Category Archives: Podcasts

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This episode, packed with 34 opening and closing theme tunes, will focus on the theme music of seven representative military sitcoms from the 1950s up to the present, some of them well-known, some of them forgotten. Here are the series and theme tunes included in this episode:

YOU’LL NEVER GET RICH/THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW/SERGEANT BILCO
(1955-1959)
1955-1959 syndicated reruns opening and closing titles
Music composed by John Strauss; opening voice-over by Phil Silvers
BONUS THEMES:
CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU?
1961-1963 opening titles
Music composed by John Strauss; lyrics written by Nat Hiken

McHALE’S NAVY
(1962-1966)
1962-1963 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Axel Stordahl
1963-1964 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Axel Stordahl
1964-1966 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Axel Stordahl; arranged by Jerry Fielding
BONUS THEMES:
BROADSIDE
1964-1965 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jerry Fielding
DAY BY DAY
1988-1989 opening titles
Music and lyrics written by Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston and Sammy Cahn (based on their song “Day by Day,” composed in 1946)

GOMER PYLE – USMC
(1964-1969)
1964-1969 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Earle Hagen

-Commercial Break-

M*A*S*H
(1972-1983)
1972-1983 opening and closing titles
“Suicide is Painless”
Music and lyrics (never used) written by Johnny Mandel (based on his music for the 1970 film “M*A*S*H“)
BONUS THEMES:
BANYON
1972-1973 opening titles
Music composed by Johnny Mandel
TRAPPER JOHN, M.D.
1979-1986 opening titles
Music composed by John Parker
AfterMASH
1983-September 1984 opening titles
Music composed by Patrick Williams (based loosely on “Suicide is Painless” by Johnny Mandel)
September-December 1984 opening titles
Music composed by Patrick Williams (based loosely on “Suicide is Painless” by Johnny Mandel)

ROLL OUT!
(1973-1974)
1973-1974 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin
BONUS THEMES:
THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR
1968-1970 opening titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin
IT TAKES A THIEF
September 1968-1970 opening titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin; voice-over by Robert Wagner
THE NAME OF THE GAME
1968-1971 opening titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin
DAN AUGUST
1970-1971 opening titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin
ST. ELSEWHERE
1986-1987 opening titles
Music composed by Dave Grusin

-Commercial Break-

OPERATION PETTICOAT
(1977-1979)
1977-1979 opening titles
Music composed by Artie Butler
BONUS THEMES:
GRANDPA GOES TO WASHINGTON
1978-1979 opening titles
Music composed by Artie Butler

THE ARMY SHOW
(1998)
1998 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jonathan Wolff
BONUS THEMES:
SEINFELD
1990-1998 closing titles
Music composed by Jonathan Wolff
CAROLINE IN THE CITY
1995-1999 closing titles
Music composed by Jonathan Wolff
WILL & GRACE
1998-1999 closing titles
Music composed by Jonathan Wolff

Also included are vintage promos for many of the series featured in this episode, as well as some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “The US Army Song (The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” “Reveille Variations/Drum Call/Slow Scotch/Quick Scotch/Yankee Doodle,” and “Paddy On the Handcar from The Minstrel Boy Show,” all performed by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

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To commemorate the extraordinary life and career of comedian Don Rickles, who died today at age 90, I’m posting this TUBE TUNES TURBO TUNE episode about the TV series for which he’ll probably be best remembered: CPO SHARKEY, which ran on NBC from 1976 to 1978. The theme music for CPO SHARKEY was composed by Peter Matz, a veteran of THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW. I hope you enjoy this brief look at (and listen to) the theme music of a very funny show with a very funny man.

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This episode, packed with 46 opening and closing theme tunes, will focus on the theme music to seven series, each from a different decade from the 1950s up to the present, and all of them with titles beginning with the letter B. Here are the series and theme tunes included in this episode:

BLONDIE
(1957)
1957 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Leon Klatzkin; opening screeching by Arthur Lake
BONUS THEMES:
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
1952-1958 opening titles
Music composed by Leon Klatzkin
BLONDIE (1968 revival)
1968-1969 opening titles
Music composed by Al Brodax & Bernard Green; lyrics written by Dennis Marks; performed by Patricia Harty and Will Hutchins

BURKE’S LAW/AMOS BURKE-SECRET AGENT
(1963-1966)
1963-1965 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Herschel Burke Gilbert
1965-1966 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Herschel Burke Gilbert
BONUS THEMES:
HONEY WEST
1965-1966 opening titles
Music composed by Herschel Burke Gilbert
BURKE’S LAW (1994 revival)
1994-1994 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis

-Commercial Break-

BARNEY MILLER
(1975-1982)
January 1975-September 1975 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson
September 1975-1976 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson
1976-1977 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson
1977-1982 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Ferguson
BONUS THEMES:
FISH
1977-1978 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson
PISTOLS ‘N’ PETTICOATS
1966-1967 opening titles
Music and lyrics written by Jack Elliott
THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
1971-1972 opening titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson
LOTSA LUCK!
1973-1974 opening titles
Music and lyrics written by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson, with Bill Persky & Sam Denoff; voice-overs by Dom DeLuise, Kathleen Freeman, Wynn Irwin, Beverly Sanders & Jack Knight
CHARLIE’S ANGELS
1976-1977 opening titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson; narrated by John Forsythe
NIGHT COURT
1984-1992 opening titles
Music composed by Jack Elliott

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
(1987-1990)
1987-1989 opening titles
Music composed by Lee Holdridge; dialogue by Ron Perlman & Linda Hamilton
BONUS THEMES:
GEMINI MAN
1976 opening titles
Music composed by Lee Holdridge and Mark Snow
CODE R
1977 opening titles
Music composed by Lee Holdridge
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
1978-1981 opening titles
Music composed by Lee Holdridge; lyrics written by Molly-Ann Leikin; performed by Grant Goodeve
MOONLIGHTING
1985-1988 opening titles
Music composed by Lee Holdridge; lyrics written and theme performed by Al Jarreau

-Commercial Break-

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210
(1990-2000)
1990-1991 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
1991-1992 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
1992-1993 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
1993-1994 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
1994-2000 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
1994-1995 closing titles
Music composed by John E. Davis
BONUS THEMES:
MELROSE PLACE
1992-1999 opening titles
Music composed by Tim Truman
90210
2008-2009 opening titles
Music composed by John E. Davis (based on his 1990 theme music to BEVERLY HILLS, 90210)
MELROSE PLACE (2009 revival)
2009-2010 opening titles
Music composed by Danny Lux (based on Tim Truman’s 1992 theme music to MELROSE PLACE)

THE BIG BANG THEORY
(2007-present)
2007-present opening and closing titles
Music and lyrics (used in opening titles only) written and performed by The Barenaked Ladies (Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
(2012-2016)
2012-2013 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Claude Foisy; narrated by Kristin Kreuk & Jay Ryan
2013-2015 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jim Guttridge & Sean Hosein
2015-2016 opening and closing titles
Music composed by Jim Guttridge & Sean Hosein

Also included are vintage promos for many of the series featured in this episode, as well as some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Jingle Time” and “Ladybirds’ Theme” by David Szestay; “Tech Strings” by Dave Depper, “Step On” and “Echoes” by Jahzzar; and “Crazy Glue (Instrumental Version)” by Josh Woodward.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E08: You’re In the Army Now (Part 1)” (available April 2017)

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Brought to you by the letter A, this episode will focus on the theme music to seven series, each from a different decade from the 1950s up to the present, and all of them with titles beginning with A. Here are the series included in this episode:

THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW
(1952-1954)
[1952-1953 opening titles]
[1953-1954 opening titles]

ADAM-12
(1968-1975)
[1968-1969 opening titles]
[1969-1970 opening titles]

-Commercial Break-

ALL IN THE FAMILY
(1971-1979)
[January 1971-September 1971 opening titles]
[September 1971-1975 opening titles]
[1975-1978 opening titles]
[1978-1979 opening titles]
[1971-1979 closing titles]

ALF
(1986-1990)
[1986-1988 opening titles]
[1988-1990 opening titles]

ALLY McBEAL
(1997-2002)
[1997-2002 opening titles]

-Commercial Break-

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
(2003-2006; 2013)
[2003-2005/2013 opening titles]
[2003-2006/2013 closing titles]

THE AMERICANS
(2013-present)
[2013-present opening and closing titles]

Also included is bonus theme music to FRACTURED FAIRY TALE and PEABODY’S IMPROBABLE HISTORY (both segments of ROCKY & HIS FRIENDS/THE BULLWINKLE SHOW), DRAGNET ’67-’70, MAUDE, THE JEFFERSONS, ARCHIE BUNKER’S PLACE, GLORIA, THE CRITIC, NORTHERN EXPOSURE, and DEADWOOD. And I’ve included vintage promos for many of the series featured in this episode, as well as some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Jingle Time” and “Smiling Cars” by David Szestay, “Maybe” and “So Far So Close” by Jahzzer, and “Little Tomcat (Instrumental Version)” by Josh Woodward.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E07: Please ‘B’ Mine” (available March 2017)

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In this episode, I briefly explore 20 classic television series from the 1950s through the 1980s with memorable theme music composed and/or co-composed by prolific theme tune writer Earle Hagen. Here are the series included in this episode:

MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY/THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW
(1953-1964)
[1956-1964 opening main titles: an arrangement of “Londonderry Air,” a.k.a. “Danny Boy”]
[1956-1964 syndicated reruns opening and closing main titles: an arrangement of “Londonderry Air,” a.k.a. “Danny Boy”]
with Herbert W. Spencer for MSI Spencer-Hagen

WHERE’S RAYMOND/THE RAY BOLGER SHOW
(1953-1955)
[1953-1955 opening and closing main titles]
with Herbert W. Spencer for MSI Spencer-Hagen

IT’S ALWAYS JAN
(1955-1956)
[1955-1956 opening and closing main titles]
with Herbert W. Spencer for MSI Spencer-Hagen

MY SISTER EILEEN
(1960-1961)
[1960-1961 opening and closing main titles]
with Herbert W. Spencer for MSI Spencer-Hagen

THE BARBARA STANWYCK SHOW
(1960-1961)
[1960-1961 opening and closing main titles]
with Herbert W. Spencer for MSI Spencer-Hagen

-Commercial Break-

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
(1960-1968)
[1960-1965 opening and closing main titles: “The Fishin’ Hole”]
[1965-1968 opening and closing main titles: “The Fishin’ Hole”]

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
(1961-1966)
[1961 (episodes 1-14) opening and closing main titles]
[1962 (episodes 15-30) opening and closing main titles]
[1962-1963; 1964-1965 opening main titles]
[1963-1964; 1965-1966 opening main titles]

GOMER PYLE – USMC
(1964-1969)
[1964-1969 opening and closing main titles]

I SPY
(1965-1968)
[1965-1968 opening and closing main titles]

THAT GIRL
(1966-1971)
[1966-1967 opening and closing main titles]
[1967-1970 opening and closing main titles]
[1970-1971 opening and closing main titles]

-Commercial Break-

RANGO
(1967)
[1967 opening and closing main titles]

THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT
(1967-1969)
[1967-1969 opening and closing main titles]

THE DANNY THOMAS HOUR
(1967-1968)
[SORRY, NO THEME AVAILABLE]

MAYBERRY, R.F.D.
(1968-1971)
[1969-1971 opening and closing main titles]

THE MOD SQUAD
(1968-1973)
[1968-1973 opening and closing main titles]

-Commercial Break-

MAKE ROOM FOR GRANDDADDY
(1970-1971)
[1970-1971 opening and closing main titles: an arrangement of “Londonderry Air,” a.k.a. “Danny Boy”]

THE NEW PERRY MASON
(1973-1974)
[1973-1974 opening main titles]

BIG EDDIE
(1975)
[1975 closing main titles]

YOUNG DAN’L BOONE
(1977)
[1977 opening main titles (excerpt only)]

MICKEY SPILLANE’S MIKE HAMMER/THE NEW MIKE HAMMER/MIKE HAMMER, PRIVATE EYE
(1984-1987; 1997-1998)
[1984-1986 opening main titles: “Harlem Nocturne” (composed in 1939)]
[1986-1987 opening main titles: “Harlem Nocturne” (composed in 1939)]
[1997-1998 opening main titles: “Harlem Nocturne” (composed in 1939)]

I’ve included vintage promos and commercials for many of the series featured in this themeography episode. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Fastest Man on Earth,” “Montmartre,” and “Candy,” all by Jahzzar; “Epilogue (Instrumental Version)” and “I Will Not Let You Let Me Down (Instrumental Version),” both by Josh Woodward; and “Wholesome 3” by Dave Depper.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E06: The A’s Have It'” (available March 2017)

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In this episode I present eight Emmy-winning theme tunes (along with lots of trivia) from seven selected series that aired during the New Millennium (between 1999 and the present). Here are the shows and theme music featured:

THE WEST WING
(1999-2006)
[1999-2000 opening and closing main titles]
[2000-2006 opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2000
for composer W.G. Snuffy Walden

MONK
(2002-2009)
[2002-2003 opening main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2003
for composer Jeff Beal
[2003-2009 opening main titles: “It’s a Jungle Out There”]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2004
for composer Randy Newman

-Commercial Break-

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
(2004-2012)
[opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2005
for composer Danny Elfman

THE TUDORS
(2007-2010)
[opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2008
for composer Trevor Morris

NURSE JACKIE
(2009-2015)
[opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2010
for composers Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman

-Commercial Break-

THE BORGIAS
(2011-2013)
[opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2012
for composer Trevor Morris

JESSICA JONES
(2015-present)
[opening and closing main titles]
Winner of Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2016
for composer Sean Callery

During the commercial breaks, I’ve included promos for the show MILLENNIUM starring Lance Henriksen; it ran on Fox between 1996 and 1999, and also starred Megan Gallagher and a pre-LOST Terry O’Quinn. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Dancing On the Edge,” “Endless Story of Sun and Moon,” and “The Flames of Rome,” all by Kai Engel; and “Sense the Wind” by Lee Rosevere.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E05: The Earle Hagen Themeography” (available January 2017)

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In this episode I present series synopses and theme music of five of the most popular game shows to air on American daytime and prime time television, starting with the few venerable game shows that are still running today. Here are the five shows (and 26 themes) I’m featuring:

THE PRICE IS RIGHT
(1956-1965; 1972-present)
[1956-1961 Weekly Nighttime opening & closing themes]
[1961-1964 Weekly Nighttime opening & closing themes]
[1972-present Weekday Daytime opening & closing themes]

LET’S MAKE A DEAL
(1963-1977; 1980; 1984-1986; 1990-1991; 2003; 2009-present)
[1967-1977 Weekly Nighttime opening & closing themes]
[1984-1986 Weekday Daytime opening theme]
[1990-1991 Weekday Daytime opening theme]
[2009-present Weekday Daytime opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

JEOPARDY!
(1964-1975; 1978-1979; 1984-present)
[1964-1975 Weekday Daytime opening & closing themes]
[1984-present Weekday Nighttime opening & closing themes]

WHEEL OF FORTUNE
(1975-present)
[1975-1983 Weekday Daytime opening & closing themes]
[1989-1994 Weekday Nighttime opening & closing themes]
[2002-2006 Weekday Nighttime opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

FAMILY FEUD
(1976-1985; 1988-1995; 1999-present)
[1975-1985 Weekday Daytime opening & closing themes]
[1994-1995 Weekday Nighttime opening & closing themes]
[2006-2010 Weekday Nighttime opening theme]
[2010-present Weekday Nighttime opening theme]

In keeping with the fun nature of this episode’s focus, I’ve included vintage commercials for classic board games such as Operation, Battleship, Mouse Trap, and Gnip Gnop. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “The Savers” by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley (used as the theme music for THE JOKER’S WILD), “Animal Booster Kiss” by The Cow Goes Moo, and “Happy Jambo” by Angel Garcia.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E04: Best of the Millennium” (available January 2017)

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In this extra-length episode, I briefly explore 22 of the most popular and well-known series that aired as original programming on Home Box Office, or HBO as it is now known. I explore their stories, their stars, and their impact on both the pay and free TV landscape. And of course I present information about each series’ theme music and theme music composers. Here are the series included in this episode:

NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS (1983-1990) [1983-85 opening theme] [1985-90 opening theme]
FRAGGLE ROCK (1983-1988) [opening theme]
THE HITCHHIKER (1983-1987/1989-1991) [opening theme]
 1st & TEN: THE CHAMPIONSHIP (1984-1991) [opening theme]
TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1989-1995) [opening theme]
DREAM ON (1990-1996) [opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW (1992-1998) [opening theme]
ARLI$$ (1996-2002) [opening theme]
OZ (1997-2003) [opening theme]
SEX AND THE CITY (1998-2004) [opening theme]
THE SOPRANOS (1999-2007) [opening theme]
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (2000-2011) [closing theme]

-Commercial Break-

SIX FEET UNDER (2001-2005) [opening theme]
THE WIRE (2002-2008) [2002 opening theme] [2003 opening theme] [2004 opening theme] [2006 opening theme] [2008 opening theme] [2002-08 closing theme]
ENTOURAGE (2004-2011) [opening theme]
BIG LOVE (2006-2011) [2006-09 opening theme] [2010-11 opening theme]
TRUE BLOOD (2008-2014) [opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

EAST BOUND & DOWN (2009-2013) [closing theme]
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (2010-2014) [opening theme]
GAME OF THRONES (2011-present) [opening theme]
GIRLS (2012-present) [closing theme]
VEEP (2012-present) [opening theme]

I’ve included vintage commercials and promos for Home Box Office (HBO). And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Secondment” by Simon Mathewson, “I’m What You’d Be Without Her” by Doctor Turtle, and “Linger,” “Tornado,” and “Night Surfing,” all by David Szesztay.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E03: Games People Play (Part 1)'” (available January 2017)

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In this episode, a sequel to “S01E01: Go West, Old Man – Adult Westerns of the 1950s (Part 1)”, I explore ten more adult-oriented western dramas from the 1950s. I’ll explore their stories, their stars, their impact on the western genre, and of course their theme tunes, some of them very familiar. And if your favorite adult western of the 1950s was not included in either episode, don’t despair, partner; there will be a Part 3 episode in the future. Here are the series included in this episode:

TALES OF WELLS FARGO (1957-62) [1957-62 opening theme] [1957-62 closing theme]
THE RIFLEMAN (1958-63) [1959-60 opening theme] [1959-60 closing theme]
[1960-63 opening theme] [1960-63 closing theme]
LAWMAN (1958-62) [1958-62 opening theme] [1958-62 closing theme]

-Commercial Break-

BAT MASTERSON (1958-61) [1958-61 opening theme] [1958-61 closing theme]
RAWHIDE (1959-66) [1959-66 opening theme] [1959-66 closing theme]
BONANZA (1959-73) [1959-70/1972-73 opening theme] [1959-70/1972-1973 closing theme]
[1970-72 opening theme] [1970-72 closing theme]

-Commercial Break-

THE DEPUTY (1959-61) [1959-60 opening theme] [1959-60 closing theme]
[1960-61 opening theme] [1960-61 closing theme]
LARAMIE (1959-63) [1959-60 opening theme] [1960-63 opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

LAW OF THE PLAINSMAN (1959-60) [1959-60 opening theme] [1959-60 closing theme]
THE REBEL (1959-61) [1959-61 opening theme] [1959-61 closing theme]

I’ve included vintage commercials for Marvel the Mustang, Pace Picante Sauce and Marlboro Cigarettes. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, “Please Stand By.” And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

I also need to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “Autumn Sunset,” “Travel Light” and “Hoedown,” all by Jason Shaw, and “Blinded by Dust” by Vladimir Estragon.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E02: Cable Hits (Part 1) – HBO” (available December 2016)

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In this episode, I explore some iconic theme music from science fiction series set (as a whole or in part) within the outer reaches of space. I’ll leave other supernatural shows such as THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THE X-FILES and even LOST to a future episode of TUBE TUNES. In this episode I’ll be looking at six well-known TV space dramas, one representative series from each decade from the 1950s to the 2000s; I’ll explore their stories, their stars, their impact on the science fiction canon, and of course their theme tunes. Here are the series included in this episode:

The 1950s:
CAPTAIN VIDEO AND HIS VIDEO RANGERS (1949-1955) [opening theme]

The 1960s:
STAR TREK (1966-1969) [opening & closing themes]
Also included in this segment:
STAR TREK (The Animated Series) (1973-1975) [opening & closing themes]
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (1993-1999) [opening & closing themes]
STAR TREK: VOYAGER (1995-2001) [opening & closing themes]
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE (2001-2005) [opening & closing themes]

-Commercial Break-

The 1970s:
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978-80) [1978-1979 opening & closing themes]
Also included in this segment:
GALACTIC 1980 (1980) [opening & closing themes]
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2004 revival series) (2004-2009) [opening & closing themes]

-The Mystery Tune-

The 1980s:
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (1987-1994) [opening & closing themes]

The 1990s:
BABYLON 5 (1994-1998) [1994 opening theme] [1995 opening theme] [1996 opening theme] [1997 opening theme] [1998 opening theme]

-Commercial Break-

The 2000s:
FIREFLY (2002-2003) [opening & closing themes]

I’ve included  vintage commercials for Dr. Pepper and Oscar Meyer Bologna. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Note also that I’ve included a The Mystery Tune segment for my intrepid listeners to test their TV theme tune memory. It’s a complete theme for a series which ran on network television (hint: it was a CBS sitcom during the late 1960s). Let me know what your guess is, and if you’re correct I’ll mention you on the air during the next episode of TUBE TUNES.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here. And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S02E01: Go West, Old Man – Adult Westerns of the 1950s (Part 2)” (available November 2016)

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In this double-length episode, I explore the long and prolific career of TV theme composer extraordinaire, Mike Post. His influence on TV theme music cannot be underestimated, beginning with his collaboration with his longtime partner Pete Carpenter (1973-1986), and then on up to his stellar solo career as a theme composer thereafter. This surveys covers all 51 of the shows in which Mike Post composed or co-composed the theme music, including the following series:

GRIFF (1973-74) [opening theme]
TOMA (1973-74) [opening theme]
THE ROCKFORD FILES (1974-80) [1974-75 opening theme]
BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP/THE BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON (1976-78) [opening theme]
RICHIE BROCKELMAN, PRIVATE EYE (1978) [opening theme]
THE WHITE SHADOW (1978-81) [opening theme]
THE DUKE (1979) [opening theme]
240-ROBERT (1979-81) [pilot opening theme]
BIG SHAMUS, LITTLE SHAMUS (1979) [opening theme]
-Commercial Break-
TENSPEED AND BROWN SHOE (1980) [opening theme]
MAGNUM, P.I. (1980-88) [episode 6 of season 1-1988 opening theme]
HILL STREET BLUES (1981-87) [opening theme]
THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO (1981-83) [opening theme]
TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY (1982-83) [opening theme]
THE QUEST (1982) [opening theme]
THE A-TEAM (1983-87) [opening theme]
HARDCASTLE AND McCORMICK (1983-86) [1983-84/1985-86 opening theme] [1984-85 opening theme]
-Commercial Break-
BAY CITY BLUES (1983) [opening theme]
RIPTIDE (1984-86) [opening theme]
HUNTER (1984-91) [1987-88 opening theme]
STINGRAY (1986-87) [opening theme]
L.A. LAW (1986-94) [opening theme]
WISEGUY (1987-90) [opening theme]
HOOPERMAN (1987-89) [opening theme]
BEVERLY HILLS BUNTZ (1987-88) [opening theme]
UNSUB (1989) [opening theme]
-The Mystery Tune-
THE ABC MYSTERY MOVIE (1989-90) [opening theme]
QUANTUM LEAP (1989-93) [1992-93 opening theme]
DOOGIE HOWSER, M.D. (1989-93) [opening theme]
TOP OF THE HILL (1989) [opening theme]
LAW & ORDER (1990-2010) [2004-05 opening theme]
BROKEN BADGES (1990-91) [opening theme]
BLOSSOM (1991-95) [opening theme]
DISNEY PRESENTS THE 100 LIVES OF BLACK JACK SAVAGE (1991) [opening theme]
-Commercial Break-
THE COMMISH (1991-95) [opening theme]
SILK STALKINGS (1991-99) [opening theme]
TEQUILA & BONETTI (1992) [opening theme]
RENEGADE (1992-97) [opening theme]
NYPD BLUE (1993-2005) [opening theme]
TRAPS (1994) [opening theme]
ROUGHNECKS (1994-95) [opening theme]
NEWSRADIO (1995-99) [opening theme]
MURDER ONE (1995-97) [opening theme]
-Commercial Break-
BROOKLYN SOUTH (1997-98) [opening theme]
PLAYERS (1997-98) [opening theme]
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (1999-present) [opening theme]
PHILLY (2001-02) [opening theme]
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (2001-11) [2001-02 opening theme]
DRAGNET/L.A. DRAGNET (2003-04) [opening theme]
LAW & ORDER: TRIAL BY JURY (2005-06) [opening theme]
BLIND JUSTICE (2005) [opening theme]

I’ve included  vintage commercials for Lowenbrau, Arrid Xtra-Dri, TV Guide, and Shasta Cola. And you’ll also have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Note also that I’ve added a The Mystery Tune for my intrepid listeners to test their TV theme tune memory. It’s only an excerpt of a theme for a series which ran on network television (hint: the title includes the name of an aquatic mammal). Let me know what your guess is, and if you’re correct I’ll mention you on the air during the next episode of TUBE TUNES.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here. And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S01E09: Out of This World” (available April 26, 2016)

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In this regular-length episode, I wax nostalgic about my earliest and most influential television memories, and how what I watched impacted my sense of humor, my appreciation of drama and music, my love of animals, and my general outlook on life. Of course the theme music for the shows I discuss are included, many of them presented in stereo, as well as a brief synopses of the shows. This survey includes the following themes:

THE TWILIGHT ZONE (1959-1964) [episode 1-31 opening] [episode 1-31 closing] [episode 32-36 opening] [episode 32-26 closing] [season 2 opening] [season 2 closing] [season 3 opening] [season 3 closing] [season 5 opening] [season 5 closing]
-Commercial Break-
CAPTAIN KANGAROO (1955-1984) [1955-1974 opening] [1974-1982 opening]
-The Mystery Tune-
GILLIAN’S ISLAND (1964-1967) [season 1 opening from Tape 1]
-Commercial Break-
GENTLE BEN (1967-1969) [opening]
-Commercial Break-
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS (1969-1974) [opening]

The commercials include three vintage promo drops from WTCG-TV 17 in Atlanta (where I live) that aired before it became SuperStation WTBS (now the TBS Cable Network). And you’ll have fun listening to some ads that my podcasting friends provided to me to promote their own great podcasts; be sure to check them out.

Note also that I’ve added a The Mystery Tune for my intrepid listeners to test their TV theme tune memory. It’s only an excerpt of a theme for a series which ran on network television (hint: during the 1980s). Let me know what your guess is, and if you’re correct I’ll mention you on the air during the next episode of TUBE TUNES.

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here. And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S01E08: The Mike Post Legacy” (available March 29, 2016)

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In this double-length episode packed with theme music, many of them presented in stereo, the broadcast histories, stars and (of course) the TV theme music of 40 animated broadcast network series from 1960 to the present are explored. Here is the layout for this extended episode:

FEATURED SERIES #1:
THE FLINTSTONES (1960-1966)
[season 1-2 opening] [season 1-2 closing] [season 3-6 opening] [season 3-6 closing]

-Commercial Break-

LIGHTNING ROUND #1:
THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW (1960-1961) [season 1 opening] [season 1 closing]
THE BULLWINKLE SHOW (1960-1961) [opening theme & fanfare] [closing]
TOP CAT (1961-1962) [opening]
CALVIN AND THE COLONEL (1961-1962) [opening] [closing]
THE ALVIN SHOW (1961-1962) [opening]
THE JETSONS (1962-1963) [opening] [closing]
THE ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST (1964-1965) [opening] [closing]
THE FAMOUS ADVENTURES OF MR. MAGOO (1964-1965) [opening]
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (1968-1970) [opening] [closing]
WHERE’S HUDDLES (1970) [opening]
WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME (1972-1974) [opening]

-Commercial Break-

FEATURED SERIES #2:
THE SIMPSONS (1989-present)
[season 1 opening] [season 1 closing] [season 2-20 opening]

-Commercial Break-

LIGHTNING ROUND #2:
CAPITOL CRITTERS (1992) [opening]
FISH POLICE (1992) [opening]
BATMAN – THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992-1993) [opening]
FAMILY DOG (1993) [opening]
THE CRITIC (1994-1995) [opening]
PINKY & THE BRAIN (1995-1996) [opening]

-Commercial Break-

FEATURED SERIES #3:
KING OF THE HILL (1996-2009)
[1996 pilot opening]

-Commercial Break-

LIGHTNING ROUND #3:
STRESSED ERIC (1998) [opening]
THE PJs (1999-2001) [1999 pilot opening]
DILBERT (1999-2000) [opening]
FUTURAMA (1999-2003; 2010-2013) [opening] [closing]
HOME MOVIES (1999) [opening] [closing]
MISSION HILL (1999-2000; 2002) [opening] [closing]
GOD, THE DEVIL & BOB (2000; 2003) [opening]
THE OBLONGS (2001) [opening]
CLERKS – THE ANIMATED SERIES (2000) [opening]
BABY BLUES (2000-2002) [opening]

-Commercial Break-

FEATURED SERIES #4:
FAMILY GUY (1999-2002; 2005-present)
[opening] [closing]

-Commercial Break-

LIGHTNING ROUND #4:
GAME OVER (2004) [opening] [closing]
FATHER OF THE PRIDE (2004-2005) [opening]
AMERICAN DAD! (2005-present) [opening] [closing]
CREATURE COMFORTS (2007) [opening]
THE GOODE FAMILY (2009) [opening] [closing]
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (2009-2013) [opening] [closing]
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2012) [opening]
BORDERTOWN (2016) [opening]

-Commercial Break-

FEATURED SERIES #4:
BOB’S BURGERS (2011-present)
[opening] [closing]

Many, many thanks to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here. And I’d also like especially to thank him for providing the opening and closing theme music for Tube Tunes; all of his fantastic music can be found here. And, again, thanks are in order for him for providing TUBE TUNES with the “We’ll Be Right Back” drops heard during the podcast. Thanks, Burford.

I would also like to again thank Rob “Flack” O’Hara and Sean Johnson for adding TUBE TUNES to The Throwback Network. It’s a great place to find just about any retro-themed podcast you can think of. Please check out the network here.

Finally, my thanks to Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. And his continued support and promotion of TUBE TUNES on his excellent podcast is greatly appreciated by yours truly. Please, check out his podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; or at least visit his website here.

Next Episode: “S01E07: Cathode Ray Memories” (available March 20, 2016)