Diff’rent Strokes: Change the Theme Song and The Show Can Get Disturbing

It’s sad to say but TV theme songs aren’t nearly as important as they once were. Some current TV shows don’t even have them (Lost) or if they do, they aren’t used very often (Two and a Half Men).

There was a time when a TV show’s theme song was an essential part of the show, setting up the mood and sometimes the back story. What would Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch, or even Full House be without their iconic jaunty music? Well, one industrious YouTuber decided to see how replacing the opening of a cancelled classic show would change the show’s tone.

Diff’rent Strokes was an incredibly popular sitcom in the 1970s. The premise is that, before the housekeeper of wealthy Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain) passes away, she asks her employer to take care of her two boys (Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman). Drummond agrees and the boys move from the streets of Harlem to the high-rises of uptown Manhattan to live with him, his daughter (Dana Plato), and their new housekeeper (Charlotte Rae). It’s a show of dated, yet light-hearted fun.

The show’s opening illustrates the premise with a catchy theme song. But, change the music and darken the lighting and you’ll probably never see sweet Mr. Drummond in quite the same way again.