Bestestest TV Theme Song Ever

[orion59]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:46am

I was just sitting here playing around on the music site Flowery Friend found and in the Jazz section came across Jazz for Couch Potatos, Jazz renditions of famous TV themes.

Made me wonder what people think is the best one ever (obviously I cannot get motivated to work today and need a diversion).

Is your favorite Love Is All Around? Suicide Is Painless? Those Were The Days? Welcome Back?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:47am

You take the good
You take the bad
You take 'em both
And there you have
The facts of life
The facts of life ...

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:47am

I've always been partial to the theme from THE PATTY DUKE SHOW. Also Callaway's THE NANNY theme song.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:49am

it may not be the best ever, but i definitely saw the best version of the buffy theme song performed by the breeders at irving plaza last year. in the interest of full disclosure though i must say that i would gladly give up years off my life for kim deal.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:49am

rlb - oh yesssss - "..while Patti likes to rock-&-roll, a hot dog makes her lose control..."
what great lyrics!

[orion59]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:53am

I was always partial to Love Is All Around from the MTM show
This weeks Who's the Boss marathon on TV Nick at Nite reminded me that I used to like Brand New Life when I was a kid.
Currently, I love the theme to Tru Calling

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 9:56am

I love the first season Facts of Life theme where you can hear Charlotte Rae hitting those high soprano notes.

I also like the theme to the short-lived Gowing Pains spinoff, Just the Ten of Us. All three of those shows' themes (as well as countless others) were written by Alan Thicke (father on Growing Pains).

I loved hearing the Callaway sisters perform The Nanny live in Sibling Revelry. It was a surprise as I had no idea either was involved in the theme song, much less writing and performing it.

Also, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King probably has one of the best theme songs ever written. It's a full orchestral suite. The short-lived First Monday also had incredible orchestral opening music by Bruce Broughton. I wish I had an audio recording of it.

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:04am

Suicide is Painless gets me every time.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:08am

Thank you for being my friend...
Travel down the road and back again...
Your heart is true,
you're a pal and a confidant.

And if you threw a party,
invitied ever'y one you knew...
You would see,
the biggest gift would be from me...
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being my friend...

[FrancisGumm]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:14am

"instrumental" if you would call it that, i would say the Alias one.

[orion59]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:17am

Was that, the Golden Girls theme, written by Carole King?

I Loved the original Facts Of Life theme with Charlotte singing. The change in the Alice theme with Linda Lavin doing it was great too, so bad it was fun. One of the best theme song changes was in the last couple of seasons of desiging Women when they switched from the instrumental version of Georgia On My Mind to having Ray Charles sing it. It was ruined only by the image of Dixie Crater and Annie Potts laying seductively over the piano.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:23am

My fav is the Andy Griffith show.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a handsome and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "WOW--WHAT A RIDE!!!!""

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:24am

Or how 'bout the instrumental theme to THE WILD WILD WEST? Then there's always MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- a true classic.

[Nipper]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:31am

THE NANNY is the perfect theme song. The singing, the tune, the synopsis setting up the basis of the show.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:33am

omg CK--I was gonna post the Golden Girls, too. lol

[Jon]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:34am

As far as instrumentals, I always liked St. Elsewhere. Also Northern Exposure.

No, Carole King did not write "Thank You For Being a Friend". However, she can currently be heard singing "Where You Lead, I Will Follow" as a duet with her daughter, as the them for The Gilmore Girls.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:43am

One of my favorites is from 227. Also Family Ties & Growing Pains have great theme songs.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 10:46am

Movin' on up!
To the East Side...
To a big de-luxe apartment in the sky-e...

[beacon1]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:06am

I honestly burst out laughing last night when I heard on the radio a rap song that incorporates the theme song to "Welcome Back Kotter." It took me a minute to realize what was going on.

Other good TV theme songs:

Bat Masterson (right to the point..."His name was Bat. Bat Masterson.)

WKRP in Cincinnati (wistful)

The Addams Family (gets your fingers snapping!)

Patridge Family ("C'mon, get happy!" Very cheery!)

Brady Bunch (just made to be parodied)

M*A*S*H: Suicide is Painless (instrumental...but great if you know the lyrics)

George of the Jungle ("Watch out for that tree!")

BananaSplits (hysterical! "One banana, two banana, three banana, four")

Underdog (I loved that the acapella group on "Scrubs" performed that!)

Love, American Style (Cowsills, I believe)

Cheers (Friendly tune)

Scrubs (I'm No Superman---Perfect!)

Frazier (Salad and Scrambled Eggs)

Used to like "Friends" theme by the Rembrandts but sick of it right now.

Okay...obviously I watch waaaay to much TV...

Updated On: 6/16/04 at 11:06 AM

[sharon1]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:18am

77 Sunset Strip
Hawaii 5-O

[orion59]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:20am

I love the lyrics to Suicide Is Painless. Marilyn Manson did a great version of that song...seriously

[orion59]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:35am

We also have to give a nod for creativity and satire to the theme from Phyllis which was a take off on Mame.

Who charms the crabs on Fisherman's Wharf right out of their shells
Who lights the lamps of Chinatown just by walking in view
Who
Phyliis
It sure isn't you

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:45am

Cheers & Friends

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 11:47am

Six Feet Under
The Sopranos
St. Elsewhere
Hill Street Blues

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 6/16/04 at 12:01pm

"Early to rise
Early to bed
And in between
I cooked and cleaned
And went out of my head.

Going through life
With blinders on
It's tough to see

I had to get up
Get out from under
And look for me!!!

There's a new girl in town
And she's looking good.
There's a fresh freckled face
In the neighborhoood.

There's a new girl in town
With a brand new style.
She was just passing through,
But if things work out
She's gonna stay awhile....ba ba bum bum bummmm.