Greatest TV show theme songs

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2026-01-11 6:09 p.m.

Something to have a bit of fun with that isn't trombone-specific.

In My Very Humble Opinion, the greatest just might be Police Squad. I ran across this live recording of the Tom Kubis Big Band performing it:

<YOUTUBE id="ZNTyTZIKfvQ">~~[media]~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTyTZIKfvQ</YOUTUBE>

The tune starts at about 0:32

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2026-01-11 9:21 p.m.

<YOUTUBE id="EL-D9LrFJd4">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/EL-D9LrFJd4?si=7bWcIMI8uDLDaCyk</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="JqUsUe6B43g">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/JqUsUe6B43g?si=QsouXGYua6kgVJ6j</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="YvOK6DiZw1M">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/YvOK6DiZw1M?si=XTf0FKo0LAaLk0bc</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="v4-GcS1UQyg">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/v4-GcS1UQyg?si=gkkg8hWKbUgEYjA7</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="2ysZk_KMXUE">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/2ysZk_KMXUE?si=BMjZmWqg_qwKonnK</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="rynBL1MhX90">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/rynBL1MhX90?si=yQypKj4yna5NmmQ1</YOUTUBE>

Speaking of the X-Files, I believe that show had one of the best instances of using a popular music track within the show:

<YOUTUBE id="tDRVOXtTquQ" t="103">~~[media]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://youtu.be/tDRVOXtTquQ?si=buhhZnB ... tE&t=1m43s">https://youtu.be/tDRVOXtTquQ?si=buhhZnBv8QcnsHtE&t=1m43s</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

tbdana · by **tbdana** » 2026-01-11 11:23 p.m.

[quote="AndrewMeronek"]Something to have a bit of fun with that isn't trombone-specific.

In My Very Humble Opinion, the greatest just might be Police Squad. I ran across this live recording of the Tom Kubis Big Band performing it:

<YOUTUBE id="ZNTyTZIKfvQ">~~[media]~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTyTZIKfvQ</YOUTUBE>

The tune starts at about 0:32[/quote]

Hey, there's my old buddy Rich Bullock on bass trombone. :)

I got to play that theme for the first Naked Gun movie. :)

Kingfan · 2026-01-12 7:16 a.m.

Mannix had a good theme song, and there is a big band arrangement available for it. <YOUTUBE id="Ml4tE5EyNBw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4tE5EyNBw</YOUTUBE> I think the original version was a bit faster...

EdwardSolomon · by **EdwardSolomon** » 2026-01-12 7:25 a.m.

<YOUTUBE id="NwAa16Beri4">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/NwAa16Beri4</YOUTUBE>

The Professionals was a British TV series that aired in the 1970s and 1980s with a pretty good soundtrack.

Schultz · by **Schultz** » 2026-01-12 4:15 p.m.

Here’s one for the bass trombone fans.

This was a British show in the late 90s

I’ve been led to believe the trombonist is UK legend Dave Stewart

<YOUTUBE id="bHOMEJmzt58">https://youtu.be/bHOMEJmzt58?si=ZRbkQGjo_ZI5DXDN</YOUTUBE>

Schultz · by **Schultz** » 2026-01-13 4:42 a.m.

And I always liked this one as well.

<YOUTUBE id="Rm8oxxRhUyg">https://youtu.be/Rm8oxxRhUyg?si=20dcjt4E6TLX4tkx</YOUTUBE>

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2026-01-13 5:22 p.m.

[quote="tbdana"]Hey, there's my old buddy Rich Bullock on bass trombone. :)

I got to play that theme for the first Naked Gun movie. :)[/quote]

Please do tell more!!! :cool:

Kingfan · by **Kingfan** » 2026-01-13 5:59 p.m.

[quote="Kingfan"]Mannix had a good theme song, and there is a big band arrangement available for it. <YOUTUBE id="Ml4tE5EyNBw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4tE5EyNBw</YOUTUBE> I think the original version was a bit faster...[/quote]

tbdana · by **tbdana** » 2026-01-13 6:41 p.m.

[quote="AndrewMeronek"]<QUOTE author="tbdana" post_id="292365" time="1768191821" user_id="16498">
Hey, there's my old buddy Rich Bullock on bass trombone. :)

I got to play that theme for the first Naked Gun movie. :)[/quote]

Please do tell more!!! :cool:
</QUOTE>

Ah, sorry, let me explain: The Naked Gun movies were a spinoff from the Police Squad TV show. The movies used the same theme as the TV show, with the same big band general sensibility to the soundtrack. I didn't get to play the music for the TV show, but did for the first movie. And I do think it's a great TV theme. The triplets were awkward to play though.

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2026-01-13 7:53 p.m.

What makes a TV theme great?

I mean, besides featuring trombone(s)?

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2026-01-13 8:05 p.m.

[quote="tbdana"]Ah, sorry, let me explain: The Naked Gun movies were a spinoff from the Police Squad TV show. The movies used the same theme as the TV show, with the same big band general sensibility to the soundtrack. I didn't get to play the music for the TV show, but did for the first movie. And I do think it's a great TV theme. The triplets were awkward to play though.[/quote]

I meant, more info on the session. :cool:

Even if it was actually super mundane.

Doubler · by **Doubler** » 2026-01-14 6:18 p.m.

<YOUTUBE id="4XA4TNcjoxE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XA4TNcjoxE</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="7XRs-_KtHp4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XRs-_KtHp4</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="4pSAC_B1EVc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pSAC_B1EVc</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="LbvsqtPmaHc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbvsqtPmaHc</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="Emg_6ANjWzo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emg_6ANjWzo</YOUTUBE>

mikerspencer · by **mikerspencer** » 2026-01-14 6:28 p.m.

Pretty much all the Gerry Anderson stuff, but Stingray is my favourite theme.

Doubler · by **Doubler** » 2026-01-14 7:22 p.m.

<YOUTUBE id="_m-viOglAIk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m-viOglAIk</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="dzui9mpwEJs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzui9mpwEJs</YOUTUBE>

nateaff · by **nateaff** » 2026-01-15 6:57 p.m.

If all you're looking for is tremendous trombone playing then the theme from the old "Matlock" series takes the cake

<YOUTUBE id="6E3uDu-NRys" list="RD6E3uDu-NRys"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E3uDu- ... rt_radio=1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E3uDu-NRys&list=RD6E3uDu-NRys&start_radio=1</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2026-01-15 9:17 p.m.

A bunch of great themes!

That Route 66 one really hits the spot for me, although I still have to go with my favorite being Police Squad.

:pant:

JTeagarden · by **JTeagarden** » 2026-01-16 7:40 p.m.

[quote="Schultz"]And I always liked this one as well.

<YOUTUBE id="Rm8oxxRhUyg">https://youtu.be/Rm8oxxRhUyg?si=20dcjt4E6TLX4tkx</YOUTUBE>[/quote]

This one sounds like the soundtrack from one of the old NFL highlight films: “The 1975 Denver Broncos were mired in a sea of ineptitide as they strode into Giants stadium.”

CheeseTray · by **CheeseTray** » 2026-01-17 6:23 p.m.

Oldies but really goodies:

The Streets of San Francisco

<YOUTUBE id="mijBMpnS3a4" list="RDmijBMpnS3a4"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mijBMpn ... rt_radio=1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mijBMpnS3a4&list=RDmijBMpnS3a4&start_radio=1</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

Ironsides

<YOUTUBE id="2KE-Ze-VPeE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KE-Ze-VPeE</YOUTUBE>

The Mod Squad:

<YOUTUBE id="CZiPijyoDGs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZiPijyoDGs</YOUTUBE>

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2026-01-17 7:06 p.m.

Here's one from a rather forgettable (and now mostly forgotten) sitcom that's pretty fun:

<YOUTUBE id="k6ayLVLTH08">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ayLVLTH08</YOUTUBE>

[quote="JTeagarden"]This one sounds like the soundtrack from one of the old NFL highlight films: “The 1975 Denver Broncos were mired in a sea of ineptitide as they strode into Giants stadium.”[/quote]
Ah, the legendary Sam Spence. The theme song he composed for the then-Oakland Raiders is etched into my brain:

<YOUTUBE id="_AGCQuwEywc" t="6217">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AGCQuwEywc&t=6217s</YOUTUBE>

Ah, the Madden years, when the autumn wind truly was a Raider...

Doubler · by **Doubler** » 2026-01-17 11:29 p.m.

<YOUTUBE id="PA9t1nSGXXE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA9t1nSGXXE</YOUTUBE>

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2026-01-17 11:37 p.m.

You know, these recommendations are making me interested in looking at these actual TV shows to see what the vibe is. Looks like, the complete episodes of Route 66 are on Youtube, for example.