Tuesday, September 24, 2019
My favorite TV themes
Here’s a FQ that became a full post.
ScottyB asked:
Hola, Ken. I’m of the same mind as you regarding opening theme songs. I’m roughly your age, and I mourn them to this day same as you. So — what would be your Top 5 TV show theme songs?
Happily, an astonishing three of them are from shows I worked on. MASH, CHEERS, and THE JEFFERSONS.
Johnny Mandell wrote the theme for MASH, originally for the movie. There were lyrics but we never once used them on the TV show. Think of all the times you’ve watched MASH, have you ever fast-forwarded through the opening credits? Bet you'll click on the video above.
The CHEERS theme, written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo fit perfectly with the visual montage created by Castle-Bryant. By the way, that’s Gary Portnoy singing the theme.
Actress Janet DuBois, who sang the iconic JEFFERSONS theme also co-wrote it with Jeff Barry. Has there ever been a more infectious TV theme song than THE JEFFERSONS? Even college marching bands can’t fuck it up (although they all try).
Now, among the 99.99999999% of shows I didn’t work on:
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Lalo Schifrin’s heart-pounding theme over preview highlights while the fuse burned was the perfect adrenaline rush to launch you into the show. And admit it, when watching a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE movie, didn’t you love it when that theme began blaring?
And finally, maybe my favorite TV theme of all-time – PETER GUNN way back in the ‘50s written by Henry Mancini. That sinister guitar/piano bass line that just pulses through the song gets me right in the kischkis. And the horns build to a thrilling climax. Younger readers may not be familiar with it, so here it is:
Other honorable mentions:
THE AVENGERS
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
FRIENDS
HAWAII 5-0
WKRP IN CINCINNATI
THE HONEYMOONERS
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
TOP CAT
THE MONKEES
And I'm sure there are another ten I just can't think of offhand. What are your favorites?
I liked themes songs which featured lyrics which explained the show's premise in detail- Beverly Hillbillies comes to mind of course, as well as the themes written by Vic Mizzy and Sherwood Schwartz. That means Addams Family and Gilligan of course, but also obscurities like Captain Nice and Its About Time.
ReplyDeleteBarney Miller
ReplyDeleteDude, "The Green Hornet".
ReplyDeleteRockford Files, Run Buddy Run
ReplyDeleteI love Lalo Schifrin's music.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most under rated music directors.
Here he is performing MI theme : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5SYHcD_CYA
Also I don't know how many know this but, he also scored the music for Bullitt. The famous car chase scene in that movie has added tension because of the music in the initial stages which builds up to that epic chase.
Prelude music link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgQfm0yW9aE
And his other contribution which is overlooked due to the brilliant Bruce Lee's performance, is the music for "Enter The Dragon".
Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPRsKgyqTjE
Thank you Ken for mentioning him.
Many never recognize his contribution or the movie and their scenes are so good that his music is overlooked.
I've always been partial to TWO AND A HALF MEN's theme song, as well as THE OFFICE. TAXI is one of my favorite themes as well.
ReplyDelete...And I must confess, I'm young enough that I'll always have a place in my heart for the original POKEMON theme song. Well, either that, or POKEMON is getting old, but I don't wanna consider that option.
Johnny Cash with the theme for The Rebel. But all the others you brought up are great. MTM written by Sonny Curtis, who wrote I Fought The Law.
ReplyDeleteBUGS BUNNY ("This Is It!")
ReplyDeleteSECRET AGENT MAN
THE MUPPET SHOW
I agree with all those mentioned but have to mention Rockford Files. Just something about it.
ReplyDeletecheers
Dave.
Thinking of dropping THE MOD SQUAD theme into our high school basketball game music mix this season.
ReplyDeleteSome other favorites: THE GREEN HORNET, THE ODD COUPLE, BATMAN, THAT GIRL, STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, MANNIX, THE JETSONS, THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST (mid-'90s version on Cartoon Network), THE MUNSTERS (though THE ADDAMS FAMILY was the far better show).
Earle Hagen and Neal Hefti and Vic Mizzy were all-time greats.
Come on Ken, no Mannix??
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Mission: Impossible, Peter Gunn, Hawaii Five-0, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Avengers, and The Dick Van Dyke Show (though the latter might simply be because it's my favorite show of all-time). I'd also throw in MacGyver, The Rockford Files, Stingray (80s NBC show, not the puppets), Magnum, P.I., The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Perry Mason, Space: 1999 (better than the show), and The Flintstones.
Sometimes my opinion about TV theme songs is influenced by how many times I've heard them. The Friends theme is good but it's hard to judge when you've heard it 70,000,000 times.
I'm a sucker for cheesy, set-up-the-premise songs:
ReplyDeleteGilligan's Island
Patty Duke
Brady Bunch
Or meta:
Garry Shandling's Show
But my top faves have to be:
Twin Peaks
The Simpsons
Perfect Strangers
Mannix! My favorite show as a kid and that theme song was unforgettable. Lalo Schifrin did great themes!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to comment on my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThe first American sitcom I saw as a kid. That theme is stuck in my head forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OOJsUyCu8g
Then later this high tension one from James Newton Howard :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iTuxMBqUE
The Rockford Files & Barney Miller. Great theme songs, great shows.
ReplyDeleteI think Hawaii 5-0 is my favorite theme song, but the show? Let's just say the theme song is the best part.
I have to mention All in the Family. Who would've thought to have the two lead characters sing the theme song? Are there any other examples?
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to escape the theme for Kate & Allie for some reason. I always liked the way they used it with the cold opens. Or was it a warm open?
ReplyDeleteBarney Miller, Taxi, Addams Family.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, Suits.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget THE FUGITIVE. Great theme, and the background music in each episode perfectly captured the sadness of Richard Kimble's plight. Also the theme from the original ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (George Reeves version). Still thrilling to hear.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember anything I learned in algebra class...but I still remember most of the words to these...The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteNot counting the ones you mentioned, and in no particular order:
Maude
Good Times
Taxi
Hill Street Blues
The Facts of Life (I love how it goes from a kindergarten song to Memphis soul)
The X-Files
Bonanza
Batman
I Love Lucy
Baretta
Welcome Back, Kotter
Sanford and Son
The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Hour
I didn't necessarily LIKE all of these shows. Some I only watched BECAUSE of the opening theme.
Maverick ("who is the tall dark stranger, there....."
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm old!
Gotta go with Mr. Belvedere.
ReplyDeleteThe Big Bang Theory certainly deserves mention here. I can't think of any mentioned that I would not agree with. Too bad the networks view themes with such disdain, as they cut into possible ad time.
ReplyDeleteThe X-Files theme is pretty perfect for the show...
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing to me about Peter Gunn was that I first learned the theme as the Spy Hunter theme, and only learned years later about the TV Series it had originally been written for.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/vSHIHaU1SfA shows the game with the music.
ReplyDeleteLOVE BOAT
ROCKFORD FILES
BJ & THE BEAR
MARY TYLER MOORE
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO
HILL STREET BLUES
I vote for THE WIRE. All the themes rock, especially the one from that show's final season.
ReplyDeleteAlso an honorable mention for THE SOPRANOS.
The Andy Griffiths Show, Taxi, Kotter and anything written by Mike Post, especially Hill Street Blues.
ReplyDeleteNewhart by Henry Mancini.
ReplyDeleteToo many terrific tv theme songs over the years to have a favorite so I'll site two that haven't yet been mentioned, one original and one borrowed. The orginal would be the theme (along with a great opening scene using Robert Culp in silhouette) composed by Earle Hagen for "I-Spy". The borrowed theme was from a show that was cancelled far too soon, "The Texas Wheelers". The theme was "Illegal Smile" from John Prine's debut album.
ReplyDeleteMaverick TV series
ReplyDeleteVictory at Sea
Just a few of my favourite TV themes, mostly from my childhood, are The Prisoner by Ron Grainer, Doctor Who (the original Delia Derbyshire version, which has never been bettered), Star Trek by Alexander Courage, Thunderbirds (plus every Gerry Anderson theme composed by the mighty Barry Gray and, from Mike Post, the king of American drama theme tunes, Hill Street Blues.
ReplyDeleteAll of my favorites have been mentioned already.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I really like melancholy theme songs: Mash, Taxi, Hill Street Blues, Incredible Hulk, Welcome Back Kotter.
On that note, here's the Friends theme as a lament, set in a minor key:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmdkGH3Plgo
I'll add some western themes:
ReplyDeleteRawhide 'Rolling, Rolling Rolling'
End Theme from Have Gun Will Travel
Maverick
Bonanza
The Prisoner would be half the show it was without that music.
ReplyDeleteThe Jeff Barry, one-time husband of Ellie Greenwich? The man who wrote or co-wrote such gems as "The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget" (which Ellie and Jeff recorded as the Raindrops), Reparata & the Delrons' classic "I'm Nobody's Baby Now" and the huge hits "Be My Baby" and "Chapel Of Love"?
ReplyDeleteThere isn't much I can add. But I'll try.
ReplyDeleteStar Trek (TOS), Get Smart, Yogi Bear, Speed Racer, The Banana Splits, Underdog, George of the Jungle.
M.B.
There's a hold-up in the Bronx, Brooklyn's broken out in fights,
ReplyDeleteThere's a traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights,
There's a Scout troop short a child, Khrushchev's due at Idlewild,
CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU?
Try getting that out of your head.
So many excellent themes, and I'm aboard the Lalo Schifrin fan club with Mannix. And, one that grabs me is from your show Almost Perfect. Reminds me of Sing, Sing, Sing!
ReplyDeleteThe Drew Carey Show had several good theme songs: "Moon Over Parma", "5:00 World", and "Cleveland Rocks".
ReplyDeleteGarry Marshall did it twice, with 'Happy Days' and 'Laverne and Shirley' (both released as singles). "The Odd Couple" was a great theme as well.
ReplyDeleteAlways loved the theme to 'St. Elsewhere.' And although I never watched, "Knots Landing."
Agree with Jeff- love, love love the themes from That Girl and the Odd Couple. I'll add the themes from Love That Bob, The Wild Wild West , It Takes a Thief, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
ReplyDeleteWait, *never*?
ReplyDeleteI'da sworn that at least part of the lyrics got used at least once in an episode somewhere...
[ Here are those lyrics -- all 6 verses, at least one not even used in the film, we are told -- for those not playing the home game:
https://stason.org/TULARC/tv/mash/11-What-are-the-lyrics-to-the-MASH-theme-song-Suicide-is-P.html
And here's background:
https://www.metv.com/lists/inside-the-theme-song-m-a-s-hs-suicide-is-painless
and there have been a truly impressive number of covers of the tune:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_Is_Painless
... but I can't find any evidence at all that the lyrics ever appeared, so Ken--who wrote the show--is clearly right, and I'm just suffering from the Mandela Effect... :-}
]
Route 66 (Nelson Riddle!)
ReplyDeleteThe Deputy (upbeat for a Henry Fonda Western)
Drew Carey "Moon over Parma"
Hill Street Blues (matched the show perfectly, soft against the police action)
Perry Mason (original, of course)
Henry Mancini's election theme for NBC.
Lots of great TV themes, but these are the ones that I would pick as great all on their own without the TV show:
ReplyDeleteST. ELSEWHERE - I like that one so much I have the recording of the full version.
EVENING SHADE - the second of its two theme songs, with the gorgeous fiddle and accordion
BIG BANG THEORY - never once got tired of it in all those hundreds of episodes
wg
The original Unsolved Mysteries theme. All the themes they used throughout the show's run were great, but the original was the best
ReplyDelete@Jeff: Probably the most infamous example would be the excruciating theme to Joanie Loves Chachi, sung in character by Erin Moran and Scott Baio. There also was a very short-lived sitcom called Nearly Departed where Eric Idle sings the theme song to the camera as his character. And a ton of other shows where the lead actors sing the theme (Alice, Gimme a Break!, It's a Living, and -- G-d help us -- Walker, Texas Ranger), although I guess it's arguable as to whether or not they were singing "in character."
ReplyDeleteMASH and CHEERS are two shows I will only watch hearing the entire opening theme. Anything less would be sacrilege.
ReplyDeleteI'll add other personal favorites:
BARNEY MILLER (Check season 1 in particular--If that isn't a funky groove, I don't know what is)
WKRP IN CINCINNATI
THE ODD COUPLE (though the voice-over is a bit annoying)
TAXI (a great instrumental, though not sure that it fits the show)
NIGHT COURT (Barney Miller's funky stepchild)
Also, the PBS kids shows I grew up with--SESAME STREET, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, and 321 CONTACT. Love all the music from those shows.
And please don't throw rocks at my head--but THE COSBY SHOW in the 80s in all their variations. Also, the FAT ALBERT cartoon series. If that bass line opening doesn't move you, I don't know you.
Honorable mentions to THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES.
Piano player on "Peter Gunn" was a studio guy/jazzman named Johnny Williams. Mancini credits him with adding the syncopation in the opening vamp that adds so much to the feel.
ReplyDeleteWilliams is a terrific arranger; his charts on some Frankie Laine albums are sensational -- and very cinematic. Which figures, in light of his subsequent career.
But the answer is "Movin' on Up."
Two classics by Dave Grusin: THE BOLD ONES and THE NAME OF THE GAME
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsb1SzotaPA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igMoIRvjWqI
A bit of trivia: The piano player on the original recording of the "Peter Gunn" theme was John Williams. Yes, that is the future film composer. One could make a pretty strong case that this was a collaboration between the two most famous names in film scoring.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing to me about Peter Gunn was that I first learned the theme as the Spy Hunter theme, and only learned years later about the TV Series it had originally been written for.
ReplyDeleteI was coming to the comments to say the exact same thing...lol. LOVED that game.
In addition to many of the other songs that others have listed here, I've always enjoyed the theme to The Young and the Restless. As a kid the show would come on after some game show I'd be watching when staying home "sick" from school, and I wouldn't turn the channel until after the song was played.
Not yet mentioned;
ReplyDeleteThe Time Tunnel (did you know this, and other themes for Irwin Allen's 60s "SF" shows were done by John Williams?)
The four themes, one for each season, of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Bugler's Dream aka the Olympics theme
Jeopardy think music
Square Pegs by the Waitresses
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Wonder Woman
Fun nostalgic topic for an otherwise dreary day. I'll add "Room 222" and "Barnaby Jones" by Jerry Goldsmith.
ReplyDeleteI never really loved the show, but both of John Williams' opening tunes for "Lost in Space" (they changed in the second season) are cool. (He also played piano for the original "Peter Gunn" sessions for his pal Henry Mancini.)
Richard Markowitz's "The Wild Wild West" is another favorite.
Especially given the absurd time restraints of these latter days, Jeff Richmond did a great job with the "30 Rock" theme, which hits just the right absurd tone.
And I mistakenly left MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD off the list. That might be my favorite of all.
ReplyDeleteProps also to the theme to the BBC series ARE YOU BEING SERVED--musique concrete that is, innit?
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO is the first one that comes to mind! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsWgG5v7A3A
ReplyDeleteMost of the ones you mention also ring true for me - WKRP IN CINCINNATI in particular, but WELCOME BACK KOTTER has got to also make the list!
The theme for maybe the greatest show of the 60's: My Mother The Car. Such a tragedy that it was cancelled after only one season. SO far ahead of its time: Talking car, self driving car, Jewish car.
ReplyDeleteDallas. Greatest TV theme ever.
ReplyDeleteGoing through these brought me down memory lane for great theme songs - like Star Trek (TOS and TNG) and The Greatest American Hero - walking on air, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI do like the Get Smart theme, which lets you in on the absurdity to come.
Are you kidding??
ReplyDeleteThe Patty Duke Show was not only the best theme, it had the single best lyric:
"But Patty likes to rock and roll, a hot dog makes her lose control...."
Top THAT, Cole Porter!
I love the Peter Gunn theme, too. Also Mannix and Route 66. I also like the themes to Cannon and Barnaby Jones. I guess I'm just a sucker for 60s and 70s detective shows.
ReplyDeleteOh, also, one of the best ever, by Henry Mancini: Mr. Lucky.
ReplyDeleteLots of great "nominees" here, but I'm surprised that "the" Twilight Zone theme has not been mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThere was more than one theme - the one I mean was covered by The Manhattan Transfer - with added lyrics.
(they also performed the "best" cover of Route 66 - with all due respect to Nat King Cole and other legends)
Intro and outro music for the original Cowboy Bebop.
ReplyDeleteOn the UK side I like The Pentangle's theme for TAKE THREE GIRLS and Alan Hawkshaw's for DAVE ALLEN AT LARGE.
ReplyDeleteI could probably name a ton of anime openings I love (and at least they still believe in the minute and a half opening credits), although if you don't have an affinity for Japanese pop music, they're likely not going to be to your tastes.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, though, you should DEFINITELY check out the opening to Cowboy Bebop. It's a really awesome up-tempo jazz instrumental, and (like the show itself), one of the absolute coolest things around. (Seriously. It's good. Actually, basically all of the music for the show is great; composer Yoko Kanno used a lot of Western style music (jazz, country, rock), so one needn't be an anime fan to appreciate the soundtrack.)
Just NBC in the 80's Miami Vice, Crime Story and 1987 Private Eye
ReplyDeleteWow, just realized that no one has yet mentioned GAME OF THRONES. Maybe it's because of how disappointing the final season was. But that music, along with the opening credits, was extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteMy favs (with some memory flogging help from reading preceding posts):
ReplyDeleteDOBIE GILLIS
THE LONE RANGER
RAWHIDE
THE JETSONS
ROUTE 66
ONE DAY AT A TIME
77 SUNSET STRIP
BUGS BUNNY SHOW
WILD WILD WEST
ROY ROGERS closing theme ("Happy trails")
-30-
The first Garry Shandling show
ReplyDeleteOne Tree Hill
Odd Couple
Letterman’s NBC theme
Courtship of Eddie's Father
ReplyDeleteBanana Splits (Plus any number of cartoons)
Love, American Style
Bob Newhart Show (original)
Gunsmoke
Partridge Family
Name of the Game
Yeah...I am hopelessly a child of that era.
I second the motions for JONNY QUEST and THE PRISONER; and did anybody mention THE MAN FROM UNCLE? As a kid I had a special passion for James Bond style adventure music. I wished they'd release the orchestral parts of "MacArthur Park" without the stuff about the cake in the rain.
ReplyDeleteMICKEY MOUSE CLUB because it was lovably goofy and -- unlike a lot of kid show themes -- didn't make you wince a few years later (looking at you, "Archie's Here" and "Speed Racer"). Laugh and express adolescent sarcasm, but not wince. Good time music.
The theme songs from GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE, TOM SLICK and SUPER CHICKEN evoke a smile, although part of the appeal is that they instantly summon up the snappy visuals. I know the lyrics to SUPER CHICKEN and can end a party at 8pm.
The theme songs from the MARVEL SUPER HEROES, those beyond-cheap 60s "cartoons" that Disney probably encased in lead and buried somewhere. They're not so much bad as proudly, purposefully oddball. SPIDER-MAN was a better cartoon and the theme was appropriate and catchy.
And finally, the syndicated HERCULES theme, with tenor on steroids singing:
"Hercules! People are safe when near him.
Hercules! Only the evil fear him.
Softness in his eyes; iron in his thighs;
Virtue in his heart; fire in every part
Of the Mighty ... HERCULEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!"
Greatest American Hero
ReplyDeleteDukes of Hazard
All in the Family
Come on. I love the Perry Mason theme.
ReplyDeleteRawhide
ReplyDeleteThe Rebel
Have Gun, Will Travel
Perry Mason
The Lone Ranger
Cheyenne
ReplyDeleteSugarfoot
77 Sunset Strip
Zorro
Texas John Slaughter
Elfego Baca
Dragnet
The Waltons
ReplyDeleteDallas
Hawaii Five-O
Hill St. Blues
Barney Miller
Taxi
The Fall Guy
Young & the Restless
Rockford Files
The Simpsons
King of the Hill
Cagney & Lacey
Angie
Phyllis
That Girl
Welcome Back Kotter
Mr. Belvedere
Carol Burnett Show
Sanford & Son/Sanford Arms
Jeopardy
The "Taxi" theme, by Bob James, did fit the melancholy that underscored the show--no pun intended.
ReplyDeleteBesides many already mentioned, I liked the opening theme of "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story" by Patrick Williams (ABC, 1987-88).
Honorable mention: Chuck Barris, who wrote most of the music for his shows.
"The New Treasure Hunt," a syndicated effort from 1973-1977, had a lovely closing theme that Barris credited to Elmer Bernstein because it was partly based on "Someday Little Girl" from 1969's "True Grit."
Also liked the the original versions of the themes for "The Newlywed Game" (based on a Barris song called "Summertime Guy") and "The Dating Game" during the shows' ABC runs in the sixties and early seventies.
If British shows are up for consideration, Eric Idle wrote and performed the theme for ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. Check it out on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteAs a child of the '80s, I always thought Knight Rider, Magnum P.I., Miami Vice, and Happy Days had a great theme song too. They were really the last shows with great theme songs before the age of playing opening credits over minimal-to-no music that we see today. It was the end of an era.
ReplyDeleteThe Rifleman
ReplyDeleteBat Masterson
The first-season Walker, Texas Ranger instrumental theme, before they started using the theme "sung" by Chuck Norris.
UFO
If they haven't been mentioned already ...
ReplyDeleteUK Coupling, "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" (with English lyrics instead of the original Spanish)
Quantum Leap, all versions (quieter version in first seasons, electric guitar one in final season)
Westworld
The Kids in the Hall, "Having an Average Day" by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
If game show themes qualify, Match Game, Card Sharks, Family Feud, Press Your Luck and of course The Price Is Right are all punchy earworms.
Andre Previn lives! Take that "In Memoriam"segment of the Emmys.
ReplyDeleteHappy Days theme (not "Rock Around the Clock")
ReplyDeleteLaverne & Shirley
Original Saturday Night Live theme
The Dukes of Hazzard
Jack Jones' original Love Boat theme
The Wonder Years (Joe Cocker's version of "With a Little Help From My Friends")
Law & Order
ReplyDeleteBronco
The Rifleman
DANGER MAN: "High Wire", the harpsichord-driven theme played over the opening credits on the U.K. show, which followed the "Secret Agent Man" theme on the U.S. SECRET AGENT version.
ReplyDeleteTHE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., season 2. Lalo Schifrin's bongos-infused interpretation rocked!
JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN. Made the deserted amusement park opening all the more scary.
THE AVENGERS. Laurie Johnson's arrangement always reminded me of when the strings kicked in on "Image-Part 1", Hank Levine's 1961 fleshed-out recording based on the Crowell-Collier stations' (KDWB/KEWB/KFWB) signature logo.
Some of you people are really old, Zorro, El Fago Baca, Texas John Slaughter. I am surprised any one would remember those. For the shows I have seen listed I agree with all of them. I think one of the best theme songs is for the Lone Ranger. Hard to think of a better use for the William Tell Overture. Used at the beginning and the end. Some mentioned that he liked theme songs that tell something about the show. The Lone Ranger does this by narration. A fiery horse,with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and hearty hi yo Silver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9lf76xOA5k
ReplyDeletecannot let this go without mentioning:
ReplyDeleteThe FBI (60's version) (Bronislau Kaper made the show sound very important)
Search (1972) (Disappointing show but Dominic Frontiere's Herb Albert style)
Vega$ (Robert Urich) - Dominic Frontiere's theme sounded like a slot machine
King Leonardo (just love it)
The Pruitts of Southampton
ReplyDeleteGo ahead....Google it
Lots of good themes I'd say, here are a couple that weren't mentioned, or weren't mentioned enough. There are lyrics to the theme for Bonanza, luckily, if you've ever heard them, they weren't used.
ReplyDeleteBonanza
The Big Bang Theory
The Virginian
The haunting tones of the MASH theme never fails grab me. Or may it’s just haunting me. Dunno. But it’s sure drills down to somewere in my soul.
ReplyDeleteI have an album of Mike Post themes, but unfortunately, it was before NYPD Blue.
ReplyDeleteSo many I love already mentioned above but I can't believe NO ONE has mentioned "Thank you for being a friend" from the Golden Girls.
ReplyDeleteOff the beaten path for this crowd:
True Blood
Bloodline
The O.C.
There are so many great ones already listed above but I can't believe that NO ONE has mentioned The Golden Girls.
ReplyDeleteOf the beaten path for this crowd I think:
True Blood
Bloodline
The O.C.
Andrew Gold wrote and recorded the original "Thank You For Being A Friend," a hit in 1978, long before "The Golden Girls."
DeleteI prefer Gold's version; the TV theme never caught on with me.
Gold was the son of soprano Marni Nixon, whose voice was often dubbed in movie musicals, including "My Fair Lady."
Earlier, I forgot to credit trombonist Bill Watrous, who was prominently featured in the theme for "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story," composed by Patrick Williams.
Sad to note that Mr. Gold, Ms. Nixon, Mr. Watrous, and Mr. Williams are all gone.
I defy anyone of a certain age not to begin singing along when they hear the title of the TV show, “it’s About Time”.
ReplyDeleteHow about "Movin' On," by Merle Haggard? ("Jammin' gears has got to be a fever, 'cause men become addicted to the grind...")
ReplyDeleteNo matter how hard I try to forget it I remember the short-lived Smothers Brothers sitcom that aired in the 1960s. In the tradition of Topper and My Mother the Car, the sitcom premise was a dead character who kept hanging around and could not be heard or seen by anyone but the other main character. The theme song went:
ReplyDelete"Oh, brother Tom was once at sea without his water wings... And now he is an angel... And he can do amazing things.!"
Just about every theme song in history has already been mentioned, so I'll toss in my vote for the last one, which I love: the winsome little instrumental that opened "My World and Welcome To It," which was canceled after one season in an act of criminal stupidity by NBC. A show that I would kill to see remastered on DVD because I've loved James Thurber since the third grade. I used to hang out in the basement of the Waco, Texas, library, hunting through bound editions of the New Yorker to find casuals by him that weren't collected in books. Now, the New Yorker prints Lena Dunham as "humor" and you can watch every episode of "Girls," but you have to turn to Russian bootleggers to see blurry clips of "My World and Welcome to It." And this is why life sucks.
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned my all-time favorite, THE INCREDIBLE HULK. Ted Cassidy's low-key narration lets the video shine as the unique premise unfolds. Terrific music by Joe Harnell and a lightning strike from Universal's peerless inventory of horror movie effects makes this TV intro as compelling as any!
ReplyDeleteTo me , good theme songs should not be ones you want to skip on binging, and should set the mood for the show.
ReplyDeleteOn the other end of the spectrum, they should not be earworms that you make you briefly think trading deafness for never having heard it would be ok. (Facts of Life - thanks to everyone that mentioned it). FOL is an extreme example that the show should have been cancelled just to rid the world of that song.
Before I give the list, as a general rule, the older the show, the better the theme song. Exceptions abound. Presented in alphabetical order.
2.5 Men
All in the Family
Andy Griffith Show
Big Bang Theory
Bonanza
Cheers
Coach
Dallas
Death in Paradise
Drew Carey
Dukes of Hazard
Hill Street Blues
Hogans Heroes
Home Improvement
Mash
Miami Vice
Mickey Mouse Club
Mister Rogers
NYPD Blue
Peter Gunn
Rawhide
Sanford & Son
Sopranos
I was always partial to the theme song for F Troop
ReplyDeleteChuck Lorre's career dream was to be a musician, so it's not surprising that several of his shows have had great themes. I forgot the theme for DHARMA AND GREG, which I loved.
ReplyDeletewg
Barney Miller
ReplyDeleteCheers
Deadwood
The Americans
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Bojack Horseman
The Equalizer and NYPD Blue
ReplyDeleteTotally forgot "The Flip Wilson Show". Incredibly catchy.
ReplyDeleteThe Star Trek: Voyager theme is a beautiful piece of music.
ReplyDeleteAny theme by Mike Post. And, oddly, a theme I often find myself randomly singing to myself, the theme song from "Branded" starring Chuck Connors as a (wrongly-fully) disgraced Army soldier in the old west.
ReplyDeleteWhy we never heard the second verse of Love is All Around
ReplyDeleteHave Gun Will Travel
ReplyDeleteMaverick
M squad
FIREFLY has one of my favorite theme songs ever.
ReplyDeleteThis has to be one of the most responses to a post this year! Reading through it, it seems like people are just throwing out their favorite shows.
ReplyDeleteBut Ken you are selling yourself short, an no one else has called it out yet. The theme to Wings was great. The whole opening with the plane taking off, flying over beautiful scenery, and then landing. Great! Taxi has a similar opening, and as many people have mentioned, the song is great.
Probably the longest used theme song is Dr. Who which I think is great.
I forgot about this one Car 54 where are you?
ReplyDeleteThe West Wing - Snuffy knocked it out of the park.
ReplyDeleteRockford Files- Mike Post first of many. Still have his album from the 70s.
Roundball Rock - NBC'S NBA theme from the 90s and it's making a comeback. Best sports theme ever.
In no particular order:
ReplyDeleteI Dream of Jeannie (the black and white 1st season)
Peter Gunn
SNL (esp. 1975-9, 1980-81 seasons)
Mission: Impossible (objectively the best ever)
Sanford & Son
The Avengers
The Saint
Batman (esp. the Who's cover)
Match Game (both the '70s, and the original theme: A Swingin' Safari by Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra)
Late Night with David Letterman
Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson
30 Rock
SWAT (top 40 version)
WKRP in Cincinnati (closing and opening themes, in order of preference)
Cheers (I didn't care much for it on the show, until I heard the full version. Love it now)
L.A. Law. My favorite TV theme, period.
ReplyDeleteThe King Of Kennisington.
ReplyDeleteWhen he walks down the street
He smiles at everyone
("Hey, look, It's the King!")
Everyone that he meets
Calls him "King of Kensington"
("How ya doin', King?"
"Put `er there, King!"
"Hey Karen! It's King!")
He finds his fortune in the faces
that surround him
His wife says helping other people
brings him luck
But then his mother tells
a slightly different story
He's the only king around without a buck
He's... a... man among men
The people's champion
And when destiny calls him...
(buzz... buzz..
"I'm sorry,
that line is STILL busy")
He's "King of Kensington"
("Whatta guy!")
The original recording of "A Swingin' Safari" - the one that was used by NBC on the original Match Game (you know, the clean one), was by Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra.
ReplyDeleteGene Rayburn credited the Decca LP on the air one day, which led me to track it down at Korvette's and buy it, which in its turn led me to start collecting Kaempfert's other records - but that's another story …
So many wonderful theme songs! But unlike any other "favorite" list (movie/Disney World Ride/Beatles song/food/color/sitcom/Britcom/author) I never have another contender for the top spot: the original HAWAII 5-0. Despite my high school marching band (I played sax so I can say this) butchering it.
ReplyDeleteNot yet mentioned by anyone: SLEDGE HAMMER!, an early Danny Elfman work.
ReplyDelete> Johnny Mandell [sic] wrote the theme for MASH, originally for the movie. There were lyrics but we never once used them on the TV show.
ReplyDeleteMandel only wrote the music. The lyrics were written by Michael Altman, son of the director of the movie. Even though the lyrics weren't used on the TV show, as co-writer Altman still gets paid every time it is played. Altman made much more money from writing those lyrics than his father ever did directing movies.
In a similar vein, while Paul Anka wrote "Johnny's Theme", the unheard lyrics were written by Johnny Carson. Therefore, Johnny got paid every time the song played, in addition to his salary from hosting The Tonight Show.
As for Peter Gunn, your readers in their 40s will know it as the theme to the video game Spy Hunter.
The theme for the George Reeves Superman show. I have no idea who wrote it. The guy who said he wrote it may have just licensed it from an anonymous orchestra in Belgium.
ReplyDeleteIn my childhood, I always loved the Green Hornet theme. Get Smart also had a memorable one.
ReplyDelete