TV Themes Performed by Lead Actors
When you’re the star of a TV show, you can wear many hats. Some stars are the creator or executive producer of their own television series. But the really multi-talented ones will dare to sing their own TV show theme songs. It’s a musical way of showing they’re more than just the first name in the credits. They are the talent. Here are TV Themes Sung by the Star of the Show.
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1. California Fever performed by Jimmy McNicol
Before his voice had even changed, teen heartthrob Jimmy McNicol (brother of Emmy winner Kristy) was the lead of his own show and sung the theme song. California Fever was short lived (10 episodes) but was an early teen series setting the stage for shows like Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210. And with one of the ear-wormiest theme songs of the disco era, at least the show’s opening sequence has some fans.
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2. Alice performed by Linda Lavin
Broadway actress Lavin took over the role of Alice from Ellen Burnstyn and the once feminist story of the film quickly evolved into a standard workplace sitcom known for catchphrases. Alice was supposed to be attempting to start (restart) her singing career so it is understandable that professional singer Lavin would be given the task of performing the theme song. But “New Girl In Town” might be one of the most annoying theme songs ever created and does a complete disservice to Lavin’s usually pleasant voice.
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3. Makin It performed by David Naughton
He was a Werewolf in London. He was the Dr. Pepper spokesman dancing around singing “I’m a Pepper.” And in 1979, he had a number one disco song on the charts with Makin’ It. He was cast in John Travolta’s role in this Saturday Night Fever inspired TV comedy as the king of the Jersey disco scene. And the show was horrible. But its better than the sequel Staying Alive and at least we got this song (watch for the Happy Days inspired opening credits too).
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4. Gimme a Break performed by Nell Carter
Carter won a Tony and Emmy for her work on Broadway before Gimme a Break was created specifically for her. And the show was actually a pretty good fit for the Broadway singer with a jazzy voice and upbeat personality, and her performance of the very 80s theme song was one of the real pleasures of this campy show. But the name of the show and title song was sadly self-reflective as Carter was in real life the victim of teenage rape, a cocaine addict, suffered a number of health problems, and attempted suicide after years of severe depression.
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5. Bored to Death performed by Jason Schwartzman
Musician/actor Jason Schwartzman cowrote the theme to Bored to Death with creator Johnathan Aimes to evoke the 40s-50s noir detective genre films. With his light voice and the 60s jazz influences (hints of the Pink Panther), the song not only fits the detective traditions, but also the personality of the show. When most shows were ditching the time needed to perform an opening theme, it was nice to see this old fashioned piece of animation and song each week for three seasons.
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6. The Fall Guy Theme performed by Lee Majors
Part stunt man, part bounty hunter, that’s The Fall Guy starring Lee Majors. On The Fall Guy, Lee basically sings a ballad about himself to himself. And even gives a shout out to his ex-wife (Farrah Fawcett) while he’s doing it. The Fall Guy theme goes on so long, it sounds like it was hard to get Lee out of the studio. And if you watch the opening credits, you see that there’s time to show an entire fight scene from the show while Lee Majors is still singing. Be sure to pay attention to the lyrics, from Burt Reynolds to Raquel Welch, just about everyone in Hollywood at the time gets mentioned.
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7. Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs performed by Kelsey Grammer
This TV theme broke all the rules. Usually if the star of the show is going to sing the theme song, it introduces the show, not ends it. Kelsey Grammer sang his theme song over the closing credits. He does a jazzy number called “Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs” while his character Dr. Frasier Crane is known for loving classical music. And even though the theme song seems to be complete nonsense that has nothing to do with the show, it’s still very catchy. It wasn’t until after “Frasier” ended it’s run that it was revealed that the tossed salads and scrambled eggs were Dr. Crane’s mixed up patients and callers. And on a side note, the writer of the song didn’t originally want Kelsey Grammer singing it. His pick was the Velvet Fog, Mel Torme.
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8. Green Acres performed by Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor
Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, one of the Gabor sisters (the Kardashians of their time) sang their way on to the farm. Green Acres, like it’s TV cousins “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Petticoat Junction” had a theme song that explained the entire premise of the show. Eddie Albert had done musicals on Broadway so he was more than ready to belt out the song. With Eva Gabor, her part relied more on her trademark Hungarian accent. This is one of those TV theme songs that you can depend on TV fans to know word for word. One of the interesting things to look for in the opening sequence is how much Times Square has changed since 1965 when the show debuted.
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9. Walker, Texas Ranger performed by Chuck Norris
Martial artist, actor, conservative activist, Chuck Norris does it all. And add TV theme song singer to that list as well. Chuck sang the theme for his show “Walker, Texas Ranger”. At first it’s spooky enough with Chuck just speaking the lyrics, but then it gets really haunting as Chuck does his whisper singing of the theme. It’s certainly not the funnest TV theme to sing along with, but then this is a serious theme for a very serious man, Walker, Texas Ranger. (And remember “the eyes of a Ranger are upon you”)
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10. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air performed by Will Smith
Will Smith was already crowned the Fresh Prince long before his TV series came along. With DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith already had hits with “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson”. So when Will Smith got his own television show in 1990, there was no doubt about who would be singing the theme. Will raps his way from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air, Los Angeles and brings us one of television’s favorite theme songs.
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11. Those Were The Days” performed by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton
This is one time in history when TV viewers would tune in every Saturday night to hear someone sing poorly. Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton sang their theme song in character as Archie and Edith Bunker. And you could hear the studio audience howl when Edith would would screech out her lines in the song. It’s also one of the few songs to salute President Herbert Hoover. The opening to All in the Family became so popular that it was one of those TV themes that became a hit song, reaching number 30 on the Billboard AC charts in 1972. Those were the days.
