Top TV Tunes #3-Instrumentals

Cafe Society
1

You know-the ones you hum off key, not the ones you forget the words to.
Like Peter Gunn, Alien Nation, Rockford Files, and my favorite…

Ren and Stimpy!

2

That would be a tie between the Bewitched theme & the one from I Dream of Jeannie. If I’ve got one stuck in my head, I can’t seem to pin down the other. But they’re both great.

3

Duh da
duh duh da da duh da da
duh duh da da duh da da
duh duh da da da dum

…see what I mean?

4

Da duh
da duh
da da da da duh da
da duh
da duh
da da da da duh da
…and so on

5

Bonanza and Perry Mason (not mixed together tho)

6

Mission: Impossible

7

The Incredible Hulk.

Third Rock From the Sun.

8

and Hawaii Five O!

9

Airwolf and Knight Rider. Yes, I was a kid in the 80s.

10

It begins and ends with Magnum, P.I.

11

The Andy Griffith Show

12

Seconding Lalo Schifrin’s astonishing tune for *Mission: Impossible * The OP nabbed *The Rockford Files *which is a corker from Mike Post. He’s given the world tons of great tunes like *Magnum PI *(also mentioned here) and LA Law but I think my favourite was Hill Street Blues.

Honourable mentions:

Jerry Goldsmith’s fantastic yet melancholy tune to *The Waltons *was my favourite part of the show.

Oh, and not entirely an orginal piece of work but Jack Newlon’s theme tune for Ernie Kovacs “Oriental Blues” never ever fails to make me smile.

13

Probably a Gerry Anderson show

My favourite UFO

Another contender Thunderbirds

Disqualified because it does have words (or a word)

Stingray!

No mention of Dr Who yet? The original one.

My favourite TV theme is The Rockford Files but that’s already been listed twice.

Honorable mention for Cagney and Lacy?

14

Ron Grainer’s theme for The Prisoner.

One of the greats.

Hawaii Five-O was pretty good too.

15

I loved the intro for The Tick.

16

Can’t believe I’m the first to mention Jan Hammer’s decade-defining Miami Vice theme. Magnum is up there too.

Proper respect to the old school Peter Gunn & Mission: Impossible too.

17

I think it would only be fair of us to award a Lifetime Achievement award to Mike Post (and maybe Pete Carpenter too)…TRM

18

I adore the music for Dexter. It’s absolutely perfect for the show… bouncy and cheerful, but with a jarring edge to it.

19

I enjoy the happy-go-lucky Mork and Mindy.

20

Ooh I forgot about the wonderful “Hill Street Blues” and “Doctor Who” themes!

For the older folk like me: Wagon Train had a memorable tune. Not top tier, but memorable. Likewise, Ben Casey.