Top 10 TV theme songs: 'Family Guy' to 'Lost,' 'Simpsons' to 'Survivor'

Once, not all that long ago, TV theme songs were an integral part of how a show was presented on air. The best shows all featured memorable musical introductions. The recent passing of Vic Mizzy, the songwriter responsible for two of the all-time greatest themes, "The Addams Family" (snap! snap!) and "Green Acres," got us thinking about the somewhat sad state of his craft. Over the past decade, original theme songs have given way to shows featuring recycled classic rock tunes (the "C.S.I." franchise) or, worse, shows with no theme at all.

Still, many shows have risen above their peers and distinguished themselves by celebrating the fine art of the TV theme. Here, we reward them with our list of the Top 10 original theme songs from current shows.

"The Office"

Composer Jay Ferguson's lively theme manages to capture both the pathos and tragedy of life inside the show's cubicle walls. Instantly recognizable, frighteningly catchy. This theme is so good, it's disappointing when an abridged version is aired.



"Lost"

Michael Giacchino's minimalist theme takes a mere nine seconds to convey all mystery and menace that comes with being stuck on an island with three-toed statues, temporal loops, smoke monsters and polar bears. Unfortunately, other shows have tried to jump on the short-opening bandwagon by pairing a title graphic with a few seconds of bad electronica.



"Survivor"

Russ Landau's dramatic theme uses generically "native" vocals and chants over a more traditional score, evoking any and every remote, exotic locale. The theme is updated each season with different percussion and native instruments, lending a touch of authenticity. The man won an Emmy for "Pirate Master"; he must be good.



"Monk"

Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" created some controversy when it replaced Jeff Beal's original instrumental theme in the second season of "Monk." Still, the show gets props for being one of the few one-hour drama series for having a theme with lyrics, for winning Emmys for both of its themes, and for allowing Snoop Dogg to rap the song for an episode he guest starred in.



"Family Guy"

"Family Guy" also bucks the trend of instrumental primetime themes by pairing Walter Murphy's music with lyrics reminiscent of classic '70s sitcoms, from "All in the Family" to "Laverne and Shirley." The postmodern pastiche is a fitting opening for a series chock full of pop culture references and TV meta-isms.



"Parks and Recreation"

This all-American theme sports a marching band rhythm and a peppy melody that's equal parts Aaron Copland and Sufjan Stevens. If ever a song said, "comedic sitcom set in small town Indiana," this is it. Ironically, the composer is the little-known Erez Henya who, according to his website, has retired from composing to "co-manage a major international brand's store in Israel."



"The Simpsons"

When you hire one of the most prolific film composers in the biz, it's reasonable to expect great things. After more than 20 seasons, Danny Elfman's "Simpsons" theme has graduated to "classic" status and is as recognizable as the show's famous characters.



"30 Rock"

Rounding out the NBC comedy trifecta, Jeff Richmond's "30 Rock" theme is as fast-paced and whimsical as the show. Each horn blast and bass scale sounds like a musical one-liner leading up to the song's punchline of a finale.



"Dexter"

For the opening to the darkly comedic drama about a crime scene analyst/serial killer, composer Rolfe Kent took a melody that would have fit a 1980s-era mystery series, slowed it down, then added sonic elements designed to create tension. It's both familiar and discomforting at the same time, strings and horns swirling up to the surface and lingering just a little too long, putting viewers on edge--right where they should be.



"Batman: Brave and the Bold"

This is the latest in a string of great cartoon themes from Andy Sturmer, which have included Puffy Ami Yumi's "Teen Titans," "Ben 10" and "The Batman." Sturmer took cues from classic action/adventure themes of the '60s to create this energetic and jazzy opening. It's a perfect fit for a show focusing on the lighter, Silver Age version of the Caped Crusader.



Honorable Mentions:

Though we lament the increasing rarity of fine original themes, some shows deserve recognition for finding the perfect piece of pre-existing music for their openings. The "Mad Men" theme, for instance, is an instrumental version of RJD2's "A Beautiful Mine." Similarly, the boisterous music for "Chuck" is an instrumental version of Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket." The Chris Isaak-y opener for "True Blood" is actually "Bad Things," from the debut album by Jace Everett. Venerated rocker Bob Mould's "Dog on Fire" was reinterpreted by They Might Be Giants for the theme for "The Daily Show." And the bouncy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" tune is Italian Luciano Michellini's "Frolic," which Larry David remembered from a bank commercial.

-- More of Eric Almendral's media musings can be found at ericonmedia