I love television. I especially love theme songs. Earlier today I stumbled across Pop Vulture’s Top 5 list, and found no satisfaction with their selections. So I commented with my top 5, then headed to YouTube (because somehow I never think to look up things I genuinely enjoy) to more fully immerse myself into 1980s television. The more I watched, the more theme songs I thought of, resulting in the desire to share with everyone who cares (or doesn’t!). So I’ve compiled a list of the ten theme songs that elicited the most joy (and surpass all others in quality and awesomeness). I eliminated an honorary eleventh theme, Grand, because the only version online was the crappy season two edition. The ultimate list-worthy version is the drumless piano-only version. That said, here’s the list!
10 - Out of this World - I was taken aback when I learned many years after the show ended that this theme is actually a, for lack of a better word, “bastardization” of a classic song. I still like the theme better (and I still envy the clip in the theme where she turns somersaults in mid-air)
9 - Charles in Charge - This show aired in the same hour-block with Out of this World for those of us watching souther Maine’s Fox affiliate (WPXT-51) in the late 1980s. Saturday afternoons haven’t been as watchable since then.
8 - The Guys Next Door - This wasn’t around for long, but I know I can’t be the only one who was painfully obsessed with this show. I was the right age, it was the right time. I remember thinking Bobby was DREAMY, but felt uncomfortable because he was the oldest of the group - 20! Inconceivably old, right?
7 - Maude - I only ever saw Maude when I was home sick. All I can say is that it’s hard to feel sick when theme songs are as jaunty as Maude’s.
6 - My Two Dads - In its final season, My Two Dads was moved up past 9:00, which was my bedtime for a good long time (too long, really, but that’s not the point). But I was genreally able to convince my mom to let me stay up for the theme song (I was forced to do the same for It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, a theme that just missed the cut) I used to think Paul Reiser was the cuter Dad, but now I’m finding that Greg Evigan really brings on the hotness.
5 - Punky Brewster - Obviously!
4 - One Day at a Time - It took every ounce of restraint I could muster not to post later versions of the theme. It’s not that the song changed, but the cast of character was…well, ever-changing. (Who is Michael Lembeck, and why is he so cute??)
3 - Silver Spoons - Of all things I watched before the age of six, I have the most vivid memories of this program and its theme song. This is one of those shows that loses likability without the theme. In fact, later into Silver Spoons’ run they jazzed the theme up. I’m not convinced the change of theme wasn’t the reason the show ended so soon thereafter.
2 - The Littlest Hobo - I take what I just said back, my most vivid (and fond) early memories go here. I was a very very early riser as a tot, and was forced to keep myself out of trouble with early morning television. During the week I’d look at workout programming - Morning Stretch with Joanie Greggins, and that show where the three women stood in triangle formation to work out in a white room for 24 minutes. But on Saturdays at 6:00a.m. on channel 2 was The Littlest Hobo. It was such an honest, good show, with a haunting theme. Yes, haunting…the end credits in particular (which is why I’ve included both videos - please watch both!)
1 - 227 - The only people who can’t agree that this is not at least a top ten theme song (if not number one) are the ones who haven’t heard it. I’m incapable of sitting still when this is on…I’m forced to sassily wave my arms all over the place while I soulfully belt out the lyrics (and I generally don’t belt tunes as a rule) Ahhh. God I love it.
I’m hoping for input and comments. Share your favorites, tell me why mine are wrong (if you dare!)
I have video of you holding a newborn Joseph singing the theme from “My Two Dads”. It is a total lie but we can say that is why we chose you to be his god-mother?
I agree with 227 100%. I am glad “One Day at a Time” is up there, too.
If my husband made this list it would be “Airwolf” and “Knight Rider”, and “Tour of Duty”, and “Cover-Up”. I know this because we have actually had this discussion.
I have a lot to comment about here.
The theme song wasn’t the only problem with the second season of Grand. Man, did they ever hobble that show when the retooled and de-quirkied it for the second season. Not that I remember much of the first season, but I remember finding the quirkiness charming, and I remember loving the opening credits.
Out of This World… yeah, I remember that, too. If I recall correctly, WPXT aired this, then Superboy, and then it was time to flip over to PBS for Doctor Who. I really loved Saturday afternoon TV in the mid-to-late 80s. And I remember having a huge crush on Evie from this show.
Yeah, Maude’s theme kinda ruled… never liked the show much, but that blaring organ sound was awesome. Drop some wacka-chi-wackas in over that, and it might be the most perfect 70s theme ever.
Of all the One Day at a Time openings you could have chosen, you probably made the right call. Anne Romano’s first season boyfriend (her divorce lawyer) is gone, Mackenzie Phillips and Pat Harrington do awesome dances, Valerie Bertinelli is freakin’ adorable, and Glenn Scarpelli’s character isn’t even on the horizon yet. This is the platonic ideal of One Day at a Time.
I preferred Erin Gray on Buck Rogers, but she was still pretty hot on Silver Spoons, I must say. And I always thought the dad on that show was funny, but the only other thing I’ve ever seen him in was some sitcom about priests on a religious programming/public access station.
I’d have been disappointed in you if your number one had been anything other than 227. In fact, I pretty much associate this show with you now.
Your list is MUCH better than their list.
I was sad to see that “It’s Gary Shandling’s Show.” and “Amen” didn’t make your cut though. =(
I’m finding it very hard to come up with a comprehensive, accurate list of my own fave TV themes. So many to choose from. “My Two Dads” has always been right up there, and “227″ as well, which makes me think of the “Amen” theme song, which I always liked. The “Punky Brewster” song always makes me feel a little sad, but in a good way, which I imagine was their goal, it being a show about a plucky orphan and all.
A lot of my favorites were from hour-long dramas or action shows, like “Simon & Simon” and “The Fall Guy”. Actually, “The Fall Guy” is probably in my top three. I’ve always had a soft spot for the “Reading Rainbow” theme as well. “Night Court”. “Facts of Life”. And last but not least, I always got excited whenever the song to the cartoon version of “Teen Wolf” came on. I recall dancing and playing air guitar to it on more than one occasion. In fact, I liked it so well that I wrote a second verse to it, as well as a bridge. I spent a good afternoon on it. I don’t remember how it went but I imagine it was pretty terrible.
“It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” was in my original top 5, but I couldn’t find a version I wanted online. There was a cool version that The Turtles sang (I recommend looking it up for surrealness), but I was really wanting the original. For ease purposes I’ll rank it tied for 11th with “Grand”.
If this were a list of Top Ten Most Enthusiastic theme songs, “Amen” would come in 2nd. I do enjoy it quite a bit, but where quality is concerned, I was unable to bump anything to accommodate it.
I should’ve just made a Top Twenty. It’s not like I couldn’t fill it.
You might as well do an 11-20 list now. You know you wanna!
I want a new one.