Why Yellowstone Is Peak 'Dad TV’, Theme Tune Secrets & Euro Fever

[@jackabalas]

Richard should cameo as a bus conductor whose head is never in shot.

[@mjpledger]

Or have pointless playing in the background on tv

[@philanderson5138]

Richard could do a voice - like a caretaker/reception guy - just a line or two? the security guy at the rich blokes apartment building in London - if I remember right? [probably mistaken anyone know?]

[@kevinsoutham]

A la Al in Police Squad.

[@DamoXXX]

Richard has to cameo as a furniture removalist.

[@Jupiter-Ace]

29minutes in so far and I can confirm Richard is yet to open the window next to him and hand over some fast food to a waiting motorist

[@HigHanGill]

Howard Goodall is an amazing theme writer too - Red Dwarf, QI (with more morse code), Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder.

[@veronicamaine3813]

I was surprised that he didn’t get a mention!

[@vickyainger4500]

20:15 20:24

[@cullenjames7542]

TV theme tunes: Cheers. An opening song that sets a tone and provides insight into the underlying theme of the show -- the disparate characters who share a bond being driven by the need for human companionship. And it's one of the most memorable melodies.

[@kevinsoutham]

And like the another great tv show theme tune X-Files - was a hit song on both sides of the Atlantic after the show aired.

[@timotab]

Morse didn't just spell out Morse during the theme tune, but sometimes spelled out the name of the killer and also sometimes spelled out another character's name as a red hearing.

[@podoherty2]

I always thought they missed a trick on the last show. The theme tune should've come in in alignment with the last 'beeps' on the support system at the moment of Morse's death. Would've been a better ending than all the lachrymose rubbish that followed to boot 🙂 PS What about the theme tune to Van der Valk?

[@cherryclark5818]

The persuaders, my favourite theme and show when I was a kid.

[@TheLoveOfTracks]

The brilliant John Barry of course!

[@LesPaulDavis]

Great discussion on theme music. I’m surprised neither Doctor Who nor the incredible body of work Barry Gray produced for Gerry Anderson (Thunderbirds, UFO, Space 1999 etc.) got even a passing mention. Old Grey Whistle Test and TOTP’s use of the CCS’ version of Whole Lotta Love also superb choices.

[@all-range-mode]

Joe 90 ftw

[@maxine2798]

Van der Valk (spelling). Tomorrow people

[@philipsheppard4815]

I literally just came here to mention Barry Gray and his amazing music for Gerry Anderson.

[@Ryanneey]

Oh my gosh, I thought Richard was zooming from the toilet 😅

[@lemmingsplat5279]

Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. Some amazing tunes for the Gerry Anderson shows.

[@christiangedet8888]

No one mentioned Rhubarb and Custard theme tune?

[@electricladyguitarsdevonuk1414]

You did!

[@RobDW24]

The Doctor Who theme by Delia Derbyshire is my favourite, Derbyshire helping pioneer electronic music and changing the shape of music in general whilst in a male dominated industry. Influencing bands like Aphex Twin, Orbital and Pink Floyd etc. A true legend.

[@steveb1972]

The Bagpuss theme tune takes me straight back to my early childhood 😊

[@spare5808]

I love how the Buck Rogers theme tune starts really dramatic before hard switching to this lighthearted sweeping cheese.

[@catfather420]

First Marina said she used Viagogo, now you are advertising Sky. This Podcast is the machine.

[@ChazG9]

That was an interesting insight to how the podcast is made at 47:58 . I'd love to see more behind the scenes for The Rest is Entertainment and have some producer input in the podcast! This is my current favourite podcast, I can't recommend it enough to all my friends and colleagues, keep it up!

[@scatton61]

One of my favourite tv theme composers and writers is Barry Gray who is responsible for many tv themes for programmes produced by Gerry Anderson. These would be Thunderbirds and Stingray and Captain Scarlet and ufo etc.

[@robthomas7232]

Space 1999 as well. A classic!

[@simoncooper2994]

Absolute legend - love his work

[@marcusistic]

Barry Gray's theme tunes to most of the Gerry Anderson shows were utterly brilliant.....

[@oblitafier]

The Streets of San Francisco, The Professionals, The New Avengers and every version of Starsky and Hutch. All bangers.

[@cowalarmclock]

Since you're on the subject, I want to give a mention to Anne Dudley for the Jeeves and Wooster theme. Also, don't think it was said but Marni Nixon was the ghost singer.

[@tomskih203]

I know it's not theme tunes but I think the composers of the songs in Horrible Histories are brilliant.

[@larshansen1978]

Best themetune: The persuaders. A rather big hit in Denmark....

[@parkyparko]

Agreed. Love all the themes mentioned, but John Barry's theme for the Persuaders is an awesome thing.

[@duncanpaton7344]

A qwirky theme tune which ticks a lot of boxes would be “Farscape” sci-fi show from late 90s ran for a couple years, started with a summary of the plot then went into this really strange alien type operatic sound which was perfect for the show

[@siggia]

Oh, you completely forgot the Jeeves and Wooster theme (especially the longer outro version) and the intro itself!

[@sie4431]

Yeah, loved that. Great animations for the opening credits too. Recently I was watching the music video for Dear Jessie by Madonna and the animation in that lines familiar, turns out it was that same company that had done the Jeeves and Wooster credits

[@siggia]

@@sie4431 Nice little trivia :-)

[@sandramckeehan5679]

"Cheers" has to be a top TV theme tune.

[@billythedog-309]

What? Better than Thunderbirds are go?

[@iieee85]

Where is the love for the Baywatch theme? The dramatic drum opener, that keyboard solo! TV theme-tune gold.

[@MoonbeameSmith]

Or Hawaii 5.0.same re drums then Big Brass Band

[@iieee85]

@@MoonbeameSmith That was great also. Have to honest, I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it but now I have it stuck in my head.

[@costeris35]

Twin peaks and Sopranos were both themes I never skipped even when I watched the shows on dvd, they felt like an integral part of stepping into the show.

[@ATwitchyGamer]

I don't think any theme music has ever got me as excited as I was at the start of a new episode of Lost

[@poleary]

The paid spot felt awkward and forced to try to make it look less like a paid spot, eww

[@epicwin4life]

I understand the need for sponsorship, and this podcast is a great listen so I have no issues with promoting stuffs. However, I wish they'd just streamed promo and neutrally stated "its on sky, please enjoy", and left it there. The little talk about the show was not only cringe, but it is also not fair in a podcast that is meant for discussion on TV shows.

[@chrislesiter4531]

The kings of Dad TV are Dick Wolf of the Law & Order, FBI and Chicago series and Doland P. Bellisario of Magnum P.I., JAG and NCIS. There are also memorable claps in Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull. In Australia the landmark themes are both from sports: Brian Bennetts' Wide World of Sports theme on Channel Nine and Channel Seven using Fanfare for the Common Man for sports coverage.

[@stephenbarrette610]

Fantastic podcast as ever. I cannot name three top theme tunes, but here’s my top umpteen list: Some you mentioned and some new ones: Hill Street Blues, Taxi, Friends, MASH, Cheers, Frasier, Rockford Files, Twin Peaks, X-Files, Mr Robot, Fawlty Towers, Succession, Star Trek Next Generation, The Sweeney, The Simpsons, Big Brother, The High Chaparral, Mission Impossible, Millionaire, The Persuaders and of course, Barry Gray’s Thunderbirds.

[@stephenbarrette610]

Edit; plus Doctor Who

[@douglasdeans2839]

Dr Who is a classic theme tune,

[@elliotvernon7971]

Agreed. Delia Derbyshire was an utter genius.

[@aardvarksteve1]

Bill Bailey does an amazing version.

[@scwebb]

You mention the Some Mothers… theme having the title spelled out in morse, an adjacent fun fact is the number of themes (without lyrics) where the tune is basically the title set to music. Doctor Who is a famous example (both the bass line and the melody) but it holds true for so many famous themes including a lot of John Williams movies (Star Wars, Superman, ET, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park). The best though (seriously, go listen to it) is Ronnie Hazlehurst’s theme to The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.

[@pjsixhundred]

Are You Being Served covered by Elastica. Wouldn't immediately jump to mind but that might work! The singing/talking is very Justine.

[@ChrisBull-u3h]

Loving the tv theme tunes coverage. My top 3 in no particular order would be: Streets of San Francisco composed by Patrick Williams Gangsters (the 70s UK show) composed by Dave Greenslade The Big Match (composed by Keith Mansfield). There were two different themes as the show went through the years but it’s the one with the crazy Hammond organ break in the middle). Just missing the medals - closing credits theme to The Sweeney by Harry South. Everyone talks about the opening credits theme but the closing credits one was brutal.

[@PattyMarques-hd6sl]

TV theme toon: Greatest American Hero. ... believe it or not...

[@markkinsella5245]

Love the theme music for Bosch. Along with Succession it's one of the series intros I never skip

[@DrCalamityJan]

I spend a lot of my time marking essays in my local library as I find myself much more productive than working from home and the moment you mentioned library music I immediately thought you were talking about music suitable for playing in libraries! As if I need any further distractions, this would be the final nail in my coffin.

[@Elwaves2925]

It's not something I can do but I understand it. It's likely the same reasoning behind people who like to work/write in cafes etc. You don't have the pressure of a workplace but also don't have the distractions in a home.

[@DrCalamityJan]

@@Elwaves2925 I'll do anything to avoid marking essays so the library is a necessity. I often think that I should be asking my students for an extension on getting their results to them! Surely the lecturers can have the same deadline leeway as the students! 😂

[@Elwaves2925]

@@DrCalamityJan Hahahaha!

[@icarusandtherabbit]

My Dad used to love Minder, Brush Strokes (and their theme toons) and Doctor Who, Star Trek and Wrestling for his Dad TV quota.

[@michaelrobson3460]

Just me or any one else disappointed that Dad TV wasn't the "something for the dad's" TV I was expecting ...

[@stevebills5716]

Odd no mention of any Gerry Anderson theme tunes. Every one a classic. 😊

[@easyivan1976]

Wow almost Live 😂🎉😊

[@Anthropolite]

Mystery voices at about the 48:00 minute mark

[@pd4165]

Before that there was a disembodied hand sneaking in from time to time.

[@magiclantern66]

My best TV theme tunes in chronological order: Champion the Wonder Horse. Tarzan. The Rockford Files. Hats off to Mike Post.

[@pjsixhundred]

Cheers. A classic. (and I'll mention the Wedding Present did an iconic cover)

[@bobthompson5363]

Just when I think - here we go they are about to make a duff episode about a naff subject might give this a miss soon - the dynamic duo do it again and ‘pull you back in’. Genius ‘show’. (Oh no I’m worrying I’m gonna have dreams about Marina dressed as Batman now……)

[@martincurrie6243]

20 years ago was in a gay club where there was dance mix of are you being served.

[@m-alexandria-g]

It’s wild to me that English people live in a country smaller than my state and they haven’t been everywhere there is to be. Richard just now visiting SuA?!

[@andy2950]

Now I want Elastica to reform and cover the Are you being served theme tune. Perhaps for Comic Relief?🤔

[@robsimmons5228]

We live in Canada. My wife loves As time goes by and Coronation Street and the Royle family

[@KristineMaitland]

All the themes mentioned so far are stellar, but I have three composers to add. First Hoyt Curtain, who wrote the bulk of the themes for the Hanna Barbera cartoons including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and my favorite Johnny Quest (a real brass banger) Second, Yoko Kanno, a composer for the anime world but best known for the theme Tank, for the anime Cowboy Bebob. Premium jazz. Last was Joseph LoDuca. He has written a host of themes but my favorite theme is for Xena, Warrior Princess mainly because of his use of the Bulgarian women's choir. Cool .

[@daylightrambler]

Mancini's " Newhart" theme is a beautiful piece of neo-baroque

[@macsmiffy2197]

I’m so tired of being fed repeats all the time with the exception of BBC4’s The Wednesday Play which gave playwrights such as Dennis Potter, Ken Loach and Mike Leigh their starting careers. More of this please before I revoke my license.

[@markshirley01]

🔥🔥🔥jan hammer miami vice theme🔥🔥🔥

[@jamesharper3462]

Two episodes on tv themes and no mention of Duck Tales? 😢😂

[@mrjasonrainbird]

Thinking of theme songs that get you in the right mindset, "Strange Game" the discordant and grubby theme to Slow Horses on Apple TV by Mick Jagger is a cracker.

[@sky33liner]

Theme tunes - what about Rockford Files?

[@electricladyguitarsdevonuk1414]

No word of a lie - I was just punching the letter 'P' into the headstock of a 'Phat Lady' Bass guitar I'm making (The Sycamore wood used came from land owned by TV/Film composer Ed Welch). So I have to vote for 'Block Busters' TV Theme!

[@graemesmith2140]

Love the fact that Richard mentioned shared theme tunes. My two favourites being Superstars - used for Monday Night Football NFL coverage in the US since the 70s (and still is I believe). Also Pointless, which I now have heard whilst watching KZbin clips of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in the US (whilst guests were coming out, not as a theme). Doing some rudimentary research it seems that both were British-written and picked up by the US programmes - which surprised me a bit. Is this commonplace?

[@ajrh82]

Best outro/closing credits theme music is thunder in paradise

[@Ryanneey]

The greatest TV theme song for me is Season 1 of The Leftovers by Max Richter. It's not necessarily a fun bop, but it's beautiful and intense. 😊

[@ReoRis72]

Richard should cameo as the guy explaining how to find the Waitrose in Tunbridge Wells

[@felinetherapy4782]

Richard should do a Hitchcock and have that safety sign with the men with glasses appear as seen on Taskmaster.

[@SimonNeedham]

Richard needs to cameo as a removal man moving a table

[@krisinsaigon]

i just listened to the theme to Our You Being Served and it sound nowt like the first elastica album. Agree about the Twin Peaks theme and the Ronnie Hazelhurst themes

[@dippydogz]

I found the original Channel 4 news theme on the end of a Library disc many years ago.

[@keithyork8226]

I’m a 56-year-old bloke and I struggle to find much in the way of contemporary TV or movies that interests me. I mainly watch sport, quizzes and old movies. 🙄

[@philroberts7238]

Two theme tunes that have always appealed to me are for Time Team and QI.

[@CaesarTjalbo]

There's a German series of police shows, going on since the 1970s, called Tatort. It's brilliant TV and has the best tune ever.

[@themattitude]

Very happy with Naomi Ackie as Donna! Ten-inch as Chris? Jo Martin for Patrice?

[@PaulHaigh072]

Can’t believe you didn’t mention Tony Hatch: Crossroads, Emmerdale & Neighbours…

[@speewha]

Van der Valk Eye Level pretty good

[@trevorwilliams6404]

I have always like dexter and westworld intro

[@LiveDonkeyDeadLion]

TV Themes, the Q series by Spike Milligan. If you haven’t heard it, go find it now but wait till the very end

[@robthomas7232]

So having listened to this episode on a long journey home last night and i had to pause it to play the best theme tune ever which is Grandstand at full blast and oddly I absolutely hated Grandstand the programme when growing up! Unpausing Richard then went onto mention that chicken man was used for both grange hill and give us a clue which i was already thinking about. Oh how I love the kpm library and went down a Sam Fonteyn rabbit hole on yt last night, so thanks for that pointer. Oh to have you both at my annual theme tune listening evening, yes as sad and fun as it sounds in equal measure! I could get to understand marina's obsession with the ateam and to convince her to give airwolf a second chance (except for s4 with barry "cancellation" van dyke as that can do one).

[@a0z905]

Mike Post also composed the theme tune to Law & Order - dun!dun!

[@quentin2605]

Definitely The Persuaders theme by John Barry. With the theme from World in Action as a close second.

[@TheLoveOfTracks]

Shed and Buried is proper Dad TV.

[@smileydaveuk]

I'm gonna put out the greatest Theme tune creators, next to or even equivalent to Portnoy, is Jim Johnson - the main WWE Theme tune Composer. Every song perfectly represents the character

[@lakrids-pibe]

I thought for a moment you were talking about *Alan Richman* playing Reacher. He is (was) indeed the perfect specimen of masculinity. Especially his voice. May he rest in peace.

[@richardbetts816]

Alan Rickman too!

[@boosh123]

Steptoe & Son - greatest theme tune. No question.

[@evansnyman6729]

Dexter's music sets the creepy tone of the series very well... Could not find the Spotify playlist....

[@davidhills389]

Dad TV also plays to who it is that makes the buying decisions for those new, bigger more high tech televisions in the home.

[@chaipup7045]

Kick Start and Van der Valk theme tunes for me

[@lsmanley1978]

Greatest TV theme music of all time? Obviously it's Prisoner: Cell Block H!

[@MK-rt2gm]

I am in the USA and want more recent British shows. I stream Acorn and Brit Box but many shows are old. I love there mystery murder shows...

[@LFC4LIFEJEDI]

I'm slowly falling in love with Marina

[@geoffnicholson8364]

What about Ted Ashley who wrote some of the best TV themes from the 50/60s - Dangerman, Robin Hood, The Saint, The Baron, Gideon’s Way, The Buccaneers, Ivanhoe etc

[@geoffnicholson8364]

Typo Ted Astley

[@andrewmoore0]

No problem with Marina not enjoying Ahsoka and only watching one episode, but if you are going to be dismissive of it, at least get the franchise name right 😂

[@solistheonegod]

I thought I’d heard her wrong when I couldn’t see anyone in the comments mentioning that 😂

[@anonymoustosh1599]

Best theme tune: The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe from 1965

[@michaelrobson3460]

Angela by Bob James the taxi theme tune

[@82kelstar]

Have you heard the theme tune to Psych?

[@antprice9767]

How did Howard Goodall not get a mention?

[@wally6859]

Speaking of great American TV theme tunes that explain a show’s whole plot setup, I am a big fan of the jazzy theme to The Nanny. She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens Til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes What was she to do, where was she to go She was out on her fanny…..

[@FranksMuseumOfGaming]

Thanks but I'll skip the Sky sponsorship bit

[@douglasdeans2839]

Johnny English in the second movie had a steel crutch.

[@reggycide]

Don't forget Denzel in the Equalizer when talking about empathetic arsekickers!

[@prosperow]

Avengers, The Professionals :)

[@thekaratekidpartii2169]

Best theme tune: Shooting Stars.

[@MrDslacker]

One of my favorite TV themes not mentioned here is Black Beauty by Denis King from 1972 ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqaYf5p5adGNbtU ) . And then of course there are several of the Star Trek themes that are really good.

[@BATDOYLE]

What about Cheers??