Why is it some shows DON'T HAVE a theme song or opening? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 03-31-2006, 02:21 AM

Like My Wife and Kids, it didn't have a theme song or opening whatsoever...it just started and had the stars' names appear...that was it. Anyone know why they do that?

Also, how many other shows do this? I know a few times George Lopez show has started without the theme song/opening...it just had the names appear at the bottom.

Is it because the network wants to fit the episode in without much editing or too many commercials? Not that there are too many anyways...(yeah right)

spunkygirl · 03-31-2006, 02:33 AM

Yep it's so they can squeeze in more commercials

Czas na Zywiec · 03-31-2006, 03:45 AM

yea, and that's why they chop down openings too for syndication. though Roseanne had a great idea and prevented this by making the opening be just one long camera shot going around the table. therefore, if syndicators tried to cut it shorter, it wouldn't work because then the cuts would be too noticeable.

PrettyinPink55 · 03-31-2006, 04:17 AM

Supernatural doesn't have a theme song. I think for that purpose, they want it to appear darker so it's just the show and commercials.
I think for some shows it's good, but for others it drives me crazy.

comedyfreak · 03-31-2006, 08:24 AM

I remember reading somewhere that it is also expensive to produce an opening theme. That's one way to cut down on the expense.

tv star collector · 03-31-2006, 08:55 AM

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND didn't have a theme song for most of its run. A
few episodes had an opening theme, but most didn't. There are others that I
can't think of at the moment.

Brian Damage · 03-31-2006, 09:24 AM

Theme songs have become a dying breed in sitcoms. It is a shame considering some of the classic theme songs that have come out of sitcoms like The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Jeffersons, etc.

friendsfan77 · 03-31-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I remember reading somewhere that it is also expensive to produce an opening theme. That's one way to cut down on the expense.

I cant believe it could cost THAT much to simply edit tape together and put a title and people's names on it.

tvfan0101 · 03-31-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

I cant believe it could cost THAT much to simply edit tape together and put a title and people's names on it.

You also have to pay royalties to the composer of the themesong and, if their are lyrics, to the artist. But the real reason themesongs and opening credits are cut has to do with commercials.

Ant-Lox · 03-31-2006, 01:49 PM

They could always do what Frasier & Just Shoot Me did, put the theme song in the credits...

Buffyboy323 · 03-31-2006, 02:18 PM

ABC ended the Step By Step Opening song in the 6th Season (They eventually added them back when the show went to CBS).

Family Matters' opening was also cut around it's 6th Season.

Seinfeld might have had a "theme song" but that's not opening credits.

8 Simple Rules had no opening Credits after John Ritter passed away.

Two Guys and a Girl stopped showing their opening after season 2 I believe.

LOST has a 15 second thing going across the screen before the first break, but they don't actually list the actors' names until the episode actually begins.

Ireneparalegal · 03-31-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Theme songs have become a dying breed in sitcoms. It is a shame considering some of the classic theme songs that have come out of sitcoms like The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Jeffersons, etc.

I so agree with you. Back in the 70's I remember buying an album (yes, an album) and it had the greatest TV themes on it. It had the Baretta theme, SWAT theme, Love Boat theme, Laverne & Shirley theme, Happy Days theme, Welcome Back Kotter theme, and many others. Man, I bet if I held on to that album I could fetch some bucks!!

I am soooo glad Roseanne had the foresight and the intelligience to do that. Bravo for her.

I hated Everybody loves Raymond and that beginning thing they had going on with Ray talking and so forth. I didn't like that. I did like when they had the Steve Miller Band song theme for awhile. that was awesome.

Fonzarelli · 03-31-2006, 03:44 PM

I don't know about you all, but a theme song also got me 'into' the show before the show actually got started. It puts you in the right mood, I think.

tv star collector · 03-31-2006, 06:57 PM

I miss the TV theme song. I have a big collection of recorded TV theme songs,
incl. Tee Vee Toons' series TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS, Vol. 1-7. Some
great stuff there--I even like some of the themes for shows that I never saw!

Mr. Television · 03-31-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

I miss the TV theme song. I have a big collection of recorded TV theme songs,
incl. Tee Vee Toons' series TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS, Vol. 1-7. Some
great stuff there--I even like some of the themes for shows that I never saw!

I've taped a bunch of tv theme songs from the internet over the last few years. It saddens me what the state of them are today. It does put you in the mood for the show.

03-31-2006, 02:21 AM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Why is it some shows DON'T HAVE a theme song or opening? Like My Wife and Kids, it didn't have a theme song or opening whatsoever...it just started and had the stars' names appear...that was it. Anyone know why they do that? Also, how many other shows do this? I know a few times George Lopez show has started without the theme song/opening...it just had the names appear at the bottom. Is it because the network wants to fit the episode in without much editing or too many commercials? Not that there are too many anyways...(yeah right)
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03-31-2006, 04:17 AM	#4
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Supernatural doesn't have a theme song. I think for that purpose, they want it to appear darker so it's just the show and commercials. I think for some shows it's good, but for others it drives me crazy.
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03-31-2006, 08:24 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I remember reading somewhere that it is also expensive to produce an opening theme. That's one way to cut down on the expense.
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03-31-2006, 09:24 AM	#7
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Theme songs have become a dying breed in sitcoms. It is a shame considering some of the classic theme songs that have come out of sitcoms like The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Jeffersons, etc.
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03-31-2006, 01:49 PM	#10
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	They could always do what Frasier & Just Shoot Me did, put the theme song in the credits...
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03-31-2006, 02:33 AM	#2
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Yep it's so they can squeeze in more commercials

03-31-2006, 03:45 AM	#3
Czas na Zywiec what up Forum Star Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Southwest Side, Chicago Posts: 18,398	yea, and that's why they chop down openings too for syndication. though Roseanne had a great idea and prevented this by making the opening be just one long camera shot going around the table. therefore, if syndicators tried to cut it shorter, it wouldn't work because then the cuts would be too noticeable.

03-31-2006, 08:55 AM	#6
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND didn't have a theme song for most of its run. A few episodes had an opening theme, but most didn't. There are others that I can't think of at the moment.

03-31-2006, 02:18 PM	#11
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,102	ABC ended the Step By Step Opening song in the 6th Season (They eventually added them back when the show went to CBS). Family Matters' opening was also cut around it's 6th Season. Seinfeld might have had a "theme song" but that's not opening credits. 8 Simple Rules had no opening Credits after John Ritter passed away. Two Guys and a Girl stopped showing their opening after season 2 I believe. LOST has a 15 second thing going across the screen before the first break, but they don't actually list the actors' names until the episode actually begins.

03-31-2006, 03:44 PM	#13
Fonzarelli Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,996	I don't know about you all, but a theme song also got me 'into' the show before the show actually got started. It puts you in the right mood, I think.
	__________________ Dennis Kucinich '08!

03-31-2006, 06:57 PM	#14
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	I miss the TV theme song. I have a big collection of recorded TV theme songs, incl. Tee Vee Toons' series TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS, Vol. 1-7. Some great stuff there--I even like some of the themes for shows that I never saw!