I think this is probably the 50th or 60th post about TV theme songs we've done here at TV Squad, either lists of our own or stories about other lists on the web. But it's one of the great all-time TV debates among fans so it's good to revisit the topic every few months.Paste has the latest list, their 40 best TV theme songs of all-time. Oh, we could talk about this for hours (and we probably will), but there are four thoughts that come immediately to mind after reading all 40 choices:
- The Rockford Files should be higher.
- Gilligan's Island should be lower.
- What's Happening! shouldn't be on there at all.
- The list isn't complete because it doesn't include the themes from Mannix, Stingray, Friends, It Takes A Thief, The West Wing, or The Dick Van Dyke Show.
I'm also not sure why they included the theme song from The Sopranos since it's a song that already existed and they say in the article that they aren't going to pick shows that have those type of songs (for example, The Lone Ranger's "William Tell Overture"). Anyway, it's a pretty good list in general, even if it does make some glaring omissions.
Here's the Mannix theme:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-17-2008 @ 1:44PM
cdawg said...
Greatest American Hero is the best by far!
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11-17-2008 @ 1:57PM
Davin Peterson said...
Yes, I love that song The Greatest American Hero. Listen to TV tunes at http://www.televisiontunes.com/
11-17-2008 @ 2:01PM
Anita said...
What?! What's Happening was a great theme song! What, with the bouncing ball sound, included and all :)
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11-17-2008 @ 5:58PM
izikavazo said...
Charles in Charge!
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11-17-2008 @ 3:02PM
Rizzle said...
Knight Rider and Airwolf didn't even place? WTF?
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11-17-2008 @ 3:38PM
Mike Doran said...
The best theme song (with lyrics) was MAVERICK, music by David Buttolph, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The best instrumental theme was PERRY MASON, by Fred Steiner. I will accept no contradiction on this. And anyway, when are we going to see one of these lists that was put together by someone who was born before 1966?
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11-17-2008 @ 4:19PM
Cyantre said...
The theme song to "Firefly" or to "Perfect Strangers" which is possibly the most inspirational song ever. =P
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11-17-2008 @ 6:32PM
Tacocartguy said...
I'm gonna go with 30 Rock, Night Court, or The Unit because each of them fit the theme of their respective shows so perfectly
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11-17-2008 @ 4:44PM
KateGee said...
What??? Where's the Charles in Charge theme??
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11-17-2008 @ 4:49PM
Scott said...
FAILURE. There's just no way I'm clicking through 10 pages to see a 40-item list.
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11-17-2008 @ 5:01PM
cdawg said...
my sentiments exactly. who was #1?
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11-17-2008 @ 5:14PM
Amy said...
favorite instrumental - Hawaii Five-0
favorite with lyrics - Mary Tyler Moore Show
They should have included The Avengers.
Davin - Fantastic link! Thanks!
Scott - I can't process 10 pages either. I need to see the whole list. Here it is:
1 cheers
2 m*a*s*h
3 sanford & son
4 peter gunn
5 all in the family
6 jeffersons
7 andy griffith show
8 hawaii five-0
9 gilligan's isle
10 olympic games
11 fresh prince of bel air
12 mission impossible
13 doctor who
14 star trek - next generation
15 addams family
16 beverly hillbillies
17 muppet show
18 square pegs
19 malcolm in the middle
20 simpsons
21 hill street blues
22 mr ed
23 bonanza
24 rawhide
25 laverne & shirley
26 night court
27 barney miller
28 a-team
29 welcome back kotter
30 greatest american hero
31 brady bunch
32 x-files
33 what's happening
34 dukes of hazzard
35 sopranos
36 courtship of eddie's father
37 love boat
38 wkrp
39 sesame street
40 rockford files
11-17-2008 @ 5:15PM
Bob Sassone said...
You don't have to click through 40 pages actually. Just go to the bottom of the page and you'll see page links.
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11-17-2008 @ 5:50PM
Scott H said...
Bob, I did go to the site, and I was referring to the 10 pages in those links. That's a ridiculous gambit for page-views that I won't participate in.
Amy, thank you for listing them out. How "The Prisoner" didn't make the list is beyond me.
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11-17-2008 @ 6:42PM
Europa said...
Any season of Babylon 5!
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11-17-2008 @ 6:47PM
Europa said...
Hey, here's a good way to judge what's a really good theme song. Which ones do you have ringtones for your phone(s)?
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11-18-2008 @ 10:11AM
Michael said...
Good call! I currently have the following TV theme song ringtones on my phone assigned to various callers:
Lipstick Jungle (for my wife)
The Unit (for my best friend)
Dr. Who '87 (for my sons)
The Sopranos (for everyone at work)
Alias (for my extended family)
Speed Racer - original version (for my other friends)
11-17-2008 @ 7:25PM
C C said...
One of my favorites that's missing from the Paste list is the theme to Thirtysomething. It was a totally unique instrumental, a cross between bluegrass and new age.
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11-17-2008 @ 8:35PM
Karen said...
I liked the Frasier theme song, but Cheers really was the first one to come to mind. MASH was second.
I love the Boston Legal opener too!
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11-17-2008 @ 9:31PM
scotteberly said...
This is so subjective, but... Six Feet Under is in my top 20. The Sopranos and Rockford Files should be much higher. I'd have to add 90210 and how about St. ELSEWHERE!!!!
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