Why was there so many Alice Themes in 1978? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Austin Tripper · 06-09-2007, 07:06 PM

Has anyone notice that they changed the Opening & Closing Themes for Alice in 1978... atleast 6 times?

It is almost after every other episode they tweek the theme OR completely change it?

This must be the only show to change its theme in the middle of a season.... constantly.

Dr. Thong · 06-09-2007, 07:40 PM

Yeah, they did change the theme a few times, though I don't remember it happening within one season. Anyway, it's been years since I've watched the show, so I don't remember the specifics.

I just remember that Linda Lavin's singing got more and more obnoxious each time they changed the theme...

"There's a new girl in town and I'M...FEELING GOOD!!!"

Austin Tripper · 06-09-2007, 07:53 PM

Yeah...

The character Alice wanted to be a singer... hmm maybe they thought they should change the theme after every 4 episodes?

Very Odd. One they did was perfect in 1978, and then they change a few more times.

Maybe she requested it? Some are Skats, Some sound like Billie Holiday or Cab Calloway.

oh well

Ireneparalegal · 06-09-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Yeah, they did change the theme a few times, though I don't remember it happening within one season. Anyway, it's been years since I've watched the show, so I don't remember the specifics.

I just remember that Linda Lavin's singing got more and more obnoxious each time they changed the theme...

"There's a new girl in town and I'M...FEELING GOOD!!!"

Haven't you watched Alice on ION?

Dr. Thong · 06-09-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Haven't you watched Alice on ION?

What's ION??

Ireneparalegal · 06-09-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

What's ION??

The channel that shows Alice.

http://www.ionline.tv/

SitcomGyrl1955 · 06-12-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin Tripper

Yeah...

The character Alice wanted to be a singer... hmm maybe they thought they should change the theme after every 4 episodes?

Very Odd. One they did was perfect in 1978, and then they change a few more times.

Maybe she requested it? Some are Skats, Some sound like Billie Holiday or Cab Calloway.

oh well

That's an embarrassment to Billie Holiday. Linda Lavin's skats sounded nothing like Billie Holiday. Not even close.

mstewart · 06-12-2007, 01:15 PM

If you notice the theme each season reflects the growth of Alice Hyatt if you remember the original concept that she came from Jersey with the intent of going to Hollywood to make it big. Her car broke down on the way there and ended up in Phoenix. She did not know anyone and was scared because she was on her own for the first time in her life. She went from being under her father's roof where he took care of her and married a truck driver and he took care of her. She had to stand on her own two feet for the first time in her life with a son to boot. As I listened to each season it shows how happy Alice is and she is standing on her own. I like the 78-80 theme song better. Linda sung that well. The closing I don't care for.

tf70 · 06-13-2007, 03:59 PM

Yeah, I noticed that too. I also noticed that the "Alice" title during the opening credits changes a lot as well...different fonts, styles and sometimes color. One episode will be yellow-ish in block letters, and then the next episode will be red in a script style...in the same season! Too funny.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-15-2007, 04:36 PM

No I have not noticed the so many theme songs

TALLguyinKY · 06-15-2007, 06:42 PM

I like the original opening and closing themes best ("bom-bom-bom-bommmm!")

I agree with Dr. Thong, the current ones they're showing have Linda singing much too over-the-top and obnoxious, particularly the closing theme.

megamanj2004 · 06-15-2007, 07:14 PM

the ones between 1978-80 seemed to constantly vary so much, but I really find it strange that the one used from S6 to S9 (1981-85) never changed, which was the worst version of the show's theme to many.

Back to the 1978-80 varaitions, the closing theme was fine when it was just straight forward instrumentals, until they had Linda Lavin singing: "buh-duh-duh-bobbity-bop," which sounded really horrid.

Also, the opening credit titles sometimes used the same font as the one from S1 and S2 (in a lighter shade of yellow), sometimes the font from Susan Harris's shows of the '70s and '80s (in either orange, yellow, or red). Soemtimes the end credits even begin with the show's title name before the closing credits started.

Also, why did they have the Warner Bros. '72 logo as an in-credit logo this season as well? As much as the 1978-79 season being the best season of "Alice", it's also the weirdest season of all.

Dr. Thong · 06-15-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TALLguyinKY

I like the original opening and closing themes best ("bom-bom-bom-bommmm!")

I agree with Dr. Thong, the current ones they're showing have Linda singing much too over-the-top and obnoxious, particularly the closing theme.

It was as if Linda Lavin was saying "This is MY show! And I'M the STAR!!"

Linda, stick to acting.

TV Guy · 06-15-2007, 08:08 PM

There's one short-lived version of the closing theme circa 1978 or 1979 where Linda kind of moans and groans to the instrumental theme - "Oh oh whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa wa wa wooooooaah oh oh". She sounds like she's constipated, to be blunt. It's really awful, and was only used once or twice.

Chalk the increasingly awful themes up to Lavin's ego.

Sammy Reed · 06-15-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

There's one short-lived version of the closing theme circa 1978 or 1979 where Linda kind of moans and groans to the instrumental theme - "Oh oh whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa wa wa wooooooaah oh oh". She sounds like she's constipated, to be blunt. It's really awful, and was only used once or twice.

That was in the episode "Take Him, He's Yours", the 3rd-season premiere in 1978, where Tommy stayed at Mel's house and sprained his foot. They used that only one time. Ion aired that episode last week.

06-09-2007, 07:06 PM	#1
Austin Tripper Jack Tripper is GOD! Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 17, 2001 Location: United States Posts: 614	Why was there so many Alice Themes in 1978? Has anyone notice that they changed the Opening & Closing Themes for Alice in 1978... atleast 6 times? It is almost after every other episode they tweek the theme OR completely change it? This must be the only show to change its theme in the middle of a season.... constantly.

06-09-2007, 07:40 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Yeah, they did change the theme a few times, though I don't remember it happening within one season. Anyway, it's been years since I've watched the show, so I don't remember the specifics. I just remember that Linda Lavin's singing got more and more obnoxious each time they changed the theme... "There's a new girl in town and I'M...FEELING GOOD!!!"
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

06-15-2007, 04:36 PM	#10
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	No I have not noticed the so many theme songs
	__________________ Who Dat

06-15-2007, 07:14 PM	#12
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,359	the ones between 1978-80 seemed to constantly vary so much, but I really find it strange that the one used from S6 to S9 (1981-85) never changed, which was the worst version of the show's theme to many. Back to the 1978-80 varaitions, the closing theme was fine when it was just straight forward instrumentals, until they had Linda Lavin singing: "buh-duh-duh-bobbity-bop," which sounded really horrid. Also, the opening credit titles sometimes used the same font as the one from S1 and S2 (in a lighter shade of yellow), sometimes the font from Susan Harris's shows of the '70s and '80s (in either orange, yellow, or red). Soemtimes the end credits even begin with the show's title name before the closing credits started. Also, why did they have the Warner Bros. '72 logo as an in-credit logo this season as well? As much as the 1978-79 season being the best season of "Alice", it's also the weirdest season of all.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!

06-09-2007, 07:53 PM	#3
Austin Tripper Jack Tripper is GOD! Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 17, 2001 Location: United States Posts: 614	Yeah... The character Alice wanted to be a singer... hmm maybe they thought they should change the theme after every 4 episodes? Very Odd. One they did was perfect in 1978, and then they change a few more times. Maybe she requested it? Some are Skats, Some sound like Billie Holiday or Cab Calloway. oh well

06-12-2007, 01:15 PM	#8
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	If you notice the theme each season reflects the growth of Alice Hyatt if you remember the original concept that she came from Jersey with the intent of going to Hollywood to make it big. Her car broke down on the way there and ended up in Phoenix. She did not know anyone and was scared because she was on her own for the first time in her life. She went from being under her father's roof where he took care of her and married a truck driver and he took care of her. She had to stand on her own two feet for the first time in her life with a son to boot. As I listened to each season it shows how happy Alice is and she is standing on her own. I like the 78-80 theme song better. Linda sung that well. The closing I don't care for.

06-13-2007, 03:59 PM	#9
tf70 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 27, 2002 Posts: 19	Yeah, I noticed that too. I also noticed that the "Alice" title during the opening credits changes a lot as well...different fonts, styles and sometimes color. One episode will be yellow-ish in block letters, and then the next episode will be red in a script style...in the same season! Too funny.

06-15-2007, 06:42 PM	#11
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	I like the original opening and closing themes best ("bom-bom-bom-bommmm!") I agree with Dr. Thong, the current ones they're showing have Linda singing much too over-the-top and obnoxious, particularly the closing theme.

06-15-2007, 08:08 PM	#14
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	There's one short-lived version of the closing theme circa 1978 or 1979 where Linda kind of moans and groans to the instrumental theme - "Oh oh whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa wa wa wooooooaah oh oh". She sounds like she's constipated, to be blunt. It's really awful, and was only used once or twice. Chalk the increasingly awful themes up to Lavin's ego.