Top 20 Game Show Themes
20 Tic Tac Dough (CBS-Syn), Hal Hidey 1978
This theme is one of those "immortals". (And there's plenty more where this came from.) Wink Martindale really made this show go. And who can forget Thom McKee's reign of terror, taking home $312,000+ over his long stay?
19 To Tell The Truth (NBC), Score Productions 1990
This tune's actually much older, having first debuted on the 1969-1978 syndicated version. And it's one of the few game show themes that have lyrics. A timeless classic. If and when Pearson decides to revive Truth, they should use this theme. They really have no choice.
18 Bullseye (Syn), Hal Hidey 1980
I actually nearly forgot all about this one. But when new cues surfaced (which I immediately added to my collection), I rediscovered this Hidey classic. It seems to me that everything that Hidey put out was a classic--with the exceptions of Strike It Rich (1986), which I feel is feh, and Break the Bank '85, and that's because I can't remember how that one went. Oh well.
17 Scrabble (NBC), Ray and Marc Ellis 1984
The first of two Ellis themes to appear on this list, Scrabble is this high for a simple reason: longevity. Scrabble ran from 1984-1991, cementing its place in the classic themes pantheon.
16 Sale of the Century (NBC), Ray and Marc Ellis 1983
The second of the Ellis themes is another classic. To be honest, I'm more partial to the 1986 re-record, but that's just me. Besides, I believe that the original version is the better version. (THEME WARNING!)
15 Classic Concentration (NBC), Stanley Blits 1987
What's with all the NBC shows in this part of the list, anyway? This theme was catchy, light, spirited--in other words, a real game show theme. Originally the ticket cue on Body Language.
14 $25,000/$100,000 Pyramid (CBS-Syn), Bob Cobert 1982
Another classic, the first Cobert theme on the list just makes the top 15. Longevity helped this one, too, as the Pyramid enjoyed a long run as both the $25,000 and $100,000 varieties--the $100K version lasting until 1991.
13 Double Dare '76 (CBS)/Card Sharks '78 (NBC), Score Prod. 1976
The first theme on the list to be used by two shows on different networks. Now be honest, how many of you actually clapped along to this? (Well...not me...that's silly...right?)
12 Hot Potato (NBC), Hal Hidey 1984
True story: when my roommate's marketing class last fall needed music for a t***-s***esque sketch they were doing, what music did they use? This one. (Not really--they used the ending cue.) Goes to show that game show music can serve alternate purposes.
11 Break the Bank (ABC), Stu Levin 1976
OK, now how many of you knew that there was a 1976 version? (Not me.) This one is the only game show theme that Stu Levin produced, and it's a good one. It's very 70s-sounding. It's a shame that BtB didn't last longer, or maybe we'd all know about the 1976 version, instead of having to deal with the 1985 version.
10 Go (NBC), Bob Cobert 1983
This is the first Cobert-written piece in the top 10, and it's a theme that's been rolling around in the recesses of my brain for a long time--in fact, it was from 1986 (when CBN re-ran Go) until last year, when Game Show Network began reruns of Go. It may be repetitive, but with two versions used at the same time during the show (the closing theme has a more mellow feel to it), this one's worthy of being in the top 10.
9 The Joker's Wild--"The Savers" (CBS), Perrer & Kingsley 1972
With apologies to those who wanted the Hal Hidey 1977 "Whistle" theme here, again, you can't beat the original. Used in the 1969 pilot as well as the 1972-75 CBS series, this theme was used when Joker was revived in 1977--because, I guess, the Hidey music wasn't ready yet. It's a shame that this theme wasn't used throughout the entire run of Joker--if this theme was used in the 80s (when synthesized music was huge), this theme could be a lot higher on the list. Really.
8 Wheel of Fortune (Syn.), Merv Griffin 1989
Yeah, it breaks with my belief that the first was the best. But I just liked this version better.
7 Jeopardy! (Syn), Merv Griffin 1984
Why Sony had to junk this one for their new, lounge-lizard piano version I'll never know. Ever hear the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? I doubt anyone at Sony has.
6 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (NBC), Edd Kalehoff 1984
Another poor soap opera victim, like Break the Bank '76. It was a great idea that should've lasted longer. But the theme lives on--it's part of the Price Is Right library.
5 Match Game '7x (CBS), Score Productions 1973
Keep the 1990 fiesta-type version. I don't want it. (But it's in my library.) More proof that the original is still the best. (And no, I didn't plan having two Match Game themes together. It just worked out that way.)
4 Family Feud (ABC), Score Productions 1976
Probably the only game show theme to be used as music on a different show on a different network at the same time. For 5 points, name the other show. (It was The Price Is Right on CBS.) A little Goodson-Todman cross-promotion, perhaps? Anyway, the Feud theme is still a great piece. Still lives on as the Grand Game cue on Price (the tail-end, anyway).
3 Password Plus (NBC), Score Productions 1978
Password Plus was both my introduction to the Password franchise and my first and only opportunity to see the great Allen Ludden work. Had seen P+ as a tot, and was reintroduced when my cable system at home picked up GSN, and this was part of the Password Four. I relived my youth on weekends when this show was on. If I had known that GSN would lose the airing rights, I'd have taped P+ a lot. (Now that the G-T library is back, I'm taping a bit--I've already got the premiere week.) The theme is truly deserving of the #3 spot--and it's been declared the theme for You Don't Know Jack, one of my proposed game shows.
2 $10,000/$20,000 Pyramid (CBS-ABC), Bob Cobert 1973
The original Pyramid just misses the #1 spot (it was that close). Probably Bob Cobert's finest work. (Really.)
1 The Price Is Right (CBS), Sheila Cole 1972
Journalists need to confirm their information before they report anything. (Contrary to popular belief.) And thus, after some digging, I found out that sure enough, Cole wrote this one...which makes this all the more a classic (plus, 27 years on the air doesn't hurt, either!).

To return to Ryan's Game Show Fan Page, click here.