Believe it or Not - The Greatest American Hero Theme

They just don't make awesome TV Show theme songs like they used to!

I'd like to buy the world a Coke

"Buy the World a Coke" Hilltop Coca-Cola commercial first aired in the USA in 1971.

The commercial features a multicultural collection of teenagers, portraying a positive message of hope and love.

The jingle proved so popular it was recorded as a single by The Hillside Singers, and later by The New Seekers as a full length song "I'd like to Teach the World to Sing" with all Coke references dropped. The song was a hit and both groups had success with the single.

 

In the mid seventies, another version of the commercial was filmed 

for the Christmas holiday season.

Might all seem abit hearts and flowers for some. 

But I reckon the world could do with a bit of hearts and flowers at the moment.

And besides that, I like it when someone buys me a Coke and keeps me company.

 I like it very much. Coke is it.

Big M - TV Ads

Image by Scott Newett Photography for Big M.

Big M flavoured milk was established in Melton, Victoria 1978.

The brand has gained popularity through the years with television ad campaigns,
with some of the ads featuring music by great Australian bands.

Here's a look back at some of the more popular Big M Ad's...

Late 70's 

Song - 70's Big M jingle

I love the design of the old cartons. I think they should bring them back!

The 80's

Song - Friday on my Mind by The Easy Beats

(You may need to turn audio up abit. Sound is not great on this clip.)

The 90's

Song - When the River Runs Dry by Hunters and Collectors

2010

Song - Picture Frames by Georgia Fair
One of the newer ads for Big M that has a great old school vibe.

Many thanks to Scott Newett for allowing me to share his work for the opening pic.

Mork & Mindy 1978

Mork & Mindy ran for four seasons from 1978 - 1982. 

The series was a spin off from the sitcom 'Happy Days'.
The character 'Mork' appeared in a Season 5 'Happy Days' episode, and proved popular enough with audiences to spawn a series of it's own.

I have always loved the opening theme tune for the show composed by Perry Botkin Jr, 

& I loved Pam Dawber in the role of Mindy. (Incidentally, she still looks as good today as she did in 1978.)

 
Na nu Na nu

Poll - Bewtiched vs I Dream of Jeanie

I could never decide which of these two shows I enjoyed watching more.

Both had animated opening credits with catchy theme tunes, &

beautiful leading ladies with supernatural talents causing chaos at every turn.

Samantha had to deal with her mother Endora, & evil cousin Serena from time to time, as did Jeanie with her evil twin sister - Jeanie ( I always loved her green outfit!) and the episodes she popped up in were my favourites.

Still, I can't decide. 
So, I throw the poll over to you.
Which was your favourite growing up?

CHiPs

Jon and Ponch cruising on their Kawasaki Motorcycles 

as officers of the California Highway Patrol.

Great opening theme with a killer disco beat.

Turn up your sound!

The Bionic Woman

The Bionic Woman is an American television series, which starred the beautiful Lindsay Wagner.  It aired for three seasons between 1976 and 1978 as a spin off from The Six Million Dollar Man. 

 found here

Wagner stars as tennis pro Jaime Sommers, and an old flame of 
Steve Austin (Lee Majors), The Six Million Dollar Man. 

 found here

During a skydiving outing together, Jaime's parachute malfunctions and she suffers critical injuries. Steve pleads with his boss Oscar to save Jaime's life using Bionics, commiting her to become an operative for the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) a branch of the CIA, as he was, if the Bionic's are successful. 
Oscar agrees and the Bionics team rebuild her.

 found here

As the result of Jaime's Bionics, she has amplified hearing in her right ear, a greatly strengthened right arm, and stronger and enhanced legs which enable her to run at up to 60 miles per hour.

Iconic Bionic noise...

bionic noise

Clip of the TV series opening...

The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman 
were simultaneously cancelled in 1978.
Both TV series were finally released on DVD in late 2010.


Three made for TV movies were also made reuniting the cast:


The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man & The Bionic Woman 1987


Bionic Showdown 1989


Bionic Everafter 1994

found here



Merchandise

The TV Series spawned it's own line of toys (as had The Six Million Dollar Man).

The line consisted of two Bionic Dolls (one Jaime's running tracksuit, the other in her blue jumpsuit), Boardgame, a lunchbox & drink bottle, & a vinyl record/story book.

Boardgame...

 found here

Lunchbox and drink bottle...

Vinyl record and storybook...

found here

My sister Jenny was a huge fan of The Bionic Woman back in the day.

She had the Jaime Sommers/Bionic Woman doll...

 found here

 and my brothers both had the Steve Austin/Six Million Dollar Man doll.
(I also remember a Johnny Strong doll too....LOL, sorry guys...)

 found here

Great TV Shows. 
I may have to get seasons 1-3 of The Bionic Woman on DVD 
for my sister this Christmas, and hunt down 
one of those lunch boxes for her too : )

Growing Pains Theme Song, Daughtry & Neon Trees

'Show me that smile again, Oooohhh show me that smile...'

Ahhh, this takes me back! What a great TV theme song this was.

Growing Pains ran from 1985-1992, and the shows theme song 

'As long as we've got eachother' featured in the intro of each season, 

though in several different versions.

This version by B.J. Thomas & Jennifer Warnes is my favourite...

And it seems I'm not the only one who fondly remembers this tune.

Whilst pottering round on YouTube (as you do), I found two other 

versions of the theme song.

The first is by Dane Cook (Comedian & actor) and Chris Daughtry 
(lead singer & guitarist of rock band Daughtry) hamming it up...

And the second is by rock band Neon Trees, discussing what they loved about the 80's, and belting out abit of the Growing Pains theme for iheartradio.
Love it!

I love me abit of 80's reminiscing.

They just don't make theme songs like they used to.

Magnum PI (and Maybelline)

Whilst sitting through a long line of TV adverts recently,
I heard a familiar tune during a Maybelline mascara ad - 

'Hey man, that's the Magnum theme!' I cried.

Yes indeed, the good people at Maybelline dusted off the classic
80's TV show's theme tune, reworked it slightly and added it to
'The Falsies' Volume Express Mascara ad...and I like it!

Here is the Maybelline ad, and the awesome original opening of
Magnum PI in all it's glory.

Enjoy!

Minder

Minder is a British comedy-drama series which ran from 1979 - 1994.
Arthur Daley (George Cole), a small time conman, hires former boxer Terry McCann (Dennis Waterman) to be his 'minder', so Terry can protect him from other small time crooks.

One of my brothers, David, is a huge Minder fan, and he still catches it these days when re runs are on the box. I don't remember much about the series itself from when I was young, other than that it had a really cool theme song.

And I still think it's one of the best TV theme songs around.

'I Could Be So Good For You' was written in 1979 by Patricia Waterman and Gerard Kenny, and sung by Dennis Waterman, star of the TV series.

The song was a huge success and reached no. 3 on the UK charts in 1980.

Enjoy!

American Pickers

found here

This is one of my new fave TV Shows.

Mike Wolfe & Frank Fritz are the 'American Pickers'.

Their job: to locate and hunt through junk piles, abandoned barns, & neglected garages for antiques, collectibles & memorabilia. 

A trusty van & the open road is their office, while the gorgeous Danielle Colby-Cushman holds the fort at home base, Antique Archeology , Mike's business in LeClaire, Iowa.

They come across some amazing finds and equally amazing people.

Mike & Frank are so great to watch together. They love their work & their humour and enthusiasm are infectious.

A must see for any vintage hunter and gatherer.

Currently on Wed nights 9.30pm on 73 (Melbourne, Australia)

Mike (left) & Frank (right)
found here

Beverly Hills 90210

Ah yes, that infamous guitar intro, Dah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah ching ching - with Brandon's fist gestures. The theme was my ringtone for some time. (Has currently been swapped for True Blood's.)

Seasons 1 - 3 were my favourites, whilst the gang were still at West Beverly High.

Highlights for me were Brenda and Dylan's ever stormy relationship, the Spring Dance, Donna getting together with David much to Kelly's dismay, David's dance moves and later recording contract ('You're so precious to me, am I precious to you...?'), Emily Valentine, Andrea forever lusting after Brandon, the camping trip, summer episodes at the Beverly Hills Beach Club, Steve's shirts, and of course Jim & Cindy Walsh. Who could forget Jim's singing at the Karaoke night at the Peach Pit?

Diff'rent Strokes - Awesome TV Tunes

Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,

What might be right for you, may not be right for some,

A man is born, he's a man of means,

Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans,

But they got, Diff'rent Strokes,

It takes, Diff'rent Strokes,

It takes, Diff'rent Strokes to move the world,

Everybody's got a special kind of story,

Everybody finds a way to shine,

It don't matter that you got, not alot, 

So what,

They'll have theirs, You'll have yours and I'll have mine,

And together we'll be fine...

Because it takes, Diff'rent Strokes to move the world,

Yes it does,

It takes, Diff'rent Strokes to move the world.

Try and not sing that for the rest of the day!!