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PODCAST

Show Tunes

In the TV shows you know and love, music doesn"t just play pivotal roles in introducing the episodes, they shape your memory of them. Here, Stephen Steps Lowe takes a look at the stories behind the best and most-loved TV theme tunes of all time.

music music history

All Episodes

Show Tunes: Episode 30 20.05.25 - Twin Peaks

Show Tunes ·

2025/06/20

When Twin Peaks first aired in 1990, it was like nothing else on television.Today, we're taking a walk into the misty pines and uncanny shadows of the Pacific Northwest as we explore the hauntingly beautiful theme from Twin Peaks - a track that has remained one of television’s most evocative and iconic musical moments. Co-created by filmmaker David Lynch (RIP) and writer Mark Frost (also of Hill Street Blues fame), the show brought surrealism, small-town secrets, and a mystery that bordered on

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5:27

Show Tunes: Episode 29 - Dukes Of Hazard 13.06.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/06/13

Who hasn't tried to slide across the bumper or jump in the car window?... Right? RIGHT?First aired in 1979, The Dukes of Hazzard was a wild mix of action, comedy, and rural Americana, following Bo and Luke Duke - two fun-loving cousins running afoul of the corrupt Boss Hogg while outwitting the law in their iconic Dodge Charger, the General Lee. But the theme song? That’s what stuck in your head long after the credits rolled. (image RTL.de archiv)

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4:34

Show Tunes: Episode 28 - Miami Vice 05.06.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/06/06

Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice Theme, a track so influential it didn’t just define a show-it defined an era. And encouraged designer stubble. It did. The Miami Vice theme wasn’t your standard orchestral TV tune of the early '80s. Created by Czech-born composer Jan Hammer, the track broke the mold of the time by using synthesizers, electric drums, and a pulsing, moody atmosphere that was evident throughout the show's stylized crime drama aesthetic - where slo-mos and conveniently stacked fruit carts or

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5:53

Show Tunes: Episode 27 - True Blood 30.05.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/06/06

Gothic horror soap mashup theme track has one helluva biteJace Everett’s Bad Things is hot, sticky and sweaty. Much like the setting of the HBO TV show it soundtracks. Brilliant in its seedy, sexy undercurrent, this was a theme that nearly never was.

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5:29

Show Tunes Title: Episode 26 - Thundercats 16.05.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/05/16

If you arrived here and have not said ‘the words’, there’s nothing more we can do for you.Thundercats is amazing. You knew it then. You know it now. The theme is equally as iconic. This staple from the 80’s/90’s is every bit as iconic as remember. And then some. Thank you Bernie Hoffer. Thank you.

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3:57

Show Tunes: Episode 25 - Bewitched 09.05.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/05/09

You may need to revisit that magic hour between returning home from school, doing some homework and then arsing about on your bike or climbing some trees......better still ask your folks about this one. Bewitched, a sitcom that aired from 1964 to 1972, starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, a suburban witch trying to live a normal mortal life and Dick York as Darrin Stephens. The show blended domestic comedy with supernatural hi-jinks - and the theme music is unmistakable and

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4:36

Show Tunes: Episode 24 The Little House On The Prairie

Show Tunes ·

2025/05/02

We're tipping our straw hats to one of television’s most instantly recognizable - and oddly comforting - theme tunes: Little House on the Prairie.Ahh, that opening melody - you know the one. The prairie stretches wide, the sun is golden, and little Laura Ingalls is tumbling down the hill like a tiny force of nature. First aired in 1974, the show became a staple of family television throughout the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Based on the beloved books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, it told the story of the

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4:31

Show Tunes: Episode 23 - Breaking Bad by Dave Porter

Show Tunes ·

2025/04/11

Welcome to Show Tunes - the podcast where the only thing more addictive than television… is its music“This is not meth… this is music” Today we’re diving into a theme tune that’s equal parts desert dust, menace, and meth lab chic. That’s right - Breaking Bad. We’ve been away a short while…again, due to lives little bumps in the road, but are hoping you are keen to get into this one. Gas masks and Y-fronts are entirely optional.

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6:47

Show Tune: Episode 22 - The Addams Family 28.03.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/03/28

Today, we’re snapping our fingers to one of the catchiest, quirkiest, and most instantly recognizable theme songs in television history - The Addams FamilyAnd really, what a tune it is! The Addams Family theme was written in 1964 by Vic Mizzy, a composer with a talent for, how should we say…. writing ear worms.

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6:49

Show Tunes - Episode 21: Only Fools And Horses 21.03.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/03/21

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on one of the most beloved and instantly recognizable theme tunes in British television historyIf you are of a certain vintage, let’s say above the age of 27, it’s fair to assume you’ve watched a fair number of Only Fools And Horses episodes before they became memes, you’ll have seen the sex dolls, the bar fall, the batman and robin run, the chandelier, the Dave / Rodney paradox, the mop handle.. you’ll know the phrases Mange Tout, Mange Tout, During The War,

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4:29

Show Tunes: Episode 20 - Murder She Wrote

Show Tunes ·

2025/02/28

This week we're taking a petticoat-ed look back at an '80s classic. I know, I know, believe me, we feel old too.The understated yet instantly recognizable theme song for Murder, She Wrote, composed by John Addison, is not to be confused with any of the tunes you may hear while waiting patiently for you go on a ride at a rather famous theme park. The series debuted in September of 1984 running for twelve seasons and 264 episodes on CBS plus four TV movies all starring Angela Lansbury as "Jessica

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6:47

Show Tunes: Episode 19 - The A-Team (Mike Post) 21.02.25

Show Tunes ·

2025/02/21

If you have a problem, and you can afford it, we've got a great podcast episode....Today, we’re going to talk about a tune that’s burned into the brain of anyone who grew up in the 80s or even heard about this iconic show through pop culture. You know the one. That heartbeat-thumping, action-packed, and undeniably memorable theme from The A-Team! So, if you love it when a plan comes together, or need to drink laced milk before a flight, let’s break down why the A-Team theme is still one of the

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6:09

Show Tunes: Episode 18 - The O.C.

Show Tunes ·

2025/02/14

What. A. Tune. Phantom Planet - CaliforniaToday, we’re diving into a song that defined a generation, launched a cultural phenomenon, and might just be the anthem of your teen years… or, if you’re like me, your adult years too. We're talking about California the theme from The O.C.! Now, before you grumble about this being an easy pick, please remember that this song was so catchy, it really should have come with a health warning and practically became the fifth main character on the show.

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7:16

Show Tunes - Episode 17 - Cheers “Where Everybody...

Show Tunes ·

2025/02/07

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.."If you’ve ever found yourself humming “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, you’ll know just how special this song is to a bunch of people, on both sides of the Atlantic. So, we’re going to unpack not only the song but sip on the little bit of magic behind its creation and why it should remain on the list of best TV themes ever--- for, well….ever. (image: NBC archive)

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6:17

Show Tunes: Episode 16 - Dawson's Creek: I Don't Want...

Show Tunes ·

2025/01/31

The track wasn’t just a catchy hit in 1996 — there's more going on here than just a tune that gets stuck in your head.Alright, let’s dive in. The song we're talking about is "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole, and it's tied so perfectly to Dawson’s Creek that it’s hard to imagine the show without it. Try, go one, picture Dawson’s massive forehead and curtains hairstyle with any other song. It may be fun, but it is not right, is it? First, let’s consider the way Dawson’s Creek changed the game

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7:31

Show Tunes: Episode 15 24.01.25 - I'll Be There For...

Show Tunes ·

2025/01/24

Fountains, Umbrellas, Handclaps and double-takes it is of course, Friends.... ....because, if we’re being honest, we could have kicked things off with this one but opted against it, as we felt it was too on the nose to begin a series with. The theme song to Friends, “I’ll Be There for You” by the LA alternative duo, The Rembrandts, is widely considered one of the best TV show themes ever made, and for good reason. Aside from the fact that you can probably rattle off the lyrics verbatim, I’ll Be

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7:56

Show Tunes: Episode 14 – Baywatch: I’m Always Here

Show Tunes ·

2025/01/17

Today we're taking a sun-soaked trip down memory lane to explore the theme song of one of the most iconic shows of the '90s......... Baywatch.Premiering in 1989, the show quickly became a global sensation. It’s known for its beautiful beach setting, the heroism of the lifeguards, and launched the careers of its main cast members. But no matter where you were in the world, if you heard that theme song, and the opening drum roll, you knew exactly what you were in for. The theme song itself is

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7:22

Show Tunes - Episode 13: Malcolm In The Middle by The...

Show Tunes ·

2025/01/10

Today, we’re diving into one of the most iconic TV theme songs of all time: the opening theme to Malcolm in the Middle.You know the one— it’s upbeat, catchy, rebellious, and practically impossible to forget. You can already hear it in your head right now, can't you? This barnstorming theme, composed by the legendary alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants, isn’t just another TV intro – it is doorway to the late 90s, early noughties. Boiled down to just 30 seconds there’s not an inch of fat to be

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7:17

Show Tunes: Episode 12 - Game Of Thrones by Ramin...

Show Tunes ·

2024/12/20

The final Show Tunes of 2024 is a proper classic The theme to Game of Thrones is one that you could easily guess in a pub quiz, even if there’s a rabble spouting of nonsense at the table next to you, and if you’re likely to wince when someone says ‘Winter is coming’ in a faux Northern accent. That is to say that the theme is one of most recognizable and iconic television scores ever created - and its creation is as intricate and thoughtful as the show itself. Ramin Djawadi, the composer, had

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Show Tunes: Episode 11 - Thunderbirds by Barry Gray

Show Tunes ·

2024/12/13

The Thunderbirds theme, composed by Barry Gray, is one of the most iconic pieces of television music ever......instantly recognizable for its bold, heroic orchestration. First airing in 1965, the British sci-fi series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson became a beloved classic, with its blend of puppetry, futuristic technology, and action-packed plots. Gray's composition, featuring sweeping brass fanfares and cinematic orchestration, perfectly captured the high-stakes world of the show, adding

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