The Mayhem Critic
Aloha, my fellow readers. It is I, the great James Stryker and I'm back with another hilarious chapter of The Mayhem Critic. When we last left off, Sean the Mayhem Critic finished off another Mayhem Critic Christmas by reviewing Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House, a movie that he dreads reviewing. Today, we're all in for another treat as our favorite residential movie critic brings us another Top 11 countdown. And it's the Top 11 Nostalgic Themes of All Time. Which one of these TV show themes were the catchiest? Which one of these themes tend to get stuck in our heads? Which ones are the most memorable? Well, let's find out in the newest chapter of The Mayhem Critic. Enjoy.
P.S.: I do not own anything involved in this story. All rights and references belong to their respective sources.
Episode 232
The Top 11 Nostalgic TV Show Themes of All Time
Today's episode starts with a shortened version of the Mayhem Critic intro before the new intro is shown. After the opening ends, we open with our favorite residential movie critic Sean J. Archer, a.k.a. the Mayhem Critic, who is seen sitting on his couch in his man cave as he prepares his signature introduction.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Sean the Mayhem Critic, the critic that rips movies a new one." Sean said before he starts talking about today's topic. "Don't you just love TV show themes?" Sean asked.
(We cut to a montage of different shows like Ducktales, The King of Queens, Seinfeld, Animaniacs and Batman: The Animated Series while "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy starts playing in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) What is it about these theme songs that tend to get stuck in our minds? They were a huge part of our childhood and every time when we watch a show, they tend to get catchy as hell. It's like these songs tend to get hidden in the deepest, darkest corners of our minds and they're waiting for the right moment to pop out of our minds and ruin our concentration. So today, I will be paying tribute to some of the best nostalgic theme songs of all time. Which ones are the catchiest? Which ones left an impact on us? Which ones are the ones that we couldn't get out of our heads? Let's tune in and find out.
"So, let's take a look at the Nostalgic TV Show Themes of All Time. Why Top 11? Because I like to kick things up a notch. This is the Top 11 Nostalgic TV Show Themes of All Time." Sean said.
(We cut to a title card that reads "The Top 11 Nostalgic TV Show Themes of All Time" while "Requiem" by Mozart plays in the background)
Number 11: X-Men
Sean: (Narrating) How can you not get hyped up from hearing the theme song? After you hear the narrator say, "Previously on X-Men", you get that awesome theme song with some pretty awesome guitar work. And trust men, when you hear this theme, it makes you want to kick some ass. (Cut to the intro to X-Men '97) And I am so glad that they brought the theme back in X-Men '97 and used it for the intro and the end credits. It makes for a very great theme song and it's the perfect reminder to let us know that X-Men is a kick-ass show.
(Interlude)
Number 10: Law & Order
Sean: (Narrating) Talk about an iconic theme. Whenever you hear the theme song to Law & Order, you're in for a real treat and composer Mike Post gave us one of the best theme songs of all time and many different renditions of the theme like Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Trial by Fire. Now, my personal favorite rendition of the theme would have to be the original's theme and SVU's theme. And let's not forget the updated version of the theme when they brought back Law & Order on February 24, 2022. Yeah, a day before my 30th birthday. Now, talk about an early birthday present. Whenever I hear this theme play while I watch the show, I start bobbing my head and humming along to it. Hell, I think it's the fact that this theme made us want to tune in to the show every night. With that said, Law & Order is the perfect theme for the number 10 spot.
(Interlude)
Number 9: ThunderCats and SilverHawks
Sean: (Narrating) Okay, so I know I'm cheating a bit, but come on! These two shows have a great song. Not only these two songs are great, but the opening is great with some pretty good animation. Hell, I get hyped up every time I hear one of these songs play. From the amazing guitar work to the singers and the 80s synthesizers with some great animation. Plus, SilverHawks has a space cowboy playing a guitar. Yeah, where was that in ThunderCats? These opening theme songs did an excellent job at hyping us up, even to the point that the opening to the show was way better than the show. With great animation and great music, ThunderCats and SilverHawks is the perfect combo, coming in at number 9.
(Interlude)
Number 8: DragonBall Z
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, you can't talk about DragonBall Z without talking about it's theme songs. Now, there were different versions of the theme song. You have the Japanese version of the song which is this one…
(Cut to the Japanese opening of DragonBall Z while the theme song "Cha-La Head-Cha-La")
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, how hyped up do you get from hearing that song? Now, let's take a look at the Funimation/Saban Dub that we all grew up watching on Toonami.
(We cut to the North American intro, which is the Funimation/Saban Dub versions of the show and the theme song "Rock the Dragon" plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Hell, yeah! Now, this is the theme song that definitely got us hyped up and it was also our introduction to anime. This was my introduction to anime. Okay, I lied. Pokémon was my first introduction to anime.
"Same." Brian said.
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, which theme would you prefer, the Japanese version or the North American version? Let's just say that the North American theme got us all hyped up and ready to see Goku beating the ever-loving crap out of Vegeta or the Ginyu Force or Frieza or Cell or Majin Buu's fat pink ass, this is the theme that kicks ass. It's fast-paced with it's kickass guitar work and memorable lyrics. Love the show and love the song. DragonBall Z will always be awesome.
(Interlude)
Number 7: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, what can I say about this theme? It is catchy-as-hell. Whenever the show starts and you see the intro and right when the song starts, you couldn't help but to sing along to the song. It's that catchy and you can thank Will Smith for that. Just don't get slapped in the face for getting the lyrics wrong. It has a great beat, you can listen to it over and over again and you got yourself one hell of a song, coming in at number 7.
(Interlude)
Number 6: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
Sean: (Narrating) As a kid growing up watching Power Rangers, I'm a huge fan of the show and I'm still am till this day. Aside from seeing the awesome Megazord battles that I always look forward to watching, I always look forward to hearing the song whenever the show came on or when I'm watching it on DVD. But yeah, it's a cool song with some very memorable lyrics and a fast pace with some great guitar work. Love the show and the song, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers comes in at the number 6 spot.
(Interlude)
Number 5: Transformers
Sean: (Narrating) Here's a theme song that's pretty memorable. Yes, the guitar work is great and the animation was cool, but the really awesome thing about the song was hearing the robotic voice say…
Robotic Voice: Robots in disguise!
"God, that sent shivers down my spine just hearing that." Sean said.
Robotic Voice: Robots in disguise!
Sean: (Narrating) We did get a pretty awesome rendition of the theme from Lion for the 1986 animated movie. But when the 2007 live-action film came out, they didn't have the song in the movie. What the hell?! Instead, we get What I've Done by Linkin Park… alright, that song kicked ass, but we still could've had the Transformers theme. Hopefully, the movie Transformers One has the theme. That would be excellent marketing. It's that awesome. This is a theme song that's more than meets the ear, coming in at number 5.
(Interlude)
Number 4: Any Steven Spielberg Cartoon
Sean: (Narrating) Any of the shows produced by Steven Spielberg's company Amblin Entertainment. You know, growing up in the 90s, these shows tend to have some of the catchiest themes of all time. When the revival of Warner Bros. animation came back in 1990, we've gotten some of the best themes like Tiny Toon Adventures, which the theme was composed by Bruce Broughton. But we're not gonna talk about Bruce Broughton, we're gonna talk about the man who really hit it big in the 90s. And that man happens to be composer Richard Stone. He was brought on by Steven Spielberg to do some of the music and songs for some of the Warner Bros. cartoons that he produced. And the rest was history. Richard Stone and his team brought us some of the catchiest theme songs that hit the TV. You probably remember this theme…
(The intro to Taz-Mania is shown)
Singer: Down in Taz-Mania, come to Taz-Mania.
Singers: We mean YOU!
Sean: (Narrating) What about this one?
(The intro to Animaniacs is shown)
Yakko, Wakko and Dot: (Sings) It's time for Animaniacs, and we're zany to the max.
Sean: (Narrating) How about this one?
(The intro to Freakazoid is shown)
Singer: Super teen extraordinaire, Freakazoid Freakazoid!
Sean: (Narrating) And let's not forget this catchy theme…
(The intro to Pinky and the Brain is shown)
Singer: They're Pinky and the Brain. Yes, Pinky and the Brain. One is a genius, the other's insane.
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, Richard Stone and his team did ALL of the music for these shows. Even the songs that make you want to learn. And yes, I grew up watching Histeria and learned about some of the historical figures and Animaniacs taught us about the continents that you try to sing it, you get tongue-tied and of course, the catchy Monkey Song and Yakko's Universe Song. Yep, "The Great Stonini", who he was also known as, was a big part of our childhood with his music, until in 2001, Stone passed away from pancreatic cancer. Stone left a legacy of great music behind and these incredible, nostalgic toons with great music will live on deserving a spot in number four.
(Interlude)
Number 3: Any Schneider's Bakery Show
Sean: (Narrating) Any Schneider's Bakery show. Just like the Warner Bros. cartoons produced by Steven Spielberg, the shows produced by Dan Schneider were pretty catchy as hell. With shows like Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious and Sam & Cat. Every time they start playing and when you hear the song playing, you couldn't help but sing along to it. I guess you could thank Dan Schneider for giving us some catchy tunes. Let's not talk about the other thing that's going on with him. These tunes come in at the number three spot.
(Interlude)
Number 2: Arthur
Sean: (Narrating) Arthur…
(The poster for the 1981 Dudley Moore comedy Arthur is shown while "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross starts playing)
"Wrong Arthur, buddy." Sean said.
(Cut to the intro to Arthur while the theme song "Believe in Yourself" by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Talk about a song that's pretty memorable from our childhood. The theme song to Arthur is considered to be one of the best songs from our childhood and yet they managed to make it into one of the most catchiest theme songs ever. What I love about this song is the Caribbean/Reggae influence to it, not bad for a Canadian-made cartoon. For those of you who know this or some of you who didn't know, the show's main title theme was sung by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Yep, that's right. Bob Marley's children Ziggy, Stephen, Sharon and Cedelia performed the song. I've found that out when I was young and my mom is a Bob Marley fan and since I have the Arthur and Friends: The First Almost Real Not Live CD (Or Tape) album from when I was seven years old and I still have it. With it's catchy Reggae tune, I'm pretty sure that this song will never leave our minds.
"And before we get to the number one Nostalgic Theme of All Time, here are a few runners-up." Sean said.
Runners Up
Batman: The Animated Series
Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers
Hannah Montana
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Superman: The Animated Series
Bonkers
Gargoyles
Earthworm Jim
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
Night Court
(Interlude)
Sean: (V/O) And the number one nostalgic theme of all time is…
Number 1: Ducktales
Jeff Pescetto: Ducktales (woo-ooh!)
Sean: (Narrating) Oh, my God. How catchy and nostalgic is this song? When you hear this song, IT WILL NEVER LEAVE! It has tormented us over the years.
"I'm telling you, it'll never go away. You're working on a steamy one-shot involving Tate Black and Holly Jonas and right when you're about to write the part where Tate is about to hit his climax while banging Holly, then all you're thinking about is…" Sean said.
Jeff Pescetto: Ducktales (woo-ooh!)
"You're busy playing Cyberpunk 2077 and Keanu Reeves is following you around and talking to you. Then all you're thinking about is…" Sean said.
Jeff Pescetto: Ducktales (woo-ooh!)
"You're busy wondering what the meaning of life and you're wondering why this is a great big universe and we're all really puny. Who the hell am I kidding, ALL YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IS…!" Sean yelled out.
Jeff Pescetto: Ducktales (woo-ooh!)
"This damn song will never leave! It will never leave!" Sean exclaimed. "You might think you're over it. You probably know some of the lyrics of the song. Hell, I know some of the lyrics of the song. Um, is it: "Life is like a hurricane, here in Duckburg. Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes, it's a duck blur. Let's solve a mystery or rewrite history. Ducktales, woo-oo, everyday that I've been making…" Oh, shit."
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, this song will never leave and when the 2017 reboot came out, the song came back as well. This show kept us coming back for more because of the song, coming in at number one.
"And that is all for the Top 11 nostalgic themes. If there's any theme song that I didn't mention on the list, then feel free to comment. I'm Sean the Mayhem Critic and I'll see you guys next time." Sean said before he leaves his man cave.
And that is all for the Top 11 Countdown for The Mayhem Critic. So, what did you think of the list? Do you like my choices? If there's any theme song that I didn't mention, then let me know in the reviews. Next time on The Mayhem Critic, Sean the Mayhem Critic reviews the 1987 science fiction comedy Innerspace, the only Joe Dante film to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but how well does this fantastic voyage hold up? After the review of Innerspace, I will finally review the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Don't forget to review this story, please don't be rude and no troll comments, add this story to your favorites and follow it for future updates. Also, I've picked the next theme month, and it's going to be Sequelitis Month: The Revenge. Here's what I've picked for Sequelitis Month: The Revenge:
The Top 11 Best Sequels
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The Top 11 Worst Sequels
Rocky V
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
If there's a movie for Sequelitis Month: The Revenge that you would like to do a co-review on, feel free to PM me if you're interested. I'll see you guys next time. Till next time, my fellow readers.