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Why is "Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs" played at the END of episodes?

posted 8 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (64867252)
17 replies | jump to latest

I understand that sitcom theme songs became a dying breed beginning well into the 90s, but I'm not understanding why Kelsey Grammer's jazzy lyrical melody did not serve as the opening theme song. While it's a known fact that the spinoff wanted to stray as far away from "Cheers" as possible, judging by the lack of stools in Frasier and Nile's sanctuary (the coffee shop), "Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs" would've suited perfectly instead of during the closing credits. "Cheers" had "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," so why not continue that tradition with its spinoff? For that reason, I don't even get nostalgic when watching "Frasier," as opposed to "Cheers." No matter how good a sitcom was many years ago, it's nothing without a theme song.

[–] hide86 8 years ago

This is just my guess- because it was Grammer's show and he wanted to sing- and the song was always played in the last 30 seconds showing some antics with the characters with no speaking. I personally loved those last 30 seconds every episode.

**~Not my circus, not my monkeys...~**

[–] ClayGorgon 8 years ago

Yes, the theme song plays over the last half minute of silent comedy, and fits perfectly in the end of the episode.

The show on the whole is devoid of musical cues and interludes,and I find it so refreshing- there is really no need for them.

Frasier's and Niles' piano playing is at times the only source of music, and it is used tastefully to accentuate the mood of a scene.

Like for instance in The Dinner Party, Bla-Z-Boy, Death and the Dog

[–] bobbyrobertson-22595 8 years ago

Very well said.

[–] Box_Office_Now 8 years ago

No matter how good a sitcom was many years ago, it's nothing without a theme song.

WOW! With or without a theme song Frasier was a great sitcom.

[–] blakgard 8 years ago

Don't know why they chose the ending, but I'm glad they did. It's a perfect distinction for the show.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] bobbyrobertson-22595 8 years ago

I absolutely abhore those TV show intro songs!
I have never heard anyone defend them. I honestly could not imagine someone enjoying them. Your comment is an eye opener.

That little jazzy riff that comes at the beginning of each Frasier episode is more than enough.
His toss salad song at the end is used to show credits and a bit usually relative to the episode. It has to be creative because they cannot use any audio.
You would rather us all suffer through a song at the beggining with all the charactors catching footballs, sitting in parks, etc., followed by some goofy smiling at the camera?!?

There is way more th

[–] bobbyrobertson-22595 8 years ago

My comment would not allow me to finish.
Way more than enough of that on all other shows.
I think forcing people, eager to watch a good show, to sit though some cheesy irratating song EVERYTIME, is sick and cruel.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64867252) 8 years ago

You're thinking of sitcoms associated with Miller-Boyett productions, such as "Full House," "Family Matters," and "Step by Step." Cheesefest city! However, the cast members of "Cheers" are not in the opening, but instead are depicted by ancient illustrations while their names appear accordingly. In no way, shape or form does a classic like "Cheers" fall into the category of Miller-Boyett projects and "Saved by the Bell," "The Facts of Life," and several "smiling like idiots" sitcom themes. Theme songs are not necessarily a bad thing, as long as their given a proper vibe, such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - another sitcom where just the cast members' names appear (while title character Will Smith is seen playing basketball and commuting to Bel-Air.

[–] bobbyrobertson-22595 8 years ago

I am glad you know exactly what I am talking about. Yeah, the Cheers intro was definitely one of the better ones.
The Fresh Prince intro was awesome... the first four or five thousand time you hear it. It is really annoying now. Family Guy is another one that is really annoying. The Office theme music is pretty awful. Maybe the absolute worst of all time might be That '70s Show.

Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm are great. Like Frasier, just a title and a little pinch of music for some familiarity. Then right to the show.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] bobbyrobertson-22595 8 years ago

The M.A.S.H intro was quite melancholy as well.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] ClayGorgon 8 years ago

Hanging ooooout down the streeeeet the same old thing we did last weeeeeek!

Ah! When I begin to wonder why I've come to dislike show themes I always think of That's 70 Show. It's as shrill as Mila Kunis' voice.

Love and Marriage- from Married with Children was also decent at first, but after a while, starts to grate.

[–] shlbycindy 8 years ago

I read somewhere that this song was used because tossed salads and scrambled eggs are things that are mixed up. Like the callers on Frasier's show. In the beginning he sings, "I hear the blues a calling. Tossed salads and scrambled eggs." It's referring to the mixed up callers on his radio show. I always liked the song.

[–] gapeach1004 8 years ago

I love the theme song but I think it would change the feel of the show to have it open instead of close. Even with the Seattle skyline and show logo it is a bit of a cold open in that we are basically thrown into the story.

This was the time when shows were beginning to lose theme songs. TV channels were looking to cut seconds off a TV show to add more commercials. Credits had to roll so they aired the theme song over them with a funny scene. Now they'd cut the theme song altogether and put the credits over the last scene (not the funny scene) or at the bottom of the screen while a promo plays. I'm glad we got what we did, at least.

[–] liscarkat (18886) 4 years ago

I like shows that get right into it and don't make me sit through a couple of minutes of the same opening and song I've seen and heard a hundred times already before the story starts. The way "Frasier" saved the song for the end, and played it over silent action, was brilliant.