happiest tv themes

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I hereby cast my vote for "Robin's Nest"

― electric sound of jim, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Happy days. Welcome back Cotter. Sesame street. Superstars.

― Kris England, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What's Happening!!

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Jeffersons

― Arthur, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Man About the House always.

― Alan Trewartha, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

my secret valley

― minna, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It would have to be a tie between "Rings on their fingers" and "Terry and June". I particularly liked the track on the High Llamas' "Cold and bouncy" album that tried to be the Terry and June theme tune, it was so brave of them.

― Rob M, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

George & Mildred takes some beating

― Jez, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The big match theme tune, is fantastically chirpy.

― chris, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it looks like the triumvirate sitcom wins again. Man About the House/George & Mildred/Robin's Nestene.

― Alan Trewartha, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Three's Company! Which makes sense, since it is a ripoff of Robin's Nest.

What's Happenin had a happy theme song as well.

― Nicole, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Once again, I vote for the theme from the "Monkey". Daft Punk would have killed to write that song.

― vantasma, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not trying to do an "only connect" here, but that reminds me that the Monkees theme song is also insanely happy.

― Nicole, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I thort Three's Company = Man about the house.

― Alan Trewartha, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, you might be right. I think I probably confused my 70s sitcoms there a bit.

― Nicole, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I still adore the old Match of the Day theme on the BBC. My girlfriend has a lovely habit of singing silly Japanese lyrics to it when it comes on.

― Daniel, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Nilsson song from "Courtship of Eddie's Father."

"People let me tell you 'bout my best friend...na na na na na, na na na na na..."

― Marcel Post, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Daniel rightly went for the MOTD theme - ah, the decades of fab footy it instantly conjures up, and no mere nostalgia trip either. But for sheer ball-droppingly spangly show-tune-tastic, lights going down and band hits stage cool, then you can't beat the old BBC 'Sportsnight' theme. Rattling Stooges-esque beats with James Brown-ey brass, followed by the end bit with a booming bass riff to close. OK, it's not quite as revolutionary as that may sound, but if you can remember staying up for Liverpool's glorious European nights and Barry McGuigan becoming the world boxing champ, then this is a good'un.

― Darren, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyone remember the theme to the lo-budget show Small Wonder? Just wonderin'.

― Sean Carruthers, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"She's a smaaaall wonder..."

― Dan Perry, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dan is damned. Poor soul.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 5 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The You Can't Do That On Television theme just about summarizes "mirth" for me.

― matthew m., Saturday, 6 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

not a theme but "yeah zoom zoom!" the Mazda ad, is pretty bloody happy if not annoying.

― kiwi, Saturday, 6 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

aw come on! "now the world don't move to the beat of just one drum" -- how uplifting and inspiring is that shit?! diff'rent strokes!!

― geeta, Sunday, 7 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

zoom zoom zoom zoom

― kiwi, Sunday, 7 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"what might be right for you...may not be right for some...a man is born...he's a man (something something something)...then along come two...they got nothing (something something something)"

goddamnit, geeta.

― jess, Sunday, 7 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Straight up, no lie. the most joyous theme song of all time was fraggle rock

― Art Lundquist, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...

End Theme to Spongebob Squarepants

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

#1 best theme of all time- The Adventures of Pete and Pete theme. By Polaris aka Miracle Legion no less.

― Carey, Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

seconded.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I love you.

― Carey, Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

If you're talking about "happiest" rather than "best," I'd have to go with Saved By The Bell.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

American Hero

"Believe it or not i'm walking on air..."

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I always thought Greatest American Hero was very Arthur's Theme-ish. Melancholy. My parents have a tape of me somewhere singing the theme song when I was like 3 or 4.

And Pete and Pete is also the happiest. A must download.

― Carey, Wednesday, 22 January 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Roobarb & Custard

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Here we are,
face to face,
a coupla silver spoons (do do do),
hoping to find,
we're two of a kind,
making it grow(?),
making it show(?),
Together, we're gonna find our way...
(you and I!) Together...

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 23 January 2003 02:38 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the Great Space Coaster, (get on board!)
On the Great Space Coaster (we'll explore!)
Come and ride a fantasy,
to a place where dreams fly fast and free,
*with new friends and new things to see*,
we'll spin you through the galaxy(yyyyyyyyy)
on the Great Space Coaster whoa!
on the Great Space Coaster off we go
*get on board, step inside, soaring for a magic ride,*
*rolling towards the other side, where only rainbows hide...*
On the Great Space Coaster, etc...

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 23 January 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a plate of homemade wishes,
on the kitchen window sill,
And eight is enough,
to fill our hearts with loooove...

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 23 January 2003 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The Price is Right theme gives me a delirious Pavlov's dog reaction: memories of being home sick and the highlight of the day is that urgent horns number with the flashing lights and the enthusiastic superhumans in the audience. Not happiest but the most exciting by any measure.

― 1 1 2 3 5, Thursday, 23 January 2003 02:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, Sesame Street probably. And if not that, the Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

― jm (jtm), Thursday, 23 January 2003 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Ulysses.

― Charlie (Charlie), Thursday, 23 January 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Ren and Stimpy.

― original bgm, Thursday, 23 January 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call on the "Jefferson's"! Also, "Sesame Street", the original not the stupid techno version.

― Julien S. (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 23 January 2003 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Right on, dude. The new version fucking sux.

― jm (jtm), Thursday, 23 January 2003 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Nobody mentioned the theme song to The Banana Splits Show? You people are sick in the head.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 23 January 2003 06:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't believe no one has mentioned Sanford & Son yet.

― Rommel Cox, Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

mmfh.. tears of happiness welling up... I loves me some Sanford & Son.. played it at my wedding.. used to listen to it non-stop at parties... God love it.

But I still say "Pete & Pete"

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 23 January 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll third match of the day and second the old sportsnight one.

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Here he comes
Here comes Speed Racer
He's a demon on wheels
He's a demon and he's gonna be chasin' after someone
He's gainin' on you
So you better look alive
He's busy revvin' up the powerful Mach 5
And when the odds are against him
And there's dangerous work to do
You bet your life Speed Racer will see it through

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer, GO!

He's off and flyin'
As he guns the car around the track
He's jammin' down the pedal
Like he's never comin' back
Adventure's waitin' just ahead

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer, GO!

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i forgot vicky the viking:

hey, hey, vicky!
hey, vicky, hey!
you and your viking friends!

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I always dug the theme to The Muppet Show.
It swung.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Thursday, 23 January 2003 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

Closing theme to WKRP in Cincinatti. That, ladies and gentlemen, is good-time rock'n'roll.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 17 March 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...

The Muppet Show theme does indeed swing.

The Love Boat theme.... hubba hubba.

― MESTEMA (davidcorp), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

yeah i was gonna say sanford and son too
my favorite theme ever, happy or not
possibly my favorite song ever too

i also like the fat albert theme a lot:

"naa naa naa we're gonna have a good time"
fuzz guitar and organ
REPEAT

― derf, Tuesday, 8 November 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

Heeeeee! Haaaaaww! Hee Hee Hee-Ha Ha Ha!

Can't get much happier than that

― BrianB (BrianB), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Not sure it quite touches What's Happenin', but the theme from minor game show "All-Star Blitz" has an upbeat-ness verging on delirium...

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 8 November 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again.
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you ever knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say thank you for being a friend.

*sniff*

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Arthur

― joe schmoe (joeschmoe), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

BOD! And what's more, it's just been released on CD; http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=19482

― Doozer, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 00:20 (twenty years ago)

Can somebody help me with the name of a TV show from the 70s, about some kind of happy-go-lucky couple? Not the Odd Couple, not Bosom Buddies, but something else. I have a special prize for the person who comes up with it.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

Love is All Around aka Mary Tyler Moore theme

Why did it take so long to mention this? Seek out the Husker Du b-side of this.

― Cunga (Cunga), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

I'll cast earnest votes for "Maude" and "Nanny and the Professor."

And not far beneath them, "Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp" and "It's Gary Shandling's Show."

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

Can somebody help me with the name of a TV show from the 70s, about some kind of happy-go-lucky couple?

Was it two men or two women or a man and a woman? Was it filmed or videotaped? Why are you trying to remember it?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 06:10 (twenty years ago)

nothing beats "sanford and son" for me.

― Fetchboy (Felcher), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 06:18 (twenty years ago)

I just heard this in a commercial for the new Ratchet&Clank video game. The guy singing it is awful, but those lyrics still move me.

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 07:34 (twenty years ago)

johnny briggs, you guys! PAAAAAAAAAAAAAARP.

(although "terry and june" was the first thing that sprang to mind when i saw this thread.)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Dogtanian and the Muskahounds...

everything else is a footnote.

― Danny boy, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

I think you could play the Sanford and Son theme in a concentration camp and it would put people in a good mood.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Does it count if the theme song is actually a cover of a song that existed prior to the show's existence? Because the "Golden Girls" theme being quoted here is actually an adaptation of an Andrew Gold song. Which is really nice. I did actually (shamefully) sing along with the "Golden Girls" theme when I was a little girl.

I think perhaps one of the happiest theme songs I can think of is the theme to "One Day At A Time". It's very, very catchy, very peppy, very Positive Thinking-ish, very bouncy, and very much a part of my childhood as I would get this song stuck in my head for weeks on end. I now want to listen to it again (and watch the program again, come to think of it).

― This Field Left Blank (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 10 November 2005 03:17 (twenty years ago)

"Sanford And Son" theme vs. "Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids" theme

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 10 November 2005 10:48 (twenty years ago)

The Garry Shandling theme!

"Garry called me up and asked me: 'Will you write my theme song?'"

― Joe Bon Jonvi (Joe Bon Jonvi), Thursday, 10 November 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

from "Diff'rent Strokes"
So no matter what you got,
not a lot? So what?!
They'll have theirs, you'll have yours, and I'll have mine,
And together we'll be fine!

I always thought those were some messed-up lyrics. I mean, the glib Pollyanna-ish smoothing over of economic disparities... But pretty apt for the Reagan-era that the show was produced in, I guess.

It's also kinda interesting to note that since treacly sitcom themes have been parodied so often, they're pretty much a dead artform. (Not to mention the fact that the sitcom itself is moribund....) The worst offender I have ever heard, was from the godawful nineties Suzanne Somers vehicle "Step by Step". "Family Matters" (the Urkel show) is pretty terrible in this regard, too.

And I'm not accusing the themes mentioned previously in this thread of being treacly; "The Jeffersons", "One Day at a Time", etc. were just plain joyous and beautiful. The treacly thing seemed to creep its way into the eighties...again, the overdone and hollow sentimentalism perfectly fitting for the days of Reagan.

― Dell (Dell), Thursday, 10 November 2005 23:51 (twenty years ago)

The Andy Griffith Show. Opie skippin' rocks... fishin' in North Carolina... everybody all smiles in black and white... it don't get no better than that.

Although Sanford & Son does offer some nasssty competition.

― footlog, Friday, 11 November 2005 02:50 (twenty years ago)

BENSON! remember how it went?

Ben-son! B-B-B-B-Ben-son!

― gear (gear), Friday, 11 November 2005 02:54 (twenty years ago)

http://gscentral.net/missy.jpg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 11 November 2005 05:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, good point -- the "Family Feud" theme song WAS pretty cheery and bouncy too, wasn't it?

I just downloaded a .wav file of the "One Day At A Time" theme song, which I've been listening to intermittently throughout the night. Life is good.

― This Field Left Blank (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 11 November 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

The "Facts of Life" theme song was one of the most jolly parts of my day, every day,
from 4:00 to 4:01pm, for about a year.

― Zach S, Friday, 11 November 2005 07:05 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone else find the Sesame Street theme tune a bit sinister?

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 11 November 2005 07:10 (twenty years ago)

I hereby cast my vote for "Robin's Nest"
-- electric sound of jim (electricsoun...), April 5th, 2002.
i think this theme inpired george michael " too funky"

― retrogurl, Friday, 11 November 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone else find the Sesame Street theme tune a bit sinister?

no.

i love sesame street. not as much as my dad, mind: he used to come home from work at lunch just to watch it.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Friday, 11 November 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

It's in a minor key!

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 11 November 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

sesame street owes everything to joe raposo's genius. he also wrote the three's company theme. ilm double threat!

― irrigation can save your people (irrigation can save your peopl), Saturday, 12 November 2005 07:19 (twenty years ago)

Mash!

"Suicide is painless..."

I mean, kind of optimistic, given the circumstances of the Korean war.

― RADAR VS ALAN ALDA GO!!, Saturday, 12 November 2005 08:19 (twenty years ago)

That song, as great as it is, is not one of the happiest tv themes.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Saturday, 12 November 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

Mash is like the most depressing tv theme ever! Even the way they try to end it in a major key is unsettling.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 12 November 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

Zehn
Neun
Achts
Sieben
Sechs
Fünf
Vier
Drei
Zwei
Ein
Null

RAUMPATROUILLE!
Swings like 'tain't no one's business too.

The Fraggle Rock theme is happy and all, but surely it's put down by the lethargic fellow at the end? You know he's suicidal.

― Øystein (Øystein), Saturday, 12 November 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

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