TV Theme Songs

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tabs

About

“I wrote that [theme to Sanford and Son] in about twenty minutes. I know [Redd] Foxx backwards. We worked all the Chitlin’ Circuits together. So I just wrote what he looked like. It sounds just like him, doesn't it?” - Quincy Jones, Composer

Interviewees discuss the origins of some of TV's most beloved theme songs.

Highlights

Quincy Jones on composing the theme for Sanford & Son

Lalo Schifrin on composing the Mission: Impossible theme

Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song

Composer Charles Fox plays piano medley of some of his compositions (Love American Style, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Angie, Hogan Family, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat); Killing Me Softly with His Song

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing

Who talked about this topic

Lee Adams

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme song to All in the Family

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on audience response to the theme song to All in the Family

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen on the theme song for A Different World

William Asher

William Asher on Bewitched 's animated title sequence and theme song

John Astin

John Astin on the theme song and opening credits of The Addams Family and on the revivals and legacy of the show

Buddy Baker

Buddy Baker on Jimmy Dodd writing "The Mickey Mouse Club March" for The Mickey Mouse Club

Alan Ball

Alan Ball on the opening and title theme for Six Feet Under

Bob Banner

Bob Banner on Dinah Shore's signature throwing of her kiss on > The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and on the "See the USA in your Chevrolet" theme song>

Joseph Barbera

Joseph Barbera on The Yogi Bear Show, and on the music of the early Hanna-Barbera cartoons

Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee on the theme song of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, written and performed by Peaches

Donald Bellisario

Donald Belisario on Mike Post's music for Magnum, P.I. and Quantum Leap d Belisario on Mike Post's music for Magnum, P.I. and Quantum Leap

Milton Berle

Milton Berle on the Texaco Star Theater theme song

Rick Berman

Rick Berman on the design of the ship and the theme song of Star Trek: Enterprise

Lucille Bliss

Lucille Bliss on the theme song on The Smurfs

Steven Bochco

Steven Bochco on the importance of music to his series

Kevin Bright

Kevin Bright on the opening credits of Friends, how the theme song was written, and the song's popularity

James L. Brooks

James L. Brooks on the Taxi theme instrumental

Allan Burns

Allan Burns on the theme song and opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Robert Butler

Robert Butler on the theme song to Hill Street Blues

Stephen J. Cannell

Stephen J. Cannell on Mike Post's theme song for The Rockford Files

Stephen J. Cannell on the theme song and catch phrases of Baretta

Stephen J. Cannell on Mike Post's theme song to The Greatest American Hero

Stephen Cannell on the theme song of The Greatest American Hero becoming a hit

Glenn Gordon Caron

Glenn Gordon Caron on how Al Jarreau came to write the Moonlighting theme song

Glenn Gordon Caron on the main titles and music on Medium

Chris Carter

Chris Carter on The X-Files main theme and title

Dick Cavett

Dick Cavett on Bobby Rosengarden and the theme song to Cavett's talk show

Glen Charles

Glen and Les Charles on the theme song of Cheers "Everyone Knows Your Name" (and how "People Like Us" was almost the theme)

Les Charles

Glen and Les Charles on the theme song of Cheers "Everyone Knows Your Name" (and how "People Like Us" was almost the theme)

Alf Clausen

Alf Clausen on Danny Elfman's theme song for The Simpsons and composing for the end credits

Alf Clausen on writing the theme song for ALF

Bob Claver

Bob Claver on the opening sequence and theme song of The Partridge Family

Art Clokey

Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song

Bill Conti

Bill Conti on writing the theme/main title to an Esther and Richard Shapiro script called Oil, later known as Dynasty

Bill Conti on the main title theme for Dynasty

Bill Conti on composing the theme for Earl Hamner, Jr.'s Falcon Crest

Bill Conti on composing the main title theme to Cagney & Lacey

Bill Conti on composing for the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" and creating the title song

Alexander Courage

Alexander Courage on writing the theme music for Star Trek

Alexander Courage on creating the sound effect for the Enterprise on Star Trek

Alexander Courage on writing the theme for Judd for the Defense

David Crane

David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the Friends theme song, "I'll Be There For You"

David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the Friends theme song, "I'll Be There For You"

Milton Delugg

Milton Delugg on composing the theme to What's My Line

Richard Donner

Richard Donner on the importance of television theme songs

David Dortort

David Dortort on the theme song of Bonanza

Danny Epstein

Danny Epstein on the theme song to Sesame Street

Danny Epstein on the theme song to Sesame Street, contd.

Kevin Eubanks

Kevin Eubanks on loving the theme song to Mission: Impossible

Tom Fontana

Tom Fontana on coming up with the title for Oz and the opening credits of the show, which feature him getting an Oz tattoo

Charles Fox

Composer Charles Fox plays piano medley of some of his compositions (Love American Style, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Angie, Hogan Family, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat); Killing Me Softly with His Song

Charles Fox on composing the theme to ABC's Wide World of Sports

Charles Fox on composing the theme to Laverne & Shirley

Composer Charles Fox on composing the theme for Angie

Composer Charles Fox on composing the theme for Wonder Woman

Composer Charles Fox what a composer does in terms of creating the style of a show; on composing the theme for The Love Boat

Gerald Fried

Gerald Fried on his first job in television, for M Squad and being put on staff at the studio with John Williams to then work on Shotgun Slade

Gerald Fried on "Spock's theme" for Star Trek

Gerald Fried on composing music for the characters of Roots

Gerald Fried on composing the main theme for Roots

Gary David Goldberg

Gary David Goldberg on how "sha-la-la-la" was added to the Family Ties theme song

Gary David Goldberg on the theme song of Family Ties

Gary David Goldberg on the theme song of Brooklyn Bridge

Lewis Gomavitz

Lewis Gomavitz on the Kukla, Fran & Ollie theme song

Earle Hagen

Earle Hagen on writing the theme for I Spy

Earle Hagen on using "Danny Boy," or "Londonderry Air" as the theme song to The Danny Thomas Show

Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show

Earle Hagen on the lyrics to The Andy Griffith Show theme song

Marilu Henner

Marilu Henner on the Taxi theme song

Paul Henning

Paul Henning on the theme songs to Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction

Al Jean

Al Jean on the opening credits of The Simpsons

Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson on the theme song to Gilligan's Island and being part of "the rest"

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones on composing the theme for Sanford & Son

Quincy Jones on composing the theme and incidental music for The Bill Cosby Show

Eddie Kean

Eddie Kean on writing the Howdy Doody theme song

Asaad Kelada

Asaad Kelada on the theme song for Family Ties

David E. Kelley

David E. Kelley on the importance of music in his shows, including Ally McBeal

Bernie Kopell

Bernie Kopell on The Love Boat theme song

Sid Krofft

Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf

Marty Krofft

Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf

Glen A. Larson

Glen A. Larson on the theme songs to BJ and the Bear and Battlestar Galactica

Glen A. Larson on the theme song for Battlestar Galactica

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme to Knight Rider

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme song to The Fall Guy

Jay Livingston

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the importance of a theme song to a show

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show

Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the importance of a theme song to a show

Chuck Lorre

Chuck Lorre on co-writing the theme song to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Chuck Lorre on co-writing the theme song for Two and a Half Men

Chuck Lorre on the theme song to Big Bang Theory

Sam Lovullo

Sam Lovullo on the Hee Haw theme song

Bob Markell

Bob Markell on the improvised music cues for the opening of the show Danger

Penny Marshall

Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall on the theme song and opening credits to Laverne & Shirley

Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson theme song, co-written by Paul Anka and Carson

Vic Mizzy

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

Vic Mizzy on the legacy of The Addams Family theme song

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Kentucky Jones

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

Vic Mizzy on the role of music in a TV show

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to The Addams Family

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to Green Acres

Ricardo Montalban

Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island

Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song

Tony Mottola

Tony Mottola on writing the theme to Danger

E. Roger Muir

E. Roger Muir on the Howdy Doody's theme song and music

Bill Nye

Bill Nye on the theme song to Bill Nye, The Science Guy

Bernie Oseransky

Bernie Oseransky on the theme song for Hawaii Five-O; and its popularity

Mike Post

Mike Post on the theme to Lassie

Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files

Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye

Mike Post on writing the theme song for Baa-Baa Black Sheep

Mike Post on writing the theme song for Toma

Mike Post on writing the theme song to The White Shadow

Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.

Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues with writer/producer Steven Bochco

Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero

Mike Post on writing the theme song to The A-Team

Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law

Mike Post on writing the theme music for L.A. Law

Mike Post on writing the theme song to Quantum Leap

Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.

Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock

Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order

Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring NYPD Blue

Martha Quinn

Martha Quinn on the MTV theme song

Gene Reynolds

Gene Reynolds on the theme song to M*A*S*H, "Suicide is Painless"

John Rich

Director John Rich on the creation of the classic ottoman opening of The Dick Van Dyke Show

Isabel Sanford

Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons theme song

William Schallert

William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show

Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin on composing the Mission: Impossible theme

Lalo Schifrin on composing the theme for Medical Center

Lalo Schifrin on how part of his composition for the feature film Cool Hand Luke became the theme for local Eyewitness News broadcasts

Sherwood Schwartz

Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song

Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song

Garry Shandling

Garry Shandling on the theme song to It's Garry Shandling's Show

Sidney Sheldon

Sidney Sheldon on Friz Freeleng animating the opening sequence of I Dream of Jeannie

Bob Smith

"Buffalo" Bob Smith sings the theme song from The Howdy Doody Show

"Buffalo" Bob Smith sings the theme song from The Howdy Doody Show

G.E. Smith

G.E. Smith on working with Aerosmith and writing the "Wayne's World" theme on Saturday Night Live

Tom Smothers

Tom and Dick Smothers on the origin of The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour theme song

Dick Smothers

Tom and Dick Smothers on the origin of The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour theme song

Mark Snow

Mark Snow on composing the theme song to The X-Files

Mark Snow on composing the theme song to The Lone Gunmen

Herbert F. Solow

Herbert F. Solow on hiring Alexander "Sandy" Courage to be the composer on Star Trek

Jean Stapleton

Jean Stapleton on performing "Those Were the Days," the theme song from All in the Family, and a lyric that proved problematic

Fred Steiner

Fred Steiner on composing the theme song for Perry Mason

Fred Steiner on composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward

Charles Strouse

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme song to All in the Family

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on audience response to the theme song to All in the Family

Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek on the Jeopardy "think" music written by Merv Griffin

Alex Trebek on the Jeopardy "think" music written by Merv Griffin

W.G. Snuffy Walden

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for thirtysomething

W.G. Snuffy Walden on the theme of thirtysomehting as its own character

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for thirtysomething

W.G. Snuffy Walden on the influence of the theme for thirtysomething

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing and using voices for the theme for I'll Fly Away

W.G. Snuffy Walden on the theme to My So-Called Life

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the prologue theme for The West Wing

W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing

W.G. Snuffy Walden on a demonstration of The West Win g theme

Clint Walker

Clint Walker on the theme song to Cheyenne

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Keenen Ivory Wayans on In Living Color's theme song, written by Heavy D and the Boyz

Dawn Wells

Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song

Cindy Williams

Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall on the theme song and opening credits to Laverne & Shirley

Andy Williams

Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song, and having Henry Mancini on the show

Hugh Wilson

Hugh Wilson on the theme song to WKRP in Cincinnati

Terence Winter

Terence Winter on the opening sequence of Boardwalk Empire

Alan Young

Alan Young on the theme song for Mister Ed

Anthony E. Zuiker

Anthony E. Zuiker on "Who Are You" by The Who being the theme song for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

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