create your own

Memorable Television Sitcom Theme Songs

78
rate or flag this page

By bgpappa


Those Memorable Sitcom Theme Songs

Those Memorable Sitcom Theme Songs

Music is a funny thing. Some songs you hear and no matter what you do you can't seem to get them out of your head. All day long you find yourself humming the song over and over again. The worst is when you think you are alone humming through your day and you realize somebody is there watching and listening to you.

It is even more embarrasing if the song you are humming is the theme song to your favorite sitcom. But admit it, it happens. The following is a short list of those annoying little sitcom theme songs that deep down you really love.


Cheers: The Show Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Cheers: The Show Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The Full Version

Cheers - Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Cheers was a sitcom that appeared on NBC from 1982 through 1993. Cheers was a show located in a quaint little Boston Bar owned by a former Major League Pitcher Sam Malone. The show centered on Sam and his relationships with women, but also featured the other people who worked at the bar and of course the bar patrons. There was Dianne, Coach, Carla, Norm and Cliff. Later there was Woody and Rebecca.

The theme song, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, was performed by Gary Portnoy. The song was fitting for a show that focused on the relationships between the people tied to this tiny Boston Pub who were drawn there because it was where they were loved.


Archie and Edith Sang Those Were The Days Before Every Episode
Archie and Edith Sang Those Were The Days Before Every Episode

Those Were The Days

All In The Family - Those Were The Days

All In The Family was a controversial sitcom that aired from 1971 through 1978. Everyone remembers the bigoted patriarch of the family with a heart of gold, Archie Bunker. For a sitcom, the show took on serious issues like race, feminism and the war and anti-war movements of the seventies. The show focused around Archie Bunker and his wife Edith, their daughter Gloria and her husband Michael.

The theme song was simple yet memorable. The show started with Archie and his wife sitting at the piano singing. The song, Those Were The Days, was written written by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse but performed by Carrol O'Conner and Jean Stapleton who played Archie and Edith. The two sang it live before the studio audience.


Cheers - The Complete First Season Cheers - The Complete First Season
Price: $16.46
List Price: $29.98
Cheers - The Complete Second Season Cheers - The Complete Second Season
Price: $16.29
List Price: $29.98
TeeVee Toons Presents Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: 70's & 80's TeeVee Toons Presents Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: 70's & 80's
Price: $28.92
List Price: $21.98
All in the Family - The Complete First Season All in the Family - The Complete First Season
Price: $14.36
List Price: $24.95
All in the Family: Complete Second Season (3pc) All in the Family: Complete Second Season (3pc)
Price: $11.99
List Price: $24.95
All in the Family: Complete First Season All in the Family: Complete First Season
Price: $10.99
List Price: $24.95

Charles In Charge:  There Were Two Families That Wanted Charles In Charge Of Them
Charles In Charge: There Were Two Families That Wanted Charles In Charge Of Them

Charles In Charge

Charles In Charge

Charles in Charge was a sitcom that first aired on CBS from 1984 through 1985, then had a more successful syndication run from 1987 through 1991. Oddly, when the show returned in 1987, Charles was in charge of a totally different family that was related to the prior family, only the new one included a very young Nicole Eggert. 

Charles in Charge starred Scott Baio, who played a 19 year old college student who worked as a live in babysitter in exchange for room and board. The show centers on Baio's relationships with the children of the house and his best friend, Buddy, played by Willie Aimes.

The theme song, Charles in Charge, was created by David Kurtz, Al Burton and Michael Jacobs. It is performed by Shandi Sinnamon. It is cheesy but fun and indicative of many of the theme songs for shows that aired in the 1980s.


Threes Company: Come And Knock On My Door
Threes Company: Come And Knock On My Door

Three's Company - Come And Knock On My Door

Three's Company aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The show is a story about three roomates, two girls and one guy. In order to allow co-ed living in their Apartment buidling, Jack Tripper (played by the late John Ritter) must pretend he is gay to appease the old fashioned landlord (first played by Norman Fell and later played by Don Knotts). The show tells the lives of the three roomates as they try and fail at love, career and life. Throughout the show, the running gag about Jack's homosexuality brings laughs.

The theme song, I will call Come And Knock On My Door, was performed by Ray Charles (not that one) and Julia Rinker.


Charles in Charge: The Complete First Season Charles in Charge: The Complete First Season
Price: $5.87
List Price: $19.98
Charles in Charge: Complete Second Season (3pc) Charles in Charge: Complete Second Season (3pc)
Price: $15.88
List Price: $29.95
Charles in Charge: Season 3 Charles in Charge: Season 3
Price: $13.73
List Price: $29.95
Charles in Charge: Season 5 (Amazon.com Exclusive DVD) Charles in Charge: Season 5 (Amazon.com Exclusive DVD)
Price: $29.99
List Price: $29.99

Family Ties: Without Us
Family Ties: Without Us

Family Ties: WIthout Us

 Family Ties aired for seven years, 1982 to 1989 on NBC.  The show was about a family with former hippie parents, a young Reganite son and two other daughters.  The show focused on the relationship between the parents and their children, the children and each other, and the pains and joys of growing up.  The show starred Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton and promoted Fox to stardom.

The theme song, Without Us, was performed by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams and the opening credits usually contained a collection of family photos.


Making Our Dreams Come True
Making Our Dreams Come True

Laverne & Shirley - Dreams Come True

Laverne & Shirley aired on ABC from 1976 and 1983. Penny Marshall played Laverne and Cindy WIlliams played Shirley. The show told the story of these two roomates' lives in Milwaukee in the late fifties and early sixties. Laverne & Shirley was one of many spin offs from Happy Days as Laverne & Shirley appeared on Happy days as Fonie's friends.  There was also an animated version of the show that aired on Saturday Mornings on ABC.

The theme song, Making Our Dreams Come True, was perfromed by Cyndi Grecco. Each episode began (except for the final season) with Laverne & Shirley skipping arm and arm saying: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Schlemiel, Schlimazel, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated" and then the theme song would begin. This opening scene has been spoofed many times including by Wayne and Garth in Wayne's World when the two visit Milwaukee to see Alice Cooper.


Laverne & Shirley - The Complete First Season Laverne & Shirley - The Complete First Season
Price: $16.91
List Price: $29.98
Laverne & Shirley - The Second Season Laverne & Shirley - The Second Season
Price: $19.92
List Price: $29.98
Family Ties - The Complete First Season Family Ties - The Complete First Season
Price: $18.42
List Price: $29.98
Family Ties: The Four Season Pack Family Ties: The Four Season Pack
Price: $69.44
List Price: $129.98

Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

shamelabboush profile image

shamelabboush  says:
7 months ago

True, I always sing soundtracks of my favorite shows.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
7 months ago

So do I. Charles in Charge gets stuck quite often.

Thanks for reading

James A Watkins profile image

James A Watkins  says:
7 months ago

I enjoyed this Page. Theme songs do get stuck in my head. The song from "All in the Family" is a classic. Edith had an . . . unusual voice. That song "Hollywood" pops up out of nowhere in my mind, too, every day! and I don't even know where it originated.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
7 months ago

thanks James

Jean Stapleton's voice is great. It was interesting to learn that was really her on that piano as well. How they did that with a straight face is really the question. Great show too. Funny but serious. One of the best.

Hawkesdream profile image

Hawkesdream  says:
7 months ago

With a young grandson, it's the kiddy themes that stick, Ballamory, Teletubbies, Bob the builder , how embarrassing is that? haha

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
7 months ago

Not too bad, you can always use your grandson as the excuse. I have two kids, I remember the teletubies theme song all too well. No way I will play it here though, might get stuck.

Thanks for reading

wavegirl22 profile image

wavegirl22  says:
2 months ago

Hi bgpappa, just love this Hub. Really got me thinking of my favorites as a kid. . . though you hit on a few of what could be on my list I am so tempted to do a follow up to your list ;) but as I am a wet behind my ears newbie at this point I am not sure that is allowed. .. so I will just tip my hat off to you and tell you I am excited to go and check out some of your other hubs .

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 months ago

Thanks a lot wavegirl.

Feel free to do one of your own. As long as it is original, it would be fine.

Submit a Comment

Members and Guests

Sign in or sign up and post using a hubpages account.


optional


  • No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked
  • Comments are not for promoting your hubs or other sites

Memorable Sitcom Theme Songs in the News

  • Fighting for survival in the Dragon's DenPembroke Daily Observer26 hours ago

    It's not often I get hooked on a regular television program as I tend to avoid the sitcoms, reality shows and soap operas But I'ma survivor of many television series and go way back even beyond the tube to iconic radio shows such as the Great Gildersleeve, Our Miss Brooks and Amos and Andy.[...]

  • Summer television viewers do rateDaily Telegraph25 hours ago

    SUMMER TV is known for being a wasteland, but networks say things will be different this year.

  • Summer viewers do rateHerald Sun27 hours ago

    SUMMER television is renowned for being a wasteland of reruns of old sitcoms, but networks promise things will be different this year.

working