Sad news this week: Singer/songwriter Andrew Gold died of a heart attack at 59. Film fans will most likely recognize his biggest (and, frankly, kinda only) hit “Lonely Boy” from its use in Boogie Nights. Okay, and in The Waterboy. But that pop epic was not Mr. Gold’s pop culture legacy; it seems that back in 1978 he wrote and recorded a little number called “Thank You For Being a Friend,” which was re-recorded by Cynthia Fee and used as the theme song to The Golden Girls. And if I threw a party, etc.
In memory of Mr. Gold, we contemplated a list of the best 1980s TV theme songs — a notion only slightly complicated by the fact that, well, by most reasonable standards, “Thank You For Being a Friend” isn’t actually a terribly good song. What it is, however, is catchy — if you hear it once, it lodges itself in your brain forever, ready to be trotted out at a moment’s notice for spirited sing-alongs during Lifetime re-runs, drunken parties, and Golden Girls-themed drag shows. And let’s face it, that’s what a lot of those ’80s theme songs were — maybe not good, but certainly not easy to get out of your skull. So that’s the list we put together, limiting ourselves to shows that premiered in the 1980s — so, as painful as it was to leave them out, there’s no Rockford Files (its final regular episode aired in January 1980), Taxi or Diff’rent Strokes (both premiered in 1978), WKRP or Dukes of Hazard (1979). Take a peek after the jump, and add your own in the comments.
After the smash success of his 1985 movie Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Paul Reubens surprised many by choosing not to focus on a sequel (or on live appearances, where he had created the Pee-Wee Herman character), but by accepting CBS’s offer to create and star in a Saturday-morning TV show. He proceeded, over the next five seasons, to present one of the most gloriously weird children’s programs in TV history. Its oddball tone and anything-goes spirit was well-prepared by its wonderfully goofy opening theme song, composed by Devo alum (and future Wes Anderson composer) Mark Mothersbaugh and performed by Cyndi Lauper (credited as “Ellen Shaw”).
Comments (25)
Greatest American Hero – best theme song of all time. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!
Night Court!!!
Love the topic & most of the list!
Missing some of the sappy ballad songs like:
Family Ties
Growing Pains
Silver Spoons
Also, I have always liked Perfect Strangers and you can’t go wrong with Joe Cocker for Wonder Years. Don’t forget about Charles in Charge either!
I 100% agree with Cheers, Moonlighting and Greatest American Hero.
No Knight Rider?!?
As a Canadian who was born in ’83, I missed a lot of these, either because they just weren’t on the three channels I had, or they were cop shows that I wouldn’t have been allowed to watch (although that didn’t prevent me from knowing the theme to Miami vice!). The ones I think of are the ones you’re missing (apart from Cheers, that’s just a given) – Night Court, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Perfect Strangers, and The Wonder Years. I think “The Greatest American Hero” looks HILARIOUS, and wish I’d heard of it sooner! And I’m glad to prove my fiance’s boss wrong – George Costanza’s answering machine song comes from TGAH, and not “Emergency”!
You’re also missing all of the great 80′s cartoon theme songs (Thundercats, TMNT, etc.), but that’s a whole other kettle of fish!
What? You missed Growing Pains. I break out into that song ALL THE TIME.
What about Newhart? What a classic tune by Henry Mancini. When I was in high school, I knew it was Monday night when I heard the Newhart theme song playing.
What about Growing Pains and Family Ties?
Sorry, this list in incomplete without MASH and Newhart.
This is the worst list I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’ve seen a lot of lists.
YEAH WHO WROTE THIS LIST? HITLER??!?!?!?
No A-Team, Knight Rider or MASH (MASH actually might have debuted in the ’70s)? Come on! Roseanne? Really? Knight Rider became multiple hip hop hits in the 90s and 00s, and I can still “sing” the lines from A-Team: “10 years ago, a team of crack commandos was sent to prison for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem and no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team…. (Semi-automatic gunshots.)” Nothing beats that!
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I’d have to say Magnum, p.i. should be in this list.
What about Fall Guy it actually charted.
No Wonder Years :(
Might be wrong but I think Jan Hammer actually left Miami Vice before its run ended. Sometime during the white Lamborghini days.
Garry Shandling ftw.
While those are 10 memorable 80′s tv theme songs. I don’t think they all fit into the most memorable category.
MASH and Magnum PI both debuted in the 70s. The Wonder Years theme doesn’t count because it wasn’t exactly written for the show.
When was Charles in charge? i looooved the theme song to that. and the growing pains song
No, Curt, Magnum run between 80 and 88 so it should be on this list.
The best theme song of all time is missing… Murder She Wrote
It has it all – the highs, the lows the juxtaposed typing on typewriter all screamed that murder was a foot.
What about S.W.A.T i loved that theme song.Miami Vice,,Knight Ryder these were the best.
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