When Growing Pains graced television screens in 1985, few could have foreseen the cultural phenomenon its theme song, “As Long As We Got Each Other,” would become. Decades later, we delve into the legacy of this iconic tune, exploring its impact on the show’s enduring appeal and asking: could this be the most beloved TV theme song of all time?
NEAL MARLENS (executive producer): Casting Alan [Thicke] as Jason Seaver was my first stroke of genius. Then Joanna [Kerns] joined as Maggie, and I knew we had something special. Real magic.
DAN GUNTZELMAN (producer): The talent we assembled was incredible. Alan and Joanna were established stars, of course. But Tracey [Gold] and Kirk [Cameron] – they were destined for stardom from day one. I told Neal, “We’ve got all the ingredients for a hit. If this fails, it’s on us!” He just laughed. Neal laughs a lot.
But television success isn’t just about star power; it needs a theme song that resonates. “As Long As We Got Each Other,” affectionately nicknamed “ALAWGEO” by online fan communities, arguably became the secret weapon that propelled Growing Pains from just another sitcom to a ratings sensation.
JEREMY MILLER (Ben Seaver): I practically lived on the Growing Pains set. Everyone was always really nice, even to a kid like me. But honestly, the theme song? I don’t remember anyone talking about it much.
TRACEY GOLD (Carol Seaver): Did the show even have a theme song? I’m drawing a blank.
JAMIE ABBOTT (Stinky Sullivan): Never met the theme song guy, didn’t see him on set. But the show itself? Great experience. Absolutely [Editor’s note: redacted for relevance].
It’s surprising that some of the cast members don’t recall the songwriter, especially considering his frequent set visits and interactions with the actors, including a memorable 13th birthday greeting to Jeremy Miller. Alan Thicke, however, definitely remembered him.
GUNTZELMAN: Alan was a music enthusiast. But the Growing Pains theme song? Never heard him mention it. He was a big Full House theme song fan, though. Hummed it constantly.
[Editor’s note: “As Long As We Got Each Other” is demonstrably superior musically and culturally to every other theme song of that era, including the Full House and Family Matters themes (practically the same song, let’s be honest), and anything by the overrated Jesse Frederick. Also, Dan Guntzelman’s claim about Alan Thicke is highly suspect, given Thicke passed away in 2016. Is Guntzelman rewriting history?]
MILLER: Wait, was it like, “duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, DUH-nuh-nuh”…no, scratch that, that’s Family Ties.
JOANNA KERNS (Maggie Seaver): Why this obsession with the theme song? So much more happened behind the scenes. Like the time a drifter wandered onto set, threatening to eat Kirk Cameron’s shoes unless we cast him as baby Chrissy. Dan Guntzelman, ever the genius producer, explained the casting issue. Before the drifter could react, Kirk Cameron KO’d him with his Young Artist Award for Best Young Superstar in Television – Kirk carried those awards everywhere. The drifter collapsed in the Seaver kitchen. Nobody helped. We were all in shock, I guess, that a Young Artist Award could be so lethal. Kirk always yelled, “Nobody touches Kirk Cameron’s shoes!” so maybe we should have seen it coming. The drifter… he didn’t make it. After that, it wasn’t just about Kirk; we were all involved. What followed still haunts me. We had a hit show [Editor’s note: with an unforgettable theme song] to protect, so I called a pyrotechnics guy who owed me a favor. We took the body to the back of the Warner lot, loaded it with dynamite. Alan was there, solid as always. We blew that drifter to kingdom come. I just stood there and wept. Thirty years ago.
Then, last summer, a man named Craig Davies came to my door. Said his father, Sergeant William Davies, a veteran, vanished in LA decades ago, possibly after missing his medication. Craig suspects his father wandered onto the Warner Brothers lot and met his end at the hands of Kirk Cameron and a Young Artist Award after a shoe-related threat. He asked if I knew anything. Of course, I said no. But Craig is determined to find out what happened to his father. And when he does, he’ll be back. But Mr. Smith & Wesson and I… we’ll be ready. Always ready.
Despite “As Long As We Got Each Other” maintaining its status as television theme song royalty, Growing Pains‘ ratings declined in its later seasons. Producer Dan Guntzelman, in a desperate attempt to inject life into the show, brought in a young Leonardo DiCaprio to play a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO (Luke Brower): Growing Pains? Yeah, good show.
But even DiCaprio seemed to recognize that the show’s core appeal was fading, and a new character couldn’t replace the magic of the theme song. The songwriter had even requested a mere 26-second extension to the theme song to accommodate a new verse, perfectly capturing the Seaver family’s evolution. But his request was denied. A decision that remains baffling.
GUNTZELMAN: Vaguely recall the theme song guy wanting to add 30 seconds to the intro. [Editor’s note: 26 seconds, to be precise.] When your show is only 22-23 minutes, that’s an eternity. [Editor’s note: Not when the theme song is the only reason people are tuning in.] Who did he think he was, Jesse Frederick? [Editor’s note: Excuse me, Dan, but FUCK YOU!]
MILLER: Duh-nuh-NUH, duh-nuh-nuh-nuh, nuh-nuh-nuh, nuh-NUH — does that ring any bells?
CLAIRE (Jesse Frederick’s assistant): Do not call this number again.
KIRK CAMERON (Mike Seaver): Were you just looking at my shoes, you son of a bitch?
Growing Pains was eventually canceled.
