Thanks in large part to Nick at Nite, practically everyone over 25 can quickly conjure the iconic theme songs for 1960s TV series The Addams Family and Green Acres, and that is the deeply impressive legacy of composer Vic Mizzy, who died of heart failure yesterday at 93. Much like his snazzy, jazzy name, Mizzy established the bright, percussive, lyrically clever, and insanely catchy template for TV theme songs that remains relevant decades later, from The Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island on through to Cheers, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory. Embedded below is the snappy Addams Family theme performed by Mizzy himself, and after the jump I’ve embedded the Green Acres tune, featuring some rather adventurous “singing” from star Eva Gabor.
With lyric-driven TV theme songs ever more an endangered species, Mizzy’s contribution to pop-culture feels that much more special. Tell me, PopWatchers, in honor of Mr. Mizzy, what are your favorite TV themes, and which current TV shows do you think would do well with an old-fashioned catchy opening tune?
Best theme songs ever. My brother who was born in 88′ had never heard the Adams’ family theme song or even new it was a show til I made him watch on hulu. Thank God for hulu. I think someone should make a mock/homage theme song for Mad Men and maybe insert a laugh track. It would be hilarious or disturbing.
That’s weird. I was born in ’88 but I’ve known about these shows since I was a toddler. Especially The Adams Family. At least he discovered them online. Viva la Hulu!
Mr. Mizzy also wrote the soundtrack music to a Bill Castle Horror film named The Nightwalker with Barbra Stanwyk. Very interesting, spooky, and atmospheric piece of music. As good as the soundtrack to the film “Psycho” easily. Signed, avid fan
This will be a reflection of my generation more than anything else, but my all time favorite TV theme song (if we’re not counting my childhood cartoons!) is the Fresh Prince theme. I love the Cosby Show intros, but I guess there’s no actual words or anything, and doesn’t the music change from season to season? As for cartoon themes….David the Gnome will always be my #1! I have much respect for the Addams family theme and Gilligan’s Island and all that, but (I hate to say it) from my biased Gen Y-or-whatever-I-am perspective…they sound cheesy and chintzy to me. Fresh Prince is kind of cheesy these days, but because I have the nostalgia, I still love it!
My fave is that line from the theme song for the Patty Duke Show (1963):
“But Patty loves to rock and roll
A hotdog makes her lose control!”
This is accompanied by a quick cut to Patty Duke attempting to eat a hot dog while shimmying wildly at a 60′s TV sitcom version of a wild teenage dance party.
At summer camp, my pal Charlie Clark would make me crack up every time he would utter, his voice edged with mock-disgust and contempt: “A HOTDOG makes her LOSE CONTROL”.
I’d have to say my favourite TV theme song was the one from WKRP in Cincinnati.
Not only did Mizzy write the Addams (PLEASE EVERYONE THERE ARE TWO D’s)family theme, he wrote the incidental music and gave each charecter there own theme (Morticia’s theme, Fester’s theme etc) Next time you watch the Addams Family – listen to the music as each charecter comes into play. MIZZY WAS A GENIUS !
oh people, don’t forget those awesome tunes from that classic Don Knotts movie, THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN. Awesome stuff, Mizzy rocked.