Let it play: Great modern TV sitcoms with great theme songs
Theme songs you don't mind hearing repeatedly when binge watching
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There is just no way in hell that I’m going to watch this video, so let’s just assume it is entirely about Cheers and move along.
Nope! No Cheers! That 70’s Show is the oldest sitcom in the video.
1) 30 Rock
2) That 70’s Show
3) Malcolm in the Middle
4) Curb Your Enthusiasm
5) Parks and RecreationOK, technically it’s not a Top 5, but still. No Cheers? Simpsons? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Full House? Family Matters? Step by Step? Golden Girls? Married… with Children? All in the Family?
I hear you! But I was trying to regulate it to shows from the 21st century. I would add the Growing Pains theme song to your list. It’s an absolute banger in my opinion. It’s got a breakdown and that guitar riff. I haven’t seen an episode in a long time so I don’t know if the show is any good in hindsight.
Probably should put “Post-2000″ in the title.
As for Growing Pains, it’s… fine. Family Ties holds up far better, though.
Ditto and Ditto, they only went as far back as 1998, as if the 80’s didn’t have bangers. Not just Family Ties, but Different Strokes, Taxi… hell, The Jeffersons!
Family Ties has a legitimately great song, period!
Pro-tip: put that in the title then. Because this just looks like you haven’t watched a lot of sitcoms.
How many of those are originals? I know Married… uses an ancient song (don’t know the artist).
“Married…With Children” used Sinatra’s version of “Love and Marriage” by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen.
I feel like 30 Rock is cheating kind of – the intro is under 20 seconds long. Short intros are easy to watch and not skip.Parks and Rec as well.
Stepping in from the UK: the best sitcom theme tune is obviously Red Dwarf. [the doom-laden original intro, the despairing original outro, AND the wailing-guitars exciting revised intro! And the Hammond Organ version, and the fake pop song, and… well, the whole of the music work on that show is spectacular, ranging from hilarious to deeply moving]Special mention as well for the same composer’s work on Blackadder. It’s not as great as a theme tune, but the way he adjusts the themes, particularly in the outros, to create hybrids of modern sensibilities with the time period each season is really clever and effective work. [S2 has the tune in the form of a mediaeval troubadour version, S3 has a sort of… early modern sensibility but as might have been sung in the taverns of the day, and S4 has a great military march version with hints of the British Grenadiers.]Yes (Prime) Minister and Drop the Dead Donkey don’t have musically great themes, but they’re memorable and perfectly suited to the style of the show, so they really set you up to watch an episode.Oh, and Father Ted, of course!
How could you leave out this all-time classic?
I know the Animaniacs theme song by heart! I love that show! However it’s not a sitcom, so unfortunately I had to leave it out.
Oh man, I totally misread the subject of this. I’m dumb!
This used to be a site where amongst the snark and the memes, there were writers who actually gave a damn about TV and film as art forms – their influence and their history.The American TV sitcom is over 70 years old. Decades of classic, iconic shows with instantly recognizable theme music to match. This could have been an opportunity to even briefly touch on some of those rather than just listing 5 shows in a millennial’s sweet spot.This “pivot to video” clickbait is just a depressing reflection of where this site is now.
Last week they did an opposite list that featured bad theme songs that they claimed “were not in the tone” of the show and somehow picked Firefly for that list. So yeah whoever they are hiring in their new LA home clearly are idiots
The version of “In the Street” that is most associated with “That 70s Show” was performed by Cheap Trick, and should have been #1 on this list.
Pete and Pete or GTFO
I didn’t get a Community notification for this?
Hangin’ With Mr Cooper
I’m going to age myself.
The Jeffersons (Best one ever)Good Times
All in The FamilyOne Day at a timeHappy Days (Original)The Addams FamilyI Dream of JeannieGet SmartDick Van Dyke ShowMy Three SonsPartridge Family
I started a cover band to do this number. We never got a booking.
Not a bad list. Here’s my top 10 post-2000 shows. I’m probably forgetting something I loved since it’s been 20+ years, but hopefully someone will reply with their favorites?10. Angel9. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (season 2)8. John Doe7. Chuck6. The Wire (season 1’s was my favorite)5. Boomtown4. Veronica Mars3. Human Target (Bear McCreary’s season 1 version)2. Psych1. Futurama (this is the Bender’s Big Score version, which gave triumphant, emotional accomplishment vibes in an unlikely return after cancellation)Honorable Mentions:
Monk (both versions)
House
Dexter
Daredevil
Jessica Jones
Community
Dollhouse
Elementary
Friday Night Lights
These are all solid choices
I’d add Six Feet Under.
The “modern” modifier (which is pointedly *not* in the video title) is a bit of a weasel move t0 exclude the excellence of vintage tv themes which are light-years beyond anything here. “Car 54, Where Are You?”, “Green Acres”, “Gilligan’s Island”, “The Flintstones”, “Jonny Quest”, “Bewitched”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, “The Beverly Hillbillies”…etc.
I never skip the theme for What We Do in the Shadows, it’s great.
That 70’s Show doesn’t count. It’s cheating. One of the best songs from one of the best “cult” bands. Sure it’s a remake, but. It’s like saying the “original” theme to “Happy Days” (Rock Around The Clock) was one of the best. I like the idea of originals written for the shows.