Everytime I hear the theme to Twin Peaks I can just smell the coffee and apple pie…. And the X-Files theme just seemed to enstill the mystery that was about to be unravelled in the show. Other greats would be Police Squad, All the Star Trek themes especially the original and next generation ones, Father Ted from my homeland in the UK, Dexter and finally Buffy.

The A-team. Hands down the best TV theme.

The Route 66 theme by Nelson Riddle is by far the best. And I have a soft spot in my heart for Glen Larson’s theme to Magnum PI.

Rockford Files !!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzabxjknJo

Themes from “The Rockford Files” and “Magnum, P.I.” - the one they started using in the second season and is most recognizable.

These two tunes both conjure action, drama and intensity - with a large dose of humor bubbling through - as befitting the charming, dynamic heros of the shows themselves.

Another good P.I. theme was the one from “Mannix” - delving a little deeper into the archives here, I guess. It was more dramatic and hard-hitting than the others- but Joe Mannix was just a grittier kind of a guy.

Growing up in the ’60s my favorites were Combat!, Wild Wild West, Wagon Train, and later on the theme from The Rockford Files.

“Peter Gunn” of course! Law & Order (the original) is a great one from more recent times. It sounds cliche to mention it, but the theme from Jeopardy is iconic as well.

I’ve always appreciated theme songs that “felt” like the show - that previews the feeling of the series. Some of the ones that capture the appropriate attitudes IMHO are St. Elsewhere, Picket Fences, The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Lois and Clark … the list could go on and on.

One of my favorite T.V. themes is the theme from “Airwolf “. Just hearing the opening rythm of the music gets you excited for something high tech flying super helicopter. I get the vibe from the theme to ” Knight Rider “. One of the most recgnizable themes is the theme from “Magnum P. I. Themes like these really get you in the mood for the type of show that you will be watching. I enjoy watching CSI and itsd’ spinoffs because they feature the music of the WHO, but then they weren’t written for the show. They were written over twenty years before the shows existance. They still get me in the mood for the show. The other current show with a original theme is NCIS. This dates me, but one of my favorite theme songs is the theme to “Cagney & Lacey “. Many of the best themes came out in the 80’s. Some of them I’ve already mentioned, while others include: The A-Team, Hunter, The greatest American hero, and Hardcastle & Mccormick. Many of these were written by Mike Post. I miss great theme songs. They set the tone for the shows we watch, make them more memorable.

- The A-Team !!!!

Knight Rider, A-Team, and Airwold. Basically any 80’s action TV show.

Hillstreet blues…it’s my all-time favorite!! Mike Post has a talent for ?Show theme songs!

Some of the western’s themes - Branded, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke. If you’re including British series you can include The Prisoner, The Avengers.

Perhaps it’s my age or my undying support of Richard Dean Anderson — but I always thought the theme from MacGyver not only well suited the show, but also the opening visuals. A great theme song builds the excitement for the show.

Taxi and Hill St. Blues!

how about murder she wrote?

Some of the themes that evoke the strongest memories for me are:

The Theme from S.W.A.T., Jonny Quest, Rockford Files, Dr. Who, Thundaar the Barbarian, Voltron, Battle of the Planets, Space Ghost/Herculoids, Miami Vice, A-Team & Knight Rider

Hill Street Blues, Miami VIce, Barney Miller, The Avengers. Each of these successfully evoked the feel of their respective shows.

Macgyver was definately great, but i also really appreciated the murder she wrote theme, again kind of old school but suited the tone of the show

Any good action show from the 80s. Macgyver, Magnum PI (probably the most recognizable of them all), Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, The A-Team and even a few shows from more current times, such as The X-Files.

room 222, lost in space (the second one), get smart

There are too many!

60’s: Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Courtship of Eddie’s Father

70’s: H.R. Pufnstuf, Alice

80’s: Dynasty, Family Ties

etc. etc. etc.

Bewitched, Bewitched, you’ve got me in your spell
You witch, you witch, you know your craft so well
My heart was under lock and key, but somehow it got unhitched.
I never thought my heart could be had
But now I’m caught and I’m kinda glad
to be
Be, be, be, be…
Bewitched!

Gee, so many themes, so little time to discuss.

For the 50’s/60’s: Andy Griffith Show, Leave it to Beaver, The Munsters, Addams Family, Star Trek, Gilligan’s Island & Batman are the ones that stick out to me.

In the 70’s my favorites are Sanford & Son, Good Times, Barney Miller, Maude, Hawaii 5-0, The Electric Company, The Muppet Show, Mash (movie theme was great too), Welcome Back Kotter & of course One Day At A Time.

Hmm, the 80’s: St. Elswhere, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, Family Ties, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, The Facts of Life, Different Strokes & The A Team.

1990’s - Current: Friends, Law & Order (all variation of the show), CSI (I like the Who), Monk, Survivorman

…I’m starting to think I watch too much TV…

Wow! It’s amazing that The Office is such a wonderful show and regardless of if you like it, every time you hear the theme song, you automatically think of everything that is politically correct with this fantastic show!!

In the 70’s, there used to be theme music thatintroduced one of the network’s “Sunday Mystery”, for original episodes of Columbo, McCloud and Kojak. That haunting network theme music was synced to a lone figure sweeping a flashlight across a stretch of blue/black ground…and the hairs on my seven year old arms would go up and I would be fixed to the screen.

They all have their nostalgic place in my heart. The Rockford Files and MASH themes remind me of watching TV at my grandma and grandpa’s as a child in the 70s. Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere remind me of high school and X Files reminds me of college. Ah, the good old days.

The theme song from The Commish. I’ll whistle or sing it for hours after hearing or just thinking of it. (THANKS A LOT!)

Also the A-team. But for the lyrical ones, I’d say Who’s the Boss and Growing Pains had excellent lyrics and music. I especially like how the Growing Pains one evolved over the years to the harmonizing a capella style.

The Office, anytime I hear the song, it gets stuck in my head for the next few days.

M*A*S*H takes it hands down……. I know the actual song has lyrics but the show used an instrumental version.

And Homocide:Life on the Street.

Millennium.
And The Waltons.

M*A*SH with the instrumental version of Suicide is Painless without a doubt is the best of the best.

More recently… two of my favorites instrumental themes were Carnivale (HBO) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

m*a*s*h had a great haunting theme.

For me, there is no more exciting theme than Earle Hagen’s driving, odd-metered ‘The Mod Squad.’ Earl OWNED the television scene during the 60’s and early 70’s.

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation
2. The Edge of Night (1980-1983)
3. Mission Impossible & MASH
4. Falcon Crest
5. Law & Order (Original Series)
6. Get Smart
7. I, Claudius
8. Good Times
9. X-Files & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
10. Hill Street Blues & Magnum, PI

11. The West Wing
12. Murder One
13. The Beverly Hillbillies
14. Hawaii Five-O
15. Picket Fences
16. Mannix
17. Bewitched & The Dick Van Dyke Show
18. Dallas
19. Dynasty
20. Guiding Light (1982-83), Texas (1982-84) & Another World (mid-70’s & 1996)

Definitely the Buffy the Vampire Slayer theme, hands down.

Unquestionably, my recent favorites have ALL been Jeff Beal composed themes: Rome, Carnivale, and Monk.

The theme From St. Elswhere and Hillstreet Blues. I still hum them Today after all these years.

Hawaii 5-O is the best theme ever.

That 70’s show theme will always remind me of growing up in the late 70’s early 80’s. Soap, The days of our lives theme, never watched it but knew it theme very well, used alot in the movies. The Muppet Show, and Electric Company show. Currently I would say Smallville, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill are very reconizable.

Man from Uncle, which I believe was written by the great Jerry Goldsmith. I would add his later work, Star Trek: The Next Generation. and Deep Space Nine. The latter has a “suite” feel to it, and represents terrific neoclassical music.

Apparently all but one of those who have posted so far have forgotten the epic intro theme to the old Jonny Quest cartoon. That is by far, the most fun to replicate in a small jazz band.

I didn’t see St. Elsewhere mentioned!

Streep Hawk. It was a music peice for a short lived 80’s show by Tangarine Dream.

XFILES is one of my favorite theme songs, it is errie like the show, the show never disappointed me. And Henry Mancini could write some great songs for movies.

The soaring theme of “Father Knows Best”
The legit-sounding cello-featured theme of “The Tony Randall Show”
and, way back in the vault, the jazzy xylophone rendition of “Charlie My Boy” for the “Charlie Farell Show.”

MUNSTERS
BEWITCHED
BATMAN
ADAMS FAMILY
GET SMART
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
BANANA SPLITS
MONKEES
COURAGEOUS CAT

The 70’s TV shows had the best themes.

Police Woman
Ironside
And all those Quinn/Martin productions

M*A*S*H. The greatest.

And I love the theme from House.

Deadwood’s theme has to be one of my most recent faves.

The Colbert Report’s theme is my current ringtone… it’s really catchy and upbeat. The theme song is one of the reasons I bought his audiobooks instead of the hard cover book. I also LOVE the Addams Family theme song…

The Waltons! Hawaii 5-0, Stingray, Magnum, Mission Impossible

The Waltons

Oh wow, this is pretty much the best question ever.

-Twin Peaks is probably the best show-theme fit I can think of.
-The Addams Family is also ones that just sounds like the show feels.
-Sanford and Son. Quincy Jones!
-Knight Rider. The theme song totally outshined the show.
-Hawaii 5-0. Again, the theme song was better than the show.
-The Simpsons.

But, to me, the absolute winner is one I haven’t seen mentioned yet. I think most of my generation will agree: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. That one’s stuck in our collective consciousness forever.

The original “Dr. Who” theme. The grating glissando sliding into menacing bass. The ethereal theramin dropping in over the top. It all combines to paint the picture of what is to come, or what just happened.

Coming as it did after the opening scene (usually at some critical moment), the opening blast always made me jump.

I like Peter Gunn, Route 66, The Rifleman, The Andy Griffeth Show, Perry Mason, Star Trek, Mission Impossible, but the one I like best is Hawaii 5-0!

HBO’s Deadwood. A great show with a great theme that would instantly carry me back to 1876.

I love the ‘Twin Peaks’ theme. It was soap opera-ey with a certain amount of mystique. The visuals of the saws juxtaposed with the beautiful nature shots really set up the location.

Don’t forget Simon & Simon

The definitive list (or at least a start):

Peter Gunn
Jonny Quest
Miami Vice
MASH
Law & Order
The Lone Ranger (to be fair, it was on radio first)

for longetivity: Doctor Who (30 years and eight recordings)

most prolific: Mike Post

I too deeply lament the “lost art” that the TV theme has become … loved them ever since I can remember. In fact, I still have a handful of obscure favorites that I taped through the TV speaker when I was a kid and have since transferred to CD.

Two favorites that come to mind immediately are “Quantum Leap” (and, hey, for that matter, ANYTHING by Mike Post) and “Angel” — two of the most unique and memorable TV themes in modern history!

AIRWOLF!!!

The Peter Gunn Theme was not only the the best but the first. Henry Mancini wrote it and won an Emmy and 2 Grammys for it.

Agree that MI was the best. But how about “Bonanza” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”

The West Wing always made me feel like I was watching a great movie. Other faves include L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Wings, Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, Dallas, and my all-time face: Monday Night Football.

Gotta agree with Julia R. Mike Post had some of the greatest music on TV…and still does!

Law & Order
L. A. Law
Hill Street Blues
CHiPs

Then again, what about Dave Grusin’s theme to St. Elsewhere or Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther?

And finally, what about daytime shows — Days of our Lives!

I really liked Bonanza and I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show. I know there are lyrics to I Love Lucy, but I still giggle when I hear the opening them. And the Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Peter Gunn.

LIttle House on the Prairie! Now let’s go run down a hill.

Oh, and My So Called Life.

MacGyver is the most recognizable for me. Knight Rider and Airwolf get you ready for the tech heavy action that is about to come. X-Files is appropriately weird.

Sure, Stargate SG-1’s theme was originally written for a movie, but it gives the impression of sweeping vistas and epic adventure so it should be mentioned because it was a terrific move to keep it for the TV show.

Law and Order has a great music theme song. I have it on my phone as a ring tone even.

“Top Cat” plus countless cartoon themes from the 60s/ early 70s. Yes, I said “Top Cat”. The song compressed a lot of quality and personality into a very short span. “Top Cat” had class and swing. It may be a cartoon but it blows the doors off contemporary theme writing, in terms of originality and catchyness.

Hey all you Canadians, how about “King of Kensington” from the 70s? Ya gotta love a theme song that you can polka to!

Anybody remember… The Green Hornet!

I add the original Superman TV show theme (something Zarusthra(?)) and the Syncopated Clock them from the Early Show.

The Twilight Zone (original of course), X-Files, M*A*S*H, Law & Order

I’m glad Dallas and MASH were mentioned! I think ER should be in there somewhere. And I applaud Mike S. for picking X-files. Thanks for the memories and the tunes!

Room 222, without a doubt … The Saint … Ellery Queen [written by Elmer Bernstein!] … so many great theme … Streets of San Francisco … am I the only one to note that many of the above suggestions actually have lyrics that were sung? People, read the instructions!

Big Valley!!!

Come on it has to be Dynasty! for the 80s and the Six Million Dollar Man for the 70s…close runner up…St. Elsewhere.

What did ever happen to the TV theme? Here are some that are always stuck in my head…

Mystery Science Theatre 3000
Unsolved Mysteries
X-Files
SImpsons

that’s just a few…

No one, that I saw, mentioned my personal favorite. The theme from “Dallas”.

My most memorable are:
Hill Street Blues
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Mary Tyler Moore Show

And like you, I love to remember the themes from: Hawaii 5-O and Mission: Impossible.

For current shows, I love the theme for “The Office” (when they don’t shorten it), and I’ve always been a huge fan of the theme from “Quantum Leap” as well

Many great choices noted here. Mine include West Wing, Homicide: Life on the Street, Barney Miller, TAXI, Law&Order, X-Files, Buffy, among others. Like some posters, I think I watch too much TV as well!!

The best all time TV theme song is definitely Hawaii Five-O. I saw the telecast of the Ventures playing the song during this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and it sounded just as great in 2008 as it did in 1968!

STARGATE SG-1 - mysteries of the ancients discovered by the US Air Force in the vast unknown of the universe.

Leslie, The Sunday Mystery Movie has to be the most haunting instrumental theme ever. You almost had it right, Columbo and McCloud were part of the rotating lineup but not Kojak as it was a CBS series. This version from 1973 also includes Hec Ramsey and McMillan and Wife

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zaWuXHMrwXo

Midnight Caller

“Dexter,” hands down. It’s creepy, but cute; whimiscal yet devious - just like the show’s title character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utqoFsMYPKs&feature=related

Early Edition, Hercules The Legendary Journeys, Xena Warrior Princess, Knots landing

Angel (Buffy spin-off)

A few of my favorites: The Equalizer from Stewart Copeland (whose theme and rich score from the series were never Emmy-nominated); Miami Vice and Vanishing Son by Jan Hammer; Mike Post’s NYPD Blue and Silk Stalkings; Kraft Suspense Theater and the various Irwin Allen science-fiction series themes (Lost In Space, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants) written by John Williams; Johnny Staccato by Elmer Bernstein, and the Naked City themes by Billy May (hour-long seasons 1-2) and Nelson Riddle (season 3).

I Dream of Jeannie
Star Trek (all of them)
M*A*S*H
MIssion: Impossible

Mr. Belvedere had a great theme song that fit the show perfectly. Let’s also not forget about the great cartoon themes “Animaniacs” and “The Smurfs.” I have also always liked the theme from “The Muppet Show.”

It would have to be the theme to Dexter. I LOVE that show, and the intro music is great!

SANFORD AND SON!!!!!! Written by Quincy Jones. Though not as dramatic or intricate as the ones mentioned by the author, it is definitely an iconic theme of the 70’s Black television era.

great ones mentioned so far, but have to add:
The Muppet Show - always good to get into a great mood and
Doctor Who — from all incarnations; its mystery, haunting and power

Night Court!

First TV theme I learned on the bass guitar.

I can’t believe no one has mentioned ALIAS!

Star Trek Deep Space Nine
Twilight Zone
Xena: Warrior Princess (yes it has words, but I think they are Gaelic so might as well be an instrumental)
Rockford Files

I hear the Rockford Files theme song and I am immediately transported to my first crush - Jim Rockford, of course.
And what about the old Tonight Show opening song with Johnny Carson?
Can’t help but love The Office (US version) song and the ominous Law and Order ta-dums. They make awesome cell phone ringtones.

Taxi, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Space 1999, The Night Gallery, Barney Miller, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Simpsoms, Speed Racer, and Rawhide.

The Tudors. I listen to it 96 times a day.

The West Wing!!!

I have to say for the instrumental music of “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and the Big Valley” are a few of my favorites. The music is so intricate. Then, there is “Lost in Space, Bonaza and High Chapperal” I’d love a CD with all the old 60’s and 70’s series.

Peter Gunn theme, but I cannot remember what show it was from…

Originating from the UK first and foremost in my memory is Doctor Who. Another that i enjoyed actually came from a cartoon show called ‘Peter Pan and the Pirates’. A current fav is the theme to Battlestar Galactica.

Amazingly interesting
informative and clear.

Fantastic to read CNN blogs.

Linda
http://www.attentiontodetailgifts.com

Twilight Zone! Made extra awesome with Rod Serling overdubs.

Also Simpsons (Danny Elfman and the twittering flute lines– brilliant!)

The greatest of all instrumental TV themes was Henry Mancini’s theme for Peter Gunn. Far better than the show itself. My other favorites include the themes from Perry Mason, I Spy, Ironside, The Mod Squad, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, The Bob Newhart Show, and Magnum P.I.

Good themes take you back! Twin Peaks, Combat, Batman, Barney Miller, Hawaii Five O, That Girl.

Beverly Hills 90210! This shouldn’t even be up for discussion! Dylan McKay for President!