What's your favorite TV theme song from any decade?

[Tom_Foolery]

I always liked the Peter Gunn theme.

[Archae]

1. Miami Vice

Crappy show, killer theme tune by Jan Hammer.

[Nay]

20. My first choice also! I watched the beginning just to hear the music.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Law and Order

but maybe what I'm really doing is watching for the photo of Sam Waterston to come on the screen....but Mike Post, who wrote many TV themes, has a winner imho.

[Endangered Specie]

42. Or the picture of the German blond babe

in my case :)

[Radical Activist]

59. The Muppet Show!

I used to get that song stuck in my head for days. uh oh...

[flamingyouth]

3. Hawaii Five-O n/t

[crimson333]

4. Barney Miller

.

[qwertyMike]

24. ditto

[Seeking Serenity]

52. me, too. Great bass at beginning

[cedahlia]

55. Kick ass!

That theme song rocks! As a kid, I always hated the actual show (thought it was boooring) but I always loved the theme song, and would rock out to it on the living room floor (okay, I still might today if no one's looking.) :D

[thestatusquo]

5. Fraggle Rock

like a true child of the eighties.....

[BlackVelvetElvis]

6. The Jetsons. n/t

[CanuckAmok]

62. Best part of "The Jetsons" theme is the lyrics:

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


Simple, efficient, perfect, nearly zen-like.

[Taverner]

7. Family Ties

[Deja Q]

8. So many choices, so I'll break 'em down...

American: Toss-up between The Rockford Files and The Facts of Life (season 1 only)

Britain: Doctor Who

Best ever, period? Doctor Who

[ClassWarrior]

13. The BBC had one hot in-house theme factory...

...didn't they?

[ClassWarrior]

9. Hawaii Five-0 is the true mother of all theme songs...

...but my darkhorse favorite is the Garry Shandling Show's theme. It was cool in the same self-referential, break-the-fourth-wall way the show was.

[SaveElmer]

23. Amen to Hawaii 5-0

Nothing comes close in my opinion

[TheMightyFavog]

47. Gotta love the 5-0 theme!

They just played it on KZRO on Dick Clark's memories show.

[bucknaked]

10. Diff'rent Strokes! How many of you knew that Alan Thicke sang that?

No, actually, my favorite would be Moonlighting. Al Jarreau's one of my all-time favorite singers.

[NightTrain]

11. Probably "Sanford and Son."

It's just so damned funky!!!

[guitar man]

17. Me too

I love the Sandford and Son theme.The B-3 in it kills! Of course, it's hard to go wrong with Quincy Jones.

[Teddy_Salad]

12. Get Smart and Dr. Who

.

[terrya]

14. "Mannix". A great, jazzy Lalo Schifrin theme.

My favorite television theme.

[Career Prole]

15. The closing theme from "Then Came Bronson"

Close Theme: "Long Lonesome Highway"
End Credits; Jim Hendricks, who penned this song, was a
Greenwich Village songwriter and friend of actor Michael
Parks who went on to form "The Lovin' Spoonful" group;
He was NOT the acid rock guitarist "Jimmie Hendrix"]

Composer: James Richard ("Jim") Hendricks (BMI)

Orig. Publishers:

2001 Publishers: EMI-Hastings Catalog, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc.
of New York, NY;
EMI Sosaha Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc.
of New York, NY; and
Jonathan Three Music Co. (BMI)
c/o La Strada Entertainment Co.
of Hewlett, NY

Copyright Date: May 29, 1969; Eu 139 764.
Renewal Date: Feb. 10, 1997; RE-752-684.
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/thenCameBronson.html

[screwfacecapone]

16. my favs

spider-man (90's cartoon)
justice league
invoke (gundam seed)

[Whitacre D_WI]

18. The Adventures of Pete and Pete.

"Hey Sandy" is just a great song, TV or not TV.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

22. I miss that show.

It was hysterical...
Do you remember "You Can't Do That on Television," and Hang in There?, and that Canadian show where they always said "...sucks hose water?" If you remember the name I'd really appreciate the heads up. I watched way too much tv when I was kid. Just like now. LOL
Duckie

[Whitacre D_WI]

28. I don't remember the "sucks hose water" thing.

I liked YCDTOTV, though.

"Pete and Pete" was one of the only good things on TV when I was in college.

[Jade Fox]

19. Rockford Files--by Mike Post

Also, the one from Perry Mason.

Worst: The song from "Friends". I have to hit the remote fast when that
comes on!

[elvisbear]

21. Has to be the Monkees.

Favorite show on Saturday mornings when I was a kid.

[SarahB]

25. The Jeffersons

Or The Love Boat (so cheesy, it's great).

[pagerbear]

26. The only one on this list I find myself humming sometimes

But I also love My Three Sons!

[arwalden]

27. Bewitched

[terrya]

29. I didn't like it when they changed it slightly later on...

They jazzed it up a little after Dick Sargent joined the cast.

[arwalden]

30. The Theme Changed Very Little... What Changed Was The Intro

that was the year they had a voice-over say "Elizabeth Montgomery in... Bewitched"

Now what DID change was the them music for the closing credits. The tune was the same, but over time the tempo and style changed slightly. Also the "bumper" music and the "wrap-up" music changed from season to season.

-- Allen

[terrya]

31. I defer to the master. :-)

You're right.

Thank you.

Terry

[arwalden]

34. LOL...

Not really a "master" just an avid and devoted fan.

By the way... did I tell you yet: when Mike and I build our next house... it's going to be an EXACT replica of the Samantha & Darrin's house on 1164 Morning Glory Circle.

[terrya]

35. Cool! I always liked the Stephens' house. Nice and comfortable. Just don't

move next door to really nosy neighbors. :-)

[solinvictus]

32. Da-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na...

BATMANNNNNN!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. Super 6

Obscure cartoon from the early 70s. (on edit: it originally aired in 1966 in the US) I'll be REALLY surprised if anyone remembers it.

[WI_DEM]

36. The theme to the Dick Van Dyke Show

also Andy Griffith Show--what is the whistling theme called, "The Fishing hole?" anyway they both actually were written by the same man from what I've heard.

[Servo300]

37. Hill Street Blues

Close behind:

Dallas
Rockford Files
The Munsters
Shaft
St. Elsewhere
Newhart


Probably could think of a few, given the time. I tend to prefer instrumental TV themes over vocals.

[ldf]

38. perry mason

but from the movies, not the tv show.

[UnAmericanJoe]

39. Kids in The Hall n/t

[gmoney]

40. 60 Minutes?

[LDS Jock]

41. Mary Tyler Moore

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day,
And suddenly make it all seem worth-while?
Well it's you girl and you should know it,
With each glance and every little movement,
You've shown it.

Love is all around no need to waste it.
You can have the time,
Why don't you take it?
You're gonna make it afterall
You're gonna make it afterall

Then throw your hat in the air!!!

[NMDemDist2]

43. back when Dennis Miller was funny

I loved the theme from his HBO show

[Endangered Specie]

44. Star Trek: The Next Generation

loyalty is as loyalty goes.

[Deja Q]

76. The theme used from Star Trek: The Motion Picture...

:evilgrin:

[Endangered Specie]

78. But But but...

it says TV shows ;), if were considering movies, then its Star Trek: VIII (First Contact)

[Speck Tater]

45. Star Trek DS9 first season

[carpetbagger]

46. Addams Family or Sabotage.

If it has to be real, I'll take The Addams Family.

But damn don't I find myself channel surfing for reruns of Sabotage.

(Sabotage was a Beastie Boys song whose video was a faux TV show introduction, the "show" being a take-off of 70's cop shows with guys with big square sideburns and big square ties driving big square cars around California.)

[SayitAintSo]

48. Andy Griffith Show ... a tune that sticks with you ...

[Bill of Rights]

49. Perry Mason

I love that song, but don't know the name of it.

[Gildor Inglorion]

50. "Rawhide"

I loved all those singing western theme songs. "Have Gun, Will Travel," was good, too!

[Seeking Serenity]

51. Mission: Impossible and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Some fine Earl Scruggs banjo pickin' on the latter.

[President Jesus]

61. I second Mission: Impossible

ps Peter Graves, on board!
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=CA&last=Graves&first=Peter

[St. Jarvitude]

53. "Get Smart"

Geez, I'm not even an old foagie and I know that one. I'm very surprised not to see it up here - it's a very popular and commonly-played tune, it's just not always associated with the show.

[Bossy Monkey]

54. Wild, Wild West

I was always agitating to get the director to let us play this in marching band-- but no doubt we couldn't have handled it.:)

[cedahlia]

56. A few from the 80's: Knight Rider...

Magnum P.I. and Simon and Simon. Loved all of those as a kid.

[flaminbats]

57. sorry....Always loved the theme for the Prisoner!

I heard this on an 80's sitcom...but it's not the theme
Guilty till proven guilty by the Boomtown Rats!

Did you slip the noose when the beast broke loose
The elephants graveyard ain't the place to be
And white turns black, dies of heart attack
The elephants graveyard needs the change of scene.
You got the money, but who needs the tension
And fear's no cheaper on the old age pension
There's just one thing that I forgot to mention
What've you got to lose when you know

You're guilty 'till proven guilty
Isn't that the law
Guilty 'till proven guilty
That's what we saw

Do the blue rinse shuffle with the beach boy muscle
Waiting all your life for this golf cart life
You see the judge and then you check the jury
She does her hair and calls the lawyer curti
It's Disneyland under martial law
Titch on the TV tell me what you saw

They wre guilty 'till proven guilty etc....

Justice isn't blind
It just looks the other way
Not from want of trying
I have nothing left to say

The sky burns bright, 24 hour night
And you don't pay death duties when your on death duty
You came here looking for the peace and quiet
The healthy air and the healthy diet
The sea's so calm but the street's a riot
Taken years off your life when you've no years left to give
Yeah you're

Guilty 'till proven guilty etc.

Shame shame shimmy shame.
Shame shame shimmy shame.

[patriotvoice]

58. A-Team

EOM

[AmericanErrorist]

60. You'll make my head explode

Anime:
Cowboy Bebop
The Big O
Lupin the 3rd (The one that's on the Adult Swim broadcast)
Trigun
Ultimate Muscle (US Theme)

Sitcom:
MASH
All in the Family
The Simpsons
WKRP In Cincinnati
Night Court
The Red Green Show

Adult Swim:
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Bonus points: Dr. Weird's theme)
Sealab 2021
The Brak Show
Harvey Birman, Atty at Law

British:
Monty Python's Flying Circus (Sousa's "Liberty Bell March")
Red Dwarf (especially the guitar solo)
Coronation Street
Emmerdale
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Keeping up Appearances
Robot Wars

Variety:
SNL (early 90's version)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Royal Canadian Air Farce (Barenaked Ladies version)
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Night with Conan O'Brian
The Daily Show ("Dog on Fire", Bonus points given to the newsy music before it)

News:
CBC News: Canada Now (the first one)
CBC News: The National (the previous one)
NHK Newswatch (the current one)
Newshour with Jim Lerher
BBC News (on BBC America)
DW Journal (the previous version)
ITV Evening News (the previous version)

[texas1928]

63. My Wife and I like the original theme

For Enterprise, not this slow version they did this year.

[Dogmudgeon]

64. My Mother the Car

Mediocre TV show circa 1968, great theme song -- a folk duet.

My Mother the Car
By Paul Hampton

Everybody knows in a second life, we all come back sooner or later.
As anything from a pussycat to a man eating alligator.
Well you all may think my story, is more fiction than it's fact.
But believe it or not my mother dear decided she'd come back.

As a car ...
She's my very own guiding star.
A 1928 Porter.
That's my mother dear.
'Cause she helps me through everything I do
And I'm so glad she's near.

My Mother the Car.
My Mother the Car.

IIRC there was a second and third verse, but I haven't yet found them.

--bkl
Your Mother's mileage may vary.

[Kickin_Donkey]

65. Rockford Files, by far ...

Hogan's Heroes theme song was pretty good. Anyone remember Barretta's theme song? Not my favorite, but a classic ...

[Dogmudgeon]

66. Branded

I always felt sorry for Chuck Connors' character ... it was so unfair. But war sucks, and a few years later, I saw Kubrick's Paths of Glory.

--bkl

Branded
(Dominic Frontiere / Alan Alch)

He was innocent
Not a charge was true
And they say he ran away

Branded, marked with a coward's brand
What do you do when you're branded, and you know you're a man?

All but one man died
There at Bitter Creek
And they say he ran away

Branded, scorned as the one who ran.
What do you do when you're branded, and you know you're a man?

Wherever you go, for the rest of your life
You must prove -- you're a man

(see also http://www.geocities.com/tvshowthemelyrics/)

[VolcanoJen]

67. "The Munsters." Awful show, kick-ass theme song.

:+

[fudge stripe cookays]

75. Ya beat me to it!

I love the surf guitar!

And I'll be playing it at my Halloween party!

[RebelOne]

68. The theme song from "Rawhide."

[MichaelUK]

69. Airwolf

[LWolf]

70. Suicide is painless

MASH

I can't believe no one else posted this one!

[Dan-W]

71. Rawhide,

Opening theme to "Gidget" (I used to sing this one to my daughter, Bridgid, when she was a little girl).

Closing theme to "Make Room For Daddy".

-Dw

[jpgray]

72. No love for Sanford and Son?

Bum bum BA dum... bum bum BA dum buhda bum. :D

[Deja Q]

73. That one WAS cool... (like Rockford Files in a way...) And not to forget

Fat Albert and Knight Rider...

Oh, the days when people created original works for tv shows! :D

[newyawker99]

74. A tie between Hawaii 5-0 and Green Acres.

:-)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

77. Perry Mason (the one from the 1950s) as well as

Rawhide
The Avengers
The Man from UNCLE
Mission Impossible
East Side West Side
Hill Street Blues
Six Feet Under
Secret Agent

[johnnie]

79. Courtship of Eddie's father

I just like Nielson. But I do like the song, it takes me back.

[2bfree]

80. Cheers!

I'll add that one since it hadn't been mentioned before. Of course Rockford and MASH are my top picks. Another one is Welcome Back Kotter.