In this era of syndication, they've got an unfair earworm advantage over pop songs...but still, greatness must be acknowledged. The links are to the iconic versions when nothing else will do, but most take you to alternate or cover versions that might blow your little minds...
1) "Barney Miller"
-by jack elliott and allyn ferguson
-performed by chuck berghofer
Those opening bass notes, so iconic, indelible, funky, sublime...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3Q8GNSKi4
2) "Cheers"
-by julian williams, gary portnoy, judy hart angelo
-performed by gary portnoy
Has there ever been a theme that more perfectly captured the essence of a show? But which version? The original? 200th episode extended? NBC 75th birthday? This one by foy vance may be better than any...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzyij-rsXhw
3) "Mission: Impossible"
-by lalo schifrin
Grinding, nasty, and...slinky? Somehow, yes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWGeRgFa-hI
4) "The Muppet Show"
-by sam pottle and jim henson
The greatest funvitation ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDcV_S-BCI&spfreload=10
5) "The Pink Panther Show"
-by henry mancini
Has there ever been a theme song that almost overshadowed a show this big?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtnNO5_Ao6U
6) "Hill Street Blues"
-by mike post (featuring larry carlton)
How about an absolutely shimmery, funky version by rodney franklin?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0HPyXKa6io
7) "Star Trek"
-by alexander courage
Where, where, where did alexander come up with this? And since no musician ever soared higher than maynard ferguson... (but be warned, maynard's GALACTICA is possibly the worst sci fi cover ever).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v1J-kGxXds
8) "Peter Gunn"
-by henry mancini
No cover comes close.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysMt8iL9UE
9) "M*A*S*H"
-by johnny mandel, mike altman
Let's go with the movie version, which ups the poignancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIqYqtR1lY
10) "The Odd Couple"
-by neal hefti
Well, this is different...rearranged and performed by the composer almost fifty years later, featuring devyn rush.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKFl1EWAZUs
11) "Batman"
-by neal hefti
Get a load of neal postcini.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpWVV8wuM1A
12) "All in the Family"
-by charles strouse, lee adams
How about this cast salute to family viewing hour version? You'll thank me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvrIltxWnS0
13) "Bonanza"
-by ray evans, jay livingston
An end-of-show version filmed for the pilot, and never aired. When you hear it, you'll understand why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpUd9KecPa4
14) "The Beverly Hillbillies"
-by paul henning
-performed by jerry scoggins with flatt and scruggs
What, you thought i WOULDN'T pick the weird al version?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiRGCGIfCg
15) "The Greatest American Hero"
-by mike post
-performed by mike post with joey scarbury and larry carlton
The full studio version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpLI1uf2g0A
16) "Law & Order"
-by mike post
What, never heard the ukulele version?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT23bwUPHpU
17) "Scooby Doo"
-written by david mook, ben raleigh
-performed by larry marks or george a. robertson jr.
Both versions are worthy, but let's go with george:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_C2HJvtRDY
18) "The Big Bang Theory"
-by barenaked ladies
The fuller, geekier version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KTA50Z9Z0U
19) "Welcome Back, Kotter"
-by john sebastian
The fuller, harmonicalized version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI
20) "It's Garry Shandling's Show"
-by joey carbone, alan zweibel, garry shandling
-performed by bill lynch
Wait...the singer didn't write it? Oh garry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqO1HO9VpLo
21) "The Rockford Files"
-by mike post, pete carpenter
Mike post...he's no mancini. Spaced-out synth, folky harmonica, rock god guitar...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj8V5sRVXGk
21) "What's Happening!!"
-by henry mancini
Henry mancini...he's no mike post. The full mancini...slinkiest organ solo ever?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tfSmhqwkQ
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