The jazzy instrumental theme from “Barney Miller” was great.
Remember Angie? With Robert Hayes
And, with Amazing Grace!
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That save and set me free
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was blind but now I see…
The thread about cancelled, obscure TV shows inspired me to post here too.
One of my fave TV shows was “Nichols” starring James Garner around 1971-72. I also loved the theme music, a haunting horn solo I remember to this day.
Does anyone know where I can find a recording of the theme, preferably on the web? The song did not rate inclusion in any of the TV theme CDs I’ve ever seen.
I completely screwed up the quote thing… that’ll teach me to post while dealing with a migraine!
Carry on… I’m gonna go sleep it off…
As an obsessed fan if I did not push for The Monkees theme song. Having been to several (okay lots) of Monkees’ concerts I can say they have fans from 6 to 60 and all know the theme. Further, I’ve heard non-fans of the show respond to the words “Hey, hey” by singing the opening lines of the song AND if you say the name to people, most everyone goes “you mean: ‘hey, hey, we’re the Monkees…’?”
Interestingly enough, Peter Tork (former member of the Monkees cast/group) appeared on VH1’s The List with the category was Best TV Theme songs, but I digress…
Cheers,
Peta
star trek tng
fat albert
he-man
My childhood hero . The six million dollar man 
Airwolf. No lyrics; it just had a good beat I guess.
How about cartoons? Pinky and the Brain, Animanacs, Tiny Toon Adventures and Freakaziod have great theme songs. Also like the X-Men, and the 60’s Spiderman:
“Spiderman, Spiderman, friendly neighborhood Spiderman”.
But none of them can compare to the immortal (American version) of…Speed Racer**!**
Route 66
Peter Gunn
Battlestar Galactica
6 Million Dollar Man
Thunderbirds
Dr. Who
And , of course:
Superfriends
Well, I think the universality of Gilligan’s Island has been established by this thread. It’s strength is in its creeping pervasiveness - I can no longer read poetry without trying to fit the words to that tune.
Other strong candidates: Hawaii 5-O and Mission Impossible.
But my candidate is the theme to Underdog. It has pathos, tension, hope, and justice, all to a great tune. Okay, everbody, sing along!
There’s no need to fear - Underdog is here!
[words from sponsors]
ooowwwaaah…oooowwwwaah…oooowwwaaah…ooowwwaaah…
When in this world while headlines read,
Are those whose hearts are filled with greed,
Who rob and steal from those in need.
To right this wrong with mighty speed goes
Underdog (Underdog)
Underdog (Underdog)
Speed of lightening, power of thunder,
Fighting all who rob or plunder,
Underdog
Underdog
Underdog!
I rest my case.
Forgot one: A-Team!
In 1972 a crack commando was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit… then the great music.
Also, Knight Rider was pretty cool. And I’m also a Scooby Doo fan, so I have to say that too. Well, I guess I forgot more than one.
Now for live-action TV shows:
There is the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. They are similar, but while Buffy’s theme depicts a romp in the night to slay demons, Angel’s is more melancholy, reflecting his angst of being a vampire with a soul.
Then there is Xena, Warrior Princess. The theme song alone is a killer!!
I also like the themes to:
The Jeffersons,
Benny Hill,
Dr. Who,
Classic Trek,
S.W.A.T,
Miami Vice,
Law and Order,
In Living Color (the first theme),
and The Andy Griffith Show
I am going to bring up a question in great debates: does a great TV show need to have a great theme.
My picks…
MAS*H - Just has the nostalgic feel to it.
Star Trek - I grew up with it, what can I say.
Dr. Who - I’m listening to it now. 
Babylon 5 - I know, the song changed each season, but the music allways fit what was happening on the screen so damn perfectly.
Mission: Impossible - Yeap, great.
My picks are as follows:
- Barney Miller
- Rockford Files
- MST3K
- South Park
- Night Court
I have to go with the dramatic ones: Rawhide, Perry Mason. Barney Miller is pretty good, too.
“God rest ye merry, gentlemen,” “O little town of Bethlehem,” and “Stairway to Heaven” also can be sung to the Gilligan’s Island theme.
And the Underdog theme perfectly fits Longfellow’s poem Excelsior.
O.K., “Movin’ On Up” is my favorite too. But “One Day At A Time” is a close second…
Well this is it
This is it
This is life, the one you get
So go and have a ball
Well this it
This is it
Straight ahead and rest assured
You can get through it all
So while you’re here
Enjoy the view
Keep on doing what you do
Hold on tight, we’ll muddle through
One day at a time…
lol! Wonderful! New words to a great tune! Excelsior!
- Buffy
- Maverick - "Who was the tall dark stranger there, Maverick is his name, wild as the wind in Or-e-gon, blowing up a canyon…
- The Rockford Files
- The Bob Newhart Show