How well do you know your TV themes?

As we continue our quest to identify the Top 10 TV Theme Songs of the 80s, here's a mental exercise to keep you on top of your game.

It's tampabay.com's TV Theme Song Quiz! Click here to play. It does include shows from outside the 80s, so prepare to stretch yourself beyond normal boundaries.

And by the way, aren't you glad Rerun and "What's Happening!!" were '70s phenomenons? Because now you won't be taunted this its theme song. But go ahead -- click this anyway.

Ever wonder what happened to Fred "Rerun" Berry? He struggled with alcoholism in the '80s before losing 100 pounds and becoming a minister in the '90s. Berry died in 2003 at age 52 while recovering from a stroke.

Comments

[Marissa]

Steve, this is groovy. Last night I posted an 80s tv theme song quiz in the previous post. I'll take your quiz and see how well I do.

As a side note: a co-worker listens to a cd that's jam packed with TV theme songs as a means to get a recharge at the end of the night. She'd probably ace the quiz.

[Walter Cox]

9. I didn't know the difference between Falcon Crest and Dynasty.

[jane]

Ten for ten. Boo. Yah.

I'm not sure whether to be proud or embarrassed.

[Marissa]

The first time I took it, I hadn't noticed the "listen" in the TV. So, I failed miserably. I was thinking the questins were frightfully misleading. DUH!
It helps if you read AND listen. Sheesh.
Parent/teacher conference this morning has my mind wiped out.

[Bassnote]

8/10 Dynasty and Mannix got me.

[jane]

A common problem, Bassnote. Joan Collins and Mike Connors can be tricky. ;-)

[aces88ss]

10 for 10...But I feel a little like I just finished the TV guide crossword puzzle.

BUT...did we ever see the Partridge family backyard??? Garage and Keith's room (never Laurie's), but I don't think we ever saw the Back yard

[jane]

TV Guide Crossword Puzzle -- haha! Good one, aces88ss. (and I agree, actually...)

You know, I don't think we ever did see the Partridge backyard, now that I think about it. We saw many things -- including Reuben's bachelor pad, if I'm not mistaken -- but never the back yard. Even when that annoying neighborhood kid Rickey would pop by to sing a song.

[Spears]

I got a 9. I missed Mannix.

[Big Tex]

9 of 10 Mannix, Ironsides, Barnaby Jones - all those shows run together for me. Remember when they'd come back from commerical and the graphic would say "Act II"?!?

[jane]

And they were always a "Quinn Martin Production."

[Tom]

10 out of 10. But now I have "What's Happening!" stuck in my head. Ah, the price we pay...

[Spears]

Did anyone besides me see the opening credits for What's Happening?

It's disturbing. Possible the most incredulous opening credits in TV history.

And that's not the whiskey talkin!

[David-b]

I just pulled it up on youtube. Just another one of the many things they would never be able to show these days and you wonder how they did it then.

I got an 8

Mannix and Dynasty
(but a few lucky guesses to be fair)

[jane]

Incredulous? Absolutely. Gotta love looking at what was commonplace 30 years ago with the eyes and sensibility of today.

'Twas a different time indeed.

[Ian from Down Under]

Hey Riss, I hope your parent behaved themselves at the Parent/Teacher conference. Half of these shows never made it to Australia. Thank heavens I don't get paid on the number of correct answers. I'd be starving by now.

[Marissa]

The teachers were getting unruly, Ian. They seemed 'happy' which always makes me suspicious. It all went well and the man-cub got rave reviews and relatively good grades. And I got oodles of compliments on my fancy-pants eyewear. It's one perk of working where I do.

[Jeff in Cuba]

10 for 10. I didn't really recognize 'Mannix', but I knew the other three, so I was able to sort it out.

Welcome to Geektown, population: me.

[jane]

Not so fast there, Jeff.

I'm the reigning Miss Geektown *does pageant wave* so you're not alone.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Jane,

They're probably more card-carrying Geektown residents than we know.

Here's what I DO know: The most response I've ever got to one of my radio shows was when I played the theme from 'S.W.A.T.'

[jane]

Theme from S.W.A.T. -- that's great. Rhythm Heritage's one and only hit (I think... just speculatin' here.)

And I suspect you are correct about the number of Geektown residents -- perhaps it's time for a census.

[DoctorDrew]

9/10!!!

Dynasty/Falcon Crest/Dallas/The Colbys/Hotel - damn you!! Weren't these all the same show?! How do you expect me to tell the theme music apart? Especially if it was all written in 5 minutes on a street corner by Bill Conti.

I think of Bill Conti at this time like an old skit of Picasso I saw - Picasso was in a restaurant and people would come up to him with money and he would doodle on a napkin and hand it to them. A masterpiece! Conti set up a piano in front of the major studios with a large tip jar; executives would come by and pay him for a theme song to their cr@ppy nighttime soap opera.

Wow, I had no idea I felt so strongly about this. Thanks for the free therapy.

And it is listed in the quiz, but Rhythm Heritage also did the music to Barretta - sung by the Candyman himself in later season. Initially I believe it was an instrumental. And that's the name of that tune.

[Al]

I got 8......pretty good for someone who's never seen the vast majority of those shows.

Not too shabby.

[Shelly]

10/10, baby! I'll be joining Jane and Jeff in Cuba in Geektown. And, now the Rockford Files theme is running in my head. I loved that show! And, btw...theme from Taxi was a song we had to play in middle school band.