PBS NewsHour Theme (1983 - Extended Version)

Full, extended, theme music from PBS NewsHour (MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour) from 1983. In 1999, they refreshed that music with a newer version. 1983 was the year when the program became a one hour nightly news program on PBS. Before that, it was a nightly 30 mins program that devoted to one topic. It debuted in 1975.

[@TVThemesNow]

On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020, Jim Lehrer, founder of PBS NewsHour (and MacNeil/Lehrer journalism) died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 85. Jim, to me, was one of the greatest journalists that ever lived and had set the gold standard for Public Media news. We'll miss you, Jim (and Gwen Ifill). Onward.

[@terrycarthy4433]

In Australia....I watched Jim Lehrer regularly for many years; he/ Newshour the gold standard by any measure....as is this wonderful theme.

[@Marcus71]

I didn't know that he passed away.

[@jasonburger3533]

​@@cecilfoxhound3274No, Jim Lehrer passed on at age 85 in January 2020, unfortunately.

[@jasonburger3533]

​@@Marcus71Yeah, it was a huge story, especially on the "PBS Newshour" right afterward.

[@jasonburger3533]

​​@@terrycarthy4433Yes, it is the best American news theme, by far. It even preceded the NBC Nightly News John Williams "The Mission" theme song, still in use since 1985. The PBS Newshour theme goes back to the 1975 origin of the show. They have updated iit many times since 2006.

[@bethanygee6939]

This song played EVERY night at my house as the adults settled in after dinner to watch the news. It was a comfort to me as a child. It signaled the end of kid time and the beginning of the adult hours. I knew I was soon to get a bath and my jammies, and then be tucked in for school in the morning, while listening to my grandparents discuss President Reagan and the news of the day. Man, do I miss those times.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Same here. Being the presidential historian buff that I am, I got to hear Jim Lehrer say "President Reagan", "President Bush", "President Clinton", "President Bush", and finally "President Obama". Lehrer and MacNeil were part of history as young news reporters covering the Kennedy assassination in Dallas, Texas the day it happened. The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour always came on at 6:00pm every weekday evening on my local PBS station right after the nightly PBS Kids show lineups when I was growing up. I remember watching coverage of the 1992 General Election with rapt attention on the news network when I was only 8 years old. And who could forget Lehrer's nightly opening statement: "Good evening, I'm Jim Lehrer", and nightly closing statement: "I'm Jim Lehrer. Thank you and good night."

[@redchojnowski7159]

Same here!!!!!

[@stephanieheger7388]

I could have written the above comment although I was a teenager at the time.

[@coraggio93]

I teared up at this comment. Love the images it invokes...

[@HSSSS-nq7pj]

Wow. Your comment was so on point.

[@melissawebb7417]

RIP Robert MacNeil 1931-2024 He and Jim Lehrer were two of a kind. May they both rest.

[@ericdreizen1463]

I've always loved this theme. It gave me peace, & when I heard it I knew I was going to get the news of the day. RIP Jim Lehrer.

[@sbeatty85]

Rest in peace, Mr. Robert MacNeil. Thanks for the memories.

[@redchojnowski7159]

I think of my MOTHER when I listen to this. Rest in peace, Mom.

[@hasake8873]

I loved that theme. So classy.

[@larrymitchell9897]

R.I.P to Jim Lehrer and Gwen Ifill. I remember watching the Newshour when my afternoon shows go off on PBS when I was a kid.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

yeah, rip 2 Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, & Rosalind P Walter:(, but on tha brite side, atleast they all lived NICE, LONG, PROSPEROUS LIVES:), but every1's gotta die @ some time, NO1 LIVES 4EVER!! & i remember 'MacNeil/Lehrer' from my childhood, besides Sesame Street, Teletubies, Curious George, Dragon Tales, etc...i grew up on MOST pbs programs such as 'MacNeil/Lehrer', 'Washington Week', 'Wall $treet Week w/ Louis Roukeyser', & tha now-disgraced 'Charlie Rose' b/c i used 2 c my parents watching those shows as a child!!

[@davidrivera9743]

In my market 7:30 and when it moved to an hour 7:00 eastern.

[@sbeatty85]

Rest in Peace, Mr Jim Lehrer. Thank you so very much for reporting the news like no other!

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@sbeatty85, yes, Jim Lehrer was one of my favorite pbs newshour reporters - Jonathan Capehart (whom i think is HOTT

[@cooldood1025]

RIP Mr. Lehrer. My father used to watch the MacNeil Lehrer News Hour when I was just a kid, this theme made me nostalgic.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@ cooldood1025, HOLY CRAP!! my parents used 2 watch 'MacNeil/Lehrer' during my childhood 2!! HOLY CRAP!! & i used 2 drive them krazy w/ this theme song, w/ tha part @ 2:58, cuz i used 2 think it was kinda creepy, but @ tha same time FUNNY!! still do feel that way about it, 2!! lol!! rip 2 Jim Lehrer (1934-2020), Gwen Ifill (1955-2016), & now Mark Shields (1937-2022):(

[@gutsfinky]

​@@jeffreydahmer6547my dad watched it too! In the spring/summer/early fall I would often go outside after supper and maybe play on our swing set until the sun went down. But in winter, when I couldn't play outside in the dark, I heard this theme quite a lot.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@@gutsfinky WOW!! i luv MacNeil / Lehrer.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@@gutsfinky & i grew up on NOT only children shows like 'Curious George', 'Sesame Street', 'Dragon Tales', etc..., i also saw my parents watching tha grown-up shows like 'pbs news hour', 'McLaughlin group', 'Charlie Rose', 'Washington week', & tha stock broker show 'Wall $treet week w/ Louis Roukeyser'.

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

By the skin of my teeth, just before he stepped down, I was just that lucky to see Robert MacNeil on WNET/WLIW, PBS in New York-New Jersey, then from 1995 on to his retirement, I was proud to say that Jim Lehrer was the PBS Newshour era I gre up watching, with the occasional subsititues of Gwen Ifill. There would be no PBS Newshour without Robert MacNeil, Jim Lehrer and Gwen Ifill. We will miss you all, especially Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer. But since I began watching in 1995, we'll all miss Jim Lehrer. ❤

[@rogercote8373]

I miss those nights terribly ! This is one of the best theme songs to ever grace the t.v screen !

[@BuddyBoy600alt]

R.I.P. Jim Lehrer (1934-2020) :'(

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@BuddyBoy600alt, rite on, bro, rip Jim Lehrer (1934-2020):(

[@Storm27ification]

I remember this theme. Such a classic theme. RIP Jim Lehrer

[@brothergoodfoot]

It's an amazing composition! I remember every note and sound distinctly, and I haven't heard it since childhood.

[@HuskyDog88]

I used to watch Jim Lehrer every weeknight @ 7 on PBS. I remember the old theme song that played whenever he came on. I can hear it playing in my head right now. I love how he presented the news as is without any bias or agenda, allowing the viewer to make their own decisions based on what they saw. Whenever I’m assigned a current events report for school, I always tune in to Jim Lehrer. There was none like him. He will be forever missed, both him and Gwen Ifill.

[@particlewaveduality1]

I learned from the news broadcast actually learned as opposed the mush on new programs now that are essentially a program full of commentary. Jim informed me thank you Mr. Lehrer

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

RIP GWEN IFILL (1955-2016), JIM LEHRER (1934-2020), & ROSALIND P WALTER (1924-2020):(

[@tnawcwvictoria]

Dedicated to the memory of Gwen Ifill and Jim Lehrer God Bless You and Thank You for informing us in the way the news media should be, not about conflict or entertainment seen today

[@Skylar7794]

I miss that show a lot music Composer is Bernard Hoffer

[@davidpetercoppen8042]

Mr. Hoffer is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music.

[@Naminski1a]

@@davidpetercoppen8042 He also composed the theme music from ThunderCats.

[@roberta.5967]

RIP Jim Lehrer

[@tnawcwvictoria]

Jim Lehrer: "I am NOT in the Entertainment Business" Best thing he ever said about the news

[@kjquinn7856]

I miss MacNeil and Lehrer. Their coverage of hard news was more insightful. The current PBS Newshour seems to have shifted to more soft features. The music is still terrific, though.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@ KevinQuinn, actually my favorites are 'MacNeil-Lehrer report' from way back in tha 70s & tha current 'PBS newshour'!! that's 'cuz i luv Robert MacNeil, so i would like tha 'MacNeil-Lehrer report'!!

[@cotyfinke9189]

Just found out Jim Lehrer passed away. R.I.P.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

@@cotyfinke9189 yeah, i know this past Thursday. may his soul rest in peace (1934-2020):(

[@loloybaloloy4402]

this reminds me of those beautiful days when I was a lot younger watching great journalist

[@Night-Mayor]

When I was in college, I would study and do assignments while listening to The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour. I have fond memories of textbooks and look out my window at the local mountains. While hearing about the world's events. This show and 60 minutes were the last bastions of journalism integrity. Hopefully, one day, it will return to other mews

[@sportsfan7702]

My grandfather watched this every night. I in turn watched it as well

[@davidrivera9743]

This feels like the "Friday" extended play version.

[@apl175]

The theme song and variants are also available on Spotify

[@TVThemesNow]

Didn't know that. Thanks.

[@hasake8873]

Are those violas playing those staccado counter riffs?

[@25FADIII]

In memory of PBS News Journalist, Co-Founder and Co-Host of The MacNeil/Lehrer Report and later NewsHour, Robert "Robin" MacNeil. 1931-2024

[@melissabittle88]

PBS NewsHour Theme (1983 - Extended Version)

[@fortunato300]

By coincidence, I was actually listening to this when I learned that Robin died. Rest In Peace.

[@billylovesjazz]

What an elegant composition.

[@hasake8873]

That is such a beautiful piece of music. Love it so much.

[@whitedesertheart]

I have looked for this theme all my life. Thank you.

[@reidgratz7783]

The perfect news theme.

[@jasonburger3533]

"The PBS Newshour" theme, earlier "The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour" theme, and originally "The MacNeil/Lehrer Report" theme, is the definitive theme for a long-form American television news program. This is much better than the current theme. The original is the best, as it is often.

[@Mike-sv1ye]

Young Sheldon 11/12/20 Episode

[@zoosyo03]

I remember this one to

[@MrAkilwil]

This and "Inside the Actors' Studio" theme by Angelo Badalamenti are most prominent in theme songs. I know there's more, but these two reaches my core.

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

RIP MARK SHIELDS (1937-2022):(

[@andrewjanssen8663]

It’s amusing that the man who composed this theme also wrote the theme to the original “Thundercats”

[@bobbeaumont324]

I prefer this theme over when it was slightly altered during the globe background.

[@bmasters1981]

"Before that, it was a nightly 30 mins program that devoted to one topic." Basically Nightline before Nightline, I take it?

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

I guess that as well as the broadcast that we now know as World News Tonight. Or the NBC Nightly News, but that debuted in 1970.

[@untexan]

Not quite... Nightline was (is) more investigative, topical, ripped from the headlines stuff... and MacNeil/Lehrer was usually more informational.

[@bmasters1981]

Never thought of it that way!

[@WizardOfHumor1989]

Reminds me of for the first time in forever from frozen

[@smmackey]

My grandmother faithfully watched this everyday after Arthur aired at 5:30 PM

[@beardedslavbrew615]

The this theme scared me as kid. Now I love it! I never realized that there was an extended version of it, it's as if John Williams composed it!

[@melissabittle88]

Full, extended, theme music from PBS NewsHour (MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour) from 1983. In 1999, they refreshed that music with a newer version. 1983 was the year when the program became a one hour nightly news program on PBS. Before that, it was a nightly 30 mins program that devoted to one topic. It debuted in 1975.

[@NavinKumar-yp2rf]

Young Sheldon remembered

[@danield4559]

Weeknights at 6:00 on Rocky Mountain PBS.

[@user-uw1co2fx8f]

2:54 i remember it appearing in young sheldon in his “top 5 sources from my childhood”

[@brockthefragmentationer4129]

Do you have the 1999 theme of this?

[@WizardOfHumor1989]

For the first time in foreeeveeeeeerrrrrr

[@cindytaylor9118]

The PBS newshour

[@jeffreydahmer6547]

shit, i remember this from my childhood, i used 2 think it was kinda creepy sounding, but funny @ tha same time, tha ending @ 2:58, but still good song!!

[@DavidfromBA]

R.I.P. Jim Lehrer.

[@madisonbittlefinchem3204]

Published on May 16, 2018

[@henryborra7629]

Though I thought it had to be a work of Elmer Bernstein (The Great Escape, many John Wayne westerns); I was wrong. The composer of the Theme to Mac & Lehrer was Benard Hoffer, a Swiss composer. When I'd hear the tune, I knew that the "true news" was about to be stated.

[@Patrick3183]

My grandpa watched this every night. They were such a staid, dry duo. Nobody nowadays is like them. Modern American Journalism is utterly corrupted by political interests.

[@NavinKumar-yp2rf]

Mcneil still alive 👍

[@irish89055]

At age 90

[@hasake8873]

Does anyone know what instruments those are at 1:24 --1:35 that are playing below the string melody? That is a great arrangement.

[@paulwiggs5465]

Violins, french horns and trumpet

[@hasake8873]

@@paulwiggs5465 How are the violins sounding like that? Are they being plucked?

[@madisonbittlefinchem3204]

Category Music

[@johnnycoreas5506]

2:00

[@billyrayvalentinecapricorn]

We're all here for 2:53

[@madisonbittlefinchem3204]

TVThemes Now

[@yelloweyeball]

Is the theme a clip from a much longer piece? The beginning always sounded to me like the bridge of a longer song.

[@yelloweyeball]

Just found there's a 25 minute version of the theme from the 90s. The way the variations are paired sounds almost like an Igor Stravinsky esque symphony. It was performed by the National Orchestra. Bernard Hoffer who did the original, also made music for Rankin Bass cartoons. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaa0ZoKMa9qHepo

[@jeffreyl.wiseman2597]

Anyone know who composed this piece?

[@Elsewhen404]

Swiss composer Bernard Hoffer.

[@jeffreyl.wiseman2597]

@@Elsewhen404 Thank you.

[@marbleblue5127]

Who composed this?

[@Naminski1a]

Bernard Hoffer.

[@user-wb3cr4es2c]

Here is a similar motif NHK's drama (Jpn version of PBS) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpyqmK2fp61gh5o

[@Sreeto]

Anyone else here from young Sheldon?

[@KarlBonner1982]

I just realized now that the trumpet is way out of tune on the note E / concert D. 😳

[@irish89055]

Few people have watched more episodes of the NewsHour than me over 40 some years... pretty disgraceful what the show has become since May of 2020... especially with the likes of Yamishe Alcinder et al...

[@danbasta3677]

Disgraceful it is. It's all became all female dominated on all the networks. That why I don't bother watching the evening news any longer as it all turned into a female beauty pageant. I want the worldly news, not some female beauty pageant.

[@irish89055]

Before it was woke...

[@yjcinderoc]

RIP Jim Lehrer