Hitman Theme (1983)

[@ChuckD79]

A very underrated show that really challenged the recall ability of both contestants and viewers...great set, stellar hosting/announcing by Peter and Rod, the Triple Crown actually offered significant consolation payoffs, and the theme/music package was top-notch!

[@LARDLOGO]

It's a real shame this show was so short lived. Honestly one of my favorite game shows and one of the best game show themes.

[@andywolan]

The production cost to each show was high. But man, was it good!

[@donmccullen1973]

It was the concept of the high school pop quiz. You talked about a lesson and then you quiz students about what you just talked about.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Announcer Rod Roddy: "One half hour from now, you'll know enough about popular comic book girls and the Barrymore family to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on "Hit Man"! And here's the host of "Hit Man", Peter Tomarken!" Peter Tomarken: "Thank you, Rod. Welcome to another episode of "Hit Man". What makes this game unique is that we give you the answers be- fore we even get to the questions. Let's meet our contestants who are about to play our game..." RIP, Rod and Peter.

[@martinmoore2468]

This short lived game show theme music was composed by Paul Epstein for Score Productions who also did Body Language and Classic Concentration.

[@emanueljackson1728]

I didn't know that. I would love to hear a clean version of the Love Connection music (theme and all cue) from the original Chuck Woolery era.

[@martinmoore2468]

@@emanueljackson1728 yeah. Me too. I wish there was a clean theme though.

[@M200XL]

This show needs to be rerun on buzzr! There has to be a way to make that happen!

[@shawnquinn9534]

The problem is licensing all the mini-documentaries that are included in each episode, from what I remember reading/hearing.

[@LARDLOGO]

The original agreement was that the episodes could only be aired once. Not only was Jay Wolpert never able to renegotiate for reruns, but NBC wiped the tapes.

[@KiddBloo86]

Based on Pablo Cruise's "Worlds Away". Great find!

[@Ian16545]

Oh, and don't forget Duran Duran's "Rio".

[@drummingdanny84]

With a little bit of Genesis' "Illegal Alien" in some parts of the theme.

[@illustriousrocket4476]

Wow, what I've been able to hear of this theme in episodes that have been uploaded really doesn't do it justice. The clear version is something else. Really has that "80s TV" vibe to it.

[@donmccullen1973]

Inspired by Pablo Cruse's Worlds Apart which was used in the pilot episode.

[@andyleclerc3600]

I've been waiting forever to hear this awesome theme😎

[@toddwacha5108]

RIP Jay Wolpert, Peter Tomarken and Rod Roddy.

[@abcwatermark]

If you'd like to be a contestant on "Hit Man" - FORGET IT!

[@duncanation]

O_O🖕

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

That was perhaps the funniest way to end a shortlived game show.

[@ismike1982]

Rod Roddy was a legend!

[@willmack5909]

This theme gets me hyper as all get out! I was home sick from 10th grade (legitimately) on Monday, January 3rd 1983 and I watched the debut episodes of this show, "$ale of the Century" and Betty White's show "Just Men".

[@JennieLovedoll]

The best things I liked about this game show are the music and lights.📺

[@mixon270]

its like an arcade room

[@JennieLovedoll]

I miss that part of my childhood.

[@donmccullen1973]

@@mixon270 Hit Man plays on Space Invaders especially in the second round.

[@GameShowMike]

One half hour from now, you’ll know enough about American Bandstand and Custer’s Last Stand to win $10,000 in cash, if you were a contestant on HIT MAN! And now here’s the host of Hit Man, Peter Tomarken!

[@gladfan1989]

PETER: HEYYYYYYYYYY, THANK YOU ROD RODDY, AND HI EVERYONE, WELCOME TO HIT MAN!

[@drummingdanny84]

(NBC canned applause resonates through Stage 3 in Burbank) 👏🏾👏👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿👏🏾

[@paullarue2010]

Yeah. NBC lot.

[@paullarue2010]

KNBC is in Burbank.

[@brycelandon6387]

This show deserved a longer run. But then again, how would Press Your Luck have turned out without Peter Tomarken?

[@JMFabiano]

Would Jim Peck be available?

[@shawnsmothers4876]

Oh, God no! Jim Peck had no personality at all.

[@marcusphilpot1376]

Press your luck may or may not exist or they will find someone that would make a good candidate for it

[@marcpower4167]

I hear Pat Sajak did a pilot for press your luck, that would have been interesting....but then what would have happened to wheel?

[@donmccullen1973]

@@marcusphilpot1376 Tom Kennedy????

[@SigmaRho2922]

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jay Wolpert, who passed away from Alzheimer’s on January 3, 2022 at the age of 79.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Jay Wolpert was also the original executive producer of "The New Price Is Right", and once was a Tournament of Champions winner on the "Jeopardy!;" (the Art Fleming era) in 1969.

[@blozier2006]

Sounds like it would've worked as a TPIR car cue (particularly beginning at 1:18 when that higher synth line comes in)

[@LVSignChick]

Actually a pretty cool game. A huge What If in that this show came just months ahead of Press Your Luck...

[@shawnsmothers4876]

The "what if" here would most likely be what if Peter Tomarken had not been available to host "Press Your Luck" to possibly not so good results.

[@mitchellries256]

Unless he was able to do both at the same time, like how Jim Perry hosted Card Sharks at the same time as both Definition and Headline Hunters, and how he still hosted Definition while hosting Sale of the Century. Also, I think Tom Kennedy hosted Name That Tune while also hosting Whew and Password Plus (although he didn't hose Whew and Password Plus at the same time) not to mention Body Language at the same time as the Nighttime Price is Right.

[@ericjonmagnuson2728]

​@@mitchellries256 As long as PYL would've still been a network show (as opposed to being in first-run syndication), he likely couldn't have hosted both at the same time. There aren't many cases where the same host handled two network or two syndicated games at the same time--and, even then, the same production company, syndicator, and/or network was usually involved (e.g., Alex Trebek hosting both Classic Concentration and To Tell the Truth for Mark Goodson and NBC).

[@marcpower4167]

@@ericjonmagnuson2728 and even then he didn't host to tell the truth for that long......

[@LeotheTiger1234]

I now want to do an arrangement of this song for my channel. Paul Epstein really knew what he was doing when he wrote this for Score Productions.

[@willmack5909]

This music along with the flashing of the letters gets me uber hyper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

If this show were to be revived: One half hour from now, you'll know enough about.... ….the career of Dick Clark.... ….and the city of Philadelphia.... ….to win $50,000 in cash! If you were a contestant on...HIT MAN! And now, here's the host of Hit Man - TODD NEWTON!

[@marcpower4167]

@FrenzyMedia - Your former place for craziness. how about Bill Dwyer?

[@donmccullen1973]

@@marcpower4167 Or Ben Bailey who did Cash Cab.

[@JennieLovedoll]

They should play these games in prime time; with much larger amounts given away once a week.

[@MrBowtie1982]

More like the categories would be on fake celebs or woke people.

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

@@MrBowtie1982 Let me guess...you're a Trumplican.

[@supergamer7473]

OMG the THEME in the clear!

[@paullarue2010]

This show and "Press Your Luck" has a keyboard playing.

[@stephanierushing6566]

Also the same host/announcer tandem.

[@paullarue2010]

Yep. The late Peter Tomarken and the late Rod Roddy.

[@paullarue2010]

Peter Tomarken died, in a plane crash, and Rod Roddy died of cancer.

[@tyshaunmiles1973]

Press Your Luck's theme was composed by Michel Camilo.

[@JennieLovedoll]

@@paullarue2010 Peter Tomarken died in a Cessna plane crash; while Rod Roddy died hosting-3 kinds of cancer in his body. Scary!!

[@WolfpackEntertainmentYT]

Rod Roddy on the last ever episode: IF you want to be a contestant hon Hitman, forget it!

[@supergamer7473]

If the SHow were revived today: One Half Hour/Hour from now you'll know enough about Tom Brady and The Brady Bunch to win $100,000 In Cash! If you were a contestant on HIT MAN! And Now, here's the Host of HIT MAN, Todd Newton!

[@JennieLovedoll]

Once a week; for the larger super jackpots.

[@paullarue2010]

It's time for our "Triple Crown".

[@Ian16545]

Jim Thornton: One hour from now, you'll know enough about Japanese TV commercials and the Pigeonhole Principle to win $100,000 in cash-if you were a contestant onnnnnn... _Hit Man!_ And here's the host of _Hit Man..._ Mikey Day!

[@duncanation]

Original Announcer is Rod Roddy New Announcer is Johnny Gilbert

[@toddwacha5108]

All episodes of Hit Man exist, as do the other Jay Wolpert shows, in their entirety, but the shows were only licensed to be seen once. Jay could never get the rights to have the Hit Man shows rerun due to many factors, such as music licensing. Shame. At least we can see Jay's first solo show, Whew!/Celebrity Whew! on BUZZR, as all of those shows exist, but Burt Sugarman owns those shows.

[@martinmoore2468]

Thanks. I like it!

[@EricLimasTPLEra77]

Awesome! Hey,if you can find the Hit Man Triple Crown music and upload that,it would be awesome!!

[@operator35]

How 80's is this?

[@Angie2343]

If you'd like to be a contestant on HitMan, FORGET IT! And now, back to Peter Tomarken!

[@denelson83]

I was not even born when this show aired, so I never saw it.

[@mitchellries256]

Sometimes I wonder if this should've been the theme for Press Your Luck and the Press Your Luck theme should've been the theme for Hit Man. Why? Because the Press Your Luck theme sounds a little like video game music, and the Hit Man stage looks like a video arcade.

[@Nostalgic818]

One half our from now, you'll know enough about The making of "The Wizard of Oz" and Jeans to win $25,000 in cash. If you were a contestant on "Hit Man" . And now here's the star of our show, Peter Tomarken!

[@GameShowMike]

HEEEY… THANK YOU! WELCOME TO HIT MAN! What you have just heard is true! We are going to make our contestants and you at home instant experts on two new subjects. You see, this is a quiz show, but we give you all the answers before we even get to the questions!

[@theinconspicuousbxc]

This sounds like background music from a sports clip off the George Michael Sports Machine show.

[@martinmoore2468]

Got any more music 🎼 cues from Hit Man?

[@comedyfan74]

I don't own this audio, but I do have the cues from hitman

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

+Comedyfan74 Do you have the Cue for the "Triple Crown" Bonus Round?

[@comedyfan74]

I don't own the hitman music or cues, but I do have the triple crown bonus round cue.

[@JMFabiano]

Bring them on! :-)

[@martinmoore2468]

@@comedyfan74 ok.

[@daviddavenport1485]

One half hour from now, you'll know enough about the Jonas Brothers and career of Drew Carey to win $1,000,000...if you were a contestant on Hit Man! And now, from 30 Rock in New York City, here's our host, Michael Strahan!

[@jamesklatt]

If you would like to a contestant on hit man FORGET IT

[@VahanNisanian]

Do you have the "Whew!" theme, as well?

[@JMFabiano]

I take it you know where these came from.

[@myatypicalworld]

Sounds like a Mega Man song

[@MatthewHendrixrockinman1]

one half hour from now you'll know enough about Drew Carey & Ryan Tannehill to win $100,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hit Man and now here's the host of Hit Man Todd Newton

[@donmccullen1973]

Actually if I produced a Hit Man revival Ben Bailey would host and Marc Summers would be the announcer and narrator of the subjects.

[@tyshaunmiles1973]

Funny thing is Marc was a writer on this show.

[@jonacme]

My spiel for a revival: One half hour form know you'll know enough about the movie Titanic and the career of Bob Barker to win $25,000 in cash! If you were a contestant on HIT MAN! And now, here's the host of Hit Man, Todd Newton! Closing: Hit Man is a Jay Wolper Production, in association with Fremantle! This is Randy West speaking!

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

One Half Hour from Now, You'll Know Enough about Supermodel Cindy Crawford, and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, to Win $10,000 in Cash, if You Were a Contestant on HIT MAN! And Now, Here's the Host of Hit Man, PETER TOMARKEN!

[@GameShowMike]

Hey, thank you Rod Roddy! Hi everyone and welcome to Hit Man. Once again we are going to make our contestants and you at home instant experts on two brand new subjects. This is a quiz show, but the difference is that we give you the answers before we get to the questions!

[@supergamer7473]

Please ignore the invalids that don't matter. Today's world of tv is great game shows, great shows and happiness, don't listen to the haters.

[@blind_t2]

1 hour from now, you’ll know enough about Lin Manuel Miranda, Mr. Potatohead, Pac-man, and ford to win $100000! If you were a contestant on, hitman! And now, here’s your host of hitman, tod newton!

[@mitchellries256]

One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's and the Marvel Cinematic Universe to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Joel McHale. One half hour from now, you'll enough about the Big Bang Theory and The Big Bang Theory (TV show) to win $10,000 in cash, if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's he host of Hitman, Jim Parsons. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Cheeseburgers and Dinosaurs to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Marc Summers. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Sesame Street and Agatha Christie to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now here's the host of Hitman, Bob Saget. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Game of Thrones and the Peanuts comics to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Chris Harrison. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about the American Revolution and the Solar System to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Chuck Woolery. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about The Walt Disney Company and Celtic Women to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Jon Cryer. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Supermarket Sweep and Hannah Barbara cartoons to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, David Rubrecht. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Pizza and Press Your Luck to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Ben McKenzie. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Howie Mendall. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Frozen and How to Train Your Dragon to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Gary Sinise. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Star Trek and Star Wars to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Patrick Warburton. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Harry Potter and the Carnival Corporation to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Stephen Colbert. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about the American Civil War and Six Flags to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Dax Shepherd. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Hot Dogs and NCIS to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Michael Weatherly. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Terry Crews. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Thomas the Tank a Engine and Tornados to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Cedric the Entertainer. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about the Oregon Trail and Disneyland Resort to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Andy Samberg. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Mark Twain and Dark Matter to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman. Mark L Wahlberg. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about the Roman Empire and the Apollo Project to win $10,000 in cash if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Todd Newton. One half hour from now, you'll know enough about Marvel comics and DC comics to win $10,000 in cash, if you were a contestant on Hitman. And now, here's the host of Hitman, Elizabeth Banks.