodeo Drive!  When the show becomes a hit – the budget increases!

 

 

Just about everybody who was born up until the early 1980’s knew this theme song by heart.  I think it was even played on the radio at one point.

 

The show was remade as a movie in the early 90’s with Jim Varney that was surprisingly pretty good.  Most TV shows remade into movies these days just don’t work.

 

#79 227

Airdates: 1985-1990 (NBC)

 

 

It was the apartment building where everybody knew your name and loved to hang out.  The show made Jackee Harry a TV icon with her Sandra character.  However, by the time season 4 started, tension between her and star Marla Gibbs grew to such a point on the set, that executives gave Harry her own spin-off.  Sadly, after the pilot aired the show was not picked up and Harry was off the air.

 

The show continued on, but Harry’s loss was a blow the series never recovered from.  For season 5, they brought in a whole new slew of characters, but they couldn’t save the falling ratings.  Producers brought Harry back for the last 7 episodes of the season, but it was too late and NBC canceled the show.

 

#78 AMEN

Airdates: 1986-1991 (NBC)

 

 

Another staple on NBC’s powerful Saturday night sit-com lineup, this usually aired at 8pm right before 227.  Remember when Saturday night actually had half descent original programming?

 

Set in a Philadelphia church, this sit-com dealt with the antics of the less than holy Deacon Frye.  The opening credits were recently parodied by Cleveland on Family Guy this season.  This show was absolutely hilarious and I love the old Pennsylvania license plate on his giant car!

 

And check out the bonus end credits that were attached to the video.  Did you happen to catch Cuba Gooding, Jr. as a guest star?  That had to be early in his career.

 

For the show’s entire run, these credits never changed, outside of the addition of new cast members names on screen.

 

#77 DOOGIE HOWSER, MD

Airdates: 1989-1993 (ABC)

 

 

A simple keyboard theme is all you needed for this one.

 

A super genius kid becomes a practicing doctor, before he’s even a teen!  That can really happen, right?  Not if the insurance companies have anything to say about it!  But, of course it can – thanks to the magic of television.

 

At the end of every episode, Doogie would turn on his computer, which at the time was really only a word processor (his life would have been so different had the internet existed then), and type about what he had learned that day.  It always had some witty line and always had a cut away of Doogie as he pondered what he had learned.  I wonder how many kids ended up doing journals thanks to this show?

 

This was another series where the credits changed very little over the years, just new shots of Neil Patrick Harris as he grew up.

 

#76 MR. BELVEDERE

Airdates: 1985-1990 (ABC)

 

 

I love the creative use of photographs, not only of Mr. Belvedere’s adventures, but also the multi shots of the cast.

 

Just by listening to the song, you know you’ve got a legendary butler that moves in with a family from Pittsburgh.  What more do you need?

 

Here’s a look at the opening credits from the first two seasons.  The slide show like opening from the pilot makes me sick.  Glad they only used it once!

 

 

#75 THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON

Airdates: 1962-1992 (NBC)

 

 

While the current incarnation of the show is hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Carson has long been considered the king of late night.  Only David Letterman has recently passed this show on number of episodes and number of seasons.

 

Carson was not the first host of The Tonight Show.  That was actually Steve Allen and it went on the air way back in 1954.

 

When Carson first took over as host, the show aired from 11:15pm – 1:00am.  That’s 105 minutes!  As more local stations began broadcasting 11pm news, Carson’s opening monologue was going unseen by the vast majority of the US.  NBC then decided to move the show to 11:30 and trimming it to 90 minutes.  In the 70’s, Carson grew tired of the 90 minute format and again trimmed the show to an hour.  It was finally moved to the current 11:35 time slot in 1991, to allow affiliates more commercial time in their late news.

 

The opening credits have undergone massive changes over the years.  Sadly, almost all of the pre-1971 shows have been lost.  Videotape was expensive then and NBC would simply tape over the air checks with another show.   There are years of great interviews and skits that will never again see the light of day.

 

#74 PICTURE PAGES

Airdates: in various forms 1974-1990 (CBS, Syndicated, and Nickelodeon)

 

 

I was so mad that I couldn’t have a pen that played music as you write.  I’d still like to have one now to drive my co-workers nuts!

 

Bill Cosby would teach kids reading, writing, and arithmetic using a series of puzzles that you can send away for and play along.

 

The show actually started in Pittsburgh in 1974 when a local grocery store gave away the books.  The segments went national in 1978 as part of the Captain Kangaroo program on CBS.  Later, kids cable network Nickelodeon picked up the rights and aired it as a half hour show.  Here’s a look at the seriously lame song on the Nick version:

 

 

#73 DUCKTALES

Airdates: 1987-1990 (Syndicated)

 

 

Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews were always going on an adventure to score more money.  As a kid, I always thought it would be awesome to jump into Scrooge’s money pit vault.  Now that I’m older, I realize that jumping face first into a deep vault of a zillion coins probably would really hurt.  Also, money is quite filthy… who wants to swim in filth?

 

I actually won tickets to the spin-off movie DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp from a local TV station.  The same station I ended up working at a decade later!

 

Thanks to the success of this show, Disney launched a whole afternoon of other cartoons including Tale Spin, The Gummi Bears, Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, and a few more that I forget.  DuckTales was always the first and the best, though.

 

This show only lasted 100 episodes, but it seemed to go on forever!  DuckTales Woo-ooh!

 

#72 BONANZA

Airdates: 1959-1973 (NBC)

 

http://youtu.be/NP8qKiTltj0

 

A fictional ranch in Nevada back in the wild west days was the setting for this long lasting series.  Another show that started out in black and white and made the switch to color.

 

It is the second longest television western in history behind Gunsmoke.  It will probably stay that way, because people don’t seem to want TV westerns anymore.

 

I’ve seen a handful of episodes, but the cool part of the credits is how they set the map on fire and luma key to the first shot of video underneath.  Pretty great idea that was ahead of it’s time.

 

And holy moley Jeanne Cooper does not look comfortable posing for her guest star credit show!

 

#71 SIMON & SIMON

Airdates: 1981-1989 (CBS)

 

http://youtu.be/osYdKFhzzlc

 

They were two complete opposites, but they ran a successful private detective agency together.  It was basically, The Odd Couple of private eyes!  It was one of the many action drama/comedy shows of the 80’s.

 

I remember watching the show from time to time and reruns still turn up occasionally, but it was the awesome guitar sax combo of the theme song they used starting with season three that made this one memorable.  The shot of Gerald McRaney getting cold cocked through an open door is pretty priceless as well!  (He went on to star in the Army sit-com Major Dad, right after this!)

 

Take a look at how the opening credits were for the first couple of seasons and you’ll agree that the classic guitar sax combo was a hit!

 

 

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: 71 – 80

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

I hope you enjoyed the look at the next group of themes.  A few kids ones made it into the group this time. I still want a singing pen, Bill Cosby!

 

Check back next week when we take a look at numbers 61-70.  We’ve got Zordon, a fat delivery guy that loves the Mets, and a talking horse!

 

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.

Image credit – James Vaughan

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] When William Shatner Was a Game Show Host

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : April 10, 2014
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He’s battled Klingons, starred in big blockbuster movies, and speaks his lines with big dramatic pauses as he tries to remember the words; but there’s only one William Shatner.  The Canadian born actor loves to perform, but one of his greatest performances has already been mostly forgotten and was mostly missed – and that’s his brief stint as a game show host.

 

In 2006, the ABC television network got into the big money prime time game show craze with their new show Show Me the Money.  The show, which was one giant spectacle and hosted by William Shatner, was sadly cancelled before all the episodes could be broadcast.

williamshatner4

The series featured 13 “Million Dollar Dancers,” who each held a scroll that contained 12 different dollar amounts and one killer card.  The contestant would be presented with a category that started with the answer and three possible choices for questions.  Once they chose a question, they would have to answer, and then select one of the dancers who would reveal the amount of money on their scroll.  If their answer was right, they got the money on the scroll, if it was wrong it was deducted from their bank.  Answering 6 questions either correct or incorrect ended the game.  If the one “killer card” was revealed, the contestant was placed into a sudden death situation, where an incorrect answer immediately ended their game, or a correct answer allowed them to move on.

 

Besides the hot models, the fun part of the show was William Shatner.  Shatner is at his best when dealing with outrageous contestants.  It was nice to see him ad-lib and dance right along with the models.  In fact, the show really didn’t seem to be about the quiz at all, but more of watching Shatner and 13 models dance.  Before going to commercial break, Shatner would scream a random dance to the models and everyone would hilariously dance to break!

 

Here’s a look at the pilot episode of the show:

 

 

Sadly, the show never really caught on and was cancelled.  Seven episodes were taped and five were aired.  The odd thing is that executives at ABC at first thought this show would work and ordered an additional 7 episodes, but then quickly changed their minds, and cancelling the show a week later after episode 5.

 

The ratings were so bad, when the Game Show Network aired the reruns; they had to cancel the show again after only reairing the first two episodes.  The final two episodes have never and most likely won’t ever see the light of day.

williamshatner1

THE 411

 

What: Show Me the Money

 

Type: TV game show

 

Host: William Shatner

 

Airdates: November 14 – December 13, 2006

 

Number of episodes: 5, plus 2 unaired

 

Network: ABC

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

 

The concept was corny and over the top, but Shatner made it work.  ABC should have moved the show to another night and gave it another shot.  This could have also worked as Saturday night network TV filler, instead of on a tough Tuesday night with big time competition from the other networks.  I could see this on playing in the background at a packed bar on a Saturday night, getting laughs.

 

Very little video of this show is still online, so take a moment, and laugh at the hilarious first episode while you can, because as the ratings show most people missed it the first time around.

 

“Ladies, let’s salsa!”williamshatner2

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] When Earthquakes Rock Live TV

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : March 20, 2014
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Monday morning, people in the Los Angeles area were shaken awake by a 4.4 earthquake.  While earthquakes are nothing new to California residents it still took some of the local news anchors by surprise on live TV.  From the local news, to baseball games, to Judge Judy – let’s check out some awesome earthquakes caught on the air.

 

The greatest reaction to Monday’s earthquake had to be by the KTLA Morning News anchors.  While a quake can be starting, should these two have kept a little calmer?  You decide in this video that has gone viral…

 

http://youtu.be/SCJihgO5gmg

 

In Japan, broadcasters have earthquake warnings down to a science.  The second the earth starts shaking, all shows are automatically interrupted by a series of audio chimes and a map, showing the location of the quake, and a computer voice giving viewers instructions.

 

This video was taken from the day of the big 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  What’s interesting is not only do we get to see the first warnings about the quake (with live shots of their parliament meeting being shook up) but also at 1:32 we see the local news report as it interrupts the programming and then the quake strikes the studio.  Listen carefully to the studio crew’s reactions as well.  (It’s subtitled in English).

 

But it’s not over yet, stay tuned for the most shocking part.  At 3:30 the emergency computer kicks off the local news for a tsunami warning.  Listen how the alert tone and graphics take a much more serious tone.  The computers give viewers an estimate as to where the wave will hit, how high, and how much time they have to evacuate.  This tsunami caused massive devastation, including the near meltdown of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant that has left numerous towns abandoned.  The live news coverage of the whole event is shocking.

 

 

Back in 2010, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake was centered in Virginia, but the effects were felt up and down the east coast.  First, it interrupts a live streaming news show in Washington DC…

 

 

…and then strikes a live mlb.com webcast from New York.  At first, the guy on the right is so focused on baseball stats; he won’t stop talking and really becomes a bigger bonehead with what he says at the end of the event…

 

 

One of the most famous earthquakes caught on live TV was during ABC’s coverage of the 1989 World Series from San Francisco.  Here’s what viewers saw (including me) from coast to coast as the quake strikes during pregame.

 

 

Lastly, only an earthquake can silence Judge Judy in her court.  Here’s what happened when a quake strikes as she’s taping an episode.  She is so out of there!

 

 

While we still can’t predict an earthquake, with everyone now armed with mobile devices, social media, and 24 hour news; video and news of the events go out to the masses seconds after it happens.

 

THE 411

 

What: earthquakes caught on TV

 

Where: mostly West Coast and Japan – but, pretty much anywhere

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

Having been through the New York earthquake, you almost don’t realize one is happening until it’s already half way over.  I’m sure my friends in California who have been through bigger quakes will have a different viewpoint.  I’ve only ever been through one and that’s good enough!

 

That live newscast from Japan during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami is really powerful.  It captures the whole event as it happened and I applaud whoever uploaded it for giving us a glimpse of that terrible day.  I’m not sure why we don’t have an earthquake warning system here in the US, like they do there.  Along with the tsunami warning system, it certainly saved many lives that day.  We have Amber alerts, Silver alerts, and the Emergency Alert System, so why not one for earthquakes?

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Before Bob Sagat: The Other Guy in the Full House Pilot

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : February 6, 2014
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Full House – the 90’s sit-com that redefined the word cute.  Three guys under one roof raising three kids.  That was the premise that led ABC to sit-com gold!  Like it or hate it, anyone who had a TV in that decade knew of the show and the three lead stars: John Stamos, Dave Coulier, and Bob Sagat.  But, the show very nearly went to air without Bob’s leading father figure, Danny Tanner.

 

The family sit-com was all the rage with the TV networks in the 1990’s.  Blockbuster hits such as Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, and more dotted the prime time schedules and all led to big ratings which scored big advertiser dollars, but all of these shows were starting to age.  The American Broadcasting Company was on the hunt for another rating hit.

 

Screenwriter Jeff Franklin, who had already worked on hit sit-coms such as Laverne & Shirley and Bosom Buddies was hungry to get a TV show of his own and came up with a dozen proposed ideas, all of which were shot down.  After writing a couple successful movie screenplays, he again developed a pitch for TV that idea became House of Comics, with three stand up comedians sharing a house together.

 

ABC took a look at the script and asked Franklin to redevelop it as a family show.  He changed the title to Full House, tweaked his script to add three kids, make Danny a widower, and change the guy’s professions to sportscaster, rock star, and only one comedian.  He hoped ABC would love the idea of three guys trying to act as one mom.  Turns out – they did!

 

John Stamos and Dave Coulier were quickly cast as Uncle Jesse and Uncle Joey.  The cast of kids were quickly signed on including Candace Cameron as oldest daughter DJ, Jodie Sweeten as Stephanie, and Mary Kate and Ashley Olson to double in the role of infant Michelle.

 

Franklin had written the role of the Danny Tanner, the father of the family, with Bob Sagat in mind.  The two had worked together in the past, as Sagat was the audience warm up guy for Bosom Buddies, but was unavailable having just signed on to be an on-air contributor to The Morning Show for CBS.  The Morning Show was an early version of the current CBS This Morning news program, but featured an odd mix of comedy, news, and entertainment.

 

With Sagat unavailable, actor Paul Reiser was approached to play Danny, but he turned it down to star in a similar show for NBC, My Two Dads. (Guess he wanted to go with one dad, less?)

 

Franklin began open auditions and eventually went with unknown actor John Posey and the pilot was shot.  Here’s a look at the first few minutes of the unaired pilot:

 

http://youtu.be/aJNWdbzoewU

 

The show tested well and ABC ordered a 9 episode first season.

 

Just as the show was picked up, Sagat was fired from The Morning Show.  That show’s ratings had tanked was on the verge of once again being reformatted.  Sagat contacted Franklin an expressed interest in the Full House job.

 

Franklin persuaded ABC to pony up more money to reshoot the pilot, here is the exact same episode and script with Sagat, which do you think is better?

 

http://youtu.be/8hmHHL_o_Pg

 

As you can see, only a handful of shots from the original show open remained (including the horrible rear projection scene of San Francisco, where I think they run a red light.)  Fortunately, the right choice was made with Sagat and the series went on to become part of TV history running for 8 seasons and 192 episodes.

 

Check this out, here’s a side by side comparison of the two episodes!

 

http://youtu.be/Bu7FNYqhkow

 

 

I always though the early years were the better shows.  Once Michelle grew up and they tried to continue the whole cutsey-cutsey theme by giving Uncle Jesse a wife and twins just didn’t work.  Plus, producers still tried to portray Michelle as the cute little kid, while she was well on her way to womanhood.

 

While I was never a big fan of the show, I did catch Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier when they reunited last week for a sketch on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and I remembered hearing about this unaired pilot.  They also appeared in character for an Oikos yogurt commercial on Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Seasons 1-4 of Full House have been released on DVD as well as an entire series box set.  The John Posey pilot appears as a bonus feature in the season one set.

 

To get a show on network TV, most networks order a pilot episode to get the feel for the series they are about to pay big bucks for.  Often times, the tone of the show, sets, and even cast members will change from what will be in the official broadcast series.  Some famous changes include the gay live in cook on The Golden Girls pilot, a different captain on the original Star Trek pilot, and a Macintosh computer inspired set for the Alex Trebek Jeopardy! pilot.

 

An unrelated series with the same name aired in Korea in 2004.

 

You can check out the entire unaired John Posey Full House pilot for yourself, here:

 

 

THE 411

 

What: original Full House pilot episode

 

Starring: John Posey as Danny Tanner

 

Network: ABC

 

Recorded: 1987

 

Status: unaired, released as a bonus feature on Full House season 1 DVD

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

 

The entire original pilot with Posey appears from time to time on Youtube, but is often removed for copyright violations.  The link provided above is active as of the time of this posting.

 

The producers were absolutely correct in replacing Posey with Bob Sagat.  Posey just simply didn’t work in this pilot and I can’t imagine this series lasting as long without him.  He is too quiet and too closed in his performance.

 

Posey has made a great deal of TV appearances however.  He’s guest starred on everything from Dallas to Seinfeld to Bones.  But, this is an example why it’s a good idea for networks to order a pilot and to test a new show.