I already recently gave you my Top 10 Favorite TV Characters from the 80's. At that time, I mentioned how so many of those shows had such great theme songs and that I would do a list of my favorite TV theme songs. Well, that is what I am going to do in this issue. You will notice that nearly all of the songs on my list are from 80's shows and I feel this is because most shows today do not really put much emphasis on the opening credits and having a theme song. There are some here and there, but it is no longer an essential part to a television series. It was difficult to narrow this list down to just 10, so I am going to give you a bonus 5 songs plus a list of the other songs that just missed making the top 15. As an added bonus, I will provide a link so you can hear and see the opening credits for each show that made the list. Since I am doing this, I am not going to comment too much on each song. I tried to create this list based on my favorite theme songs and it is not based on the best shows or the most recognized songs.

 Are you ready? Here are OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 FAVORITE TV THEME SONGS (+ Bonus 5):
Honorable Mention. Laverne & Shirley - This show which ran from 1976-1983 was supposedly set in the great city of Milwaukee with the girls worked at a fictitious beer brewery. That alone warrants the honorable mention, but it has a catchy tune as well. The song is titled "Making Our Dreams Come True" performed by Cyndi Grecco. Here is a link to watch it.

15. Good Times - I have always loved the theme song from this show that ran from 1974-1979. I would even go as far as to say it is "Dy-no-mite!" It was performed by David Gruson, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman. Here is a link to watch it.

14. Diff'rent Strokes - The "Arnold" character from this show, which ran 1978-1986, made my Top 10 TV Characters from the 80's list. The theme song was sung by Gloria Loring, Al Burton and Alan Thicke (yes, the same Alan Thicke that starred in Growing Pains). Here is a link to watch it.

13. Moonlighting - Again, the "David" & "Maddie" characters from this show, which ran 1985-1989, made my Top 10 TV Characters from the 80's list. The theme song became a minor hit showing up on the charts and was sung by popular jazz artist Al Jarreau. Here is a link to watch it.

12. Family Ties - This show ran from 1982-1989 with the "Alex P. Keaton" character making my Top 10 list as well. The theme song was titled "Without Us" and was performed by the great Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams. Here is a link to watch it.

11. WKRP in Cincinnati - This show ran from 1978-1982 and featured a very talented and funny cast of characters. The only thing better than the cast was the theme song which was sung by Steve Carlisle. I could not find a video of the opening credits, but here is a link to listen to the song at least.

10. Party of Five - I actually rarely watched this show which ran from 1994-2000 and makes it the most recent show to make the entire list. It does have a fantastic theme song titled "Closer to Free" performed by the BoDeans. Here is a link to watch it.

9. Growing Pains - This show ran from 1985-1992 and featured a great theme song. There were different singers who performed the song titled "As Long As We Got Eachother" but the most common version is by B.J. Thomas and Jennifer Warnes. Here is a link to watch it.

8. Silver Spoons - This classic 80's show ran from 1982-1986 and starred Ricky Schroder. Looking back, the show was only average, but the theme song was outstanding. It is a song titled "Together" written by Rik Howard and Bob Wirth. Here is a link to watch it.

7. Perfect Strangers - This show amazingly lasted from 1986-1993. It was the story of Balki the sheepherder from the fictional island of Mepos comes to America to live with his cousin. Then the wackiness ensues. "Don't be ridiculous." The theme song titled "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" is performed David Pomeranz. Here is a link to watch it.

6. The Wonder Years - This was one of my very favorite shows and ran from 1988-1993. It was set 20 years earlier in the late 60s and early 70s. I thought it was fantastic and had the perfect theme song. It was Joe Cocker singing a cover of the Beatles tune "A Little Help From My Friends." Here is a link to watch it.

5. Sanford and Son - Running from 1972-1977, this is the oldest show that made my top 15. I have always thought the theme song was fantastic despite it only being instrumental. I even had it as the ringtone on my phone for several years. The song is titled "The Street Beater" and is by the great Quincy Jones. Here is a link to watch it.

4. Welcome Back, Kotter - This show ran 1975-1979 and might be best know for starting the career of John Travolta. The theme song titled "Welcome Back" was performed by John Sebastian (from Lovin' Spoonful) and actually became a Billboard Hot 100 #1 song in May of 1976. Here is a link to watch it.

3. Mad About You - This show ran from 1992-1999 and starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt. It is one of the few newer shows to make the list. The theme song is titled "Final Frontier" and was originally performed by Andrew Gold. Here is a link to watch it.

2. Cheers - This show aired 1982-1993 having the longest run of any show to make the list. Set in a Boston bar, it gradually developed into an outstanding program, but theme song was great right from the start. It just seemed like such an appropriate sentiment for this show.  Here is a link to watch it.

1. The Greatest American Hero - This show only aired from 1981-1983 making it the shortest running series to make the list. The show was not very good at all, but the theme song was fantastic. The song titled "Believe It or Not" was performed by Joey Scarbury spent 18 weeks on the Billboard Top 40 charts and peaked at #2 in August of 1981. This video does not do it justice, but here is a link to watch it anyways.

There are my top 15 songs. Hope you enjoyed the video links. Here are some of the other shows that just missed making the list: Taxi, Three's Company, Scrubs, I Dream of Jeannie, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Drew Carey Show, Barney Miller, M*A*S*H, Friends, Who's the Boss, Mr. Belvedere and The Jeffersons. Like I said, there are a lot of good theme songs and most come from the 1980s or before. What are your favorites??? Let me know what you think.

That will do it for another issue of Kickin' it. As always, thanks so much for reading. This is my 40^th issue since beginning this ride! If you missed any of them, be sure to click on the Archive buttons in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box in the upper right hand column to go back and get them all. Please spread the word and let people know about Kickin' it Old School. I appreciate any traffic you can send my way. Peace and much love.

Check this out: I found a "name that tune" type of game for TV theme songs on line. Here is a link to play the game and see how you do. Some of the songs are probably from my list above.

Quote of the day: "Greatness is not where you stand, but in what direction you are moving." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Download this: "Believe It or Not (Them from The Greatest American Hero)" by Joey Scarbury - There is a full length version of this song available and I thought it was appropriate based on today's topic.