The Death Of The Sitcom Theme Song - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 10-08-2009, 09:26 PM

I would say it started with Frasier, but as anyone who grew up watching sitcoms from the fifties to the nineties knows, all the classic shows had memorable theme songs and opening sequences.

Am I the only one who misses those?

I realize they're gone because most shows are down to around twenty minutes because the almighty dollar rules and more commercials must be squeezed in, but a great golden era of TV theme music is gone forever.

catlover79 · 10-08-2009, 09:29 PM

I miss them, too.

I too blame the greedy advertisers.

yankeesrj12 · 10-08-2009, 09:30 PM

The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men have one. Although Two and a Half Men's is a bit short.

Dr. Thong · 10-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I miss them, too.

I too blame the greedy advertisers.

And the networks too -- don't let them off the hook, Monika!!

When I watch old seventies shows on DVD, I realize that some of them were a full 26 minutes long, including theme sequences and closing credits.

What's the standard today? 22 minutes, maybe? Definitely no more than that, to be sure.

Sad, sad, sad.

Retro4Life · 10-08-2009, 09:43 PM

I miss them a lot. Catchy theme songs were a touchstone to my youth; at work I still find myself singing them quietly to myself (or just in my head) when I get stressed and need some comforting thoughts.

catlover79 · 10-08-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

And the networks too -- don't let them off the hook, Monika!!

When I watch old seventies shows on DVD, I realize that some of them were a full 26 minutes long, including theme sequences and closing credits.

What's the standard today? 22 minutes, maybe? Definitely no more than that, to be sure.

Sad, sad, sad.

Oh yes, the networks, too. They all suck.

Give me the DVDs of the classic shows anyday - served up commercial free and UNCUT!!

Retro4Life · 10-08-2009, 09:47 PM

^ Oddly enough, I wouldn't mind seeing some of those old commercials included on the DVDs. At least in those days I used to know what the product being advertised was!

spunkygirl · 10-08-2009, 09:52 PM

The Big Bang Theory has one of the best theme songs currently IMO

catlover79 · 10-08-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

^ Oddly enough, I wouldn't mind seeing some of those old commercials included on the DVDs. At least in those days I used to know what the product being advertised was!

Yeah, when the show's stars would advertise the products themselves - those commercials were pretty cool.

JamesG · 10-08-2009, 09:54 PM

I even remember from years ago when shows still had closing credits with the theme playing over stills from the episode you watched.

Over time it started to change.

They used to have ads in as voice-overs over the credits. Then they used to speed through the credits so they could fit in an advertisement.

Then finally the closing credits for programs are little to nothing today.

Tubehead · 10-08-2009, 11:04 PM

Sharktank new show has a theme song..

Mr. Television · 10-08-2009, 11:08 PM

Most of the cable shows still have theme songs but it seems like the only theme songs that are on network tv are from veteran shows.

hno:

Mr. Television · 10-08-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZKS

The Big Bang Theory has one of the best theme songs currently IMO

I agree Angela. That is one of the best theme songs on network TV. Sadly it's probably the longest song of all the sitcom themes.

comedyfreak · 10-09-2009, 03:58 AM

I miss the theme songs, it use to be a trademark of a hit series. It's too bad the networks got too cheap to add a theme.

jehobden · 10-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Rules of Engagement, which tends to be a midseason replacement yearly on CBS, has a theme song play during which the actors are actually all identified, which is very rare in sitcoms now. Even though Two and a Half Men has a theme song, the actors names always appear over the action. Someone else here had mentioned sitcom show lengths growing shorter over the years, and I've observed this myself w/ some of my sitcom DVDs. Half-hour sitcoms up through the 80s (Three's Company for example) run 25-26 minutes uncut, but a 90s sitcom like Seinfeld only runs 22-23 minutes per show uncut. A friend of mine has all the Two and a Half Men eps on DVD, and they're down to 20-21 minutes uncut.

10-08-2009, 09:26 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The Death Of The Sitcom Theme Song I would say it started with Frasier, but as anyone who grew up watching sitcoms from the fifties to the nineties knows, all the classic shows had memorable theme songs and opening sequences. Am I the only one who misses those? I realize they're gone because most shows are down to around twenty minutes because the almighty dollar rules and more commercials must be squeezed in, but a great golden era of TV theme music is gone forever.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

10-08-2009, 09:29 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I miss them, too. I too blame the greedy advertisers.
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10-08-2009, 09:43 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I miss them a lot. Catchy theme songs were a touchstone to my youth; at work I still find myself singing them quietly to myself (or just in my head) when I get stressed and need some comforting thoughts.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

10-08-2009, 11:04 PM	#11
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	sharktank Sharktank new show has a theme song..

10-08-2009, 11:08 PM	#12
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Most of the cable shows still have theme songs but it seems like the only theme songs that are on network tv are from veteran shows. hno:
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10-08-2009, 09:30 PM	#3
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men have one. Although Two and a Half Men's is a bit short.

10-08-2009, 09:47 PM	#7
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ Oddly enough, I wouldn't mind seeing some of those old commercials included on the DVDs. At least in those days I used to know what the product being advertised was!

10-08-2009, 09:52 PM	#8
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	The Big Bang Theory has one of the best theme songs currently IMO

10-08-2009, 09:54 PM	#10
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,296	I even remember from years ago when shows still had closing credits with the theme playing over stills from the episode you watched. Over time it started to change. They used to have ads in as voice-overs over the credits. Then they used to speed through the credits so they could fit in an advertisement. Then finally the closing credits for programs are little to nothing today.

10-09-2009, 03:58 AM	#14
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I miss the theme songs, it use to be a trademark of a hit series. It's too bad the networks got too cheap to add a theme.
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10-09-2009, 06:30 PM	#15
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,006	Rules of Engagement, which tends to be a midseason replacement yearly on CBS, has a theme song play during which the actors are actually all identified, which is very rare in sitcoms now. Even though Two and a Half Men has a theme song, the actors names always appear over the action. Someone else here had mentioned sitcom show lengths growing shorter over the years, and I've observed this myself w/ some of my sitcom DVDs. Half-hour sitcoms up through the 80s (Three's Company for example) run 25-26 minutes uncut, but a 90s sitcom like Seinfeld only runs 22-23 minutes per show uncut. A friend of mine has all the Two and a Half Men eps on DVD, and they're down to 20-21 minutes uncut.