McGoohan was on Colombo 6 times, and played the killer 4. I’ve seen him as the killer but didn’t remember that. So I saw the wrong one. But cool.
Six! I know I haven’t seen them all, then. Talk about your “repeat offenders!”
You’d think with that many tries, he’d eventually get the best of Columbo. 
I think it’s only four; it’s just that he directed two other episodes.
The pedestrian, insipid, anemic theme for Hill Street Blues would’ve more appropriate for Hopefully Whole Foods FINALLY Restocked the Kimchi.
Or Arthur.
Leave It to Beaver was a show about a kid who aged from 2nd to 8th grade.during the show’s run. They refreshed the theme song a couple of times, but the last season’s hip, upbeat, light jazz arrangement was a desperate attempt to be cooler than the show itself.
He was the killer 4 times. My quick Google didn’t say what he did the other 2. I assumed he was another character, but he might have directed.
I had to look it up!
By Dawn’s Early Light, Season 4, Killer, did not direct, Prisoner references: his charcter was in the 6th army, first infantry division. So he was both 6 and 1.
Identity Crisis, Season 5, Killer, directed. Prisoner references: “be seeing you”, Village jacket, was a spy
Agenda For Murder, Season 9, killer, directed. Prisoner references: none
Ashes to Ashes, season 13. Killer, directed. Prisoner references: line of dialog “It’s your funeral”
Murder with too Many Notes, Season 10, directed only; last Columbo episode for McGoohan
Last Salute to the Commodore, Season 5, directed only, did not act because he was recently in Identlty Crisis, 3 episodes prior.
This has happened a few times, and it always seems hopelessly cynical. “The young set is not watching Candid Camera, what can we do? Let’s do a rock ‘n’ roll version of the “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera” song; that should do it.”
Seems like a low enough hurdle to clear. I recently watched an episode of this show on Peacock. It hasn’t aged well. Cool, it was not.
I think the best themes are instrumental, like Dallas, Mission Impossible, MAS*H, etc. Those with lyrics sometimes seem dated in later years or have awkward nonsensical lines like Three’s Company’s “down in our rendezvous”- huh?
If one knows the lyrics to TV series MASH’s music only theme (the lyrics were sung only in the movie), it would seem jarring compared to the show’s message of persevering through the horrors of war.
Leave It to Beaver never was “cool.” Not 60+ years ago, not ever.
NITPICK: … down at our rendezvous.
Rendezvous = A place where a particular group of people go or meet, by arrangement or habit.
Red Dwarf
The Red Dwarf theme starts out slow and grand; emphasizing the magnitude of space and the ship.
Then it becomes an upbeat pop-rock track because after all; it’s a comedy. But there’s still a melancholy tinge to it, especially with the lyrics (though the lyrics were later dropped) which also fits because ultimately their situation is quite bleak.
ETA: Ah, I see, perhaps you think it doesn’t fit because of the actual lyrics. It’s true that if it were a less popular show, people wouldn’t get into it enough to appreciate the irony of the lyrics.