TV Theme Songs: Charles in Charge

"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale" of a time when television shows began with awesome TV Theme Songs. "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name" and sometimes you want to go back to when TV Theme songs were special. "Here's a story... of a lovely" time when TV Theme Songs served to identify, distinguish and set the stage for the television program that followed. "You take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have" what unfortunately has become a lost artform. "Believe it or not", sadly it seems no effort or pride is taken in the TV Theme Song ever since Seinfeld proved a short synth-bass riff could be used instead. “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” This regular feature may not "make all our dreams come true", but it will remember some of the best TV Theme Songs from years past (with a focus on the '80s decade). "Come aboard, we're expecting you."

This time we will cover the theme song for Charles in Charge aptly titled "Charles in Charge". "New boy in the neighborhood, lives downstairs and it's understood..." Charles in Charge debuted in October of 1984 on CBS and it ran for just one season before being re-worked and re-launched in first-run syndication in January 1987. From there, it went on to run for four more seasons and 104 more episodes (for a total of five seasons and 126 episodes). I remember watching it in first-run syndication, but then also once it went on to re-runs in syndication and I can sing along to the theme song to this day.

The theme song was composed by David Kurtz, Michael Jacobs, and Al Burton. Al Burton was Executive Producer and he had previously helped write theme songs for other shows including The Facts of Life. Kurtz has mostly worked with soap operas like The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless. Michael Jacobs was the show's creator. The song changed slightly from that first season increasing tempo a bit when it re-launched in syndication. They chose a little known singer named Shadi Sinnamon to perform the theme song. She wrote and performed the song "He's a Dream" that was used in the 1983 film Flashdance as well as "Tough Love" for The Karate Kid, "Living on the Edge" & "Double Trouble" for Making the Grade, "Fight to Survive" for Bloodsport, "Gotcha" the title song for the film Gotcha! among others. None of those are as memorable as her vocals on this TV Theme Song. Fair warning, if you listen to this song, it may be stuck in your head the rest of the day! Here are the opening credits of Charles in Charge featuring the theme song performed by Shandi Sinnamon…

I am sure I was not alone, but I remember having a big crush on Nicole Eggert and that kept me tuning in on a regular basis. I was still watching the re-runs in the very early '90s. Another under-rated sitcom of the '80s and definitely a TV Theme Song that certainly sticks in your head. "I want Charles in charge of me."

Hope you enjoyed tuning in for another "episode" of TV Theme Songs!