A while ago, I had a discussion with a now-ex girlfriend about TV show themes. She lamented the days of the 60’s, when nearly every show’s theme gave you a basic recap of the premise, so you could jump right in.
That got me thinking about TV show theme songs in general, and how some truly great songs get such great exposure. And since Michelle Catalano’s not doing this sort of thing any more, someone has to pick up the slack.
I’ve arbitrarily split the songs into three categories:
1) Original, intrinsically good songs.
Music written for the show that could stand alone as good songs. This is where I’d put things like the original Battlestar Galactica theme (John Williams coulda wrote it), Sanford And Son (Quincy Jones), and Twin Peaks.
2) Original songs that enhance the show, and vice versa.
These are where my ex-girlfriend’s favorites fall. They really weren’t great songs, but catchy little earworms that you can never forget. The Brady Bunch Green Acres Gilligan’s Island, and The Beverly Hillbillies alll fall into this category, along with more recent pieces like The Greatest American Hero, Cheers, and Friends.
3) Finally, the best adapted song. Here’s where the producers just take an existing song and put it on the show. This leads to such oddball results as an Oscar winner singing an Emmy-winning song for “Married… With Children,” but also such instances as “Life Goes On”‘s remake of the Beatles hit and Dawson’s Creek’s “I Don’t Wanna Wait.”
So, what are some of your favorite TV theme shows?
No contest…A-Team
It had the whole back story, it was catchy, and I don’t know one man from 25-40 who doesn’t know the opening lines.
I’m partial to instrumentals myself, like the original score for the opening theme to “Law & Order” (the original series) or the theme for “Hill St. Blues”.
I’m partial to the “Banana Splits” theme song. It’s just a catchy, fun little song. I think Liz Phair did a version of it which was pretty good.
My other favorite would be the “Mission:Impossible” theme. I like the remake they did for the movie too.
As you mentioned, the “Married with Children” theme (“Love and Marriage”) was also great. But how can you go wrong with Sinatra?
Most of the Mike Post/pete Carpenter stuff from the 70’s and 80’s was great!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006236/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139432/
(Wow, THAT was a trip down memory lane!)
I haven’t watched TV regularly in years, but at the moment, my favorite theme had got to be Firefly.
The Barney Miller theme song, in all its various forms, was great. It always had one of the finest bass riffs.
The theme to “The Greatest American Hero”.
And the obligatory, Welcome Back Kotter theme-song.
I didn’t think that it was Sinatra who sang the “Love and Marriage” theme song for “Married….With Children”. I thought it was Spike Jones.
As for the A-Team, I never watched the show so I didn’t know that there were words for the song.
Speaking of unforgetable theme songs, the orignal Star Trek theme song is probably the most recognized one in the world. I also liked the theme song to the last version, Star Trek Enterprise. Too bad it was canceled.
I know this is going to sound weird, but I loved the theme song to the original Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy BBC mini-series. Also, the theme to Doctor Who. That BBC Radiophonic Orchestra knew what they were doing. (I am such a geek.)
‘In the Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins for Miami Vice.
Mary Tyler Moore theme song.
I’d say the Firefly theme song fits into category 2 and the Simpsons into category 1. Hell, just about anything Danny Elfman does fits into category 1. That includes Tales from the Crypt and a number of other TV shows and movies.
As a stand alone song, I have to go with John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back.” The name of the show was actually changed from “Kotter” to “Welcome Back Kotter” because Sebastian could not work “Kotter” into a song. Yeah, they teased him a lot about it, but he got it on the spot.
The theme for the “Odd Couple” in the first category and “Those Were the Days” from “All in the Family” has to be in category two.
Hawaii five-o and Combat
hard hitting tough guy tunes!
I like “The Love Boat” in category 2. Something exciting for everyone!
“They’re creepy and they’re spooky / Mysterious and kooky / They’re altogether ooky / The Addams Family.” Tells you all you need to know in the first four lines.
And Neil Hefti knew not what he wrought when he penned the “Batman” theme – classic stoopid instrumental. I forget who wrote the “Munsters” theme, but I always liked the twangy Duane Eddy-style guitar lead in it.
How can all of you people be smart enough to appreciate the (usual) content of this blog, yet ignorant enough to waste time watching television?
For someone to stare drop-jawed at “Married with Children” and find it entertaining, and also be competent enough to dress themselves, just doesn’t make sense to me.
I add my vote to fatman’s with his selection of Hill Street Blues. I also liked the Rockford Files instrumental theme.
Great topic.
1) Not sure this counts. I believe it was written specifically for the show: “American Boy” from The Chris Isaak Show. Good as a theme song for Isaak and certainly his personna on the show. If that’s too far afield, how about “Mad About You”?
2) “Baby, if you’ve ever wondered/Wondered whatever became of me/I’m living on the air in Cincinnati/Cincinnati WKRP!”
3) Tie: “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3 from The Sopranos; “Superman” by Laslo Bane from Scrubs.
Nicolas is right; Firefly (hands down) has the best theme song of any TV series to date. Any intro where you actually find yourself singing along rather than fast forwarding has much to say for itself.
You can find the theme-song here:
http://www.wavsite.com/sounds/70605/FireflyTheme.mp3
OT: Overheard on late-night TV:
Those politically correct people have really gone too far trying to remove religion from Christmas. Now they want to change the title of the classic movie “Miracle on 34th Street” to “Coincidence on 34th Street!”
– Jay Leno, 12-06-05
Another category would be original themes that were so good, they made hits of otherwise mediocre shows. The best example I can think of is the Peter Gunn theme by Mancini.
I’ve always preferred theme songs with no vocals, which tend to be cheesy.
Hill St. Blues
Taxi (nice jazz)
Rockford Files
The Firefly theme is nice because that twangy Western guitar contrasts beautifully with the sci-fi.
Fav instrumentals – Simon & Simon, Magnum P.I., Hawaii Five-Oh, Hill St. Blues, Peter Gunn, Harlem Nocturne (“Mike Hammer’s Theme”), Adderly. Hmmmmm….didn’t think I’d watched that many detective shows…..
Introductory/Recap themes: Beauty & The Beast (one of the classiest), Gilligan’s Island, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, Adaam’s Family, Beverly Hillbillies.
Theme song for “Timmie and Lassie” television series, “Hawaii Five-O” and…I agree with earlier here, application/use of Phil Collins’ “Something In the Air” for “Miami Vice.”
“X-Files” was/is quite memorable, just a tad to techno for-to ever make my personal favorite as to memorable.
But, I have to include theme song for “Bonanza.”
I think Mike Post broke new ground with “Hill Street Blues,” and I’ve always had a soft spot for the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” theme, written by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.
And not only does the Sopranos have a great theme, they get extra props from me for using Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks as closing music on one episode.
Branded
F-Troop
Wagon Train
Technically, not a somg but the dialog from Capt Kirk in the opening of Star Trek…”On a 5 year mission to go where no man has gone before…”
Initially didn’t care for it, but grew to really like the theme from “Enterprise”
I can’t believe no one named the Unknown Stuntman for the Fallguy as performed by Lee Majors. I believe this song was a hit… Well I remember seeing Lee Majors sing it on Solid Gold. Lord did I just admit to watching Solid Gold? I’m sure it was accidental, probably while I was switching channels or something.
Jan Hammer’s work for “Miami Vice”, both the theme song and the background music for the show, was amazing and totally new in terms of style. I also have to agree with Chris about the theme to “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” …
That’s going to be going through my head all day, lol!
Can we also do a thread with least favorite TV Theme Songs? I’d like to propose the theme song from “Friends”: it makes me want to slit my wrists!
60 series Secret Agent starring Patrick McGoohan had that killer song by Johnny Rivers, Secret Agent Man.
By the way, I HATED the theme song for Enterprise. Certainly NOT in the heroic tradition of previous Star Trek theme songs. It always seemed to me to be a bad combination of touchy-feely, yuppie sentimentality that didn’t jive with the series theme of Humanities first expeditions into intersteller explorations.
Von Bondies Come On, Come On which was recently used as the theme song for the FX hit Rescue Me starring Denis Leary.
Airwolf
Instrumentals:
Wild, Wild West
St. Elsewhere by Dave Grusin (was released as a single)
Bonanza (although the pilot actually had the Cartwrights singing a song to the tune)
Great story songs:
My Mother the Car (not a great story, or a great song, but it did set the stage for the show).
F-Troop
Addams’ Family
I can’t believe nobody mentioned the adaptation of Suicide is Painless for M.A.S.H.
And what about Barney Miller? Loved the funky bass line.
But the song I sang most often wandering the streets of L.A. with my friends at 3:00 looking for munchies? The Partridge Family theme (probably because the bus was parked behind Lucy’s taco stand somewhere around Hoover and Washington back in the ’83-’86 period when I was in law school.)
“I didn’t think that it was Sinatra who sang the “Love and Marriage” theme song for “Married….With Children”. I thought it was Spike Jones.”
El, you are kidding right?
“How can all of you people be smart enough to appreciate the (usual) content of this blog, yet ignorant enough to waste time watching television?
For someone to stare drop-jawed at “Married with Children” and find it entertaining, and also be competent enough to dress themselves, just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Smartguy, actually the first few seasons of MWC were funny. After Steve left the show, it got stupid.
In the beginning, some of the show’s verbal sparring was reminiscent of Neil Simon, with a MUCH sharper bite. Plus the contrast between the “classic” sitcom couple of Al & Peggy, who were similar to Ralph & Alice of “The Honeymooners”, with Steve & Marcy, who were the modern yuppie couple, made the show funny.
I do appreciate your viewpoint though. The last shows I watched routinely in the last two years were “24”, but I gave it up because it was on too late(yes, I go to bed very early), and “American Idol” (we had an office pool).
I used to watch tv religiously in my younger years. Now it’s hard for me to find a show that doesn’t give me a feeling of deja vu.
The only thing I watch on tv today is football, news, and occasional shows on the History or Discover channels.
I can’t believe that nobody mentioned the theme for “Dukes of Hazzard”. The whole story is right there, and it’s catchy. We actually recorded it, and had a “boombox” playing it full blast at the dirt mounds where we would go and jump our dirt bikes (before BMX was big)and pretend to be Bo and Luke.
I have to go with the theme from “The Streets of San Francisco,” which has to be listed with the all-time greats.
After that, in no particular order:
Rockford Files
Magnum P.I.
SWAT
Starsky & Hutch
Charlie’s Angels
Kojak
Good Times
Fat Albert
The Jetsons
Hawaii Five-0
Law & Order (the original, not the variants)
Miami Vice (the actual Jan Hammer theme)
House (which uses Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”)
Cold Case (which I don’t watch, but uses E.S. Posthumus’s excellent “Nara” as its theme.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman Beyond
I think that’s probably enough……
Ooooh, “smartguy” sounds smart!
One would think “smart” people also have the capacity to keep up with popular culture. Even if you’re not entertained by TV, it can provide insight into the minions you’re forced to confront every day. God forbid that a “smart person” actually shares an interest or possesses some understanding of the people they manage at work, or design products for, or teach, or whatever.
Smartguy suggests watching TV is “ignorant,” yet I suspect his ignorance of popular culture has alienated him from the mainstream who comprise this world. I suggest picking up a little slang, learn the fashions, keep abreast of attitudes, and perhaps learn some plot lines so you have something to discuss around the water cooler. It won’t hurt you, and you might even find a show or two interesting or entertaining. At the very least, it will help you understand and communicate with the other idiots in the world.
Chad’s right.
Waylon Jennings’ Dukes of Hazzard theme is another classic.
God, and how can we not include the theme for…
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Goosebumps….
The Hank Jr. crap, on the otherhand, needs to be destroyed and the masters burned so that future generations can be spared such noise pollution.
Perhaps this is just the engineer in me, but I’ve always had a fondness for the McGyver theme song…
oh, and i bought the DVD of season one recently? surprising how what i liked as a ten-year-old doesn’t necessarily translate to something I’ll like as a twenty-seven-year-old
speaking of which, Sledgehammer! was another of those shows which was funny as a child, but kinda sucks as an adult.
And the theme song was pretty cool too…
The theme from My Fair Brady is great!
But I doubt you “smart” people watch that “ignorant” stuff.
Battlestar Galactica’s (TOS) theme is a winner hands down. That and the visuals made it easy to site through the cheesy dialog and cutesy pet robot.
ALF and the Weird Al Show.
Airwolf is a great call.
The Three Stooges and Get Smart are very easy to pick out.
Also, I loved the beginning before the singing/talking of Beretta and Knight Rider.
Hogan’s Heroes and Hawaii 5-0 are two that almost every Jr. High band member had to learn.
I think my favorite for bringing back memories though is All In the Family.
The theme from The White Shadow is amazing; kind of like 70s funk/porn music.
1. The Cheers song.
2. Bewitched theme
3. Billy Joel’s “My Life,” used for “Bosom Buddies.”
Baa Baa Black Sheep
We are poor little lambs
who have lost our way
Baa Baa Baa
[Cue air raid siren]
In the recap category, how can we forget “Have Gun, Will Travel”?:
“Have gun, will travel reads the card of a man/a knight without armor in a savage land./His fast gun for hire heeds the calling wind/a soldier of fortune is the man called….Pal-a-din.”
Others that come to mind include all those Warner Brothers westerns like “Bronco Lane,” “Lawman,” “Maverick” and “Sugarfoot”.
Don’t forget the old Batman song from the T.V. show. And the Wonderwoman song!