How Theme Songs Tell the Backstory

1. What specific backstory information does this theme song give the viewer before the show begins?

• The Clampetts are a wealthy family who move to the country to escape city life.
• The Clampetts are poor mountain people who strike oil and move to Beverly Hills, California.
• The Clampetts win a lottery and travel across the country meeting new friends.

2. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because theme songs are required by television networks for every show.
• Because the writers didn't have enough time to film an opening episode.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — the Clampetts already living in Beverly Hills — without spending time on setup.

3. What backstory information does this theme song provide about how the characters ended up on the island?

• The castaways were pirates who shipwrecked while searching for treasure.
• A group of tourists went on a three-hour boat tour and were stranded when a storm hit.
• The crew was on a scientific expedition that crash-landed on the island.

4. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because the storm scene would have been too expensive to film for every episode.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — the castaways already stranded — without spending time on setup.
• Because the actors refused to act out the storm scene.

5. What does this theme song reveal about the relationship between the two main characters?

• They agree on everything and are moving to the country together happily.
• They disagree — one wants to live on a farm in the country, the other wants to stay in New York City.
• They are strangers who meet for the first time after both moving to the country.

6. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Theme songs were cheaper to produce than full episodes in 1965.
• The network required all shows to have a two-minute introduction.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — the characters already living on the farm — without spending time on setup.

7. What does this theme song explain about why the Brady family is unusual or interesting enough to have a show about them?

• A man with three sons married a woman with three daughters, creating a blended family of eight.
• A family of nine children and two parents won a contest and moved to a new city.
• Six children were adopted by a couple who had always wanted a large family.

8. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because showing six children meeting for the first time would take too long to film.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — the family already living together — without spending time on setup.
• Because the theme song was written before the show was filmed.

9. What backstory does this theme song provide — and what does it leave out?

• It explains exactly how George Jefferson earned his money and what business he runs.
• It tells us the Jeffersons have become successful and are moving to a luxury apartment, but doesn't explain how they earned their money.
• It explains the Jefferson family history going back three generations.

10. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because the show's budget didn't allow for a longer opening sequence.
• Because the theme song was a popular song that already existed.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — the Jeffersons already in their new life — without spending time on setup.

11. List three specific pieces of backstory information the theme song provides about Will's life before he arrives in Bel-Air.

• He grew up in West Philadelphia, got into a fight that worried his mother, and was sent to live with wealthy relatives in Bel-Air.
• He was a successful rapper who moved to Bel-Air to pursue his music career.
• He ran away from home and accidentally ended up in Bel-Air while hitchhiking.

12. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because Will Smith was already famous as a rapper and insisted on a rap theme song.
• Because the show was originally designed to be a music video series.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — Will already arriving in Bel-Air — without spending time on setup.

13. What chain of events does the theme song describe that explains how Fran ended up as a nanny?

• Fran studied childcare and applied for a nanny position with the Sheffield family.
• Fran was working in a bridal shop, got fired when her boyfriend broke up with her, and ended up at a stranger's door selling cosmetics — where she accidentally became a nanny.
• Fran moved from Queens to Manhattan to find work and was hired as a nanny through a newspaper advertisement.

14. Why do you think the writers chose to deliver this backstory through a theme song rather than showing it in the first episode?

• Because the bridal shop scenes would have required expensive costumes and sets.
• Because the theme song was written first and the show was built around it.
• So the story can start immediately at the interesting part — Fran already working as the nanny — without spending time on setup.