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Topic: Off Topic-TV Main Titles

Aaron R. Brown

Oscar® Winner

I would like to know what are your favorite TV main titles?
I liked Jerry Goldsmith's Emmy Winning Star Trek Voyager. It is a beautiful main title that seems so befitting for space travel.[This message has been edited by Aaron R. Brown (edited 05-10-99).]
posted 05-10-1999 03:24 PM PT (US) 
S Smith
unregistered
Definitely "Voyager;" and even though I never really cared for the show, "DS9."Then of course there's the obvious of "ER," especially the expanded version available on the soundtrack.
posted 05-10-1999 03:28 PM PT (US) 
Ben Penserga

Oscar® Winner

Wow. There are so many I like. I hope you aren't asking for those themes just by famous composers like Goldsmith. Anyway:The Single Guy (good latin feel)
Twin Peaks (relaxed, jazzy feel)
Simpsons/Tales from the Crypt (Elfman)
Miami Vice (Jan Hammer; A throwback to those 80's synth days)NP-Out of Sight, Desperado
posted 05-10-1999 03:44 PM PT (US) 
spunkyxl
unregistered
My favorite would have to be the Simpsons (Elfman). After almost a decade, I still cant get tired of that theme.
posted 05-10-1999 04:09 PM PT (US) 
Mary

Oscar® Winner

I like M.A.S.H. and St. Elsewhere. And of the current ones--let's see...I like Friends best.....just kidding. Actually, I like DS9 best, I think.
Mary
n.p. Suite from Mulan[This message has been edited by Mary (edited 05-10-99).]
posted 05-10-1999 05:21 PM PT (US) 
James

Oscar® Winner

Seaquest DSV (John Debney)
Psi Factor (Lou Natale)
Get Smart (????)
The Flash (Danny Elfman)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (????)and ALL the Star Treks...
James
NP - Wilde (Debbie Wiseman)[This message has been edited by James (edited 05-10-99).]
posted 05-10-1999 07:52 PM PT (US) 
Audacity

Oscar® Winner

My favorite TV theme has always been Quantum Leap.Audacity
N.P. Krull (James Horner)posted 05-11-1999 05:19 AM PT (US) 
Ed Coleman

Oscar® Winner

My choice would have to be "Millennium", before that the theme to "Miami Vice" was great!NP - Phantom Menace
posted 05-11-1999 05:46 AM PT (US) 
Magdi

Oscar® Winner

Somebody should mention the great TV stuff written in the 50s and 60s. For example:
Mission: Impossible (Schifrin)
Gunn (Mancini)
The Avengers (Johnson)
posted 05-11-1999 12:07 PM PT (US) 
SFT

Oscar® Winner

Defineatly "The Simpsons" and "Tales from the Crypt" by Danny Elfman. They are superb!SFT
NP: Batman, Danny Elfman
posted 05-11-1999 12:31 PM PT (US) 
Aaron R. Brown

Oscar® Winner

I forgot to mention Mark Snow's The X-Files. (It's my favorite TV drama! Along with Star Trek DS9) Althrough it is mosty synth, the main title is a classic. I particularly liked the movie orchestral version on The X-Files: Fight The Future.
posted 05-11-1999 12:54 PM PT (US) 
Kevin
Oscar® Winner

Let's go back a few years. I like "Time Tunnel" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.""Time Tunnel" was by John Williams, "Voyage..." was Jerry Goldsmith.
Kevin
NP - Article 99 (Elfman)posted 05-11-1999 02:55 PM PT (US) 
Will

Oscar® Winner

The X-Files, Lois & Clark, Mission: Impossible, and Due South (main titles; without the singing).
posted 05-11-1999 05:23 PM PT (US) 
Mary

Oscar® Winner

Ooohh! I forgot about Quantum Leap. That IS a great one. One of my favorites.
Mary
posted 05-11-1999 08:33 PM PT (US) 
Sean Bires

Oscar® Winner

"Millenium" from Mark Snow is a great, great theme song. It's dark and moody, and has a touch of sorrow.
posted 05-11-1999 08:54 PM PT (US) 
Wolfie
unregistered
Scaregrow and Mrs. King from Arthur B. RubinsteinVery exciting stuff he wrote for each episode and a rousing main title. Too bad this is nowhere to be found on any compilation CD except a very badly interprated one from one of those TV Super Starlight Orchestra-kinda thing...
Wolfie
posted 05-16-1999 01:38 AM PT (US) 
Mike

Oscar® Nominee

Does anyone besides me think that the theme to "CHiPs"
has orchestral potential? I mean, I think that if it was
rearranged for a large orchestra, it might sound pretty
darn good. I'm not sure who wrote the theme, but I know that Alan Silvestri wrote the music for the episodes for seasons 2-7. Just some food for thought.
posted 05-16-1999 11:03 AM PT (US) 
S Smith
unregistered
I don't know Mike. I was just going through it in my head, and I don't think it has the orchestra potential. If memory serves me correctly, it was mostly brass and rhythm with a little bit of string thrown in, so it's basically been orchestrated. The problem is that the theme is pretty much just a disco tune and there's not a lot to work with musically. It'd probably be like trying to score "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (I did a string quartet arrangement once). While it may be novel, I don't think it'd be too great musically.Just my opinion.
posted 05-16-1999 06:15 PM PT (US) 
Will

Oscar® Winner

I almost forgot about Airwolf by Sylvester Levay. In fact Airwolf contains a lot of cool synth music of the 80's. I like the emotionally moving sad cue from the pilot episode after Hawke blows up the bad guy.NP Face/Off
posted 05-17-1999 04:39 AM PT (US) 
Steph1
unregistered
My favorite tv. main themes are from Millenium, The Simpsons,ER and from the Canadian show Road to Avonlea...they had many changing main themes over the years (the same basic music just changed in different ways) and I loved every one of them.Too bad they never released a soundtrack to that show because they had some beautiful music by smaller composers.
posted 06-06-1999 05:39 PM PT (US) 
Aaron Collins

Oscar® Winner

Here's a list of my favorite TV themes...The Simpsons
Star Trek: TNG
Star Trek: Voyager
Lost in Space
Mission Impossibleposted 06-06-1999 08:00 PM PT (US) 
J. Peter Wolk-Laniewski

Oscar® Winner

One I always liked was High Incident by Zimmer. Pretty good show, too bad it got canceled.I don't know if it's really one of my favorite themes, but Homicide: Life on the Street had some unique music in it. Out of curiosity, is anyone else ticked off that this wonderful drama has been axed by NBC after seven years?
posted 06-06-1999 08:46 PM PT (US) 
Vorlon

Oscar® Nominee

I ahve to say that I think Goldsmith is one of the best creators of memorable themes in the Tv arena.He gave us the new Star Trek theme, Voyager, The Waltons, Dr Kildare etc and on and on. Not to mention QBVII. Ok its a while back, but when it comes to getting that melody for a show or a film, Goldsmith sees to be able to hit it.
Debney I quite like too with Seaquest, and lets not forget Mr Franke for B5's theme, or Mark Snow for the X files, or going back even further to Barry Gray for all of the Thunderbirds/Gerry Anderson series.
Yep definately some talents there!
posted 06-08-1999 01:34 PM PT (US) 
Ted

Oscar® Winner

The Simpsons are great, but I also like the main theme to Amazing Stories by Williams.NP: Episode I (Williams) *****
posted 06-08-1999 08:43 PM PT (US) 
Matthew

Oscar® Winner

Most of my fav's seem to be from 80's tv shows.They are:AIRWOLF (sylvester Levay)
AMAZING STORIES (John Williams)
THE A-TEAM (Mike Post)
MIAMI VICE (Jan Hammer)
SILK STALKINGS (Mike Post)
TALES FROM THE CRYPT (Danny Elfman)
SEAQUEST DSV (John Debney)
RENEGADE (Mike Post)NP: K2 (Hans Zimmer) (***1/2)
[This message has been edited by Matthew (edited 06-19-99).][This message has been edited by Matthew (edited 06-19-99).]
[This message has been edited by Matthew (edited 06-19-99).]
posted 06-09-1999 12:11 AM PT (US) 
Sean Bires

Oscar® Winner

Besides Mark Snow's beautiful theme song to "Millenium", The "Unsolved Mysteries" theme always gave me the creeps too...NP - The Phantom Menace - It really gets your heart pumping when you play "Duel of the Fates" while playing a computer game. Great score... 4 & 1/2 out of 5 stars.
posted 06-13-1999 12:01 AM PT (US) 
BMUSTANG

Oscar® Winner

Rescue 77
Early Edition
posted 06-14-1999 04:38 PM PT (US) 
Crono/Kyp

Oscar® Winner

Snow's "Millemmium" and "The X-Files"Also "Buffy" and "Angel" have good themes.
--Crono/Kyp
Writer/Director/Producerposted 12-23-1999 12:01 AM PT (US) 
Scott

Oscar® Winner

Well, well,
let's not forget the news. The Mission theme for NBC news by Williams is a masterpiece and the fuller version of CBS news ain't too shaby either.I love the music to Dynasty and Falcon Crest and the short lived series the Colbys; all by Bill Conti.
All of Jerry Goldsmith's are great.
Chicago Hope (the first season), Amazing Stories, Picket Fences.Oh yes, let's not forget the great theme to the Practice probably the best show on television today.
Scott
This may be the wrong place but Williams' Olympic themes are masterpieces as well. Love those themes.
[This message has been edited by Scott (edited 23 December 1999).]
posted 12-23-1999 07:04 AM PT (US) 
Sean Bires

Oscar® Winner

All the Star Treks (except for that original 1960's series) have great theme songs.Also, the theme song to the childrens' show, "Gargoyles", had a powerful theme to it too...
posted 01-05-2000 10:30 PM PT (US) 
Scott

Oscar® Winner

The West Wing has a great theme as well.
Scottposted 01-06-2000 07:42 AM PT (US) 
James

Oscar® Winner

Sean... be careful, I'm confused. Are you saying that you like the theme to the Star Trek animated series better than the theme to the original series?James
posted 01-06-2000 12:44 PM PT (US) 
Sean Bires

Oscar® Winner

I never knew there was an animated series...I was talking about Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space 9. Plus some of the newer films
posted 01-09-2000 12:11 AM PT (US) 
Matt

Oscar® Winner

NYPD Blue
Angel and Buffy
posted 01-09-2000 04:53 PM PT (US) 
J. Peter Wolk-Laniewski

Oscar® Winner

Matt:
The music for Buffy is good, but the main theme? That lame pseudo-punk that I always hit the mute button for? Angel is cool.
posted 01-09-2000 09:44 PM PT (US) 
Ron Pulliam

Oscar® Winner

I'm very partial to Shirley Walker's scoring for "Space: Above and Beyond." That series boasted some of the most muscular dramatic music of any series. Several episodes were simply stunning, including the Emmy-nominated (for score) "River of Stars."Then there was "The Visitor." Although David Arnold wrote the (okay) main theme, Kevin Kiner's scoring was exceptional. Some of the scoring in this show -- especially in scenes when Adam exhibited his abilities -- was breathtaking.
Ron
posted 01-19-2000 11:44 AM PT (US) 
SBD
Oscar® Winner

Here are some of my favorite TV themes:Murder, She Wrote(Addison)
The Equalizer(Copeland)
Fantasy Island(Ottman -- I MISS that show!)
Sliders(Danny Lux)
Dilbert(Elfman)
The Critic(Zimmer)
Seinfeld(Jonathan Wolff)
Room 222, The Waltons & Barnaby Jones(all
Goldsmith)
everything by Mike Post
Streets of San Francisco(Pat Williams)
The Rookies(Bernstein)
S.W.A.T. & Simon and Simon(Barry DeVorzon)
anything by Lalo Schifrinposted 01-24-2000 09:06 AM PT (US) 
dantoris

Oscar® Winner

Off the top of my head (in no order):"L.A. Heat" (great saxophone job; check it out Mon.-Fri. on TNT @ 4:00)
"The Pretender" (the first two by John Debeny)
"The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." (still waiting for a soundtrack release)
"Becker"
"ER"
"Wild Wild West"
"The A-Team"
"Magnumn P.I."
"Simon & Simon"
"Walker, Texas Ranger" (the first season had a score opening, not the cool song that plays now)
"Nash Bridges" (same as "Walker" - first season had a cool opening score)
"Homicide"
"Millennium"
"Mission: Impossible"
"PSI Factor" (much better than "X-Files")
"The X-Files" (but it's now grown extremely tiresome)
"Star Trek: The Next Generation"
"ALF"
"Miami Vice"
and who could possibly forget....
"Sledge Hammer""Trust me. I know what I'm doing." David Rasche gets me every time.

I'm sure I forgot some.
[This message has been edited by dantoris (edited 24 January 2000).]
posted 01-24-2000 08:28 PM PT (US) 
SBD
Oscar® Winner

Also:Welcome Back, Kotter
Cheers
Barney Miller
Sanford & Son
The Jeffersons
Kojak
The Mod Squad
Get Smart
Route 66
Sea Hunt
Boy Meets World(1st season theme only)
All of the songs used on The Drew Carey Show
Wings
Ned and Stacey
Almost Perfectposted 01-25-2000 08:17 AM PT (US) 
H Rocco
Oscar® Winner

I tend to think Mike Post has composed the most NUMEROUS great main themes.ROCKFORD FILES
HILL STREET BLUES
NYPD BLUE
TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEYwell, there are too many to list off the top of my head, but I'm typing this in to stick up for my VERY FAVORITE of his themes: the gorgeous, melancholy BAY CITY BLUES. Circa 1983 or so, about the travails of a minor-league baseball team. With early roles for Dennis Franz and Sharon Stone. Another Steven Bochco production, and -- people forget this -- the first network TV show to flaunt its use of bare butts, a full ten years before Bochco pulled the same (publicity) stunt with NYPD BLUE.
As far as I can tell, BAY CITY BLUES hasn't been collected ANYWHERE, and it's driving me nuts. It wasn't a great show, but it had SUCH a great theme.
posted 01-29-2000 12:06 PM PT (US) Old Infopop Software by UBB
