Oh boy - the comments of this should be a lot of fun.
While I never thought of Maude as one of my favorites, I can see where it's considered a classic. It's sad that theme songs have gone the way of the dodo. The fact that they brought back the theme song is one of the reasons why I keep hanging on to Hawaii 5-O.
As to my favorites, and there are so many, CHiPs has to be up there with Magnum PI (the second one), SWAT, and the Greatest American Hero
And since it's a clip from "Family Guy", howza 'bout that "Family Guy" theme song. Brought to you by none other than Walter Murphy who gave us that great disco classic "A Fifth Of Beethoven." Another that also sticks in my head is the theme from "Lotsa Luck"; the show didn't last that long but that damn theme song keeps running through my head.
Who can turn the world on with her smile? Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? Well it's you girl, and you should know it With each glance and every little movement you show it
Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don't you take it You're gonna make it after all You're gonna make it after all
How will you make it on your own? This world is awfully big, girl this time you're all alone But it's time you started living It's time you let someone else do some giving
Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don't you take it You're gonna make it after all You're gonna make it after all
Hey, here's something interesting related to the short clips from "Dream On"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_C6hu8FS1A&feature=player_embedded#! at about 13:15 David Crane and Marta Kaufman, the writers who created the show talk about how the idea was born, Universal had a huge archive of old black and white movies and they had interviewed thousands of writers asking them what they would do with it.
I also think Psych has the best theme song on TV right now. Big Bang Theory's is also good. Terriers had a good one. My favorites from the past are Mary Tyler Moore, The Addams Family, The Munsters, The Flinstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, the Rockford Files, Dallas, Bewitched, Beverly Hillbilles, and, of course, WKRP in Cincinatti. That's just off the top of my head.
Something you should appreciate, Ken...I read a scholarly study of television circa the late 70's, which broke down shows into several categories based on how they dealt with story action. The writer used MAUDE to illustrate one of the categories, and used the theme lyrics to explain the character. For some reason, he thought they included the phrase "the tail end of the batting order".
I agree that a lot of producers and networks sacrifice the value of an effective theme song to set the mood for their show. I think that's one reason why over the years HBO shows have generated more ardent viewership.
As a "Sopranos" fan, I would tense up when I heard A3 start to sing "Woke up this morning..." and watch Tony rip the New Jersey Turnpike ticket from the dispenser.
Even the few notes of "Frolic" you hear when "Curb" starts transport you into Larry David's warped mindset.
As for the "Family Guy" clip, it shows how for shows like that so much of the audience is now watching online or through a DVR. There's not enough time to absorb and laugh at all of those mock-feminism tributes watching "live."
"Amelia Earhart flew a lot of airplanes, 'cept for that one time when she didn't come back."
@chalmers - Bingo. HBO has the best theme songs. The only miss is Boardwalk Empire's "song" (lead-in music?), it doesn't really set the right tone for me.
But Treme, Game of Thrones, True Blood, How to Make it In America, Curb, 6FU, Sex and the City, etc., all very, very strong.
Barney Miller is tops. Truly a feat given how many great ones are out there (personal favorites: Magnum PI, Knight Rider, Hill Street Blues, The Bob Newhart Show, Rockford Files, and NewsRadio...perhaps the last great one) -Sammy
Among current shows, I enjoy the theme from USA's SUITS, though I can barely understand a word of it.
The show itself doesn't get much love, but I can't deny that the theme from THE NANNY is a grabber.
THE ANDY GRIFFITH THEME never gets old to me (and I think it's cool that it was co-written by the father of a friend of mine).
Most of the ones already mentioned are great. I'll throw in PETER GUNN, IT'S ABOUT TIME, IRONSIDE, "Hikky Burr" from Bill Cosby's first sitcom, CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU? and various iterations of the LAW & ORDER theme.
27 comments :
Oh boy - the comments of this should be a lot of fun.
While I never thought of Maude as one of my favorites, I can see where it's considered a classic. It's sad that theme songs have gone the way of the dodo. The fact that they brought back the theme song is one of the reasons why I keep hanging on to Hawaii 5-O.
As to my favorites, and there are so many, CHiPs has to be up there with Magnum PI (the second one), SWAT, and the Greatest American Hero
ok - how did I leave out Star Trek the Next Generation - I should just turn in my Trekker membership card now...
Although I love the song-it sometimes runs through my head for days! Also like, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Fat Albert among others.
Three words: Welcome Back Kotter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVS3WNt7yRU
LOVED my record album set (vinyl) of old TV theme songs. Great sing-along stuff for our generation. Haven't played it in ages -- now have the bug!
"Joan of Arc...was a sister who really cooked..." Tacky. Tacky.
And then there was the theme from Batman, but I always had trouble remembering the lyrics.
"Indira Ghandi,
ran a whole big country,
and that isn't easy,
even if you're a guy."
These old titles were cool. Loved the shots of NYC, and these great old cars.
Wow. that is bizarre. The opening isn't even funny stuff, just shots of her walking through a house. Haha.
Director's cut of this is 7 hours long and ends with a Meeting of Minds knife fight and Steve Allen's descent into madness.
For current day theme songs, I enjoy the Psych theme and the Game of Thrones theme is epic, even though there aren't any words.
and a nod to donny hathaway.
darrylkendall NONE BEATS THE THEME FROM MASH!
And since it's a clip from "Family Guy", howza 'bout that "Family Guy" theme song. Brought to you by none other than Walter Murphy who gave us that great disco classic "A Fifth Of Beethoven." Another that also sticks in my head is the theme from "Lotsa Luck"; the show didn't last that long but that damn theme song keeps running through my head.
Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it
Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all
How will you make it on your own?
This world is awfully big, girl this time you're all alone
But it's time you started living
It's time you let someone else do some giving
Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all
Pam aka SisterZip
Hey, here's something interesting related to the short clips from "Dream On"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_C6hu8FS1A&feature=player_embedded#! at about 13:15 David Crane and Marta Kaufman, the writers who created the show talk about how the idea was born, Universal had a huge archive of old black and white movies and they had interviewed thousands of writers asking them what they would do with it.
Theme from Green Acres. Nothing beats a Gabor sister on a tractor, set to music.
I also think Psych has the best theme song on TV right now. Big Bang Theory's is also good. Terriers had a good one. My favorites from the past are Mary Tyler Moore, The Addams Family, The Munsters, The Flinstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, the Rockford Files, Dallas, Bewitched, Beverly Hillbilles, and, of course, WKRP in Cincinatti. That's just off the top of my head.
i miss sitcom theme songs. the 80s seemed to have the best ones (i'm too young for anything before that).
but the Family Guy parody of Maude's theme song was one of the best parodys ever done.
Something you should appreciate, Ken...I read a scholarly study of television circa the late 70's, which broke down shows into several categories based on how they dealt with story action. The writer used MAUDE to illustrate one of the categories, and used the theme lyrics to explain the character. For some reason, he thought they included the phrase "the tail end of the batting order".
WV: misive--an inaccurate missive
I agree that a lot of producers and networks sacrifice the value of an effective theme song to set the mood for their show. I think that's one reason why over the years HBO shows have generated more ardent viewership.
As a "Sopranos" fan, I would tense up when I heard A3 start to sing "Woke up this morning..." and watch Tony rip the New Jersey Turnpike ticket from the dispenser.
Even the few notes of "Frolic" you hear when "Curb" starts transport you into Larry David's warped mindset.
As for the "Family Guy" clip, it shows how for shows like that so much of the audience is now watching online or through a DVR. There's not enough time to absorb and laugh at all of those mock-feminism tributes watching "live."
"Amelia Earhart flew a lot of airplanes, 'cept for that one time when she didn't come back."
@chalmers - Bingo. HBO has the best theme songs. The only miss is Boardwalk Empire's "song" (lead-in music?), it doesn't really set the right tone for me.
But Treme, Game of Thrones, True Blood, How to Make it In America, Curb, 6FU, Sex and the City, etc., all very, very strong.
Barney Miller is tops. Truly a feat given how many great ones are out there (personal favorites: Magnum PI, Knight Rider, Hill Street Blues, The Bob Newhart Show, Rockford Files, and NewsRadio...perhaps the last great one)
-Sammy
Wow. The first two seconds piano riff is exactly the same as from "Blossom".
I blame Hill Street blues and St. Elsewhere for the lose of good tv themes. "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale..."
Among current shows, I enjoy the theme from USA's SUITS, though I can barely understand a word of it.
The show itself doesn't get much love, but I can't deny that the theme from THE NANNY is a grabber.
THE ANDY GRIFFITH THEME never gets old to me (and I think it's cool that it was co-written by the father of a friend of mine).
Most of the ones already mentioned are great. I'll throw in PETER GUNN, IT'S ABOUT TIME, IRONSIDE, "Hikky Burr" from Bill Cosby's first sitcom, CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU? and various iterations of the LAW & ORDER theme.
Today's TV shows no longer have cool theme songs the way today's Broadway musicals no longer have rousing overtures. Discuss.
I love Maude’s theme song. The Jefferson’s is another one I sing along with.
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