#72

Spider-Man (1967)

“Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can!”

Composed: Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) and Robert “Bob” Harris (music)

Performed: Canadian pop/easy listening vocal group The Billy Van Singers and Canadian vocl group The Laurie Bower Singers

This is a show that I have never actually seen. However, the theme song has become so iconic that is has been used in other areas, including the first Toby Maguire Spider-Man live action movie.

#73

True Detective: Night Country

“Bury a Friend”

Written by : Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

Performed: Billie Eilish

This is True Detective season four from HBO. This theme really helped me get into the show. I have not watched other seasons of True Detective after season 1 (and part of 2) but those themes do not stick out for me like this song does. Showrunner Issa López thought the lyrics of the song fit in with the overall dark themes of the show. Billie Eilish stated that the song was written about the monster beneath the bed, which turned out to be her.

#74

The Munsters

Composed: Jack Marshall

Lyrics: (Unaired): Bob Mosher

The Munsters’ theme is a blend of spooky sounds and a 60’s style surf song. Jack marshall also arranged the theme, which may not be as well known as the Addams Family, but was still a perfect fit in tone for the Munsters.

#75

The Simpsons

Composed: Danny Elfman

Series creator Matt Groening approached Elfman and asked him to compose a theme to the new show. Elfman has said that he was looking for something like The Flintstones theme or other Hanna-Barbera classic cartoons.

The opening sequence of the show changed a little over the years, specifically with Bart writing something different on the chalkboard as a punishment and the family having something different happen to them hen thye jumped on the couch.

#76

The Tick (animated)

Composed/Performed: Doug Katsaros

“Da-da dweee! Da-da dwee dowww!”

The animated version of the Tick introduced me to one of my favorite characters. The Tick was special in the world of superheroes… a satire of the genre that showed how much it loved it as well.

The theme of the animated series was catchy and stuck in your head. Kicking off with an alarm clock, the scatting done by composer Doug Katsaros was intriguing and fun. The horns in the theme were in your face, much like the character of The Tick.

#77

Benson

Composed: George Aliceson Tipton

George Tipton had composed the theme from Soap, the show that Benson was spun off from, so it made sense that he also composed the them to Benson.

#78

Orange is the New Black

Title: “You’ve Got Time”

Written, Composed, Performed: Regina Spektor

This series was on Netflix and was actually pretty good. The theme just really rocked and provided the perfect tone for this series set inside a prison for women. It never failed to get my head a bobbing and set up the mood for this comedy/drama.

#79

The Lone Ranger

“Hi-Yo Silver, AWAY!”

Musical Origin: Composed by Gioachino Rossini for his final opera, William Tell (1829).

First used for the radio show in 1933

The piece features rapid, galloping rhythms, trumpet fanfares, and timpanis, evoking a sense of action and justice

#80

Family Ties

Title: “Without Us”

Composed: Jeff Barry and Tom Scott

Performed: Originally sung by Dennis Tufano and Mindy Sterling, it was later replaced by the iconic duet version by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams.

Musicians:  Jeff Porcaro (drums), David Hungate (bass), Richard Tee/Greg Phillinganes (keys), Lee Ritenour (guitar), and Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). 

To be honest, this theme was placed one spot ahead of #81. Growing Pains because they are constantly getting mixed up. I am not sure if I could pick out which one was which, typically. I put Family Ties ahead of Growing Pains because I liked that show a little better, but it these could be tied at 80.5 each.

#81

Growing Pains

Title: “As Long As We Got Each Other”

Composed: Steve Dorff

Lyrics: John Bettis

Performed: B.J. Thomas, with later versions featuring duets with Jennifer Warnes and Dusty Springfield. 

#82

I Dream of Jeannie

Composer (season 2-5): Hugo Montenegro (Season one composer was Richard Wess. The season 2-5 theme is the one on this list. It is the one that everyone knows)

And everyone knows this theme. I did not watch a lot of I Dream of Jeannie as a kid, but I watched enough to know how iconic this theme is.

#83

One Day at a Time

Title: “This is It”

Composed: Jeff and Nancy Barry

Performed: Polly Cutter

One Day at a Time is another of those catchy, 70s/80s themes that sticks in your head after you see it. I watched One Day at a Time, but I did not love it. It was fine. The theme sticks with me more than the show did.

#84

Who’s the Boss

Season one

Season three

Season 8

Title: “Brand New Life”

Composed: Larry Carlton and Robert Kraft.

Lyrics: Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, the show’s creators.

Performed: Larry Weiss: Seasons 1–2; Steve Wariner: Seasons 3–6; Jonathan Wolff: Season 6–8

Musicians: Notable features included Larry Carlton on guitar and Jeff Porcaro on drums. 

The ABC sitcom, Who’s the Boss, had one of those catchy themes that stuck in your head after you hear it. I enjoyed the show and the theme helped with it.

#85

Maude

Theme title: “And Then There’s Maude“

Composed by Dave Grusin. Lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Performed by Donny Hathaway.

Maude was a TV show that I never watched regularly. Heck, I do not think that I even watched it a little bit. I may have seen a few episodes here and there. However, I saw Bea Arthur appearing on the Rosie O’Donnell talk show and Rosie sang the theme song to Bea Arthur’s face. I enjoy the clip and it helped place “And Then There’s Maude” at #85.

Here is the YouTube clip from The Rosie O’Donnell Show.

#86

Picket Fences

The theme song for Picket Fences was composed by Stewart Levin.

The theme is a whimsical piano piece that, as with most successful themes, gives you the feel of the tone of the show with its music.

This is one of those themes that gets into your brain and stays there. It is a simple and sweet theme for an unconventional TV show.