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TOP 5 TV theme songs...

J.T.B. said:
Pretty tough to cut it down to five. After much thought, in chronological order:

1. The Andy Griffith Show. I don't have much to say about this one, it's just perfect.

2. Emergency! A loud, brash big band theme from Nelson Riddle. It is all action, from the days when themes were meant to be big and bold. It also has instrumental siren and EKG-type sounds thrown in.

3. The Rockford Files. Somehow, the harmonica and synth combination perfectly captures the laid-back private eye in bustling L.A. The best version is after season three, with the hot Larry Carlton guitar solo. The first TV show theme I remember hearing on the radio.

4. Taxi. A simple, bittersweet flute melody leading into a mellow, jazzy electric piano theme. It established a real heart for a hilarious comedy.

5. Hill Street Blues. Another Mike Post classic. A halting and wistful piano intro makes the whole thing. An evocative, melancholy theme that set the tone for a show that was serious and sometimes sad but never a downer.

Runners up:

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. I always used to hear how much money Paul Anka made from this, and he deserved it. When you heard that big brass section blasting out the theme song, you knew you were going to get some big entertainment and it was worth staying up late.

Hawaii Five-O. Another iconic theme, you can't hear those big drums without thinking of the breaking wave, that huge zoom-in to Jack Lord, and those guys paddling that outrigger canoe at the end.

Perry Mason. The tense strings and stings at the beginning used to be a little scary to me as a kid, but are a nice set-up for the requisite murder, then the theme rolls on catchily and confidently, as Perry inevitably rolls through the court case.

--Justin
Click to expand...

All great pics Justin. I have gotten five seasons of Emergency now on DVD, and my kids love this show. I also think it is very educational in a strange way. They saw an episode with a kid playing with matches. They saw another one where a kid dies after taking poison. Very tragic for a kid to see that, but wow, my son sure was spooked, which was a GOOD thing I think. He knows now not to drink ANYTHING unless we give it to him. Hell, WINDEX my look tasty to a kid..so its good they learn not to touch anything unless mom/dad/older sister are there to make sure it is safe...

Rob
 
RobertScorpio said:
What are your five favorite TV theme songs??? Here is my list...

#1. Hawaii Five-0. Not only my favorite theme song, but by far, the best title sequence

#2. How The West Was Won/The MaCahans. A short lived western from the late 70s, with a great theme.

#3. Star Trek TOS

#4. the original Battlestar Galactica..love that theme song!! Kicks ass over the sleep inducing nuBSG new age dribble...

#5. Three's Company...come and Knock on my door!!!


Okay..what are some of yours???


Robert Scor...burp...Robert Scorpio
Click to expand...


Nice choices and nice topic, Rob!

I'll go with....

1. Star Trek (No bloody A,B,C or D....) - The theme song that defines sci-fi.

2, Hawaii 5-0 -almost #1 for me but I'm a Trekkie (not a Trekker)! Have you watched both these series on CBS Video online, btw?

3. Monday Night Football - The classic theme found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atx1DPFMdSU I LOVE the National Football League...the league where they play......for pay!

4. WKRP in Cincinnati - Just beautiful. As God as my witness....I thought turkeys could fly...

5. Rockford Files- Just very cool.

That's mine. Honorable mention to M*A*S*H.
 
TheLonelySquire said:
RobertScorpio said:
What are your five favorite TV theme songs??? Here is my list...

#1. Hawaii Five-0. Not only my favorite theme song, but by far, the best title sequence

#2. How The West Was Won/The MaCahans. A short lived western from the late 70s, with a great theme.

#3. Star Trek TOS

#4. the original Battlestar Galactica..love that theme song!! Kicks ass over the sleep inducing nuBSG new age dribble...

#5. Three's Company...come and Knock on my door!!!


Okay..what are some of yours???


Robert Scor...burp...Robert Scorpio
Click to expand...


Nice choices and nice topic, Rob!

I'll go with....

1. Star Trek (No bloody A,B,C or D....) - The theme song that defines sci-fi.

2, Hawaii 5-0 -almost #1 for me but I'm a Trekkie (not a Trekker)! Have you watched both these series on CBS Video online, btw?

3. Monday Night Football - The classic theme found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atx1DPFMdSU I LOVE the National Football League...the league where they play......for pay!

4. WKRP in Cincinnati - Just beautiful. As God as my witness....I thought turkeys could fly...

5. Rockford Files- Just very cool.

That's mine. Honorable mention to M*A*S*H.
Click to expand...

Thanks Squire..

And yes, I love MNF theme song. I wish MADDEN X360 would use it. Do you remember watching when they announced the killing of John Lennon? I do...

Rob
 
Some of my favorite themes in no particular order:

1: Rhythm And Police (From the Japanese TV show Odoru Daisosassen (a.k.a Bayside Shakedown))
2: Quantum Leap
3: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
4: Millennium
5: The A-Team


And to Greg Cox, I remember Cleopatra 2525. Loved the theme song. Even bought the whole series on DVD. Glad you remembered!
 
Last edited:
Hmmm....so many to narrow down...I guess my favorites are the following.

1. LA Law
2. ST DS9
3. Knight Rider
4. Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers
5. Gummi Bears
 
I'll go with:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
True Blood
The Office
The Simpsons
Doctor Who
 
Hawaii 5-0
The Bob Newhart Show
SWAT
The Greatest American Hero (and George Costanza's answering machine version)
Original Battlestar Galactica

Honorable mention to Barney Miller
 
Ahh... sweet necromancy.

Law & Order: Trial by Jury/Criminal Intent
True Blood
Chuck
NCIS
Star Trek: TNG

just a few I always hum...
 
The Flintstones
Green Acres
Beverly Hillbillies
Petticoat Junction
The Jetsons

^^^I think you could make a case that these shows would have flopped without a good theme song.


And of course Gilligan's Island, Greatest American Hero, The Jeffersons and Mary Tyler Moore have all been mentioned.

But what about All in the Family? Great show and great theme song.
 
Did I miss it or has no one mentioned "The Big Bang Theory"? If no one has, I'm really surprised. I adore that one. Can't get enough of it. I get so excited every time it comes on these days.

A few shows I love have themes I find really annoying and almost always skip. For example, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Xena: Warrior Princess".

Here are a few shows I love with theme songs I love just as much:

1. "Batman: The Animated Series"
2. "Tale Spin"
3. "Tiny Toon Adventures"
4. "Animaniacs"
5. "Darkwing Duck".

Cartoons rule. :D In live action, I love "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "The X-Files", and "The Office" theme songs most after "The Big Bang Theory".
 
Gilligan's Island
The Odd Couple
The Andy Griffith Show
The Rockford Files
The Brady Bunch



I was pleased to see someone else say Rockford Files. I had the 45 single when I was a kid, and wore it out.

My list makes me feel old.
 
Archer's Song
Stargate Atlantis
Star Trek Voyager
NCIS
Castle

ETA: I did my list without "cheating" (i.e.: reading other lists) and I can't believe now how many I would have added if I could have done WAY MORE than 5.
 
Last edited:
1. Mission: Impossible
2. Knight Rider
3. Airwolf
4. Star Trek: TOS
5. NYPD Blue

Honorable mention: The Winds of War/War and Remembrance. I didn't really think it was fair to include this (it would have been #2 if I had) because it's a miniseries, but Bob Cobert's haunting theme song really stays with you.
 
Arrested Development
Battlestar Galactica (seasons 2-4)
"Frolic" - the main title from Curb Your Enthusiasm
John Adams (the HBO miniseries)
Dallas
 
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