Awhile back I talked about the Miller/Boyett production company. Helmed by Thomas Miller and Robert Boyett they produced a ton of memorable shows in the 80’s and 90’s. There’s actually a lot to this story, including when it was Miller-Milkis, but I wont bore you with a history lesson. Suffice to say they produced shows we still love and remember today. And all of these shows had clever, memorable theme songs.
We all know these theme songs. They are silly, corny, totally 80’s…and I love them!!!! Seriously I wish they still made TV shows and theme songs like this. These shows, mostly, were a big part of TGIF being successful for ABC because they were so family friendly but still watchable. So I thought it would be fun to go through and rank these themes, from the most grating to the most pleasing. In order to make it ten I am including the less popular shows. And I decided to ignore the Milkis era, leaving off gems like Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. This is strictly the Miller/Boyett shows which began around 1986.
#10.The Family Man
Never heard of it? There’s a reason. This show was pretty quickly forgotten, and it was bad right from the theme music. It’s as if they said “let’s just do what Full House did, with lamer Boy Meets World style music”. Gregory Harrison starred and it was about a family…and that was it. No hook at all. The short instrumental tune was done by Jesse Frederick and, well, we’ll be talking a lot more about him. And yes, instrumental. As in no lyrics just awful elevayor music.
#9.Two of a Kind
This was the last Miller/Boyett show ever produced (along with Michael Warren) so it was only fair to give it a slot. This Mary Kate & Ashley vehicle was cute enough. I never watched it. Sadly this intro gives away the era it was made, the late 90’s when TV show theme’s were slowly becoming extinct. Thus we get a quick simple opening and that’s it. This is Jesse Frederick’s other non lyric theme.
#8.On Our Own
Make it stop!! Ok Ok being really unfair. On Our Own was created by the same guy who gave us Punky Brewster and starred Ralph Louis Harris and as the title suggests, it’s about seven kids basically raising themselves after their parents are killed. In order to get away with this, the eldest brother has to dress in drag and pose as the kids guardian. I guess this is the 90’s version of Bosom Buddies? Much like that show the drag stuff was dropped after a time and also like Bosom Buddies it did about as well in the ratings. And the theme is painful. “Love, Tried and True” is sung by Joe Turano. Not only is the song awful but the visuals are boring, just The Smollett family dancing in front of a crappy blue screen. Huzzah. This would be #10 but the ther two had no lyrics at all so were just boring.
#7.Getting By
Ever wonder where Themla Hopkins went when she left Family Matters? She joined Cindy Williams on this silly show. The show was about two best friends who decided to split the mortgage on a house. And so hijinks ensue. It was a simple premise, pretty much the 90’s version of Kate & Allie. The theme has hints of the traditional Miller/Boyett melodies but is watered down. And sadly, I could only fine the syndicated version online. And, yes Jesse Frederick wrote the theme. How did this article become a tribute to him? He’s a great composer who why not?
#6.Full House
Wait, what?? This is the show that put Miller/Boyett on the map (with Jeff Franklin Productions) and is so loved that Netflix is currently running a revival. Then why is this so high on the list? Because “Everywhere You Look” is imperfect. The song is sung by Jesse Frederick who as you’ll see composed most of these themes and while the chorus is fine, when he has back up singers, that opening part is a little grating. He’s just talking! It’s no shock the show would drop it and in fact that Season 7 theme where we cut right to the chorus a lot better. Don’t get me wrong, I love Full House and the theme, it’s just not perfect. As you’ll see his performing improved but here it’s a little, rough. And just because it’s #6 doesn’t mean I don’t love it, I just like five other a little more.
Oh, and I do like The Fuller House theme too.
#5.Going Places
What a shame this show didn’t catch on. The opening is just great! What was it about? A group of young comedy writers. Uh yeah, getting why it didn’t work on TGIF a little more now. It had a solid cast too including Alan Ruck, Hallie Todd, and Heather Locklear. This time we have Mark Lennon singing the catchy as hell theme, which was written by Jesse Frederick. Making me think he was a better composer than singer.
#4.Step By Step
I loved the original opening to this show, before it was truncated down to just the title. The music is wonderful and I like that the visuals have a common theme. It’s scenes of the family at an amusement park. Nice. Jesse Frederick is back singing “Second Time Around” this time with help from Teresa James. Not much else to say this show came along during the period when were Miller/Boyett riding high and it kind of shows.
#3.The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family, or Valerie as it was first called, was actually the very first Miller/Boyett show ever produced. And the opening is quintessential miller/boyett. The only thing missing? The characters are all doing there thing when their names are shown rather than smiling at the camera like they would do on later shows. This may surprise some being where it is. Well I’m not gonna lie, this one just has a special place in my heart. It’s hard to explain why, but it reminds me of a more innocent time when this show came on after Alf on Monday nights. I can’t help but feel pangs of nostalgia when I hear the opening riff. By the way the theme was before Jesse Frederick, “Together Through the Years” is performed by Roberta Flack and composed by Charles Fox.
#2.Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers is the odd duck here since it wasn’t about a family. It was about two goofy guys getting into hi jinks. Sort of The Odd Couple mixed with Laverne and Shirley. But thankfully Mark Linn Baker and Bronson Pinchot were so likable we love it anyway. I love the theme song, from that awesome opening to the final melody in the end. It’s just fantastic. Maybe they learned their lesson from Full House since while Frederick wrote the theme it was David Pomerantz singing “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” and it really makes a difference (no, this show came first was just kidding). The original theme was actually quite long but I prefer the second version. Not only is the song better sung but we get visuals of Chicago rather than the first version which shows Larry and Balki leaving their respective homes. Why would we need to establish that every episode?
#1.Family Matters
Yeah I know, didn’t I just talk about this show’s theme? But here we are anyway. Easily the best, or my favorite anyway. The song is well sung and matches the images nicely. The song also applies to the premise of the show really well. I said last time that I believed “It’s a Wonderful World” was just a place holder and that’s because this theme is so perfect I can’t believe they went with it second. Now I’ve been hard on Jesse Frederick here but truth is he is a fantastic TV composer and has done amazing work. He really knows how to make a tune upbeat and boundy, all of these themes make you smile! And that includes his composing and singing of “Days Go By”. So what makes this better than Full House? It’s a simpler song and therefore more effective. And I always loved that final shot where we pull out to see the sunset and that beautiful city in the distance. I really need to get there someday.
The only show that didn’t make the list was Meego. Never heard of it? Yeah keep it that way. Damn why can’t they have theme’s (or shows) like these anymore??? Let me know what you guys think, and I hope you liked this little trip down memory lane.
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