Pick 6- Favorite TV Theme Songs

As a writer and filmmaker, I love watching television. For me, watching television (specifically sitcoms) serve as a study session of sorts, an opportunity to dissect some of the industry's techniques and see areas where my projects can be innovative in our own light. In addition, it is a chance to identify what are the elements of a great show. Arguably the most popular facet of a show is its theme song. The song kicks off everything, and helps create a brand. Take a look at my Pick 6 of intros, 6 of my favorite theme songs of all time! Each features a background on the show and song, with a brief insight from me. Be sure to comment and post your own!

Night Court

Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The theme tune composed by Jack Elliott, featuring Ernie Watts on saxophone.

"Night Court" is a cult classic, which carries ties to popular modern tv (Family Guy) to late 90s hip-hip (Cam'ron and Jim Jones, pre-thug and Love & Hip-Hop). It's that saxophone, man!

Martin

Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions (a subsidiary of HBO) that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox. 

"Martin" ushered in a new era of comedy on television and its theme song is one that captured the hilarity and tomfoolery that was Martin Lawrence.

Amen

Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen stars Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s which featured entirely or almost-entirely black casts. The theme song is titled "Shine on Me", performed by Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

While many remember Sherman Helmsley for "The Jeffersons" (another show with a great theme), "Amen" provided a funky piano riff that picked up the spirit of anyone who heard it.

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised on CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays the widowed sheriff of the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. The song was composed by Earle Hagen and Herbert W. Spencer.

Do-Doo-Do...Doo-Do-Doo-Doo...while simple in production, the theme from "The Andy Griffith Show" was captivating and helped me to learn how to snap my fingers at an early age.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their wealthy Bel Air mansion, where his lifestyle often clashes with that of his relatives. The theme song is performed by Smith.

Only true fans are aware of the full length version of the famous theme song. With the intro, Will always reminded us that before he could film, he could flow.

Pick 6: The Cosby Show (All Seasons)

The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. The show's theme music, "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby.

Each season features a different version of the theme, including a latin-flavored and hip-hip styled intro. My favorite is Season 4, but all of them are incredible and highlight the appeal of television's greatest sitcom.

Ceddy P


What are your favorite themes? Be sure to post comments and videos featuring your favorite shows!