The Rise and Fall of the Sitcom Theme Song

The 70s and 80s marked the golden age of sitcom theme songs. And now we live in the Dark Ages. We’ll chart the rise and fall of these infectious bits of melodic optimism. We’ll identify the three culprits that reduced this art form to the pathetic 4 second bumper “songs” we get today. We’ll laugh. We’ll cry. And we see if hope is possible.

You can find me on Substack: https://substack.com/@belowthefray


Thanks for coming by!




Sitcoms mentioned: Just the 10 of Us, Gimme a Break!, Schitt’s Creek, Blackish, Ghosts, Abbot Elementary, The Honeymooners, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Father Knows Best, Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, The Real McCoys, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch, That Girl, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friends, Cheers, The Cosby Show, Laverne and Shirley, Good Times, Perfect Strangers, Going Places, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Who’s the Boss?, Valerie (The Hogan Family), Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, All in the Family, Silver Spoons.


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Steve Karmen “The Jingle King” interview
https://www.npr.org/2016/12/13/505442...

Ronald Reagan Farewell Address
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Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams, Too Much Too Little Too Late
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Robert Kraft singing Who’s the Boss
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Over the Who’s the Boss? Intro input the Stranger Things theme song
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Roberta Flak, First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (1972)
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https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/analysis-...

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0:00 the dark ages
1:57 theme songs are born
6:05 changing viewing habits
7:42 chasing ad money
12:10 commercial jingles
17:18 buddy sitcoms
21:21 family sitcoms
31:39 the renaissance