Emmys, Josh Groban will salute TV theme songs

Emmys, Josh Groban will salute TV theme songs
By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — It's the story of a man named Groban, who is singing TV theme songs we all know.

In a musical tribute, singer Josh Groban will perform bits of memorable themes at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards on ABC (Sept. 21, 8 ET/PT).

Groban, teaming up with executive producer Ken Ehrlich and musical director Greg Phillinganes, went over the song arrangements Monday in a studio where Frank Sinatra once recorded, in the iconic circular Capitol Records building. More than two dozen classic openings, including The Brady Bunch anthem, are in the four-minute-plus medley, with many choices being kept under wraps until Emmy night.

"Part of what's going to be fun is the unexpected," in both themes and arrangements, Groban says.

A bit under the weather, Groban didn't sing at the session, but whistled to a snippet from The Andy Griffith Show theme while sitting at the control room board. (The Griffith song actually has lyrics, which Groban will sing.)

The Emmy musical team compiled a list of about 50 classics before whittling down the selections. The Simpsons' and Friends' themes made the cut, but many choices are from an earlier era, before business and ratings strategies shortened or eliminated themes.

The songs are "all trigger points," Ehrlich says. "They remind you of things."

Groban, 27, hadn't been born when many shows were in their heyday, but he saw them in reruns growing up, and watches now while on tour, when he has "a whole lot of hotel room time."

"This has the potential to be a fun, great moment. It's full of nostalgia and nice surprises," Groban says, taking a break from a busy schedule that included singing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in June in London.

Even though the TV medley varies greatly from the pop-classical sound associated with Groban, he's the right choice, Ehrlich says. "Josh has an incredible sense of humor, but beyond that he's interested in all kinds of music."

Groban, who was introduced to many fans via the small screen as a guest singer on Ally McBeal, says TV tunes don't always get the their due.

"Think how important they have been to the popular culture," he says. "You don't really hear the respect being given to these seemingly simple but memorable-forever themes."

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Anything Josh Groban related is bound to be awesome. I know what I'm doing on the 21st.