What's your favorite TV theme song?

[bbernardini]

I haven't decided on mine yet, but I thought I'd get the ball rolling.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Charles. In Charge. Of my days. And my nights.

Charles. In Charge. Of my wrongs. And my rights!

And I sing. I want. Charles. In charge of me! Charles. In charge of me!

[bbernardini]

56. Ah! Performed by a former backup singer for Todd Rundgren.

Shandi Sinnamon, to be precise. Also inspired the song "Shandi" on Kiss' "Unmasked" album.

[taterguy]

2. Warren Zevon's Even A Dog Can Shake Hands for the show Action

Fast forward to 3:30 of this clip to hear it:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NL0SILzGs4g

[sarge43]

3. Hill Street Blues. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

57. Seconded!

And my second Choice is St Elsewhere

[Contrary1]

72. Thirded!

On both.

[mikeytherat]

4. The Streetbeater (theme to Sanford and Son)

mikey_the_rat

[MrCoffee]

12. hell yes

Quincy Jones was in top form on The Streetbeater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZCWw8CEICE

[mikeytherat]

40. I meant to reply to you, but somehow replied to myself.

But I did reply to you, below this message!

mikey_the_rat

[mikeytherat]

39. So let's say, and why not, that you're the bassist in a funk band.

And let's say you're doing a huge benefit gig in D.C. Half of the songs you will be playing that night were probably written, produced, or written and produced, by Quincy Jones. There are many celebrities there that night, but sitting right on the front row, in front of the band, you see this face:



Quincy. F**king. Jones.

You then begin a prayer to the Gods of Funk to really be on, and bring your "A" game.

mikey_the_rat

[AnneD]

51. TOOOO FUNNY....

I hope you were blessed. What pressure. I heard he was a nice guy.

Hubby is a musician and most of our friends are too. We didn't want for entertainment at the reception. But my brother that plays a 12 string guitar drolly put it 'It takes a lot of balls to preform here because you know that most of the folks here are either mentally critiquing your technique or thinking that they could play it better.' Needless to say, we had a good variety of music and great food.

[SPKrazy]

5. X files theme song

my dog used to go crazy hearing that

[stuntcat]

62. yah, X-Files

I've been trying to think of a favorite and that one's stuck in my head. Or Sanford & Son

[RFKHumphreyObama]

6. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now",

The theme song from "Perfect Strangers"

The theme song from "Greatest American Hero" would also rank in this category

[MorningGlow]

7. Laverne & Shirley!

For actually cool music, Battlestar Galactica (new version).

[Strawman]

8. Rockford Files

http://youtube.com/watch?v=V5pYtG_jo3o

[BOSSHOG]

9. Two and a Half Men

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. Confess: How many of you....

Have put on "Woke Up This Morning" from The Sopranos during your commute to/from work and pretended to be Tony Soprano driving down the New Jersey Turnpike? Anyone?

[Capn Sunshine]

63. I confess I've never seen one episode of the Sopranos.

I had something going that night. Forget what.

[Iggo]

11. Do cartoons count?

If so, it's a tie between Underdog and Spiderman '67.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9F9fz-Rbj0&feature=rela...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJV4KqK0LpY&feature=rela...

If not, then Good Times. (Ain't we lucky we got 'em......Good Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimes...yeah.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM95AwDgask

[BulletproofLandshark]

13. The Jeffersons

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kb6ErLPt4t8

edit - the theme from "Barney Miller" is cool too http://youtube.com/watch?v=iSef8ObpfA4

[IzaSparrow]

45. I argued with a cover band at a bar,

when they said Waylon Jennings' "Good Ol' Boy" was the best theme song ever. I yelled "No way!! The Jeffersons 'Movin' on Up' is the best ever." Then they played it. The bar agreed.

[Tikki]

14. Hawaii Five-0....

Tikki

[Richardo]

15. The Zen, almost haiku-like simplicity of 'The Jetsons'

Meet George Jetson
His boy Elroy
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife.

All set to the swingin'est jazz arrangement in TV history.

[terrya]

43. I agree with you, Richardo.

This is really tough to choose just one. I posted "Mannix"...but I love "The Jetsons" theme song. Hanna-Barbera had some great themes for their shows...I'd also suggest, for sheer cool, "Jonny Quest"

[Richardo]

47. Jonny Quest is another one. Tres cool!

Listen to the intro of the Jetsons some time and try to imagine what the violin parts look like.

[seemunkee]

16. The Adventures Of Pete & Pete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBq_dU1ltIs

Or the Kids in the Hall

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. I loved that one!

The song and the show.

[MrCoffee]

21. Pete & Pete was a great show

[Sequoia]

29. Same here, liked that funny clown science guy on it.

Sure would be fun to see it airing again.

[ceile]

17. Dr. Who

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTID-HC9adg&feature=rela...

[Shell Beau]

19. We're movin' on up to the east side

to a deluxe apartment in the sky!!

[MissMillie]

20. The West Wing

I love the regal sound of it... when I hear it, I always say "I love this show!"

[regularguy]

22. Odd Couple.

Henry Mancini, I think. That bridge really kicks: DA-dada-da-DA-da.....

[Bennyboy]

23. The "Friends" theme.....

I even clap along sometimes....(:Hides head in shame

[Phillycat]

24. Easily Sanford and Son. 2nd place: The Jeffersons.

[raccoon]

25. Bonanza. nt

[NewWaveChick1981]

26. Theme from The Vacant Lot...Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols..

I LOVED that damn show! Too bad it didn't last long. It was Kids In the Hall on acid...


Edited to add: The Blinded by the Light sketch was hysterically funny! http://thefunnybits.blogspot.com/2006/07/vacant-lot-bli...

[Pool Hall Ace]

27. Sanford & Son is my fave, 2nd place would be

Get Smart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cscedJQ3PFU

[Sequoia]

28. Star Trek, Hawaii 5 - 0, Rawhide, Adam 12, Get Smart

[deucemagnet]

30. na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na ...BATMAN!! n/t

[huskerlaw]

31. Punky Brewster

[Highway61]

32. The Time of Your Life

Seinfeld

[southpaw]

33. Barney Miller

Classic bass line.

[Zorro]

34. Peter Gunn

Classic.

[book_worm]

35. "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" ("Best Friend")

People let me tell you 'bout my best friend.
He's a warm hearted person, who'll love me to the end.
People let me tell you 'bout my best friend
He's one boy, cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People let me tell you 'bout him--he's so much fun
whether we're talkin' man to man or 'talkin son to son
cause he's my best friend.
my best friend.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. The original "Perry Mason" theme

[mac56]

37. "Mystery Science Theater 3000"

If you wonder how they eat and breathe
And other science facts
Then repeat to yourself, it's just a show
I should really just relax

Second place; "It's Garry Shandling's Show"

This is the theme to Garry's show
The opening theme to Garry's show
Garry called me up and asked if I would write his theme song
We're almost halfway finished
How do you like it so far?
How do you like the theme to Garry's show?

[MilesColtrane]

38. This one is pretty cool.

"Johnny Quest" theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_-u9sxYZM

When I was a kid I didn't get the obvious homoerotic relationship between Dr. Benton Quest and his life partner, "Race" Bannon.

I'd also have to nominate:

The Dick Van Dyke Show
The first Bob Newhart Show
Barney Miller
Sandford and Son
Get Smart

[terrya]

41. "Mannix"

Damn, that was the coolest theme song ever written for television. Great Lalo Schifrin music.

[Richardo]

48. Speaking of Lalo Schifrin, how is it that no one's mentioned 'Mission: Impossible'?

It's iconic, it's so good. And in 5/4 time!

[terrya]

50. Yep.

Lalo Schifrin's work stands on its own. Amazing stuff!

[Broken_Hero]

42. ...........

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_XbICwVJ6I

[Drunken Irishman]

44. Night Court.

[TrogL]

46. Dragnet

Not a song per-se but it matches the voice-over nicely.

[JoePhilly]

49. Cheers

[cordelia]

52. The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNVz4TaddTA

[TheCentepedeShoes]

53. MASH is mine

My dog's the one at the closing credits of NBC Nightly News, cause he knows that means suppertime.

[applegrove]

54. Hawaii Five-0 hands down.

[bertha katzenengel]

55. Hello world, here's the song that we're singin' - come on, get happy!

Psst. Hey, youngsters. See the red-haired kid on the left? That's Danny Bonaduce.

[DarkTirade]

58. I love the theme song to all three of Joss Whedon's shows.

I think I like the theme to Angel best, but that's just because I love the sound of the cello. If my fingers weren't so damn short I would have given up violin for it years ago.

[KamaAina]

59. WBAL-TV (Ch. 11, Baltimore) news, early to mid-'70s

the closing theme was Mason Williams' Classical Gas!

[Generic Brad]

60. Magnum, P.I.

Now I've got that running through my head. Thanks.

[carly denise pt deux]

61. hawaii 5-0 and Miami Vice

Carly

[RushIsRot]

64. St. Elsewhere and Newhart!

[swag]

65. Porky Pig

your favorite ham

[Lethe]

66. Metalocalypse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcCwtHYZVA

[Ivan Sputnik]

67. Twin Peaks

in the instrumental category. But there are SO many great ones.

[Duer 157099]

68. Dexter n/t

[DFW]

69. I'm with Strawman: Rockford Files

[idlisambar]

70. miami vice n/t

[fujiyama]

71. Perfect Strangers

"Stanging Tall" was the name of it I think.

I love the Family Guy with the really long opening theme songs for sitcoms.

[6000eliot]

73. Barney Miller

And Sanford and Son. They both bring the funky.

[Fox Mulder]

74. Try and guess my favorite.

I also like the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

[Va Lefty]

75. "Chico and the Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXdYrERzrWg

[rug]

76. Greeeeen Acres

is the place to be

[nytemare]

77. Alice and the Addams Family.

[yellowdogintexas]

78. Hill Street Blues, Taxi, Northern Exposure, Twin Peaks, Wings (first season)

come to mind right away.

Wings really isn't fair because it was a lovely piece by Schubert
But for themes actually written for a show..

oh yeah, MASH