"Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii 5-0," "The Addams Family," "Bonanza," "Ironside." There are so many memorable scores and theme songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Quincy Jones did a lot of them.
Does anyone remember that CD collection of television's greatest hits that came out in the late 1980s and early 1990s? It was fun to play it at parties and trivial pursuit. It had hundreds of themes from the early days of the TV up until that time. Very nostalgic. Current TV themes don't seem to have the same energy. But maybe in 20 years, today's TV show themes will be remembered just as fondly as those of the '60s and '70s.
Dr. Who isn't American.
Taxi, Toots Thielemans' Sesame Street, Hill Street Blues, The Green Hornet, Flash Gordon (the old 30's serial - the movie theme rocks, but it's a movie so doesn't count).
I just realised, I completely misread the question - there is no stipulation for the themes to be American.
New list: Dr Who, The Water Margin, Monkey (or Sayuki here), Tizwaz and the theme from the cricket (Booker T and the MGs' Soul Limbo).
In no particular order: Hawaii 5-0, WonderWoman (series with Lynda Carter), Cheers (that show with Ted Danson in a bar, the song was so nice), The Muppet Show (when Jim Henson was around), The Twilight Zone!
I have more favorites, but well... These are just five of them XD.
Hey Sarge, Alaska's top newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, on Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the White House, saying it would be too risky to put their Republican state governor Sarah Palin just "one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world."
Hey Sarge, Alaska's top newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, on Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the White House, saying it would be too risky to put their Republican state governor Sarah Palin just "one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world.
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smartacus
"Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii 5-0," "The Addams Family," "Bonanza," "Ironside." There are so many memorable scores and theme songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Quincy Jones did a lot of them.
Does anyone remember that CD collection of television's greatest hits that came out in the late 1980s and early 1990s? It was fun to play it at parties and trivial pursuit. It had hundreds of themes from the early days of the TV up until that time. Very nostalgic. Current TV themes don't seem to have the same energy. But maybe in 20 years, today's TV show themes will be remembered just as fondly as those of the '60s and '70s.
bamboohat
Sanford and Son Brady Bunch Gilligans Island Star Trek (old school) Bugs Bunny Fresh Prince
ptolemy
All in the Family, pure gold. Taxi had a great jazz song as an opener as did Night Court.
aintgottimetobl
beverly hillbillies loved the lyrics,green acres and petticoat junction always humoured me when I heard them
RakishGadfly
The Dr Who theme - every version is great.
RakishGadfly
...plus The A Team.
Speed
Happy Days Laverne & Shirley Love Boat Rawhide Batman
nogardflow
Peter Gunn
JackDorff
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Hawai 5-0 Good Times Welcome Back Kotter The Facts Of Life (as sung by Al Bundy)
The Dr Who theme used to scare me. That had no place being on TV before 9:00pm.
nath
Dr. Who isn't American. Taxi, Toots Thielemans' Sesame Street, Hill Street Blues, The Green Hornet, Flash Gordon (the old 30's serial - the movie theme rocks, but it's a movie so doesn't count).
nath
I just realised, I completely misread the question - there is no stipulation for the themes to be American. New list: Dr Who, The Water Margin, Monkey (or Sayuki here), Tizwaz and the theme from the cricket (Booker T and the MGs' Soul Limbo).
greyblooz
In no particular order:
-Taxi (Bob James' "Angela") -Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -Barney Miller -Mission Impossible -SWAT
cleo
Steptoe & Son
Only Fools & Horses
Beverly Hillbillies
Friends
Touch of Frost
more or less but maybe not exactly in that order.SpanishEyez37
Love Boat Addams Family The Munsters Batman The Jeffersons
helloklitty
SHAFT, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, DRAGNET, 77 SUNSET STRIP, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
helloklitty
Twin Peaks, The Avengers, This Week in Baseball (80s version), ABC Monday Night Football (early 70s version), The Rockford Files
helloklitty
I meant the 1977 version of This Week in Baseball
I hate the 80s version. Sounds like music for pilgrims floating over to America.
Helly
Brady Bunch
Azrael
In no particular order: Hawaii 5-0, WonderWoman (series with Lynda Carter), Cheers (that show with Ted Danson in a bar, the song was so nice), The Muppet Show (when Jim Henson was around), The Twilight Zone!
I have more favorites, but well... These are just five of them XD.
555Book
I like Miami Vice.
sdmsec
1 Andy Griffith Show 2 X-Files 3 Barney Miller 4 Beverly Hillbillies 5 Samford and Son
Some nice variety here.
The_True
benny hills
Ah_so
Match of the Day - British football programme - De-de-DER-de-de-de-de-de
Grandstand - BBC's much-missed Saturday sport show. Had it has my ring tone for about a year.
nath
I hope we can see a list of the top five themes overall.
Spidey
The Jeffersons and Welcome Back Kotter
Fat Albert was a goodie also.
But I do have to say that Mission Impossible is definitely up there.
S
Sarge
I Dream of Jeannie is up there.
buttamimi
Hey Sarge, Alaska's top newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, on Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the White House, saying it would be too risky to put their Republican state governor Sarah Palin just "one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world."
Altria
Knight Rider!
Psych
"I Love Lucy"!!! clean comedy that still makes me laugh!
Alphaape
Hawaii 5-0, Green Acres, Barney Miller, Charlie Brown Cartoon Theme (the older ones from the 60's), The Addams Family
Teeej
Robinson Crusoe.
Spidey
No that's relevant!!
S
Nessie
Brainiac's gonna be hard to top.
Did anyone say the theme from "Mash"? And Sousa for "Monty Python"?
How about the top five j-TV theme songs?
Nessie
Anyone say the theme to Grizzly Adams?
nath
Star Trek (the original), Dr Who, Kojak, Quincy MD, The Incredible Hulk.
FrEcKlEfAcE
Columbo.
Noripinhead
Without a doubt, Hawaii Five-O. Book him, Dan O.
Noripinhead
Oh four more to go: The Avengers, UFO, Mannix, Wild Wild West.
nath
UFO...groove-tastic theme!
gonemad
TV shows? I prefer other ways to waste my time...
buttamimi
'Mash'
BlackFlag
Monkey 'monkey magic'
BlackFlag
oh, and The Littlest Hobo
temporaryVisa
Fraggle Rock
yabits
Among many of the other great themes not mentioned thus far:
The Virginian -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwVKcRqAc-0
The Rifleman (closing theme) -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkM0NT4YMlo
Tetsuwan Atom -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2btYv8GaXk
But there are few shows' theme songs that can hold a candle to the great themes used in two recent HBO shows:
The Sopranos -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUT07eZoXPw
The Wire -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3t6io0vW-c
The Wire, by the way, is by far the best series I have ever seen, bar none.
MikeBarrymore
Only Fools And Horses, lovely and romantic!
The Young Ones- Ooooh That Rick mayalls a bit of alwight!!
The World Of Sport- used to love Dickie Davis.
Countdown- Love the clock ticking down , sounds so sweet,
Top Of The Pops (original), Great beat , get you in the mood for the show, and all the hunky guys dancing, ooooh i'm a card aren't i?
Teeej
And Banana Splits Hong Kong Phooey Rhubarb
helloklitty
Better than "Larry Sanders"? I doubt it. That's on Youtube now, btw.
yabits
Many times better, without a doubt. And that's taking nothing away from Larry Sanders, which was great.