The Fall TV season kicks off this week, but fans of the TV theme song will probably be very disappointed: The era of the long television theme song is almost entirely over. Back in the 1960s, Sherwood Schwartz pioneered the explanatory theme song with Gilligan's Island. If you tuned into the show and wondered who those crazy castaways were and why they were on an island, all you had to do was 'sit right back and hear a tale…' Later in the decade Schwartz created The Brady Bunch, and viewers heard a 'story about a man named Brady.' Most theme songs weren't that direct, but shows from All in the Family to Friends all set the tone for the show with their themes. Click through to see your 10 favorites.
By Andy Greene
1. Hawaii Five-O - Morton Stevens & The CBS Orchestra (Hawaii Five-O)
2. Mission Impossible - Lalo Schifrin (Mission Impossible)
3. Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini (Peter Gunn)
4. The Fishin' Hole - Earle Hagen (The Andy Griffith Show)
5. Song From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) - The Mash (M.A.S.H.)
6. Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Gary Portnoy (Cheers)
7. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring the Three Degrees (Soul Train)
8. Batman Theme - Neal Hefti (Batman)
9. Theme From The Monkees - Monkees (The Monkees)
10. Love Is All Around - Sonny Curtis (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
11. Johnny's Theme - Tonight Show Orchestra (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson)
12. Movin' On Up - Ja'net Dubois (The Jeffersons)
13. Ballad Of Jed Clampett- Flatt & Scruggs (The Beverly Hillbillies)
14. The Addams Family Main Theme - Vic Mizzy (The Addams Family)
15. Dragnet Main Title - Walter Schumann (Dragnet)
16. Those Were The Days - Archie & Edith (Carroll O'Connor & Jean Stapleton) (All In The Family)
17. Welcome Back - John Sebastian (Welcome Back, Kotter)
18. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers (Secret Agent)
19. Bonanza - David Rose (Bonanza)
20. Thank You For Being A Friend - Cynthia Fee (The Golden Girls)
21. I'll Be There For You - The Rembrandts (Friends)
22. The Streetbeater - Quincy Jones (Sanford And Son)
23. The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle - Wellingtons / Eligibles (Gilligan's Island)
24. Meet The Flintstones - Hoyt Curtin (The Flintstones)
25. Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street - Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (Sesame Street)
26. William Tell Overture - Gioachino Rossini (The Lone Ranger)
27. Theme of Law & Order - Mike Post (Law & Order)
28. Route 66 Theme - Nelson Riddle (Route 66)
29. Theme From Star Trek - Alexander Courage (Star Trek)
30. Bandstand Boogie - Les Elgart / Barry Manilow (American Bandstand)
31. Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song - Will Smith (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
32. The Simpsons Main Title Theme - Danny Elfman (The Simpsons)
33. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer (Miami Vice)
34. The Rockford Files - Mike Post (The Rockford Files)
35. Mr. Ed - Jay Livingston (Mister Ed)
36. This Is It - Polly Cutter (One Day At A Time)
37. Dramatic Twilight - Marius Constant (The Twilight Zone)
38. The Theme From Hill Street Blues - Mike Post (Hill Street Blues)
39. Woke Up This Morning - A3 (The Sopranos)
40. Believe It Or Not - Joey Scarbury (The Greatest American Hero)
41. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett - Fess Parker (Disneyland - Davy Crockett Indian Fighter)
42. A Different World - Phoebe Snow / Aretha Franklin / Boyz II Men (A Different World)
43. Love And Marriage - Frank Sinatra (Married With Children)
44. Park Avenue Beat - Fred Steiner (Perry Mason)
45. The Brady Bunch - Frank De Vol (The Brady Bunch)
46. Who Are You - The Who (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
47. The Mickey Mouse March - Jimmie Dodd & The Mouseketeers (The Mickey Mouse Club)
48. Theme From Magnum P.I. - Mike Post (Magnum P.I.)
49. Rawhide - Frankie Laine (Rawhide)
50. Patty Duke Show Theme - Sid Ramin / Bob Wells (The Patty Duke Show)
51. Angela - Bob James (Taxi)
52. Odd Couple Theme - Neal Hefti (The Odd Couple)
53. Theme From Dallas - Jerrold Immel (Dallas)
54. Love, American Style - Cowsills / Ron Hicklin Singers (Love, American Style)
55. When We're Singin' / C'mon Get Happy - Partridge Family (The Partridge Family)
56. Doctor Who Theme - Delia Derbyshire (Doctor Who)
57. The Munsters Theme - Jack Marshall (The Munsters)
58. Moonlighting (Theme) - Al Jarreau (Moonlighting)
59. Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow - Sammy Davis Jr. (Baretta)
60. Spider-man Theme Song - Paul Francis Webster (Spider-man)
61. Funeral March of a Marionette - Charles Gounod (Alfred Hitchcock Presents)
62. Theme From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage (S.W.A.T.)
63. Night Court Opening Theme - Jack Elliot / Ernie Watts (Night Court)
64. Barney Miller Theme - Jim Hughart (Barney Miller)
65. Good Ol' Boys - Waylon Jennings (Dukes Of Hazzard)
66. Petticoat Junction Theme - Curt Massey (Petticoat Junction)
67. Happy Days - Pratt & McClain (Happy Days)
68. WKRP in Cincinnati (Main Theme) - Steve Carlisle (WKRP in Cincinnati)
69. It's Howdy Doody Time - Buffalo Bob Smith (Howdy Doody)
70. Won't You Be My Neighbor - Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)
71. Daniel Boone Theme - Vera Matson & Lionel Newman (Daniel Boone)
72. Shine On Me - Vanessa Bell Armstrong (Amen)
73. Theme from L.A. Law - Mike Post (L.A. Law)
74. The Treme Song - John Boutte (Treme)
75. Beverly Hills 90210 Theme - John E. Davis (Beverly Hills 90210)
76. How Do You Talk To An Angel - The Heights (The Heights)
77. Harlem Nocturne - Earle Hagen (Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer)
78. Tossed Salads And Scrambled Eggs - Kelsey Grammer (Frasier)
79. Cleveland Rocks - The Presidents of the United States of America (The Drew Carey Show)
80. With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker (The Wonder Years)
81. Dick Van Dyke Show Theme - Earle Hagen (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
82. I Love Lucy - Eliot Daniel (I Love Lucy)
83. The Little House - David Rose (Little House On The Prairie)
84. Bugs Bunny Overture - Mel Blanc (The Bugs Bunny Show)
85. The Love Boat - Jack Jones (The Love Boat)
86. The Jetsons Theme - Hoyt Curtin (The Jetsons)
87. Theme From My Three Sons - Frank De Vol (My Three Sons)
88. 77 Sunset Strip - Mack David (77 Sunset Strip)
89. The Facts Of Life - Al Burton (The Facts Of Life)
90. Best Friend - Nilsson (The Courtship Of Eddie's Father)
91. Green Acres Opening Theme - Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor (Green Acres)
92. Making Our Dreams Come True - Cyndi Grecco (Laverne & Shirley)
93. Runaway - Del Shannon (Crime Story)
94. F Troop Theme - William Lava (F Troop)
95. Get Smart Theme - Irving Szathmary (Get Smart)
96. Mr. Lucky - Henry Mancini (Mr. Lucky)
97. Hogan's Heroes March - Jerry Fielding (Hogan's Heroes)
98. Hey Beautiful - Solids (How I Met Your Mother)
99. Bad Boys - Inner Circle (Cops)
100.Frolic - Luciano Michelini (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
2. Mission Impossible - Lalo Schifrin (Mission Impossible)
3. Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini (Peter Gunn)
4. The Fishin' Hole - Earle Hagen (The Andy Griffith Show)
5. Song From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) - The Mash (M.A.S.H.)
6. Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Gary Portnoy (Cheers)
7. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring the Three Degrees (Soul Train)
8. Batman Theme - Neal Hefti (Batman)
9. Theme From The Monkees - Monkees (The Monkees)
10. Love Is All Around - Sonny Curtis (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
11. Johnny's Theme - Tonight Show Orchestra (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson)
12. Movin' On Up - Ja'net Dubois (The Jeffersons)
13. Ballad Of Jed Clampett- Flatt & Scruggs (The Beverly Hillbillies)
14. The Addams Family Main Theme - Vic Mizzy (The Addams Family)
15. Dragnet Main Title - Walter Schumann (Dragnet)
16. Those Were The Days - Archie & Edith (Carroll O'Connor & Jean Stapleton) (All In The Family)
17. Welcome Back - John Sebastian (Welcome Back, Kotter)
18. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers (Secret Agent)
19. Bonanza - David Rose (Bonanza)
20. Thank You For Being A Friend - Cynthia Fee (The Golden Girls)
21. I'll Be There For You - The Rembrandts (Friends)
22. The Streetbeater - Quincy Jones (Sanford And Son)
23. The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle - Wellingtons / Eligibles (Gilligan's Island)
24. Meet The Flintstones - Hoyt Curtin (The Flintstones)
25. Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street - Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (Sesame Street)
26. William Tell Overture - Gioachino Rossini (The Lone Ranger)
27. Theme of Law & Order - Mike Post (Law & Order)
28. Route 66 Theme - Nelson Riddle (Route 66)
29. Theme From Star Trek - Alexander Courage (Star Trek)
30. Bandstand Boogie - Les Elgart / Barry Manilow (American Bandstand)
31. Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song - Will Smith (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
32. The Simpsons Main Title Theme - Danny Elfman (The Simpsons)
33. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer (Miami Vice)
34. The Rockford Files - Mike Post (The Rockford Files)
35. Mr. Ed - Jay Livingston (Mister Ed)
36. This Is It - Polly Cutter (One Day At A Time)
37. Dramatic Twilight - Marius Constant (The Twilight Zone)
38. The Theme From Hill Street Blues - Mike Post (Hill Street Blues)
39. Woke Up This Morning - A3 (The Sopranos)
40. Believe It Or Not - Joey Scarbury (The Greatest American Hero)
41. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett - Fess Parker (Disneyland - Davy Crockett Indian Fighter)
42. A Different World - Phoebe Snow / Aretha Franklin / Boyz II Men (A Different World)
43. Love And Marriage - Frank Sinatra (Married With Children)
44. Park Avenue Beat - Fred Steiner (Perry Mason)
45. The Brady Bunch - Frank De Vol (The Brady Bunch)
46. Who Are You - The Who (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
47. The Mickey Mouse March - Jimmie Dodd & The Mouseketeers (The Mickey Mouse Club)
48. Theme From Magnum P.I. - Mike Post (Magnum P.I.)
49. Rawhide - Frankie Laine (Rawhide)
50. Patty Duke Show Theme - Sid Ramin / Bob Wells (The Patty Duke Show)
51. Angela - Bob James (Taxi)
52. Odd Couple Theme - Neal Hefti (The Odd Couple)
53. Theme From Dallas - Jerrold Immel (Dallas)
54. Love, American Style - Cowsills / Ron Hicklin Singers (Love, American Style)
55. When We're Singin' / C'mon Get Happy - Partridge Family (The Partridge Family)
56. Doctor Who Theme - Delia Derbyshire (Doctor Who)
57. The Munsters Theme - Jack Marshall (The Munsters)
58. Moonlighting (Theme) - Al Jarreau (Moonlighting)
59. Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow - Sammy Davis Jr. (Baretta)
60. Spider-man Theme Song - Paul Francis Webster (Spider-man)
61. Funeral March of a Marionette - Charles Gounod (Alfred Hitchcock Presents)
62. Theme From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage (S.W.A.T.)
63. Night Court Opening Theme - Jack Elliot / Ernie Watts (Night Court)
64. Barney Miller Theme - Jim Hughart (Barney Miller)
65. Good Ol' Boys - Waylon Jennings (Dukes Of Hazzard)
66. Petticoat Junction Theme - Curt Massey (Petticoat Junction)
67. Happy Days - Pratt & McClain (Happy Days)
68. WKRP in Cincinnati (Main Theme) - Steve Carlisle (WKRP in Cincinnati)
69. It's Howdy Doody Time - Buffalo Bob Smith (Howdy Doody)
70. Won't You Be My Neighbor - Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)
71. Daniel Boone Theme - Vera Matson & Lionel Newman (Daniel Boone)
72. Shine On Me - Vanessa Bell Armstrong (Amen)
73. Theme from L.A. Law - Mike Post (L.A. Law)
74. The Treme Song - John Boutte (Treme)
75. Beverly Hills 90210 Theme - John E. Davis (Beverly Hills 90210)
76. How Do You Talk To An Angel - The Heights (The Heights)
77. Harlem Nocturne - Earle Hagen (Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer)
78. Tossed Salads And Scrambled Eggs - Kelsey Grammer (Frasier)
79. Cleveland Rocks - The Presidents of the United States of America (The Drew Carey Show)
80. With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker (The Wonder Years)
81. Dick Van Dyke Show Theme - Earle Hagen (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
82. I Love Lucy - Eliot Daniel (I Love Lucy)
83. The Little House - David Rose (Little House On The Prairie)
84. Bugs Bunny Overture - Mel Blanc (The Bugs Bunny Show)
85. The Love Boat - Jack Jones (The Love Boat)
86. The Jetsons Theme - Hoyt Curtin (The Jetsons)
87. Theme From My Three Sons - Frank De Vol (My Three Sons)
88. 77 Sunset Strip - Mack David (77 Sunset Strip)
89. The Facts Of Life - Al Burton (The Facts Of Life)
90. Best Friend - Nilsson (The Courtship Of Eddie's Father)
91. Green Acres Opening Theme - Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor (Green Acres)
92. Making Our Dreams Come True - Cyndi Grecco (Laverne & Shirley)
93. Runaway - Del Shannon (Crime Story)
94. F Troop Theme - William Lava (F Troop)
95. Get Smart Theme - Irving Szathmary (Get Smart)
96. Mr. Lucky - Henry Mancini (Mr. Lucky)
97. Hogan's Heroes March - Jerry Fielding (Hogan's Heroes)
98. Hey Beautiful - Solids (How I Met Your Mother)
99. Bad Boys - Inner Circle (Cops)
100.Frolic - Luciano Michelini (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
What's more comforting than the theme song from your favorite television show?
While we may be -- as they say -- in the second golden age of television, the golden age of TV theme songs is behind us. In honor of the fresh fall TV season, let's look back at the most iconic title music in small screen history, with a little background info on each song:
20. 'Mission Impossible' (1966-1973)
Tv Series Theme Songs
The 'Mission Impossible' song has come to symbolize all things spy-related, and is in the very uncommon 5/4 time (which you may also know from Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five'):
19. 'Malcolm in the Middle' (2000-2006)
'Boss of Me' was written by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants and it actually scored them a Grammy for best song for a motion picture, television or other visual media:
As The World Turns Opening 1979
18. 'Twin Peaks' (1990-1991)
The theme from David Lynch's two-season cult classic is as eerie and wonderful as the show. Yet, it's still not as eerie as the theme from 'Mr. Ed':
17. 'Beverly Hillbillies' (1962-1971)
'The Ballad of Jed Clampett' is one of those handy theme songs that provides a back-story for the show before each episode:
16. 'The Brady Bunch' (1969-1974)
In the same vein, here's 'the story of a lovely lady..'
15. 'Laverne and Shirley' (1976-1983) This classic theme song is parodied by 'Wayne's World' when Wayne and Garth visit Milwaukee:
14. 'Pokemon' (1998-)
Grab your binder of trading cards and Gameboy color..
13. 'The Jeffersons' (1975-1985)
'Movin' On Up,' the classic gospel-infused title song from 'The Jeffersons' was covered by Beyonce on her Mr. and Mrs. Carter tour in 2013, so you know it's important:
12. 'All in the Family' (1971-1979)
The theme for one of the leading sitcoms of the '70s was written by the same songwriting team behind 'Bye Bye Birdie.' It's also the source material for the 'Family Guy' opening:
11. 'Peter Gunn' (1958-1961)
Prolific songwriter Henry Mancini -- the man behind such classics as 'The Pink Panther Theme,' 'The Charlie's Angels Theme' and 'Moon River' -- penned this no-nonsense action tune:
10. 'Hawaii Five-O' (1968-1980) The 'Hawaii Five-O' theme is also the unofficial fight song of Hawaii University:
9. 'Happy Days' (1974-1984)
The 'Happy Days' theme hit No. 5 on the Billboard charts in 1976, and it's also Weird Al's favorite theme song according to his track'White & Nerdy':
8. 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' (1970-1977)
The final shot in this title sequence, in which Mary throws her hat into the air, was ranked as the second greatest moment in 1970s television by Entertainment Weekly:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Opening and Closing Theme 1970 - 1977 from TeeVees Greatest on Vimeo.
7. 'The Addams Family' (1964-1966)
The highest-ranking song on our list that involves snapping, 'The Addams Family' theme is instantly recognizable, even if you don't know all the words:
6. 'Full House' (1987-1995)
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Nothing says sitcom like the theme from 'Full House':
5. 'The Simpsons' (1989-)'The Simpsons' theme, written by one of Hollywood's finest film scorers Danny Elfman, gets bonus points on our list because as most Americans know, no Simpsons intro is the same:
4. 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air '(1990-1996)
'You know you're a '90s kid when..' But really, if you don't know every word to rap written by Will Smith himself, you're either older than 40 or missed out on a childhood:
3. 'Friends' (1994-2004)
'I'll Be There For You' hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the '90s and will certainly be played at Bat-mitzvah candle-lighting ceremonies for years to come. But beware: If this song plays in public, whoever you're with may launch into a painful tirade on their favorite 'Friends' episodes:
2. 'Gilligan's Island' (1964-1967)
'The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle' is the ultimate 'this is how the characters got here' ballad. Baby boomers know this one by heart:
1. 'Cheers' (1982-1993)
When 'Cheers' began gaining popularity in the '80s, requests starting pouring in for the sheet music for its theme song. Decades later, 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' is still the gold-standard for TV themes, and the most reassuring, nostalgic song on our list: