In order to make The Top 50, a TV Theme had to earn 152 votes or more.
These next five shows fell into the immediate "Runners Up" position, earning between 151 votes (for "MR.ED") and 133 votes (for "PETTICOAT JUNCTION.")
Be sure to check out all the others in between.
(We'll continue to feature "Extras" throughout the countdown ... so be sure to check back every hour today between 6 am and 9 pm ...
And tomorrow between 9 am and 6 pm to see ALL the Winners!)
MR. ED (#27 in 2013)
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course, that is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed. TV theme songs don’t come any catchier than this one … and it finished at #27 back in 2013. (It has fallen a few notches this time around.)
SESAME STREET (this was an “Extra” in 2013)
As you’ll see, several children’s shows have been nominated and earning votes in this year’s countdown. One of the best (and longest lasting ... they're celebrating their 51st Season this year on HBO Max!) has been Sesame Street, the PBS juggernaut that first launched in 1969 (and has remained a television staple ever since.)
Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar The Grouch, Elmo, Grover, Snuffy and many, many others have become part of our collective families as a result. (Crossovers to characters from The Muppets was a semi-regular thing, too!)
A HUGE plus here is that the writing and acting worked and appealed at both the child and the adult level. (I found it THOROUGHLY entertaining when watching it with my kids in their younger years.)
And the music was top notch as well. (Several MAJOR music stars guested on the program over the years ... and the song “Sing” even became a Top 5 single for The Carpenters!)
The opening theme earned 145 of your votes … not enough for Top 50 status, perhaps, but CERTAINLY worth an “Honorable Mention.” (By the way, THE MUPPET SHOW scored 122 votes as well!)
THE DUKES OF HAZZARD (#35 in 2013)
I never watched a single episode of this television series …
But I sure did love the clever theme song opening …
Especially the line “They keep showin’ my hands and not my face on TV.”
The song went on to become both a pop and country hit for country superstar Waylon Jennings.
RAWHIDE (this one was an “Extra” in 2013)
Clint Eastwood first rose to fame playing ranch hand Rowdy Yates in this popular western that ran for eight seasons on CBS.
The theme was revived in the first Blues Brothers movie for the bar scene where the band played behind chicken wire to protect themselves from the crowd.
Crooner Frankie Laine sang the TV title track … and Sheb Wooley (“The Purple People Eater”) played Pete Nolan.
PETTICOAT JUNCTION (this one was an “Extra” in 2013)
There are certain images that just never leave you …
Such as the three Bradley Sisters popping up out of their bath in the Hooterville Water Tower!
Another spin-off from “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Aunt Pearl (Bea Benaderet) and Uncle Joe ran The Shady Rest Hotel. Cross-overs with “Green Acres” also occurred throughout the series’ seven year run. This one missed The Top 50 the last time around ... and JUST missed making it this time around, coming in at #55.
The countdown continues at 9 am ... See you then!!!
