Top 5 TV theme songs, read the rules before posting.

I was reading up on the whole DVD thing and wonder why for such a hit show (And like it or not, Baywatch was a hit show) that lasted as long as it did and rose David Hasselhoff to stardom, did the DVD release become so god awful. Was it all about copyright issues or was there something else.

 

Using the rules given, these are my five favorites, defined as songs I will actually listen to on my iPod, etc., as opposed to just enjoying as intros when I watch shows:

1. Batman theme (a classic, covered by everyone from Duane Eddy to the Who to Iggy Pop to the Jam);
2. the Banana Splits theme (I put this on near the end of a frat party back in college in the 80s-every person in the place went nuts);
3. Spider-man theme (especially the Ramones cover);
4. Dukes of Hazzard (I was a fan of Waylon even before the show aired);
5. the Monkees theme/Rawhide (tie)

 

Greatest American Hero
Danger Man/ Secret Agent Man
Good Times
One Day at Time
...hmmm...Jefferson, Friends, Golden Girls, WKRP etc have all been mentioned, so I'll throw in a childhood favorite: "Maude."

 

Speaking of WKRP, like a lot of people I assumed for years that the singer of the opening credits was actually Richard Sanders, the guy who played Les Nessman. However, it isn't.

 

If the list had gone to ten, and considering my top five was actually a top six, I'd have thrown in (in no particular order):
WKRP
Greatest American Hero
Mary Tyler Moore
Ally McBeal

 

That's a rumor I never heard till now. Hmm. The voice sounds absolutely nothing like Sanders.

Justin

 

The Sopranos (how has no one mentioned this one?!)
The Wire
The Shield
The 4400
BSG

 

Which "Wire" season? I'm partial to the Season 2 Tom Waits original, but I had that record back in the day.

Justin

 

So looking over people's choices, were the 70's and 80's the "Golden Age" of TV theme songs?

 

Yes, I think so. There are a few notable exceptions of course; I hadn't thought of Big Bang Theory, but that is a great example of a recent theme song that stands out. But it seems like so many current theme songs don't include lyrics anymore, much like they no longer include the introductions to the cast.

 

I think season four's might be my favorite. Best season, too. All the versions are good, though.

 

I would have but I didn't count songs that weren't written specifically for the show. Same reason I didn't use the theme from Boss or the various Who songs featured in various CSI shows.

You'd be half right. The 70s and 60s are the golden age of TV theme songs.

 

If the requirements are that we have to hear lyrics being sung in the theme?

1. The Greatest American Hero
2. Laverne and Shirley
3. One Day at a Time
4. Perfect Strangers
5. Happy Days

The rest of my Top Ten would be:

6. Mystery Science Theater 3000
7. Cheers
8. Green Acres
9. The Addams Family
10. It's Garry Shandling's Show

Moonlighting just barely misses the Top Ten, coming in at #11 on my personal favorites list.

 

My two all-time favorite theme songs from British television series:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3F37kQl9Uw&feature=related[/yt]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCb1pRczfP4[/yt]

 

Moonlighting
Family Matters-first season(What a Wonderful World), not that crappy song in later years
Crime Story (Runaway)
Ed -season 1,3,4,5 (Next Year)
Bosom Buddies ( My Life sung by Tom Hanks)

 

I didn't know Tom Hanks covered Billy Joel for Bosom Buddies.

 

I don't think he did. I think it was a studio musician

 

A recurring, er, theme here:

1) The Mysterious Cities of Gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq5Y_ogiyi0

2) ThunderCats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qd_IsxgAf8

3) Ulysses 31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ4c1X5ene8

4) Dogtanian & the Three Muskethounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xO72s5EBY

5) Around The World with Willy Fog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nqN_7eGItM

Honourable mention: The Bots Master

 

This is fairly easy for me:
1. Firefly
2. CSI: Miami
3. One Tree Hill
4. Las Vegas
5. Smallville

 

This is hard.

Today, 1. Big Bang Theory
2. Scrubs
3. Gilligan's Island
4. Beverly Hillbillies
5. The Flintstones

The 4400 almost made the list. With competition from Dangermouse.