What happened to TV show theme songs?

[chalmers]

I grew up watching a ton of different TV shows, and their theme songs I remember long after I've forgotten specific shows or stories.

Examples:

Full House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3Zo9t7c8Q

Family Matters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws6zba8sTVw

Saved by the Bell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maVR_xOwe6g



Now it's this crap:

Modern Family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LC3a1oqEi8

How I Met Your Mother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTDKrAGRKVY

WTF, those aren't even theme songs! Give me Mr. Belvedere any day!

Then again, TV has degraded so bad in the past 10+ years that I shouldn't be surprised. I'm talking about sitcoms mostly.

 

[lxskllr]

One of the best theme songs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCfn3aY5vUw

 

[cronos]

Van der Valk

Greatest American Hero

Laverne and Shirley

I can go on...

 

[brianmanahan]

Greatest American Hero

YESSSSSSSS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Q3orQhEcA

also matlock was fantastic

 

[Arcadio]

Big Bang Theory.

 

[lxskllr]

Barney Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roHYXrLhmHc

 

[Spydermag68]

They are both really good but I like the shorter one better.

The Full Breaking Bad Opening Theme song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFAYRtrYuk

The Shorter version used for the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEmx23LwFhI

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Current shows Justified and Sons of Anarchy hold up to anything. So did Boss, too bad it was cancelled.

 

[Ichinisan]

Greatest American Hero

Came to say this. Linked it for you.

[edit]
Damn. Too slow.

 

[wirednuts]

ah the memories... wow... I forgot about those shows

but really, the ultimate theme song on any tv show ever, is cops- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH5rv3pYum8

it was fucking awesome the first day it aired, and its just as good to this day. I don't think they will ever have to change it... 100 years from now itll be the same theme song and they'll still show new episodes recorded from the 80's

 

[shortylickens]

http://www.wimp.com/dextertheme/

 

[Charlie98]

Then again, TV has degraded so bad in the past 10+ years that I shouldn't be surprised. I'm talking about sitcoms mostly.

Today's TV is absolute crap. It's all supposed to be sophisticated adult humor with witty, clever plots but it all winds up being rehashed sexual innuendo and absurd political satire. But that's just my humble opinion...

I think The Flintstones beats much of the pap that is on these days.

 

[lxskllr]

Welcome Back Kotter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

 

[Spydermag68]

Dexter is really good too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8-Rqo-VT4

 

[Ichinisan]

I've always been impressed by the Game of Thrones intro. However, it changes dynamically to feature locations from the current episode and each one seems to have a different mix of the theme music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7L2PVdrb_8

 

[Mixolydian]

I always thought the Everybody Loves Raymond theme was very unique for its time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07GTOMMdRsc

For theme songs with vocals, I liked Still Standing's theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l7tzWEC1r4

 

[OutHouse]

I am glad they are mostly gone. they annoyed me and took 5 min away from the show.

 

[Jaskalas]

I am glad they are mostly gone. they annoyed me and took 5 min away from the show.

I'm afraid they just used the time to add in more commercials.

 

[chalmers]

I am glad they are mostly gone. they annoyed me and took 5 min away from the show.

AC Slater would like to have a word with you.

 

[Mixolydian]

I'm afraid they just used the time to add in more commercials.

True dat.

 

[Iron Woode]

Dr Who

/thread

 

[tboo]

Some of my favorites

Rockford Files: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXtpoO_DlDM

Magnum PI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR9WJToFsTs

The original Hawaii-5-0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht3Al9H3iUM

 

[Imp]

Thank effing goodness they're so unpopular now.

Effing "Friends" theme song still haunts me. That band got paid royalties for almost a decade. *shudders*

 

[chalmers]

Thank effing goodness they're so unpopular now.

Effing "Friends" theme song still haunts me. That band got paid royalties for almost a decade. *shudders*

Thank goodness we get treated to wonderful theme songs like this now then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC0RsYeE8ls

 

[renz20003]

Welcome Back Kotter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

This