While catchy theme songs haven’t disappeared completely, they are less common than they once were. TV theme songs began to decline in popularity during the mid-1990s for various reasons. Networks became concerned about viewers changing channels during opening credits, so they decided to jump into the show’s content faster to retain the audience. Removing theme songs obviously creates more time for commercials. And these days, with streaming, the “skip intro” feature caters to a population with less patience & shorter attention spans. I won’t dive down the rabbit hole of modern culture vs. “the good ol’ days”, but if you’re of a certain age like me you probably have some opinions. At any rate, please take a moment to peruse Part 1 & Part 2 if you haven’t already done so.

80 Mission: Impossible (Mission: Impossible)

I’ve never watched a single episode of the 1960’s television show nor any of the dozens of Tom Cruise films, but come on…everyone has heard that theme song.

79 CHiPs (CHiPs)

I vaguely recall being a fan of CHiPs in the early 80’s. Cop shows aren’t usually my thing, but maybe Grade School Me had a motorcycle fetish. Since the program premiered in 1977 its theme obviously had a cool disco vibe. I’m sure it was in the rotation at every dance club back then.

78 Miami Vice (Miami Vice)

I am sensing a trend. Two actually. Not only is it another instrumental theme, but also from a show I never watched. As mentioned, cop shows just don’t frost my cupcake. That being said, the cool people were all watching Miami Vice in the 1980’s, and even those of us who weren’t viewers got caught up in the fashion trends it inspired. Composer Jan Hammer won two Grammys for his synthesizer heavy theme song.

77 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)

Well she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina

She’s a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize

She’ll take you for a ride on a slow boat to China

Tell me where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

I don’t know where Carmen Sandiego is or was back in the day. Heck, I never even watched the PBS show because its purpose was to teach geography to kids, and by then I was a college student. However, that song is straight fire and introduced the world to the vocal group Rockapella. It is my understanding that they are still around & performing.

76 What’s Happening!! (What’s Happening!!)

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you hear the bouncy instrumental theme for What’s Happening!!. You might be surprised to know that it was written by Oscar, Grammy, & Golden Globe winning composer Henry Mancini. You’ve heard his other work if you’ve watched Peter Gunn, The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or Charlie’s Angels. 

75 Hawaii Five-O (Hawaii Five-O)

I have a vague recollection of watching the original Hawaii Five-O when I was a kid, and I tried (unsuccessfully) to get into the reboot that aired about a decade ago. While the show itself was popular, this might be the prime example of a theme song’s legacy eclipsing the source material.

74 The Monkees (The Monkees)

Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees and people say we monkey around

But we’re too busy singing to put anybody down

Well okay, Hawaii 5-O…hold our beer. Were The Monkees a fictional band?? Or were they a real band that starred in a television show?? The answer is both. They were created for the TV show, but did produce albums and go out on tour. The show only lasted two seasons in the late 1960’s (before I was a gleam in my father’s eye), but lots of us rediscovered it when MTV aired reruns in the mid-80’s. The band’s music…Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer…is a far greater legacy than the television program. I had an opportunity to see Mickey Dolenz in concert about seven years ago, which was fun.

73 Closer to Free (Party of Five)

Everybody wants to live how they wanna live

Everybody wants to love how they wanna love

Everybody wants to be closer to free

When Party of Five aired in the mid-90’s I had graduated from college and certainly grown beyond teen drama. However, there was much more to the show than that, and let’s be honest…Jennifer Love Hewitt was easy on the eyes. Closer to Free became a Top 20 hit for The BoDeans.

72 Saved by the Bell (Saved by the Bell)

When I wake up in the morning
And the alarm gives out a warning
And I don’t think I’ll ever make it on time
By the time I grab my books
And I give myself a look
I’m at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by

It’s alright ’cause I’m saved by the bell

Yes it was corny. Sure, I was in college and not really the target demographic. However, Saved by the Bell fit into a unique niche. It was lighthearted, easily digestible entertainment for people who had outgrown cartoons but enjoyed a harmless distraction on a lazy Saturday morning.

71 Without Us (Family Ties)

What would we do, baby without us?

There ain’t no nothing we can’t love each other through

What would we do, baby without us?

Shalalala

Everyone knows & loves Michael J. Fox, especially if you’re a fan of Back to the Future, Teen Wolf, or any of his lesser known movies. However, let’s not forget that 80’s sitcom Family Ties was not only his big break, but a damn fine television program. The laid back, soulful theme song is a duet by the legendary Johnny Mathis & 80’s icon Deniece Williams.

Stay tuned for Part 4!!