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. Gary Portnoy interview on Pickin’ it Out with Andrew Pope    • Pickin’ It Out with Andrew Pope #20 | Gary...   Steve Karmen “The Jingle King” interview https://www.npr.org/2016/12/13/505442... Ronald Reagan Farewell Address    • President Reagan's Farewell Address  to th...   Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams, Too Much Too Little Too Late    • J Mathis & Deneice Williams - Too Much, To...   Robert Kraft singing Who’s the Boss    • Brand New Life   Over the Who’s the Boss? Intro input the Stranger Things theme song    • Stranger Things | Title Sequence [HD] | Ne...   Grant Garland covering Valerie    • “Together Through the Years” (Theme from “...   Roberta Flak, First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (1972)    • Roberta Flack - First Time Ever I Saw Your...   The Lipton Sonic Logo https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/analysis-... American Divorce Rates by Year https://www.bgsu.edu/ncfmr/resources/... Full House Cast Sing Theme Song    • Full House Cast Reunited and Sings Theme S...   The Last Judgement by Michelangelo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Las...) 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