I guess we're all watching more TV these days, and I was thinking about the hundreds and hundreds of sitcoms, westerns, police/private eye, war, and variety shows since the 50's and how their theme songs and opening scenes stay with you. Part of it is the music, of course, but the visuals are also a part of what made them memorable, I think. Anyway, here's a few of mine, how about you?
I remember many late nights with Mary Jane... and me and my buddy splitting duties on the instruments. He usually rocked out the drums.
This was another fave for me. Steve McGarrett was just too cool, the way he always showed up in his big convertible. He come in at about 60 MPH and screech to a stop while getting out of the car. Book'm, Danno.
Its funny that I remember theme songs for shows I never watched. When I was a kid, I was never allowed to stay up late enough to watch shows like The Untouchables because they came on at 10PM, and bedtime was 9:30, lights out at 10. I would just lay in bed listening and wishing I could stay up to see them. Another like that is Peter Gunn ...
Theme songs for TV shows just aren't what they used to be. I mean sure, some of them are catchy and all, but from a musical content perspective, they're pretty shallow compared to the content of the old shows.
The musical content and mastery of those old shows are pretty much gone now. There is one new show which is on HBO that I just love the theme song to. Westworld.
I also sort of liked the long version of the theme song (earlier seasons) to The Bob Newhart Show.
Chicago Newhart or Vermont Newhart? I liked the Vermont Newhart show better, and also the theme song.
Chicago
My wife and I used to go to quite a few ballgames at old Municipal Stadium, and back in the early 80's we would get upper reserve seats behind home plate. We started chatting with the usher one evening and it turned out that his son was a regular on the Chicago Newhart show. He played one of the patients that Bob was treating named Elliott something - his real name was Jack Riley. The character he played was this surly neurotic guy, and he was hilarious.
Galactia is available on the channel "Comet", (Monday through Thursday on channel 289 on Dish) along with some of my favorites, Quantum Leap, Sliders, and Babylon 5.
I keep old TV shows on in the morning while I’m doing stuff around the house ... the late 80s/early 90s offer some good ones haha (even though the shows were not great) ... Who’s the Boss, Family Matters, Full House, etc
This is the one from my childhood that I had to shout out. So epic at the time and I can't deny thinking it's still pretty cool today.
This is far from my favorite show but I always thought it had the absolute perfect opening credits to convey a sleazy, sex & drug-filled, Southern backwoods vampire show.
Sad that I don't have utube or twitter access so all these responses are just blank white boxes, can't tell what shows were mentioned. BuT
First theme was instant, had to be #1, even the Closing at the end was top notch.
so, sorry younger folks, I'm old, and even some older than me, the themes were better back then.
I missed partridge family and stuff like that but, was too young but
#1 is Jeffersons no doubt, and the ending everybody else is fighting for 2nd place, even umm All in the family, which I thought I'd have 2nd but there falling cause, I gotta love the uhh Flinstones theme so much, for #2
Then there's Sanford and Son, with the harmonica, and everybody knowing the look on the Guys face as he drives up.
And even then think about it, Love Boat, Happy Days, Brady Bunch, pfft-- ALL in the Family!
Gilligan!! I mean, it's not even a contest for mid 80's themes, folks, they had em, but could be just too young to not have known the older ones they were a little past, i'll say, Family ties, Cheers, stuff like that, but
I think Saturday morning themes need a totally different category. DALLAS!!! oh I forgot about Dallas and Knotts Landing, and what was the later almost like that show with, well the person fell through the elevator and ended there character, evenings about 1988-89.
Batman, Looney Tunes, (Threes' company) (ChiP'S)
Andy Griffetth whistling.
Overall- 1. Jeffersons 2. Flintstones
Oh What about SCOOBY DOO! yeah it's a no win trying to figure out. edit: Corabn Berson was on the show I can't recall, iirc.
Just started watching Sopranos. Great intro song. Really like that one.
Pretty much any of the 80s family sitcom openings are good and bring back a lot of memories. The best being Family Ties intro. I hear that and I'm immediately taken back to my formative years as a kid.
Had a friend of mine and his wife over about a year ago. Him, his wife and my wife and I are all about the same age. We somehow started talking about this topic and started youtubing sitcom openings of old shows. We hit them all and were drinking and singing to them and having some trips down memory lane. Good times.
