THEME = TV songs: “The Golden Girls”, “Growing Pains” & “Hill Street Blues”

This week’s edition features 3 1980s fan favorites….

#1 “The Golden Girls” | 09/14/1985 – 05/09/1992
Have you heard the full version of this series theme, “Thank You For Being A Friend”? Written by Andrew Gold & recorded by him for his 3rd album ‘All This & Heaven Too’, this song was originally released in 1978 & peaked that year at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also reached #7 in Canada.

Though it has been used for other events, the most-famous recording of this song was done by Cynthia Fee, as heard in the opening credits for this TV show:

FYI: Susan Harris created this series, produced by Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions with Touchtone Television. Critically acclaimed throughout its run, this show was & is still loved by young & old alike. This series stars Beatrice Arthur (“Maude”), Betty White (“Mama’s Family”, “Maybe This Time”), Rue McClanahan (“Mama’s Family”) & Estelle Getty. Based on prior characters, McClanahan (formerly Vivian Harmon in “Maude”) was originally considered as Rose while White (formerly Sue Ann Nivens in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) was considered for Blanche; however, the 2 actresses did not want to be typecast, so they switched roles. This led to Arthur agreeing to be part of the cast. This series has connections to several others. The set of the kitchen had been previously used in the short-lived sitcom “It Takes 2” (ABC, 1982-3). “Empty Nest” was a direct spinoff, with “Nurses” spinning off from “EN”. Since all 3 were set in Miami FL & on Saturday nights back-to-back-to-back, writers took full advantage with having multiple cross-overs, such as “Hurricane Saturday”. With Arthur leaving the show, “The Golden Palace” debuted.

#2 “Growing Pains” | ABC | 09/24/1985 – 04/25/1992
Have you heard the full version of this series theme, “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other”? Written & composed by John Bettis & Steve Dorff, 9 versions of this theme song were recorded. Season 1’s opening was sung solo by BJ Thomas. Seasons 2-3 featured a duet of Thomas & Jennifer Warnes. Season 4 featured the pair in this full version: Thomas & Dusty Springfield. Season 5 returned to the Thomas-Warnes version before All-4-1 took over for Season 6 & part of Season 7 (with the Thomas-Warnes version).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8aYJhA34ag
Season 1, Thomas solo:

Season 2-3, Thomas & Warnes:

FYI: Huntington, Long Island, NY, provided the location for this show, starring Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller, Ashley Johnson & Leonardo DiCaprio.

#3 “Hill Street Blues” | 01/15/1981 – 05/12/1987
Have you heard the full version of this series theme? The song was written by Mike Post (featuring Larry Carlton on guitar). Similar to “The Rockford Files” theme, this single charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #10, November 1981.

FYI: though filmed in Los Angeles CA, the setting is an unnamed inner-city location in the Midwest or Northeast, supposedly a hybrid of Chicago IL, Buffalo NY & Pittsburgh PA. However, many associate it with Chicago IL. The cast included Daniel J Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Michael Conrad, Bruce Weitz, Joe Spano, Michael Warren, Charles Haid, James B Sikking, Betty Thomas, Kiel Martin, Taurean Blacque, Rene Enriques, Ed Marino, Barbara Bosson, Robert Prosky, Ken Olin, Mimi Muzyk, Robert Clohessy, Megan Gallagher, Alfre Woodward &, of course, Dennis Franz.