by G. Jack Urso
The
Hot Hero Sandwich theme, a catchy,
straight-ahead rock song, almost single-handedly sustained fan interest in the
show despite there being no soundtrack or video releases. In my research,
however, I found little directly from Bruce and Carole Hart about the theme
until I came across this article from the Nov. 4-10, 1979, Sunday News TV Week. The complete article is provided below.
The theme song
was written by Bruce Hart and Stephen Lawrence. Hart also co-wrote the lyrics
for the theme song for Sesame Street,
and along with Lawrence wrote the soundtrack for the NBC TV movie, Sooner or Later (which featured Hot Hero Sandwich music guest Rex Smith
and Hot Hero Band guitarist Mark Cunningham as a member of Smith’s band).
Personally, and
I think I speak for many fans, the importance of the Hot Hero Sandwich theme song in sustaining the series’ memory cannot
be underestimated. As a teen, I immediately connected with its message that just
surviving all the daily dysfunction of our young lives is nothing else than
heroic — and given the state of the world today, that journey has become a labor
of Hercules.
At least the kids could have a damn good theme song.
____________________________________________________
NEW YORK — An
original theme song, “Hot Hero,” will open each weekly telecast of “Hot Hero
Sandwich,” the series utilizing music, comedy, celebrity interviews, film
segments and animated sequences to focus on the fun and frustration of growing
up. It premieres on NBC-TV Saturday at
noon.
The “Hot Hero”
song is part of the musical accent placed on each program in the series. There
will be guest performances by contemporary music headliners and additional original
music will be written for the series by a diverse group of composers.
Bruce and Carole
Hart are the creators and executive producers of “Hot Hero Sandwich,” part of
NBC’s continuing commitment to the international year of the child.
The theme song was
written by Bruce Hart (lyrics) and Stephen Lawrence. Said Hart: “We’ve tried to
capture the spirit of ‘Hot Hero Sandwich’ — adolescents doing the best the can
to cope with experiences and changes in their lives which can be pretty wild at
times. With the upbeat music, the lyrics say, in part: ‘Got out of bed
today/Got to school okay/Did what I could do; Pretty much like you/You’re a
hero, too.’
“Carole said it
for us when she described the show this way: ‘It’s about going through the wonder,
the worry, the exhilaration and pain of adolescence and it focuses on the inner
feelings common to all teen-agers. Our sub-text is: Look, you’re not crazy –
you’re normal. This is just the way things are.’ “
Bruce Hart and Stephen
Lawrence previously collaborated on the score for “Sooner or Later,” and NBC
World Premiere movie created and produced by the Harts. An album featuring
original songs from “Sooner or Later” became a Gold Record. One of the tunes, “You
Take My Breath Away,” sold more than one million copies and was on the Top 10
lists of best-selling singles, as ranked by Billboard, Cashbox and Record
World.
“Hot Hero Sandwich,”
has been recommended to schools across the nations by the National Educational
Association.
The NEA said: “Adolescence
— that complicated period in our lives when both social and physical changes
usher us to the world of adults — is brought into sharp focus by ‘Hot Hero
Sandwich.’ Through the use of comedy, celebrity interviews and contemporary
music, it communicates the universality of the adolescent experience and
presents a positive outlook designed to be instructive as well as entertaining.
This series is highly recommended.”
The Hot Hero band performing the theme song.
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UPDATE: The Hot Hero Sandwich Project has moved to its new home at www.hotherosandwich.com. All new posts after July 2024 will be posted only to www.hotherosandwich.com.
Thanks for resurrecting the show. I remember the theme song, brings back good memories.
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