Most kids wouldn’t believe it today, but back before the days of streaming and DVRs, folks used to have to catch their favorite shows on the days and times they actually aired. During this time, many sitcoms would first show an introductory scene designed to deliver a quick punchline and set up the show’s story before launching into a catchy theme song intro video. While most folks didn’t pay much attention to the theme songs and intros, these elements served and still serve as important tools that make shows more enjoyable and memorable for fans. There’s no question that the right piece of music can trigger strong emotions and memories in our brains.
Like catchy jingles, TV theme songs can take us back in time to a part of our lives we may not remember very clearly. Watching a show week after week and hearing the same theme song sets a special groove (or wrinkle) in our brains that can be triggered after we hear even a couple of notes. The song can also remind us of what life was like for us during that time; we may even remember other things like conversations, events, people, feelings, and all sorts of other associated memories that connect to the song. In this video, to celebrate the history of TV theme songs, Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon decided to do a little musical medley of some of our favorite TV theme songs.
Image via YouTube
The themes songs they sang included The Golden Girls, The Jeffersons, Diff’rent Strokes, Good Times, The Andy Griffith Show, I Dream of Jeanie, Full House, Martin, Three’s Company, The Greatest American Hero, and of course, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Image via YouTube
Watch as Jimmy Fallon and Will Smith takes us on a hilarious trip down TV memory lane in the video below.