No other theme song better captured the innocent and sweet era of sitcoms that The Donna Reed Show is from. With a pleasant, orchestral number, the theme song was as squeaky clean as the show itself. The song and accompanying credits reflect a bygone era as the housewife in pearls readies everybody for their day. There were many shows in this category in the 50s but none had a theme song that matched the genre as well.
One of the most famous theme songs, the Mission: Impossible theme delivered intensity and suspense that the show would follow up with. It has been redone many times by the remade series in the 80s, the hit movie franchise starring Tom Cruise, and countless marching bands. This is why shows today need to invest in quality theme songs because that famous theme has helped this show stay more relevant than it would have otherwise.
Another of the classic "telling the story" theme songs, this one so obviously tells the story that it starts with the line "here's the story." The Brady Bunch was iconic for many reasons and the theme song with the accompanying "grid" of the family (and Alice) was just one of those reasons. But how can you think about the Bradys without thinking of the song? You can't, and that's what a good theme song does.
One of the most successful theme songs of all time was from a show that was only a modest hit. But the theme by John Sebastian made it all the way to #1 on the Billboard charts. The show is frankly annoying but the theme is just awesome. It might have charted higher if I had a fonder impression of the show beyond the great theme.
Maybe the most famous of the "telling the story" themes, Gilligan's Island explained the whole ridiculous plot for the whole ridiculous series. And of course this show even gives the entire cast (save for the "rest" that included just the Professor and Mary Ann, whose names were added for season two). And another famous line begs the age-old question, if it was a "three hour tour" - why did some of them pack so many clothes? Oh, the 60s.
Sure, everybody knows and loves the theme song from seasons 2-5 and it's a good one that would make this list, but the reason this show is higher than others is because of the underrated first season theme. This theme was less hokey and much classier than the theme that followed. It gave the show more sophistication and the first season was more sophisticated as the show got sillier over time. The quality of the video isn't great but I think it's worth posting this one instead of the more classic one.
From the classic opening - "Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!" to the uplifting theme song, this show had a classic song that was borderline cheesy but still enjoyable. I can't identify something I specifically love about this theme song like I can for other shows, except to say that I have always liked it and still do. I'm not even sure it fits the broad, physical comedy sitcom its accompanied to but it's just a good theme, plain and simple.
That Girl was the precursor to The Mary Tyler Moore Show in many ways right down to the opening credits where a young single girl explores the city. There were many incarnations of the theme song and I tend to enjoy the jazzy, instrumental one rather than the one with the lyrics. And of course, you have to appreciate that they found a way to lead into the theme song by saying the phrase "that girl" for each of the 136 episodes.
Much like WKRP in Cincinnati on my last batch of songs, there's something wistful and nostalgic about this theme even though I've never see more than a handful of episodes nor do I have any special connection to the show. This is one of those shows in my opinion where the theme song trumps the show. You want the show to be more like the theme song but it's not. That doesn't take away from the sweetness of the theme.
The best Nicktoon of them all also had the best theme song. As a child from the era, there are millions just like me who have such fond memories of this simple, yet memorable theme song. I even have it on my ipod, that's how much I love it. Unfortunatley I don't have the accompanying credits, just the song but that's enough. Nickelodeon in that era had it all and great theme songs were just part of it. It's no wonder Teen Nick's "The 90s are All That" block has been so successful.
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