# Queen's "You're My Best Friend" as TV theme song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 4, 2000, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585 "2000-05-04T18:32:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/61 "2018-01-04T01:11:27Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > But again take my memories for what they are worth to you. At this point, I would have to take them as an unsubstantiated claim that flies against evidence. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/62 "2018-01-04T01:58:24Z")
I _might_ buy the idea that a local TV station used the song in locally-made ads for their run of the show. At about that same time (the mid-late 1970s), when I was growing up in Green Bay, one of our local stations would run ads that they themselves clearly had made at the station, for their syndicated game shows, using short snippets of pop songs (the one I recall was Hot Chocolate’s “Every 1’s a Winner,” maybe for “Family Feud”). I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they never sought permission / clearance for using the songs in those ads. But, actually changing the theme song in the show itself to another song (likely without getting permission)? Sorry, I know it’s what you clearly remember, but I have a very, very hard time seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/63 "2018-01-04T15:27:39Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > I’m 100 confident on my memory. > I’m also 100 confident that local stations would have no problem doing something like this. Not if they value their broadcast licence. BMI is Very Serious about getting their artists’ money. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/64 "2018-01-04T19:43:39Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > I’m 100 confident on my memory. > I’m also 100 confident that local stations would have no problem doing something like this. “My post _is_ my cite”? Boy, that ought’a show 'em! We’ve never heard that one here before. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/65 "2018-01-05T00:12:47Z")
I’m not surprised at all. I remember when a local San Francisco TV station replaced the theme of old **Casper the Friendly Ghost** reruns with Metallica’s “I Disappear” - an incomplete version the station grabbed off Napster. IIRC Metallica thought it was great, with Lars Ulrich famously saying “Well, they fucked with us, that’s fucking hilarious, good for them.” ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/66 "2018-01-05T00:59:04Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Was Sinbad playing the role of Zoltar? I don’t know about Zoltar but Sinbad was great in this movie: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SKEDQQfPS7A/maxresdefault.jpg "Shazam with Sinbad on IMDB (6 years ago)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKEDQQfPS7A) ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/67 "2018-01-05T01:09:57Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Not if they value their broadcast licence. BMI is Very Serious about getting their artists’ money. Maybe Queen was paid money. Who knows ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/68 "2018-01-05T01:21:28Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > “My post _is_ my cite”? Boy, that ought’a show 'em! We’ve never heard that one here before. What cite ? I never claimed to have any cite, just absolute certainty that I saw the reruns in Philly using the Queen song. I’m searching through youtube videos right now. If I have any luck I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/69 "2018-01-05T01:42:00Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Was Sinbad playing the role of Zoltar? Zoltar was a character on Star Blazers, not Bachelor Party. ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/70 "2018-01-05T01:43:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The point is that our memories often play tricks on us. What would it take to convince you that you may be misremembering this? Acquire the reruns that philly stations played of Eddie’s father, as well as any commercial promos for the show at the time. I will gladly sit down with you and sift through all of them. We should be able to get to the bottom of this by golly. If there’s a will there’s a way. ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/71 "2018-01-05T02:21:38Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The album that song’s off of - _A Night at the Opera_ - was an international hit. It sold platinum, and cemented Queen reputation as a major rock act. _The Courtship of Eddie’s Father_ was middling sitcom that was out of production and in syndication. There is absolutely no way they would have paid the licensing rights to get a song by the hottest rock band of the day to run over mid-afternoon reruns of a show that had been cancelled three years earlier. If there was a problem with the rights to the original score, they’d have got some public domain tune, or at most hired a bunch of session musicians to crank something out. The idea that they’d have licensed a Queen song instead is absurd. Right before Wayne’s World, Queen was probably at their lowest point. Maybe they sold the rights then ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/72 "2018-01-05T03:19:46Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > I don’t know about Zoltar but Sinbad was great in this movie: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKEDQQfPS7A&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKEDQQfPS7A&feature=youtu.be) Yeah, right. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/73 "2018-01-05T04:19:41Z")
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s never 100% trust your memory. The brain and memory are weird things. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/74 "2018-01-05T04:35:36Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > Right before Wayne’s World, Queen was probably at their lowest point. Maybe they sold the rights then Oh, come on, now! If you ever expected anyone to take you seriously, you’ve lost me with this post. ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/75 "2018-01-05T05:07:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Oh, come on, now! If you ever expected anyone to take you seriously, you’ve lost me with this post. I am serious. But I understand you want proof. If I ever come across something I’ll let you know. And by the way I’m the biggest skeptic out there. And here’s another thing, I don’t really worry about changing peoples opinion. It’s not that important. I know it happened and if others don’t I’m not bothered by it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/76 "2018-01-05T05:53:11Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > Right before Wayne’s World, Queen was probably at their lowest point. Maybe they sold the rights then For reference, “right before Wayne’s World” (the movie premiered in February 1992), the rest of the band was still coping with the loss of Freddie in late 1991. They had gone through several years of feverish production of music while Freddie was still alive, though they were, indeed, not as commercially successful (at least not in the U.S.) as they had been in the late 1970s - early 1980s. You’re thus also placing your memories of watching “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” in syndication, in Philadelphia, in the very late 1980s or very early 1990s. That’s nearly 20 years after it went off the air on network TV, and relatively few TV series are popular enough to last in syndication that long. Are you as certain of this timing as you are of the use of the song? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/77 "2018-01-05T07:45:34Z")
> [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > And by the way I’m the biggest skeptic out there. You are 100% certain that your memory is correct, and 100% certain that local producers would have no problem inserting an extremely popular song into a syndicated show’s title sequence. What definition of “skeptic” are you using? > [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](#): > > And here’s another thing, I don’t really worry about changing peoples opinion. > It’s not that important. I know it happened and if others don’t I’m not bothered by it. If you didn’t care to change people’s opinions, you wouldn’t keep repeating your unsubstantiated claim over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/78 "2018-01-05T13:34:35Z")
**QueenSong\_EddiesFather** , welcome to the SDMB. If you don’t care about changing peoples’ opinions, why are you here? You apparently registered here just to share this, and are posting rather emphatically on this topic. I should warn you about the culture of this board: Nobody here is going to take you at all seriously unless you can offer some evidence. So far, you’ve offered… what, a video of someone looking at a webpage? I’m not sure what that’s even supposed to mean. You say that evidence would be too difficult, but it would be even more difficult for any of the folks reading this thread. And you wouldn’t necessarily need to find absolute, slam-dunk proof: You could, for instance, try to find evidence that the show in question aired in syndication in Philadelphia in the late 80s or early 90s. That’d probably be a lot easier than finding a copy of the show itself, and would at least be a start. Until then, though, don’t expect anyone to pay you any heed. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/79 "2018-01-05T15:46:08Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I never saw an episode of “Breaking Away” (and not many people did), but wouldn’t it have used the same music from the film. That means there would have been classical music. Breaking Away , the series used My Generation by The Who ---
**Author:** ![QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8797f3/32.png) [@QueenSong\_EddiesFather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenSong_EddiesFather)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585/80 "2018-01-06T17:52:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are 100% certain that your memory is correct, and 100% certain that local producers would have no problem inserting an extremely popular song into a syndicated show’s title sequence. What definition of “skeptic” are you using?If you didn’t care to change people’s opinions, you wouldn’t keep repeating your unsubstantiated claim over and over again. Every time I order a Starbucks iced coffee I order a small and the girl corrects me and says “tall ?”. And I say no I want a small. I just don’t want to accept some company coming around and trying to change the meaning of the word “tall”. Each time I really don’t care but I say “small” anyway. I know they will keep saying small and I’m not upset or anything. I just am very happy using the word “small”. I hope that makes sense. But if it doesn’t it doesn’t bother me either. More serious things to worry about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queens-youre-my-best-friend-as-tv-theme-song/18585.md?page=5)