60: Drew and Glen Rank Instrumental Sitcom Themes

Do you ever feel like some songs have too many words? Well, good news: instrumental music eliminates that very problem! In this episode, Drew and Glen each list off five sitcom theme songs that they think are good despite their glaring lack of lyrics. Spoiler: many of them actually do have lyrics, it turns out. But still!

If you like this episode, you may also like Singing Mountain, Drew’s other podcast, which works a lot like this but with video game music. There’s even an episode with Glen!

Because it never hurts to point it out, the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1 (800) 723-8255. There's also an online chat option.

Watch Fatal Farm’s alternate intros for Doogie Howser, M.D. and Dynasty. Hamburger Penis as Alexis!

Yes, Dick Van Dyke really was rescued by porpoises.

Here’s the Tiny Toons parody of The Dick Van Dyke Show opening.

Here is the “Suicide Is Painless” scene from the movie version of M*A*S*H. And here is the interview with Johnny Mandel about the creation of the song.

Is it possible that M83’s “Midnight City” is in any way a reference to ALF? No? Okay.

Secret lyrics! Specifically to The Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie and The Andy Griffith Show.

The possible (probable) inspiration for the Futurama theme is the 1967 song “Psyché Rock” by Pierre Henry. There is also a Fatboy Slim remix of that “Psyché Rock” that sounds even closer to the Futurama theme, but it was released in 2000, after the debut of Futurama. And here is the interview with composer Christopher Tyng where he doesn’t cite “Psyché Rock” as a direct inspiration.

This episode’s outro track is “Won’t You Help Me” by Yanguru, which Drew picked because it sounds like the closing credits of ever 80s movie ever.