Aretha Franklin

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part 4

I’m going to spare y’all a long preamble and only reiterate the fact that my earliest television memories begin in the 1970’s, my formative years were mostly in the 1980’s, and by the time the 1990’s rolled around I segued from college to the “real” world. Entertainment after the turn of the century has been a mostly prosaic blur, with my tastes firmly focused on particular areas that don’t include many prime time dramas or comedies, and no stupid “reality” shows. Take that information however you want, with the knowledge that it shapes this project significantly. If you haven’t already, please check out parts 1, 2, and 3.

70 Bewitched (Bewitched)

Chances are, if I’ve enjoyed a television show even a little bit and its theme song is a lively big band tune, I’m going to hold it in high regard. Bewitched ended its eight season run a few months before I was born, but it’s one of those older programs that was available in syndication well into the 1980’s, and with all the entertainment platforms at our disposal nowadays I’m sure it remains accessible to those who seek it out.

69 A Different World (A Different World)

Here’s our chance to make it

If we focus on our goal

You can dish it, we can take it 

Just remember that you’ve been told

It’s a different world than where you come from

Remember what I said about In Living Color?? Well, I didn’t feel the same about A Different World. Perhaps, because it not only was a traditional half hour sitcom, but also a spinoff of the beloved Cosby Show, I felt it was relatable. It also premiered when I was still in high school so I didn’t have the collegiate distractions yet. Sure, there was a distinct point of view and heavier subjects were addressed in that special way that  situation comedies have of weaving such topics into the narrative, but it was well written, funny, and offered great performances. Bill Cosby himself, as well as cast member Dawnn Lewis, contributed to the writing process of the theme song, which evolved thru the years from a bluesy tune to more hip-hop infused. The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin actually sang it for a few seasons.

68 Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood)

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood

A beautiful day for a neighbor

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Anyone who grew up in the 70’s, 80’s, or even the 90’s was blessed to have Fred Rogers imprint our childhood. It sure as hell was far superior to the twisted indoctrination children receive nowadays. At any rate, Mr. Rogers himself wrote & performed the theme, which still creates warm fuzzies all these years later. We’d all do well to emulate its message.

67 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Heroes in a half-shell 

Turtle Power!

I’m going to blame this one on my elder nephew, who was born in the early 1990’s, right around the time TMNT surged in popularity. I think I may have watched the first movie, but otherwise lost interest rather quickly. The TV show was cooler anyway. The idea of badass turtles trained in martial arts & named after Renaissance artists is undeniably quirky in the best possible way. They loved pizza too!! 

66 Star Trek: TOS / Star Trek: TNG

Space…the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Shoutout to an old friend who made me a Trekkie in college. Well, okay, I think I was more of a Trekker. Actually, my fandom is rather odd. TOS came & went before I was born, but I LOVE the six movies with the original crew that were produced from 1979-91. Alright alright…some of those films were way better than others, but that’s a debate for another day. Conversely, I adore TNG, but the four big screen offerings we got between 1994 & 2002 just don’t frost my cupcake. Contrary to what some may assume, the shows had two distinct themes. TOS’ opening was composed by Alexander Courage (what a fantastic name), while TNG’s theme was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who had done the music for several Trek films.

65 Scooby-Doo Where Are You? (Scooby-Doo)

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We got some work to do now

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We need some help from you now

Scooby-Do was always one of my favorite cartoons. I laugh now, looking at it thru the prism of adulthood and wondering what exactly Shaggy & Scooby were doing in their spare time. 

64 As Long As We Got Each Other (Growing Pains)

As long as we got each other

We got the world spinnin’ right in our hands

Baby, you and me, we gotta be

The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreamin’

Family sitcoms were much more strait-laced and far less sardonic four decades ago. Dr. Jason Seaver is a laid back Long Island psychiatrist, while his wife Maggie is a news reporter. Their three children are boilerplate sitcom kids: uptight & scholarly Carol, wiseass Mike, and slacker Ben. A fourth child was added at some point, and in the final season the Seavers took in a homeless teen portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. You may have heard of him. At any rate, the show’s theme was a duet featuring BJ Thomas, known for hit songs Hooked on a Feeling, Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, and Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, and Jennifer Warnes, probably best remembered for two fantastic film duets…Up Where We Belong with Joe Cocker (for the 1983 movie An Officer & A Gentleman) and I’ve Had The Time of My Life with Bill Medley (for the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing).

63 The Jetsons (The Jetsons)

Meet George Jetson
His boy, Elroy
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife

In retrospect it’s kind of cool how The Jetsons, in the 1960s, portrayed the future 2062, which is now less than four decades away. While we haven’t yet achieved George’s work week of two hours two days per week, video calls, flat-screen TVs, smartwatches, and robot assistants are a few things that have moved from science fiction to reality. The theme song is a peppy, upbeat “spacey”, big band/lounge number that introduces each character by name, and it became a Top Ten hit in 1986 when new episodes of the show were produced.

62 The Pink Panther (The Pink Panther)

If you’re a Boomer then you probably remember the 1960’s Pink Panther film series featuring bumbling French detective Inspector Clousseau. If you’re a Gen-Xer you might remember the Pink Panther starring in commercials for fiberglass insulation. The character has also been in over 100 theatrical shorts and multiple cartoon shows. No matter where you know it from, we’re all familiar with the jazzy theme composed by the legendary Henry Mancini.

61 Bandstand Boogie (American Bandstand)

We’re goin’ hoppin’ 

We’re goin’ hoppin’ today

Where things are poppin’ 

The Philadelphia way

We’re gonna drop in 

On all the music they play

On the Bandstand (Bandstand)

Dick Clark was an American treasure. From hosting the $10k Pyramid game show to co-hosting TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes with Ed McMahon to creating so many holiday memories with New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Clark was a radio & television icon. He might be most remembered for hosting the coolest of all song & dance programs for the vast majority of its 37 year run. Bandstand Boogie had been recorded by various artists, but the version we all know & love was performed by Barry Manilow starting in 1977.

Part 5 will be heading your way soon!!

80’s Movie Mania: Tubular Round 2

Welcome to Round Two of 80’s Movie Mania. This round will feature 20 films that we have yet to discuss, as five in each division received first round byes. I would really appreciate Manoverse participation, as all of these combatants have their own merits and it’s going to be very difficult to make certain choices. In situations where I am forced to decide a winner my own bias is a key factor. I appreciate the fact that some movies have been critically acclaimed, made lots of money at the box office, or won a plethora of awards. Those are all influential elements. However, at the end of the day it all comes down to one big question: If I am sitting around The Bachelor Palace on a lazy rainy afternoon with nothing else better to do than flip thru the channels or hop on Netflix and check out a good old movie what would I choose to watch?? That is the overriding guiding light. In many cases I can be persuaded in one direction or another which…theoretically…is where YOU come in. Let’s make it happen. At any rate, we’ll kick off the 2nd Round with the Tubular Division, and as always thanks so much for taking time to visit The Manofesto.

 

 

 

Tubular 2

 

The Blues Brothers               vs.              European Vacation

european_vacationbb31980’s The Blues Brothers received a first round bye and makes its Mania debut right now. Starring Dan Aykroyd & John Belushi as a couple of musicians/career criminals with a robust admiration for blues music, the idea sprouted from a Saturday Night Live skit in which Jake & Elwood Blues, clad in dark suits, fedoras, & sunglasses, would perform on the show. After three SNL appearances their popularity grew to the point that they were doing concerts and producing albums. The film finds Jake being released from prison and both brothers “putting the band back together” to save the orphanage in which Jake & Elwood grew up. It features fantastic cameos from the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Chaka Khan, Joe Walsh, & John Lee Hooker, and has stars such as John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Steven Spielberg, & Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) in bit parts. The soundtrack is amazing for those of us that like that particular kind of music. A sequel was made in 1998, but as much as I like John Goodman he’s no Belushi. European Vacation defeated Three Amigos! in Round 1 and is a lot better than people may recall. Taking the Griswold clan out of the car and putting them in different locations across Europe was a really interesting idea. The two actors portraying Rusty & Audrey are my least favorite of all that have inhabited the roles. It’s a tall order to live up to the original Vacation, but this one gives it a good go.

 

The Verdict:       The Blues Brothers. Great cast. Awesome music. Fun cameos. It’s a cult classic for a reason.

 

 

 

 

Lethal Weapon                      vs.              La Bamba

lw1987’s Lethal Weapon received a first round bye, while La Bamba got the decision over Three Men & A labamba2Baby. Lethal Weapon is an action flick, which is usually not my cup of tea. However, the cast is so good and the script is infused with enough humor & character development that it rises above the usual limitations of the genre. Mel Gibson plays a cop on the edge after the unfortunate death of his wife. He is paired with Danny Glover as an older officer pondering life after the police department. Riggs & Murtaugh are a classic film duo…one a loose cannon with nothing to lose and the other a by-the-book family man who just wants to ease into retirement. They are forced to put their differences aside and investigate an apparent suicide that develops into a much more sinister case. The supporting cast is superb, including Gary Busey as a crazy felon…a role he was born to play. The first film was followed by three sequels that I personally like just fine, but none quite recapture the original magic. La Bamba re-introduced the world to Ritchie Valens, a young singer who died tragically in a plane crash that famously also took the lives of 50’s rockers Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Valens was only 17 years old at the time of his demise and had produced a few hits, including Donna, Come On Let’s Go, & La Bamba. One cannot help but wonder what he could have become had he lived. It is my understanding that his influence on the Latino community has been immense and I am glad that, with the help of this film, he finally got some well-deserved recognition from the masses.

 

The Verdict:       Lethal Weapon. How can you not love it?? It’s got action, atmosphere, great characters, & lots of fun.

 

 

 

 

Ghostbusters                         vs.              Mr. Mom

ghostI know there is a remake coming out soon, but who cares?? It can’t possibly live up to the original 1984 mr momGhostbusters, which enters this contest after having a 1st Round bye. Starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, & Harold Ramis as a team of ghost hunters way before such a profession became fashionable and the paranormal evolved into a widespread cultural fad, the cast also includes Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, & Sigourney Weaver as well as cameos by Larry King, Casey Kasem, Bill Walton, & Ron Jeremy (yes…THAT Ron Jeremy). The movie also features an infectious theme song by Ray Parker Jr., who hasn’t done anything notable since. Mr. Mom defeated Porky’s in the first round. It was the ninth highest grossing movie of 1983, ahead of competition like Risky Business, National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Big Chill, Scarface, & A Christmas Story. Impressive indeed. Michael Keaton did about a half dozen good movies in the 1980’s and this is probably my second favorite.

 

The Verdict:       Mr. Mom. It’s another upset for the underrated Mr. Mom. I know there are Ghostbusters enthusiasts out there that would strongly disagree with the decision, but again it comes down to repeat viewings and what I would choose to watch while channel surfing, and the fact is that I’ve seen Mr. Mom a hundred times and would likely always choose it over Ghostbusters.

 

 

 

 

Dirty Dancing                         vs.              Moonstruck

dd2After receiving a first round bye 1987’s Dirty Dancing enters the fray. Mostly what people remembermoonstruck2 about Dirty Dancing is A) it starred Patrick Swayze, B) the fantastic soundtrack, & C) the dancing…of course. That is probably enough to qualify it as a quintessential 80’s time capsule movie, but it also had a storyline. It takes place in the early 60’s at an exclusive resort in New York’s Catskill Mountains and features Jennifer Grey as a young woman who receives forbidden dance lessons from the resort’s dance instructor Johnny Castle (a really cool name) and falls for him. The romance is classic Romeo/Juliet, good girl/”bad” guy, right/wrong side of the tracks stuff, but the formula works as long as there is a creative spin. Moonstruck beat out Flashdance in Round 1 and interestingly runs up against more musically inclined competition here. Having grown up in an Italian family I appreciate the broad strokes in Moonstruck, and really enjoy the performance of Nicolas Cage. It was the 5th highest grossing film of 1987, ahead of La Bamba, Lethal Weapon, and yes…Dirty Dancing. Cher may be nuttier than a fruitcake but she has been in some damn fine movies.

 

The Verdict:       Dirty Dancing. Moonstruck is undoubtedly the “better” movie by almost any metric. However, Dirty Dancing is the more memorable movie. For anyone who came of age in the 1980’s it is one of the signature films of that era, and it seems to be that the things we enjoyed as teenagers…movies, songs, TV shows, etc…leave an indelible mark on our soul.

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Chill                          vs.              Scarface

1983’s The Big Chill is undeniably a commentary on 60’s rebels facing the perils of adulthood in the scarface2“greedy” Reagan era. But it is also a universal story about growing up and understanding that, though college may have been the best time of your life, there comes a time when it is necessary to move forward. The cast…featuring stars like Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Cline, Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, & William Hurt…is unsurpassed. They gather together to mourn the suicide of a close friend who was to be portrayed by Kevin Costner, but his flashback scenes got cut, which is unfortunate. The Big Chill may have been the genesis for my appreciation of the dramedy, because goshdarnit I like to have some laughs mixed into my tragedy. Scarface easily beat out License to Drive in Round 1 because Al Pacino will kick the snot out of as many Coreys as you can throw at him. It was only the 16th highest grossing film of 1983, behind stinkers like Jaws 3-D, Superman III, & Staying Alive, which perfectly illustrates both the pitfalls of sequels and exactly why they get made in the first place.

 

The Verdict:        The Big Chill. Some movies appeal to a very specific target audience. Scarface fits that bill, and I am not the kind of moviegoer that really enjoys violence, rampant drug use, & abundant gunfire. I prefer to laugh. The Big Chill isn’t a comedy, but it is well-written with great performances and really speaks to me on a deeper level.

 

 

 

 

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure   vs.     WarGames

Bill-and-TedNeither of these opponents had a first round bye. Bill & Ted beat out Mel Brooks’ History of the World wargames2Part 1, while WarGames got a Round 1 victory over The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. WarGames was the fifth highest grossing film of 1983. Bill & Ted ranked 32nd at the 1989 box office. A more useful indicator may be Rotten Tomatoes, where WarGames has a 93% Fresh rating and Bill & Ted has a 79% Fresh rating. Well okay…maybe that isn’t quite as helpful as I’d hoped.

 

The Verdict:       WarGames. It’s a tossup, and I am tempted to leave it in the hands of The Manoverse, but I am resisting the temptation. WarGames might be a tad bit dated and a candidate to be remade with more modern technology, but that is part of the charm that definitively marks it as an 80’s film. The Cold War is a relic of the past and we face new dangers nowadays, but the fear & paranoia felt by many back then can’t be matched. WarGames is the perfect blend of subtle social commentary and edge-of-your-seat fun. It is the rare action-adventure flick without much violence. A masterstroke indeed.