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TV Theme Songs

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

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Who Talked About This Topic

  • Lee Adams
  • Debbie Allen
  • William Asher
  • Alan Ball
  • Donald Bellisario
  • Lucille Bliss
  • Steven Bochco
  • James L. Brooks
  • Allan Burns
  • Dick Cavett
  • Glen Charles
  • Les Charles
  • Bill Conti
  • Alexander Courage
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman
  • Milton Delugg
  • Richard Donner
  • Kevin Eubanks
  • Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
  • Charles Fox
  • Gerald Fried
  • Earle Hagen
  • Paul Henning
  • Quincy Jones
  • Eddie Kean
  • Asaad Kelada
  • Glen A. Larson
  • Chuck Lorre
  • Bob Markell
  • Mary Tyler Moore
  • Bill Nye
  • Mike Post
  • John Rich
  • William Schallert
  • Lalo Schifrin
  • Sherwood Schwartz
  • Garry Shandling
  • Bob Smith
  • Tom Smothers
  • Dick Smothers
  • Herbert F. Solow
  • Jean Stapleton
  • Charles Strouse
  • Alex Trebek
  • W.G. Snuffy Walden
  • Clint Walker
  • Dawn Wells
  • Andy Williams
  • Alan Young
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  • Highlights
  • All Interviewee clips on this topic

Highlights

  • Quincy Jones on composing the theme for  <i>Sanford &amp; Son</i>Quincy Jones on composing the theme for  Sanford & Son
    Clip begins at: 07:04, Duration: 04m 05s
  • Lalo Schifrin on composing the <i>Mission: Impossible</i>  themeLalo Schifrin on composing the Mission: Impossible  theme
    Clip begins at: 31:16, Duration: 12m 42s
  • Compser Earle Hagen on writing the theme to <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>Compser Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 10:45, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Composer Charles Fox plays piano medley of some of his compositions (Love American Style, Happy Days, Laverne &amp; Shirley, Angie, Hogan Family, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat); Killing Me Softly with His SongComposer 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
    Clip begins at: 21:25, Duration: 08m 41s
  • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for <i>The West Wing</i>W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing
    Clip begins at: 28:19, Duration: 01m 34s
  • Debbie Allen on the theme song for <i>A Different World</i> <br/>Debbie Allen on the theme song for A Different World
    Clip begins at: 22:59, Duration: 00m 53s
  • Composer Alexander Courage on creating the sound effect for the Enterprise on <i>Star Trek</i>Composer Alexander Courage on creating the sound effect for the Enterprise on Star Trek
    Clip begins at: 04:50, Duration: 02m 50s

All Interviewee clips on this topic

  • Lee Adams
    • Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme song to All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 12:50, Duration: 16m 32s
    • Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on audience response to the theme song to All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 47s
  • Debbie Allen
    • Debbie Allen on the theme song for A Different World
      Clip begins at: 22:59, Duration: 00m 53s
  • William Asher
    • William Asher on Bewitched 's animated title sequence and theme song
      Clip begins at: 21:44
  • Alan Ball
    • Alan Ball on the opening and title theme for Six Feet Under
      Clip begins at: 52:18, Duration: 01m 06s
  • 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
      Clip begins at: 33:11, Duration: 00m 39s
  • Lucille Bliss
    • Lucille Bliss on the theme song on The Smurfs
      Clip begins at: 26:32, Duration: 00m 36s
  • Steven Bochco
    • Steven Bochco on the importance of music to his series
      Clip begins at: 00:19, Duration: 01m 59s
  • James L. Brooks
    • James L. Brooks on the Taxi theme instrumental
      Clip begins at: 14:44, Duration: 00m 37s
  • Allan Burns
    • Allan Burns on the theme song and opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
      Clip begins at: 09:02, Duration: 05m 20s
  • Dick Cavett
    • Dick Cavett on Bobby Rosengarden and the theme song to Cavett's talk show
      Clip begins at: 35:29, Duration: 02m 00s
  • 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)
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 03m 15s
  • 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)
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 03m 15s
  • Bill Conti
    • Bill Conti on writing the theme/main title to an Esther and Richard Shapiro script called Oil, later known as Dynasty
      Clip begins at: 09:00, Duration: 05m 58s
    • Bill Conti on the main title theme for Dynasty
      Clip begins at: 15:07, Duration: 01m 53s
    • Bill Conti on composing the theme for Earl Hamner, Jr.'s Falcon Crest 
      Clip begins at: 17:43, Duration: 05m 07s
    • Bill Conti on composing the main title theme to Cagney & Lacey
      Clip begins at: 24:42, Duration: 02m 28s
    • Bill Conti on composing for the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" and creating the title song
      Clip begins at: 55:31, Duration: 03m 44s
  • Alexander Courage
    • Alexander Courage on creating the sound effect for the Enterprise on Star Trek
      Clip begins at: 04:50, Duration: 02m 50s
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the Friends theme song "I'll be there for you"
      Clip begins at: 09:56
  • Milton Delugg
    • Milton Delugg on composing the theme to What's My Line.
      Clip begins at: 14:16, Duration: 01m 34s
  • Richard Donner
    • Richard Donner on the importance of television theme songs
      Clip begins at: 04:27, Duration: 00m 48s
  • Kevin Eubanks
    • Kevin Eubanks on loving the theme song to Mission: Impossible
      Clip begins at: 13:57, Duration: 00m 14s
  • Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
    • Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
      Clip begins at: 19:33, Duration: 05m 33s
    • Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
      Clip begins at: 01:52, Duration: 05m 07s
    • Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show
      Clip begins at: 06:58, Duration: 01m 46s
  • Charles Fox
    • Charles Fox on composing the theme to ABC's Wide World of Sports
      Clip begins at: 12:20, Duration: 07m 30s
    • Charles Fox on composing the theme to Laverne & Shirley
      Clip begins at: 21:50, Duration: 08m 10s
    • Composer Charles Fox on composing the theme for Angie
      Clip begins at: 09:26, Duration: 01m 42s
    • Composer Charles Fox on composing the theme for Wonder Woman
      Clip begins at: 11:08, Duration: 03m 29s
    • Composer Charles Fox what a composer does in terms of creating the style of a show; on composing the theme for The Love Boat
      Clip begins at: 14:37, Duration: 08m 34s
    • 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
      Clip begins at: 21:25, Duration: 08m 41s
  • 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
      Clip begins at: 18:29, Duration: 01m 54s
    • Composer Gerald Fried on "Spock's theme" for Star Trek
      Clip begins at: 19:17, Duration: 01m 09s
    • Gerald Fried on composing music for the characters of Roots
      Clip begins at: 10:42, Duration: 00m 42s
    • Gerald Fried on composing the main theme for Roots
      Clip begins at: 11:24, Duration: 00m 45s
  • Earle Hagen
    • Earle Hagen on the Danny Thomas Show / Make Room for Daddy theme song
      Clip begins at: 14:17, Duration: 00m 46s
    • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 10:45, Duration: 03m 21s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on writing the theme for I Spy
      Clip begins at: 01:51, Duration: 05m 00s
  • Paul Henning
    • Paul Henning on the theme songs to Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction
      Clip begins at: 21:13, Duration: 03m 30s
  • Quincy Jones
    • Quincy Jones on composing the theme and incidental music for The Bill Cosby Show
      Clip begins at: 00:48, Duration: 05m 21s
    • Quincy Jones on composing the theme for Sanford & Son
      Clip begins at: 07:04, Duration: 04m 05s
  • Eddie Kean
    • Eddie Kean on writing the Howdy Doody theme song
      Clip begins at: 21:40, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Asaad Kelada
    • Asaad Kelada on the theme song for Family Ties
      Clip begins at: 53:32, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Glen A. Larson
    • Glen A. Larson on the theme songs to BJ and the Bear and Battlestar Galactica
      Clip begins at: 49:00, Duration: 02m 07s
    • Glen A. Larson on the theme song for Battlestar Galactia
      Clip begins at: 27:52, Duration: 00m 53s
    • Glen A. Larson on composing the theme to Knight Rider
      Clip begins at: 22:43, Duration: 02m 03s
    • Glen A. Larson on composing the theme song to The Fall Guy
      Clip begins at: 26:45, Duration: 00m 50s
  • Chuck Lorre
    • Chuck Lorre on co-writing the theme song to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
      Clip begins at: 15:28, Duration: 00m 16s
    • Chuck Lorre on co-writing the theme song for Two and a Half Men
      Clip begins at: 54:32, Duration: 00m 57s
    • Chuck Lorre on the theme song to Big Bang Theory
      Clip begins at: 27:30, Duration: 01m 20s
  • Bob Markell
    • Bob Markell on the improvised music cues for the opening of the show Danger
      Clip begins at: 13:44, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Mary Tyler Moore
    • Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song
      Clip begins at: 25:09, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Bill Nye
    • Bill Nye on the theme song to Bill Nye, The Science Guy
      Clip begins at: 55:40, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Mike Post
    • Mike Post on the theme to Lassie
      Clip begins at: 04:00, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files
      Clip begins at: 14:04, Duration: 05m 08s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 01m 29s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song for Baa-Baa Black Sheep
      Clip begins at: 26:37, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song for Toma
      Clip begins at: 13:14, Duration: 01m 14s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to The White Shadow
      Clip begins at: 02:37, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.
      Clip begins at: 03:35, Duration: 00m 32s
    • Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues  with writer/producer Steven Bochco
      Clip begins at: 04:07, Duration: 03m 48s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero
      Clip begins at: 26:00, Duration: 01m 01s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to The A-Team
      Clip begins at: 27:01, Duration: 00m 34s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law
      Clip begins at: 27:35, Duration: 01m 39s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme music for L.A. Law
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 01m 09s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to Quantum Leap
      Clip begins at: 07:41, Duration: 00m 31s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.
      Clip begins at: 08:12, Duration: 01m 19s
    • Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
      Clip begins at: 10:36, Duration: 05m 35s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order
      Clip begins at: 16:11, Duration: 06m 22s
    • Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring NYPD Blue
      Clip begins at: 23:18, Duration: 05m 12s
  • John Rich
    • Director John Rich on the creation of the classic "ottoman" opening of The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 19:00, Duration: 01m 55s
  • William Schallert
    • William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show
      Clip begins at: 41:47, Duration: 00m 48s
  • Lalo Schifrin
    • Lalo Schifrin on composing the Mission: Impossible  theme
      Clip begins at: 31:16, Duration: 12m 42s
    • Lalo Schifrin on composing the theme for Medical Center
      Clip begins at: 05:49, Duration: 02m 11s
    • Lalo Schifrin on how part of his composition for the feature film "Cool Hand Luke" became the theme for local Eyewitness News broadcasts
      Clip begins at: 14:08, Duration: 01m 59s
  • Sherwood Schwartz
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 03m 40s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song
      Clip begins at: 16:19, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Garry Shandling
    • Garry Shandling on the theme song to It's Garry Shandling's Show
      Clip begins at: 56:58, Duration: 01m 40s
  • Bob Smith
    • "Buffalo" Bob Smith sings the theme song from The Howdy Doody Show
      Clip begins at: 25:01, Duration: 00m 54s
  • Dick Smothers
    • Tom and Dick Smothers on the origin of The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour theme song
      Clip begins at: 00:31, Duration: 02m 00s
  • Tom Smothers
    • Tom and Dick Smothers on the origin of The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour theme song
      Clip begins at: 00:31, Duration: 02m 00s
  • Herbert F. Solow
    • Herbert F. Solow on hiring Alexander "Sandy" Courage to be the composer on Star Trek
      Clip begins at: 49:52, Duration: 01m 40s
  • Jean Stapleton
    • Jean Stapleton on performing "Those Were the Days," the theme song from All in the Family, and a lyric that proved problematic
      Clip begins at: 23:20, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Charles Strouse
    • Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme song to All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 12:50, Duration: 16m 32s
    • Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on audience response to the theme song to All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 47s
  • Alex Trebek
    • Alex Trebek on the Jeopardy "think" music written by Merv Griffin
      Clip begins at: 00:42, Duration: 01m 13s
  • W.G. Snuffy Walden
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for thirtysomething
      Clip begins at: 54:14, Duration: 02m 49s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on the theme of thirtysomehting as its own character
      Clip begins at: 00:33, Duration: 06m 28s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for thirtysomething
      Clip begins at: 10:35, Duration: 02m 38s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on the influence of the theme for thirtysomething
      Clip begins at: 17:09, Duration: 01m 28s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing and using voices for the theme for I'll Fly Away
      Clip begins at: 47:34, Duration: 02m 47s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on the theme to My So-Called Life
      Clip begins at: 22:58, Duration: 01m 01s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing
      Clip begins at: 28:19, Duration: 01m 34s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the prologue theme for The West Wing
      Clip begins at: 52:00, Duration: 03m 17s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on composing the theme for The West Wing
      Clip begins at: 23:56, Duration: 00m 14s
    • W.G. Snuffy Walden on a demonstration of The West Win g theme
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 01m 14s
  • Clint Walker
    • Clint Walker on the theme song to Cheyenne
      Clip begins at: 40:26, Duration: 00m 12s
  • Dawn Wells
    • Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 15:00, Duration: 00m 36s
  • Andy Williams
    • Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song
      Clip begins at: 21:23, Duration: 03m 44s
  • Alan Young
    • Alan Young on the Mister Ed  theme song
      Clip begins at: 14:17, Duration: 01m 09s
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