Great TV Show Theme Music

[+ DynamicUno]

After watching some older TV shows recently it's struck me how much the editing has changed over the years.  Older shows had title and credit sequences that lasted several minutes of air time, and the theme music became part of the pop culture. In recent years most TV shows have opted for cold opens and very short title sequences so they can squeeze in more commercials, but music stings that thread the episodes along are still highly recognizeable.

What are some of the themes that you fondly remember?

[+ DynamicUno]

The X-Files was one of mine.  I remember getting together with friends for watch parties when the new seasons started or for the finales.

 

[CJK]

Hawaii Five-0, the original 1968 series. I stream episodes just about daily. Not just the great theme song, which was re-recorded throughout the show's long run, but the orchestration throughout each episode is incredible. 

[+ Cash4Trash]

One of my all time favorites - watched it 3 times.  Twin Peaks 

 

[JustScott]

Wow. What an interesting thread. In no particular order and at risk of showing my age, here’s what come to mind from way back:

Hill Street Blues

Sanford and Son

Cagney and Lacey

More contemporary or recent examples, though would be the theme for Good Omens or Wednesday.

[+ purplekow]

Of course one cannot ignore the Open theme songs of such classics as The Beverly Hillbillies  Petticoat Junction  Green Acres and Gilligan's Island   My Mother The Car was a terrible show with a memorable theme song.  But if it is just orchestration, SWAT  and LA Law also had interesting themes and music in general was integral to the plot of Allie McBeal.   

[+ purplekow]

On 2/9/2023 at 7:05 AM, Cash4Trash said:

One of my all time favorites - watched it 3 times.  Twin Peaks 

Makes me want to get some Pie.  

 

[CJK]

And of course, the themes to The Twilight Zone, The Addams Family, The Munsters, The Odd Couple, Cheers and Friends are each cultural touchstones, recognizable to just about everyone from the first bar.

[samhexum]

 

[+ azdr0710]

one of my favorites......

 

[+ EVdude]

Circa 1977, along with having a man crush on Luke Macahan (Bruce Boxleitner), I was a sucker for the rousing orchestral opening of How the West Was Won.

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by EVdude

[Guest]

As a kid, I was soooo in love with David Naughton! 😍😘 I'd never miss an episode of the comedy show "Makin' it"! The show didn't last long, though. 😢

 

Edited February 12, 2023 by Unicorn

[Guest]

I also loved "When things were rotten"...

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Before my time, but I remember the reruns:

 

[Guest]

RIP Penny and Cindy

 

[Guest]

Who could forget "Lost in Space"?

 

[+ purplekow]

On 2/11/2023 at 10:42 PM, Unicorn said:

As a kid, I was soooo in love with David Naughton! 😍😘 I'd never miss an episode of the comedy show "Makin' it"! The show didn't last long, though. 😢

 

Birthday for David Naughton today.   The American Wolfman gets another year older.  

[samhexum]

On 2/11/2023 at 11:07 PM, Unicorn said:

Who could forget "Lost in Space"?

 

I loved the S3 theme..

On 2/11/2023 at 10:55 PM, Unicorn said:

RIP Penny and Cindy

 

I may still have the 45 stashed in a closet.

[+ pitman]

This clip is mislabelled.  Diana Ring did not join the series until 1966.  In any case it was a great show and an unforgettable theme song.

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by pitman

[+ purplekow]

12 minutes ago, pitman said:

This clip is mislabelled.  Diana Ring did not join the series until 1966.  In any case it was a great show and an unforgettable theme song.

This Diana Rigg vehicle's theme song finishes a distant second to a much better themed TV show....Game of Thrones.   

[handiacefailure]

All the Mike Post theme songs.   I played the theme from Hill Street Blues at one of my high school piano recitals in fact.

Also liked the theme song from Hotel and St. Elsewhere.   Maude had a great theme song and I really liked phylis as well.

 

 

[+ azdr0710]

22 hours ago, purplekow said:

This Diana Rigg vehicle's theme song finishes a distant second to a much better themed TV show....Game of Thrones.   

I never watched it because I'm not really into the fantasy/dragons/magic thing, but, wow, these opening credits, both music and visuals, are fantastic......

 

[+ purplekow]

On 2/17/2023 at 12:22 AM, azdr0710 said:

I never watched it because I'm not really into the fantasy/dragons/magic thing, but, wow, these opening credits, both music and visuals, are fantastic......

 

What is interesting an unique about the opening credits there, is the movement around the map.  The map depicted represents the various locations visited in that eipsode.  In addition, when there is damage that is identifiable to a city or location in the opening creeds, the landscape shown in the subsequent episodes will change to account for those changes.  So the opening credits, while similar, are not always identical.   

Interestingly, I started watching the show after the all hype led the creators of the Simpsons do do a takeoff off of the Simpsons opening with a GOT inspited change in the music and a stylistic tour of Springfield ala GOT. That led me back to watch the original opening and to try out a single episode.  I was then hooked.  

[+ purplekow]

13 minutes ago, purplekow said:

What is interesting an unique about the opening credits there, is the movement around the map.  The map depicted represents the various locations visited in that eipsode.  In addition, when there is damage that is identifiable to a city or location in the opening creeds, the landscape shown in the subsequent episodes will change to account for those changes.  So the opening credits, while similar, are not always identical.   

Interestingly, I started watching the show after the all hype led the creators of the Simpsons do do a takeoff off of the Simpsons opening with a GOT inspited change in the music and a stylistic tour of Springfield ala GOT. That led me back to watch the original opening and to try out a single episode.  I was then hooked.