Best TV Theme Songs That Didn't Make My List

When I gathered with a bunch of experts at the Peabody Awards offices in the University of Georgia earlier this year to discuss the state of the TV industry, we dissected one topic that wasn't quite heady enough to make our final report.

The death of the TV theme song.

It was a notion which stuck with me for a while, so when we started talking in Floridian about how digital technology was killing off all these cool pop culture creations -- liner notes and album covers, for instance -- I thought again about how cool the greatest TV themes are and how producers' fear of viewers' itchy remote fingers have nearly killed off the form.

Here's the story I cobbled together for Floridian today on the whole issue, complete with my list of the coolest TV themes ever. If you think you know this stuff as well as we do, then check out our online quiz, and test your mettle.

Here, for the blog, are the coolest TV theme songs which didn't make my top 10 list:

1) The Wire: Down in the Hole -- For my top Ten list, this one went down to the wire; I basically had to choose between The Sopranos' percolating Woke Up This Morning and The Wire's bluesy lament, written by the music biz's master of stylish decay, Tom Waits. Though I had to go with the Jersey boys on this one -- I like my health too much, thank you -- I still have a soft spot for this muscular tune, which producers re-record every year to fit the season's theme. For the final season starting Jan. 6, Steve Earle, who also appears on camera as an earnest addiction counselor, does the honors. Extra credit: Hear Waits' version for Season 2 here.   

2) The Mission: Impossible Theme -- The slickest TV espionage theme for TV's slickest espionage show. The coolest thing about the '60s -- besides The Beatles, Black Power-era James Brown and the space program, of course -- was pop culture's fascination with spy stuff. And any series cool enough to feature Peter Graves, Greg Morris, Martin Landau, Leonard Nimoy, Steven Hill and Barbara Bain had to have a kickass theme. Thanks to Lalo Schifrin -- the man who also gave us scores for Dirty Harry, Cool Hand Luke and Bullitt -- they got one. Extra credit: Hear the update by U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. here.

3) Baretta: Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow -- I'm a sucker for Sammy Davis Jr., '70s showbiz hokum and faded Rat Pack cool, so this was one of my favorite TV themes growing up. Even by then, Robert Blake was a quirky, tough-talking crackpot with a self-destructive charm that lept through the screen. And Sammy's Vegas-ready tribute to the street cop's life was picture perfect for this odd mix of urban grit and showbiz-smooth. Extra credit: See the show's opening credit's here.

4) The Good Times Theme -- This was the first TV show which felt halfway realistic to a young kid  growing up in a poor corner of Gary, Ind. I didn't have a father at home, but I loved the idea of a being raised by man like James Evans -- proud, hardworking and a little bewildered by a world which always seemed to hand him the stick's short end. Good times, indeed. Extra credit: Hear the gospelized theme here; extra points if you can tell me the lyrics after "scratchin' and survivin.'" 

So, blogreaders, what are your favorites?

   

Comments

[Jim Johnson]

I will disagree with your assessment that theme shows have been trimmed or shunned because of a perceived impatience on the part of the viewer. Rather, by cutting 30-60 seconds from the opening of the show, producers are able to offer the same amount entertainment and still sneak in another 1-2 commercials.

The interesting thing is the new trend to 61-62 minute long shows, resulting in prime time shows starting at 9:01pm or 10:02pm...

Moreover, if producers want to keep people after an opening theme, they can always bump the first commercial break a bit - having action start right after a theme will keep viewers. Most people are accustomed to the fact that an opening theme also means a commercial break will follow.

Just my two cents.

[former tampanian]

Dude-
Not even a mention of Family Ties? I loved the quiz; got 9 out of 10, missing the Mannix-Baretta-Ironside theme having never watched any of those as a young tot. You should have your boy Daly link over, since his followgers would love the subject.

[Howard Troxler]

Okay, showing my age, I am a sucker for the theme to "Mannix" (CBS, 1967-1975), like Mission: Impossible a Bruce Geller production. The opening split-screen montage, the sans-serif typeface for the credits... it screams the late '60s.

[Chuck Welch]

I'm sad to say I'm a walking Rhino Record collection.

Gilligan's Island -- for singing the pilot and for adding "the Professor and Mary Ann" in the second season.

M*A*S*H -- Of course.

Square Pegs -- 80s Pop Band The Waitresses

WKRP in Cincinnati -- Since it's about the only music you'll hear on the show anymore

Star Trek - Except when Uhura sang the lyrics

Bonanza -- Except for when the Cartwrights sang the lyrics

It's best I don't go on...

[Mariella]

How could the Mission Impossible tune — with its ultra-cool 5/4 tempo — not make your top ten?!

And you must've forgotten — just for a moment — Andy Griffith's whistled melody. And Perry Mason. (Even if you're too young for those shows in prime time, you must have seen them in re-runs after school on rainy days?) And the Hawaii 5-0 theme.

Once, paddling our tandem kayak in Florida Bay against hard wind and waves, I began to get a little panicky as it seemed we weren't making any headway and we might not make it back to the beach before dark. My husband sang out (loudly and badly) the Hawaii 5-0 theme: "na-na-na-na — NA, NA..." complete with silly percussion noises just like the opening scene with its Hawaiians paddling in the surf. I started laughing too hard to be scared, and we managed to enjoy what hadn't seemed so fun before the singing.

[The Carl]

My vote for the most overlooked, underrated TV theme of all time: Del Shannon's remake of "Runaway" for the NBC's short-lived "Crime Story" in the 80s.

[Chris]

My favorite themes are:

M*A*S*H
Full House
Matlock

and since I'm a total news geek, channel 13's old "Impact" theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHiLC00h-FI

[Karla Stahl]

Hey, can't BELIEVE you left out The Mod Squad - the coolest show ever about former drug addicts recruited to work for the cops - loved that show! all the cop shows are my favorites - brings back memories of watching all that stuff with my dad - he even looked like Kojak. There's a TV Tunes CD collection of which I am the proud owner of the early decades - scored a 9 on the test - missed the What's Happening theme song - not one of my faves

[Clark]

The theme from the original "Kolchak; The Night Stalker". It starts out as a lighthearted whistling tune and then quickly turns very dark and foreboding with swooping cello runs. Perfect theme song for that show and it still gives me chills!

[Adam]

The winner is:

"Believe It Or Not (The Theme From 'The Greatest American Hero')" by Joey Scarbury

THE best!

[V. Wolf]

Two classics that got past you all:

THEME FROM THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (LOVE IS ALL AROUND)

&
THE SIMPSONS

[GLW]

Just read your acticle in todays newspaper. My top theme tunes include Hawaii 5-O, Odd Couple, Perry Mason, Mission Impossible, Mister Ed, Bonanza, Andy Griffith as well as Munsters/Adams Family, Mash and All in the Family. I know I am dating myself but they are memorable parts of my childhood and young adult growing up. Oh, anybody remember "Peter Gun"?

[Michael]

you gotta love "Peter Gunn", but,in my opinion, the greatest TV theme song is also one of the great songs, period: "Back In The Saddle Again" from the Gene Autry TV show, ...and let's not forget that Walt Disney used "When You Wish Upon A Star" for Disneyland, as the show was originally called

[David Butler]

Okay on your first list, but as with other bloggies I agree about listing Misssion Impossible, Disneyland for two. How about these: Bonanza, My Three Sons, Pete Kelley's Blues, I love Lucy, Gunsmoke, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Mr. Lucky, Honeymooners, Monkees, and Rawhide.

[Apple]

One of my all time faves- St. Elsewhere, which enjoyed some modest success on the radio. Who could forget the whip crack of Rawhide, "rollin', rollin', rollin', keep them dogies rollin'", M*A*S*H of course, and the Candid Camera theme "It's your lucky day, SMILE - you're on Candid Camera!" Dating myself, I know...