Ludwig Göranssonis a Swedish composer who is most famous for crafting the scores of award-winnning blockbuster movies. For example, Göransson earned an Academy Award in 2019 for his epic musical score forBlack Panther. He has also worked with Christopher Nolan on the huge-scale projects ofTenetandOppenheimer. However, what you might not know is that Göransson’s career began with work on television sitcoms, some of which are lauded as the best out there.
To honor Göransson’s unlikely career path, it’s only fitting to reflect on the composer’s origins in television and highlight the sitcoms for which fans never knew he was responsible for creating music. After all, Göransson is almost certain to score his second Oscar nod for the music he composed forOppenheimer. Without further ado, it’s time to chronicle the history of Ludwig Göransson’s musical sitcom compositions throughout the early part of his decorated career.
Community (2009-2015)
This Stripes-inspired comedy is about a group of misfits attending the Greendale Community College. The focus group of the Community is led by a lawyer with a revoked degree who is trying to scam his way through the low-budget college and regain his old life.
Göransson began composing music for TV sitcoms with 2009’s collegiate comedy,Community. Created by Dan Harmon and starring Joel McHale, the NBC sitcom follows a disgraced lawyer forced to go back to school, where he becomes involved with the quirky students and staffers at a community college. Beginning with the pilot episode, Göransson scored the theme music for the sitcom and retained such duties for six seasons and 110 episodes.
For a sitcom that went against the grain, the score that Göransson created forCommunitywas suitably interesting, consisting of complete original songs as well as instrumental motifs. One of these is the main theme forCommunityentitled “At Least It Was Here,” and he also wrote countless others featured in the show during its six-season run. In 2010, a soundtracktoCommunitySeason 1was released. It featured original music and several songs from the show written by Göransson, including covers by cast members and other musicians such as The 88. Göransson’s best-known songs on the soundtrack include “Community Medley” and “If I Die Before You.“StreamCommunityon Netflix.
Happy Endings (2011-2012)
Happy Endings
In the middle of hisCommunityrun, Göransson also began working on the popular ABC sitcom,Happy Endings. Created by David Caspe, the sitcom takes place in Chicago and follows the interweaving lives of six adults navigating their personal and professional lives. Although the show lasted for three seasons and 58 episodes, Göransson is responsible for creating music in 17 episodes that aired between 2011 and 2012.
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UnlikeCommunity, Göransson did not compose music for the pilot episode ofHappy Endings. Instead, he boarded the project in Season 1, Episode 3, and proceeded to compose 11 consecutive episodes in a row. Although Göransson took a smaller role in Seasons 2 and 3 of the sitcom by composing the music for three episodes apiece, his contributions to the show cannot be overlooked. There’s a lively yet chaotic nature to the theme song that reflects the characters' internal messiness in the show.StreamHappy Endingson Hulu.
New Girl (2011-2018)
Before he finished composing music forHappy Endings, Göransson was hired to work on the hit Fox sitcomNew Girl. The show follows Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel), a whimsical schoolteacher who finds her life at a crossroads when she moves in with a group of new roommates. Göransson worked on the show from its inception, composed the music for the pilot episode, and spent all seven seasons and 146 episodes on the show until its bittersweet finale.
As such,New Girlis the most substantial sitcom that Göransson has provided music for thus far in his career. Although Deschanel used her musical background as the vocalist of She & Him to write and perform the theme song, “Hey Girl,” Göransson arranged and cued most of the quirky background music inthe ultimate comfort show. Between the warm guitar riffs and subtle quirks in the soundtrack, Göransson brilliantly captures the essence of the show’s zany energy through its music.StreamNew Girlon Hulu.
Animal Practice (2012)
Animal Practice
Before completing his work inCommunityandNew Girl, Göransson took the time to compose the theme music forAnimal Practicein 2012. Created by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, the NBC sitcom tracks the professional exploits of Dr. Coleman (Justin Kirk), a misanthropic veterinarian who would much rather spend time with animals than their human owners. The show lasted just one season and nine episodes.
Although the underrated sitcom was canceled before it hit its stride, Göransson is responsible for creating the catchy main theme song that is featured in the title credits. The bouncy, upbeat jingle featuring ringing, high-pitched bells admirably echoes the upbeat tone and tenor of the show. Göransson also composed the ancillary music heard throughout the short-lived series, although he was only credited for scoring music for the pilot episode.BuyAnimal Practiceon Google Play.
Playing House (2014-2017)
playing house
In 2014, Göransson began working on the music for the USA sitcomPlaying House. Created by and starring Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, the sitcom follows lifelong friends Maggie and Emma, who decide to raise the former’s baby together after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Although the show lasted three seasons and 27 episodes, Göransson composed the music for episodes 2-8 of Season 1.
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Although the song “Back Before We Were Brittle” by the band Say Hi was chosen for the opening and closing theme music, Göransson’s musical arrangements add to the show’s aural soundscape throughout the first season. The off-kilter music mirrors the irreverent sense of humor expressed by Maggie and Emma as they navigate newfound parenthood and do their best to find happiness in a stressful situation.StreamPlaying Houseon Vudu.
Atlanta (2016-2022)
In 2016, Göransson composed the music for “Go for Broke,” the third episode ofAtlanta’s first season. The surreal FX sitcom follows the daily grind of Earnest Marks (one ofDonald Glover’s best performances), an aspiring music manager who guides his cousin Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) through the Atlanta rap scene in hopes of signing a major record deal and becoming a rich and famous superstar.
It’s worth noting that Göransson worked on several Childish Gambino music videos after meeting Donald Glover inCommunity, including “Bonfire,” “Heartbeat,” “Fire Fly,” and more.Atlantareunited Göransson with Glover, and it’s as if the two never missed a beat, literally. In just a single episode, Göransson admirably recreates the specific sounds of Atlanta’s trap rap scene and mumble rap formula and adds a rich texture to the show’s unforgettable soundtrack.StreamAtlantaon Hulu.
Angie Tribeca (2016-2018)
Angie Tribeca
Around the time he worked on music for Atlanta, Göransson also boarded the popular TBS sitcom,Angie Tribeca. Created by Nancy and Steve Carell, the action-packed sitcom spoof follows Angie Tribeca (played by Rashida Jones), an independent-minded police detective forced to work with a team of overzealous LAPD officers. The show lasted for four seasons and 40 episodes and scored two Primetime Emmy nods.
While Göransson did not compose the theme for the pilot episode of Angie Tribeca, the Oscar-winning composer joined the sitcom in Season 2 and composed the music for 30 episodes from 2016 to 2018. The theme song for Season 2 ofAngie Tribecais a drastic improvement over the original, replacing the shrill scream from Season 1 with a much more enthralling and energetic string-laden musical arrangement. AlthoughAngie Tribecais the most recent sitcom scored by Göransson, it’s worth noting that his music can also be heard in such popular Disney+ TV shows asThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett.StreamAngie Tribecaon Max.
