Good and bad theme songs

[amcnj]

When I was a kid I liked the ones with words, like Adam’s Family, Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligans Island.

 

[ChrisFL]

Some of my favorites

Also, one of the eeriest themes ever

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[disneychrista]

 

[maxaroni]

A couple of people mentioned the Love Boat theme song, which I also liked. We were on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico and Jack Jones, singer of the Love Boat theme song, was there. We saw his show and he asked if people were there for an anniversary, I shouted HONEYMOON. He sang the theme song and came over and was singing in front of us.

 

[spiders]

Game of Thrones was awesome

 

[DisneyHardin]

The Facts of Life was always one of my favorite theme songs.

 

[Ginger R]

A couple of people mentioned the Love Boat theme song, which I also liked. We were on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico and Jack Jones, singer of the Love Boat theme song, was there. We saw his show and he asked if people were there for an anniversary, I shouted HONEYMOON. He sang the theme song and came over and was singing in front of us.

That is pretty cool!

 

[jmenjes]

 

[superme80]

Ah man! So many amazing songs on here. Jem and the Holograms is a favorite of mine.
Favorites:
Sherlock
Cheers
Silverhawks
and many more.
Hated:
as iconic as it is Full House

 

[JLong06]

The O.C. - “California” by Phantom Planet

My all time favorite theme song from my all time favorite show. Where are my early 2000s Millennials at?

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Love that song! Every season when I binge watched OITB I would walk around singing that song for like a week

 

[BrianL]

I feel as if many of the 80's cartoons have great theme songs.
Examples:
Robotech - Sweeping orchestral score. Let's you know from the jump that you're not watching an episodic series, but a serialized space drama.

Transformers - The lyrics tell you everything you need to know. I also suspect that the S1 intro had every single robot available as a toy in there.

Jem and the Holograms - Makes you aware you are in for something truly truly truly outrageous.

And this was from the 90's, but Mighty Morphin Power Rangers had a pretty kickass theme

(It also works great as a mashup)

As for bad ones, I'll say all the NCIS themes except New Orleans.

Nailed it! Throw in G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and M.A.S.K. though too.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

The Affair had a great Fiona Apple theme song that encapsulated the show perfectly

 

[starvenger]

Nailed it! Throw in G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and M.A.S.K. though too.

Has to be related to the need to sell toys back then. If you don't have that immediate hook, kids won't watch, and won't be tempted to get parents to buy stuff.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I feel as if many of the 80's cartoons have great theme songs.

As for bad ones, I'll say all the NCIS themes except New Orleans.

I know you couldn't have forgotten this one!

 

[msjprincess]

I liked this as a kid

 

[starvenger]

I know you couldn't have forgotten this one!

Funny story.

As a kid, I went to Chinese school on Saturday mornings. So I missed most, if not all, of the Saturday morning cartoon block. EXCEPT for the Smurfs. Imagine a Saturday morning where you could only watch The Smurfs.

The Smurfs annoyed me greatly, and despite the excellent use of classical music, I try my best to forget the existence of the show.

 

[Communicore1991]

Here's one that you probably won't otherwise see in this thread: Hudson Street. It was a one season show on ABC starring Tony Danza and Lori Loughlin. I think the theme song is nice and simple and whenever I hear it, it gets stuck in my head:

 

[footballmouse]

I really liked the opening song for Suits. I also liked Friends, Big Bang Theory and CSI.

I agree with a lot already mentioned: MASH, Downton Abby, Fresh Prince.