Classic TV Theme: The Cosby Show (Stereo)

The Cosby Show ran for eight seasons and was in the top ten for seven of them. Even the final season made the top 20, a remarkable run. While events have led the show to be pulled by most stations who had been airing reruns, it can still be seen on some streaming services. Most long-running series will 'refresh' the arrangement of their theme over the years, or maybe replace it entirely, but it is unusual for a show to do it as often as Cosby did. Over eight seasons the theme ('Kiss Me', by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby) was heard in seven different arrangements (it would have been eight except for a legal wrangle over one season's visuals). Here are all the different variations, plus a special bonus: • Season one: Standard opening using stills of the cast members. • Season two: First 'dancing' open. Themes are now in stereo sound. • Season three: Latin-styled arrangement. Tempestt wonders what Dad is doing. • Season four: All vocal arrangement, and the first to use 'guest musicians', in this case Bobby McFerrin who performed all the parts heard in the theme. • Season five: Full symphonic version, arranged and conducted by James DePriest with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. • Season six: Apollo theatre setting, with musical guest saxophonist Craig Handy (re-used for season seven.) • Season eight: Street mural design (intended for season seven), featuring trumpeter Lester Bowie. • Bonus opening: A special extended sequence used for the last episode, combining bits and pieces of all the openers before it.