Catchy theme songs would require imagination on the part of Hollywood writers. Watch modern TV and tell me this still exists.
It’s about time, it’s about space,
About two men in the strangest place.
It’s about time, it’s about flight -
Traveling faster than the speed of light.
This is the tale of the brave crew
As through the barrier of time they flew.
Past a fighting minuteman,
Past an armored knight,
Past a Roman warrior,
To this ancient site.
It’s about caves,cavemen too,
About a time when the earth was new.
Wait’ll they see what is in sight!
Is it good luck or is it good night?
It’s about two astronauts, it’s about their fate,
It’s about a woman and her prehistoric mate.
It’s about time, it’s about space,
About two men in the strangest place.
They will be here right on this spot
No matter if they like it or not.
How will they live in this primitive state?
Will help ever come before it is too late?
Will they ever get away? Watch each week and see!
Will they be returning to the 20th Century?
It’s about time for our goodbyes
To all these prehistoric gals and guys. IT’S ABOUT TIME!
Best ever was the theme from “Rockford Files”!
The Rockford Files theme song is burned into my brain.
Oh, another one is Gilligan’s Island. You can sing Amazing Grace to the melody.
magnum, hill street blues, cheers, growing pains, wonder years, a team, air wolf, quantnum leap, star trek, battle star gallactica, greatest american hero, fame, highlander.. those are the good ones i remember.
Beverly Hillbillies
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude.
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
Well the first thing you know ol Jed’s a millionaire,
Kinfolk said “Jed move away from there”
Said “Californy is the place you ought to be”
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.
Well now its time to say good by to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You’re all invited back a gain to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality
Hillybilly that is. Set a spell, Take your shoes off.
Y’all come back now, y’hear?.
Police Squad.
Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name
.
Mickey Mouse! Donald Duck!
WKRP In Cincinnati
Also, there was Low Culture -- some folks attended vaudeville, or watched Gilligan's Island or Sanford and Son.
High Culture and Low Culture had some interplay, where folk songs or peasant music could be used as the basis of a symphony, or notable orchestral themes would be used in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. The two cultures co-existed and developed some degree of synergy.
Now, all we have is Pop Culture which is so vapid they've even discarded TV theme songs because they think it might cause channel flipping. I can't believe how bland everything is now.
In the not-too-distant future-
Next Sunday A.D.-
There was a guy named Joel,
Not too different from you or me.
He worked at Gizmonic Institute,
Just another face in a red jumpsuit.
He did a good job cleaning up the place,
But his bosses didn’t like him
So they shot him into space.
We’ll send him cheesy movies,
The worst we can find (la-la-la).
He’ll have to sit and watch them all,
And we’ll monitor his mind (la-la-la).
Now keep in mind Joel can’t control
Where the movies begin or end (la-la-la)
Because he used those special parts
To make his robot friends.
Robot Roll Call: (All right, let’s go!)
Cambot! (Pan left!)
Gypsy! (Hi, girl!)
Tom Servo! (What a cool guy!)
Croooow! (He’s a wisecracker.)
If you’re wondering how he eats and breathes
and other science facts (la la la),
Then repeat to yourself, “It’s just a show,
I should really just relax
For Mystery Science Theater 3000!”
I love Cheers’ where everybody knows your name... Among the current shows, I like Scrub’s I’m not superman...
The Peter Gunn Theme was Mancini, not Duane Eddy. Duane did a cover decades later.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gunn
“The show’s use of modern jazz music, at a time when most television shows used a generic, uninspired orchestra for the background, was another distinctive touch that set the standard for many years to come. Innovative jazz themes seemed to accompany every move Gunn made, ably rendered by Henry Mancini and his orchestra (which at that time included John Williams), lending the character even more of an air of suave sophistication. Most memorable of all was the show’s opening (and closing) theme, composed and performed by Mancini. A hip, bluesy, brassy number with an insistent piano-and-bass line, the song became an instant hit for Mancini, earning him an Emmy Award and two Grammys, and became as associated with crime fiction as Monty Norman’s theme to the James Bond films is associated with espionage. The harmonies fit the mood of the show, which was a key to success. “The Peter Gunn Theme” has been covered by numerous jazz, blues, and rock artists since, including Ray Anthony, Quincy Jones, The Remo Four, The Blues Brothers, Croon & The Creepers, Brian Setzer, The Cramps, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Roy Buchanan, Melvin Taylor, Umphrey’s McGee, Pulp, Dick Dale & The Del-Tones, and many, many others. A version by Art of Noise, with guest artist Duane Eddy on twang guitar (taking the piano riff) earned a Grammy Award in 1987.”
Who’s that riding in the sun?
Who’s the man with the itchy gun?
Who’s the man who kills for fun?
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad.
He sleeps with a gun
but he loves his son
Killed his wife ‘cos she weighed a ton.
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad.
A little touched or so we’re told
Killed his wife ‘cos she had a cold
Might as well she was gettin’ old
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad.
He’s quick with a gun
And his job ain’t done.
Killed his wife by twenty-one,
Psycho Dad!
Who’s that riding in the sleigh?
Who’s that firing along the way?
Who’s roughing up bums on Christmas day?
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad
Who’s the tall, dark stranger there.
The one with the gun and the icy stare.
The one with the scalp of his ex-wife’s hair!
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad!
Who’s that riding across the plain?
Who’s lost count of the wives he’s slain?
Who’s the man who’s plumb insane?
Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad
He’s a durn good pa, but he hates the law.
He’s likes to eat it raw, He’s Psycho Dad!
It used to be that 50 minutes or more of each TV hour was spent on programming. Now it's more like 42, and trending lower. There's only so much content you can cut before audiences really take note.
So, you trim where you can. Theme songs? Gone, or minimized. Closing credits? Squeezed down so they can run a promo between shows. "Bumpers" for long commercial breaks? Mostly gone.