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It's fashionable to lament the state of the TV theme song. Gone are the days when a show's whole premise was summed up in musical verse before every episode. Now we have Lost and it's single chord. And though I actually like Lost's simple spooky chime and have recently highlighted the 12 Best TV Theme Songs From Current Shows, there's no denying we're past the golden age of the TV show theme song. Take a look at the following list, and let me know where I'm wrong. I've included music without words, but I skipped over shows that used already popularized tunes like "The William Tell Overture" from The Lone Ranger and "Stand" from Get a Life.40. The Rockford Files - Mike Post and Peter Carpeneter
You might not know the names of Post and Carpenter, but between them they composed theme music for a mind-boggling number of shows including CHiPs, Magnum P.I., The A-Team, Hunter, Hill Street Blues, The Greatest American Hero, Doogie Howser M.D., Quantum Leap and Remington Steele. If you're in your 30s, you can claim all you want that Prince provided the soundtrack to your childhood—but it was really Mike Post.
39. Sesame Street - Joe Raposo, Jon Stone and Bruce Hart
I'm still reeling a little from discovering just how bad this classic has been butchered in recent seasons (and I was just starting to heal from the fact that everyone can see Snuffleupagus now). But we're going back to the beginning, when the air was actually clean. Here's a 1986 version sung by Gladys Knight & The Pips:
38. WKRP in Cincinnati - Tom Wells and Hugh Wilson
For the most part, it's a standard late-'70s theme song, but then it closes with the magical "WKRP in Cincinnaaaaaati."
37. The Love Boat - Paul Williams and Charles Fox
It's a cruise ship so the theme music is supposed to sound like it's sung by a guy on the ledo deck who dreams of becoming the next Robert Goulet.
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Galactic - Frends of Science
Lissie - Little Lovin'
Nicole Atkins - You Come To Me
What no Newhart? Awesome Henry Mancini score. Music was perfect for the setting & time period for that show!!
Also missing...
One Day At A Time
I know these lists necessarily can't please everybody, but HOW you leave SWAT off this list is beyond me. Seriously, I might have to punch somebody randomly just to get right the universe. A SWAT guy would probably shoot someone for this kind of eggregious error. This is just wrong.
Moreover, putting Hill Street Blues between Mr. Ed and The Simpsons was just classless. That's like putting Beef Wellington on a McDonald's bun.
The X-files doesn't belong. You said so yourself: The French Liked it.
How you put on the A-Team but leave off SWAT, Leave off Magnum P-I. I'm sorry, that's just wrong wrong wrong.
The absence of "Good Times" is a massive oversite.
Ok, so fine, no Knight Rider. I can accept that. No Odd Couple?? I don't accept that, but I will forgive.
But I am forced to draw my line in the Florida sand when I see a TV theme song list that neglects Miami Vice!?!
The drums? The wailing guitar? It's like the coke-fueled lovechild of Van Halen and Tito Puente.
Duh duh duh duh duh duh....Woooow nooow noooooow na-na now now na-na nooooooowwwwwwWWW!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGkurWAXgZs
Not bad, some bummers though...
Where was Magnum PI? or Starsky & Hutch or Ironside? One of the greatest Quincy tracks ever and a horn section to die for.. Maybe you should revise the list to 50 and add Miami, Magnum, Ironside and Starsky but leave out Happy days!
You obviously have never seen the greatest show of all time, "The Wire'. Consequently you haven't seen the credit sequence, easily one of the best ever.
*sigh* On "The Muppet Show," it was Zoot the sax player who always flubbed the last note. Gonzo rarely played a musical instrument of any kind.
I do have to agree with the other commenters on the omissions here, though.
Where is China Beach Opening Song?
Thanks, Boomshadow. I remember the last note of The Muppet Show usually spelling some kind of catastrophe, and the YouTube clip had Gonzo playing it. My memory filled in the wrong details.
Definitely didn't see "Hey Sandy" from the Adventures of Pete & Pete.
This list needs some work.
Ah, I miss theme songs you could sing along with....
I agree with most, though I could do without the A-Team, X Files, and Dr. Who.
Themes missing from this list, aside from those already mentioned by other commenters, are The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, The Fall Guy, Room 222, White Shadow, Simon & Simon, Cagney & Lacey, Alice (Linda Lavin!), The Waltons (comfort), Partridge Family (catchy, David Cassidy), Big Valley (Nick! Heath! Jared! The barn's on fire!), and St. Elsewhere.
And don't forget the soaps -- Dynasty (horns!), Dallas, Falcon Crest (Bill Conti!).
WHAT NO Mister Rogers' Neighborhood????
You could also call this the "Worst TV Theme Song List". Right?
Ok, I may be in the minority here, but there should have been a shout out for Picket Fences. That was possibly one of the best piano theme songs this side of Hill Street Blues...which made it by the by. Also, what about The Facts of Life, Friends, Angel and Secret AGent Man. Although they had no chance, I have to list two favorites. The theme from another Star Trek show, Voyager and the original Chicago Hope theme.
You left out Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, The Outer Limits, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Dark Shadows, The Untouchables, Cheers, Mod Squad, The Prisoner, One Step Beyond, and Route 66.
I guess I'm just dated.
What the hell. No Wonder Woman?!? She can Turn a Hawk into a Dove and Stop a War with Love. Respect!
How can you possibly skip Rhythym Heritage's immortal "Theme from S.W.A.T." ??? One of the baddest 70's jams of all time.
I won't flame you for the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (I think it was the best of all the ST themes too), but why oh why did you omit "The Twilight Zone" theme? It's become the unofficial theme song of anything weird for almost the last 50 years! Plus it's a great and creepy theme - blows "The X Files" out of the water!
missing in action:
Clone High (Time To Watch Cloooone Highhhh)
Clark and Michael (BRITISH SEA POWER)
Coming back to add that, yes, Twilight Zone and Wonder Woman would have been appropriate! Can't believe I forgot those.
Also, that sad, haunting melody from The Incredible Hulk. Makes you cry for poor David Banner every time.
I personally like the Nelson Riddle (he was Frank Sinatra's arranger for a long time) tune for the show "Route 66"
Honorable mention for "77 Sunset Strip"
Some mention should be made of the original TV "Batman" theme... it was so retarded you wanted to listen to it.
Also the "Perry Mason" theme - very 50's TV noir and atmospheric.
How about Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea and the Outer Limits.
An excellent list, but you left off the most recognizable theme song in American daytime television history:
The Price Is Right!
Who doesn't have memories of staying home from school sick and watching Bob Barker give away refrigerators and new cars?
And what about Deep Space 9's theme song? Faith of the Heart (Enterprise)? Farscape? Married With Children?
An omission that might have already been noted: Night Court had an awesome theme song. Sanford-and-Son-esque, but different.
No Batman? No Mary Tyler Moore?
Weak.
I guess this all depends on just how old the selectors were. I'd disagree with over half of those selections. I mean, where the heck is the Lone Ranger theme song ??
Age dependent, indeed. I'll speak for the youngins: Where was Firefly?
No Weeds? No Roseanne?? No Nip/Tuck?
I am sadly missing Space1999 (first season), one of the most captivating themes I ever heard.
I would second Knight Rider, The Price is Right, and China beach. I would also add CHIPS. Other than that, it's a nice list you put together. THanks. BTW - I only have one testicle!
i'm surprised no-one has thought of Quincy ... i love that theme tune. brings a smile to my face and a quiver to my knees when those trumpets start up .. "Gentlemen, you are about to enter the most fascinating sphere of police work: The world of forensic medicine ..." Duuuh de-duh-da de duuuuuuuuuuhhhh
I was missing "Magnum P.I.".
Truly one of the best TV theme songs ever!
seriously,
The Odd Couple
My Three Sons
Mary Tyler Moore
BOB FREAKIN NEWHART
The Twilight Zone
Taxi
These are not obscure shows, and should probably be the top 6.
It's hard to believe you even tried.
The Wire was a fatal omission. There were five different versions, all very strong, ironically the composer's own version was possibly the least of them.
Missing out The Prisoner was a real oversight and so too Six Feet Under. I'd like to put in a claim for 2 others, both British shows. Firstly the Persuaders - which personally I think has the best theme tune ever; but an honourable mention too for Man In A Suitcase which was mostly completely stupid as a show but had a humdinger of a theme.
But it was an interesting list anyway, and glad to see Dexter in the current list - even if it does sound like a rip-off of an Alfred Hitchcock film which I can't quite place.
Are you serious?! I even have 'Good Times' on my Ipod. And what about 'Taxi'? That's classic Bob James.
No.. it is Gonzo who tries the last note on the trumpet... watch the ending.. if you can't tell Gonzo from Zoot you're not a fan.
This list FAILS for one reason: NEEDZ MOAR POKEMON!!
I wanna be the very best
Like noone ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause
I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Each Pokemon to understand
The power that's inside
Chorus
Pokemon!
It's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokemon!
Ooh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokemon!
Our hearts so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokemon
Gotta catch 'em all!
Every challenge along the way
With courage I will face
I will battle every day
To claim my rightful place
Come with me, the time is right
There's no better team
Arm in arm we'll win the fight
It's always been our dream
No Perfect Strangers theme? WTF? Should've been in the top 10.
The Sesame Street theme song is easily the most recognizable and memorized in the country.
'theme from route 66" by nelson riddle is better than most of the lame themes on your list. leaving that off gives your selections zero credibility.
umm...The Jeffersons ...anyone?
Gonzo failed to blow his trumpet during the Muppet Show's beginning (did he not finally manage to blow it once. Zoot indeed tooted a sour note during the closing credits.
First of all, I have serious quibbles with your choices, although I did enjoy the parrot whistling the theme to "The Andy Griffith Show". Oh, & the theme for the opening credits of "Square Pegs" wasn't by the Waitresses, the closing credits were.
But why no UK shows? After all, "Sanford & Son", "All in the Family" & many other shows on this list started their lives across the Atlantic in Ol'Blighty; why not recognise that fact? (Well ok, you did list "Dr Who", big deal)
Absolutely dreadful list. You seriously left out all the greatest theme songs:
-Three's Company
-I Love Lucy
-Survivor
-Family Ties
-Happy Days
-Mary Tyler Moore
-I Dream of Jeannie
-Good Times
-Growing Pains
-Full House
-Family Matters
-Step By Step
-The Golden Girls
-Bewitched
-The O.C.
Perry Mason definitely belongs on the list. I'd also add some short-lived television series theme music which were among the most memorable in television history:
Cimarron Strip
It's About Time
The Pruitts of Southampton (GREAT theme song sung by Phyllis Diller)
Others that come to mind are themes from four noted westerns of the 1960s. I don't know HOW in the world these would be omitted from any list:
The Big Valley
The Virginian
Lancer
The High Chaparral
The nostalgia factor can't be ignored for a list like this, but the Knight Rider theme song still kicks ass NOW.
An incredible composition whose omission that borders on the incomprehensible.
The problem with this list and most of lists of this type is the writers are often too young to have heard some truly great themes of the past. I submit the best television themes coincided with the best television series, which for the most part were from the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the themes with lyrics were great, but instrumental themes should never be given the shaft. Although I am not a huge, huge fan of the genre, it appears the greatest care taken for theme music was in the westerns, especially those from the 1960s. The five I listed in the above two posts had motion picture-like themes, all of them unforgettable after all these years and unconscionable to leave off a list like this. They are all available on YouTube. I'd put the Cimarron Strip theme, composed by Oscar-winning composer Maurice Jarre, up there at the very top of the all-time greatest theme music, to say nothing of the incredible helicopter shot accompanying it.
Who can turn the world [but not the maker of this list] on with a smile?
The theme song to The Daily Show, titled "Dog on Fire", while currently performed by They Might Be Giants, was not written by them. It was written by Bob Mould, formerly of the highly influential Hüsker Dü.
Where the hell is "The Fall" from "The Wire?"
List fails.
And where is the DALLAS theme song? It defined the 80s! Doctor Who's theme never defined a decade.
Where is Jonny Quest? That has got to be in the top ten!
No Spenser: For Hire??
No Midnight Caller?
Where's the theme song for "Twilight Zone?!" Every beginning guitarist in the 1960s learned to play that. The Ventures did a cool version of it one of their instrumental albums in the '60s.
And what about "77 Sunset Strip" with the finger snapping and "My Three Sons?" I use to play the latter on the accordian back when I was 12 years old. Cool melody.
Would've liked to have seen GREEN ACRES on the list and THE SIMPSONS and MUPPET SHOW should be in the top 10. And what about the FRIENDS theme song? I still get that song stuck in my head and I've only seen maybe 10 episodes.
not a bad 1st try but y'all definetly missed some brilliant ones:
90210
Seinfeld
Frazier
LA Law and Law and Order
Miami Vice
Saved by the Bell
Full House/Family Matters
Friends (played out so bad it's obnoxious)
Home Improvement
Magnum PI
Taxi
Good Times
Partridge Family
Green Acres
Flinstones/Jetsons
I Love Lucy
Doogie Howser
Unsolved Mysteries
I quite agree with Star Trek: TNG, but disagree with the fact that The Original Series isn't on this list! I think that had a beautiful song.
Two theme songs that should have made your top 40 list were- "Way down in the Hole" by Tom Waits which was the theme from The Wire.
Also- what about the theme to Mystery Science Theater 3000?