Sign in

Soundtracks to Copaganda

@copshowtunes.bsky.social
28 followers 16 following 302 posts

Theme music from police procedurals, mystery series, and adjacent TV programs, occasionally with commentary.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Soundtracks to Copaganda
Movies Silently @moviessilently.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Regarding the AI skin people are calling an “actress” Studio types would LOVE this to succeed, so the skin is being featured and anthropomorphized in the mainstream press. Remember, movie producers left money on the table pre-1910 and refused to credit movie actors
426174
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The theme music is paint-by-numbers workplace-comedy stuff, inoffensive and forgettable.
011
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
French's good-ole-boy police chief and Holliday's city-bred, formally-trained sergeant intentionally echoed Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, except this time played for comedy and with the edges filed off the racism. Surprisingly, this formula somehow lasted two seasons.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The sitcom CARTER COUNTRY premiered in the fall of 1977, about nine months into its namesake's presidential administration. Victor French and Kene Holliday starred as a small-town Georgia (white) police chief and (Black) sergeant dealing with changing race relations www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZf5...
youtube.com
CARTER COUNTRY opening credits ABC sitcom
YouTube video by Gilmore Box
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Colt Seavers' assistant Jody was a breakout role for Heather Thomas, who sold a lot of swimsuit posters in those years (including to me), and who seems to spend a lot of her time fishing these days if her Bluesky account is any indication.
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
The theme song, "The Unknown Stuntman," was sung by Lee himself, and this is another case of a show where the tone was light enough to sustain a theme song with lyrics in an otherwise lyric-averse age of crime TV.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
THE FALL GUY (1981-1985) was apparently conceived as a star vehicle for Lee Majors' trademark wince, for which his role as a stuntman-cum-skiptracer provided opportunities aplenty. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj9e...
youtube.com
The Fall Guy intro (1982)
YouTube video by jinglescollection
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I will nearly always choose 5/4 over 4/4 for a spy show; it's usually much better at conveying suspense. (GET SMART is an exception, because you want it to be as square as possible.)
010
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The actual theme music doesn't kick in until about 1:45 in this long opening. The arrangement here is in 5/4 like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE; sometimes they used a 4/4 version like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM5g...
youtube.com
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
120
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I've been away from this beat for too long, let's come back with THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjmO...
youtube.com
THE MAN FROM UNCLE Season One Long Opening
YouTube video by lp45cdwoman
120
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Desilu decided that audiences weren't getting it, but that Mike Connors had the charisma to carry the show as a more traditional PI procedural, and they were apparently right
010
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
the show's original premise was that the title character worked for a cutting-edge detective agency that used a punch-card computer to help work through cases, and the tension between the computer's style and Mannix's more traditional PI approach drove conflict
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
And I *love* a good waltz, especially in a jazz or rock/pop context.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If the job of a TV theme is to prepare us emotionally for the content of the show to follow, then MANNIX is clearly about ballroom dancing with Cyd Charisse and not about a detective chasing bad guys. There's plenty of energy, but no tension. It's a great piece, just not for this kind of show.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
I posted the intro from MANNIX (1967-75) on my main last year but for some reason (probably because i mixed up the two accounts YET AGAIN) never put it here www.youtube.com/watch?v=guJi...
youtube.com
Mannix Series Intro - Season 1 (1967)
YouTube video by 70s TV Detectives
121
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Not often you hear a theremin in a cop show theme; the effect is spooky, and I would expect to see actual ghosts in the plots (which apparently the scripts do not provide, though I haven't seen that many episodes).
010
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
MIDSOMER MURDERS (1997-) adapts Caroline Graham's Inspector Barnaby novels set in a fictional rural English county. The show's tone combines dark themes with more than a little comic relief. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV-a...
youtube.com
Midsomer Murders TV Series Intro for Season 1 - Episode 1
YouTube video by Bill Samson 665
120
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
This is the Season 1-2 intro; Ben Miller's character D.I. Poole is killed at the beginning of S03. The music is an instrumental arrangement of the ska classic "You're Wondering Now," known to my generation mostly as a Specials song (and the reason for this post)
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
DEATH IN PARADISE (2011-) is another one of Mom's frequent shows. It's about a stuffy English detective reassigned to a (fictive) British Caribbean island with a French colonial history. The Englishman changes every few seasons, but the premise remains. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkVe...
youtube.com
Death in paradise intro
YouTube video by General Slop
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
(currently applying sheets of modeling turf for a scale cricket oval)
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
stg we should dig up frederick winslow taylor and put him on trial
010
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Bonus: you could segue perfectly from the chorus of Huntr/X's "How It's Done" to the L&O theme if you replace the initial "dun DUN" with "how it's done done done" and if I can find the energy to create a LAW & ORDER: DEMON HUNTING UNIT logo I may just create that mashup.
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Anyhow, the SVU music is a slight variation on the theme music for the parent series (1990-2010, 2022- ). Both rely on that "dun-DUN bum ba bum bum bah" hook and go to woodwinds and guitars instead of brass for the melody. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzJm...
youtube.com
Law & Order (1990-1991) Intro
YouTube video by ericbmaxwell
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
(otoh Brandon Bird's obsession with the show has resulted in some pretty cool paintings) brandonbird.com
brandonbird.com
Brandon Bird's Brandon Bird-O-Rama!
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
The L&O franchise is notorious copaganda even by the standards of the genre, and Dick Wolf's contempt for the rights of the accused is legendary (at least on LawSky and formerly on LawTwitter). I have certainly shouted IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY at the screen more than once these past few weeks.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I've been spending a lot of time at my mom's house lately, and that means hours of LAW & ORDER: SVU (1999 and counting). (Thanks, Peacock!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRXN...
youtube.com
Law & Order: SVU Opening Title Sequence (Theme Song)
YouTube video by Law & Order
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
The song adds a little extra grit and grime to an opening montage that hints at dark secrets and moral ambiguity, and the title highlights one of the perils of playing detective among your own peer group.
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
VERONICA MARS (2004-2007, mostly) was a noir implementation of the Nancy Drew formula: teenage girl with law-enforcement dad starts solving cases with him and on her own. The theme music is the Dandy Warhols' "We Used to Be Friends" www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ugb...
youtube.com
Veronica Mars Season 1 Opening Credits
YouTube video by Veronica Mars
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Skip forward to season 6. Diana Rigg has moved on, replaced by Linda Thorson as rookie agent (not "talented amateur") Tara King. The Johnson theme remains for the new title sequence www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LO8...
youtube.com
The Avengers: Season Six ~ US Opening & Closing Titles HD
YouTube video by TheAvengersTV
021
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Which brings us to season 4, Emma Peel (wearing Cathy Gale's leathers) and Laurie Johnson's more whimsical theme. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V--...
youtube.com
The Avengers: Season Four ~ Opening & Closing Titles HD
YouTube video by TheAvengersTV
110
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
S3 brought new animations but kept the music www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHBq...
youtube.com
The Avengers: Season Three ~ Opening & Closing Titles HD
YouTube video by TheAvengersTV
110
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Season 2 introduced Honor Blackman as action anthropologist Cathy Gale; the theme remained basically the same and apparently used the same shots of MacNee in the opening sequence. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef4X...
youtube.com
The Avengers: Season Two ~ Opening & Closing Titles HD
YouTube video by TheAvengersTV
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
I haven't seen any of these early ones, but I've read about them. The music here sets a darker mood than the Peel-era theme, an almost somber brass fanfare drawing a muted response.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Now let us roll back to 1961 and the first season. Steed's partner is Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry), and the contrast is between his idealism and Steed's hard-nosed spy pragmatism. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3e3...
youtube.com
The Avengers: Season One ~ Opening & Closing Titles HD
YouTube video by TheAvengersTV
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
The "Emmapeeler" apparently inspired DC Comics' 1968 redesign of Wonder Woman. (Peel image via Liz Eggleston's blog; WW image via eBay) lizeggleston.com/wp-content/u...
Photo of a two-page spread opening an article entitled "Diana Rigg and the Emmapeeler" featuring Diana Rigg in two versions of the outfit: left, in dark red with gold trim, semi-recumbent with her weight on her hip and her hand; right, in bluewith white trim, in the middle of a martial arts kick. In the background is a seies of b/w images of Rigg striking various action poses in different versions of this outfitThe cover of WONDER WOMAN 178 (Oct. 1968). Diana Prince stands in a mod magenta-and-white tunic over shiny black leggings/boots, holding a can of paint from which a brish or roller handle protrudes. Behind her is a poster of an old-style WONDER WOMAN cover featuring WW in her old star-spangled costume next to Diana Prince in military uniform; a purple "X" has been painted iover the older image to underscore the change to a new look. Also, the poster background is flat goldenrod, whereas the cover's overall background is a vaguely psychedelic light green on medium green pattern of swirls and waves.
Blurb text: "Forget the OLD, the NEW Wonder Woman is here!"
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Emma Peel would wear the leather catsuit through this season and then embrace modness as the show embraced color. www.youtube.com/watch?v=10QW...
youtube.com
The Avengers TV Intro - Season 5 - 1966
YouTube video by VIDEOBEAT dotCOM
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
We'll see in the next post how big a shift in tone this was; the theme music is downright whimsical, and Steed has transformed from a trenchcoated Secret Agent to a dapper English Gentleman (though still a Secret Agent).
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
The introductory voiceover was added for the US market, when the American Broadcasting Company (or just ABC to us over here) started carrying the show in 1965, but I love it and wanted to make sure it was included.
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
I've been holding off on THE AVENGERS because the theme went through several revisions as the cast changed. This version, introduced with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in 1966, is the one most folks associate with the show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Ji...
youtube.com
The Avengers Season 4 Intro Plus
YouTube video by campgalore
110
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Larry Csonka, perhaps
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
omg that looks nothing like him, is that supposed to be dabney coleman or something i.ebayimg.com/images/g/i6E...
a 1/6 scale doll of William Conrad as Frank Cannon, supported by a doll stand and staged in front of a photo from the show printed on what seems to be copy paper. The doll's build is standard for a male action figure muscular, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted) and therefore looks very little like William Conrad at the time (middle-aged fat guy)
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
where is my frank cannon action figure
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Having now discovered a KOJAK action figure on eBay I am beginning to think the toy companies just licensed any show that regularly had car chases
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
which also had dolls and a car (courtesy eBay seller Dog Breed Attire): i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1-Q...
Top to bottom: toy police cruiser, cardboard box with block print lettering (LOT NO. 924-4849; CAUTION: NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE; MADE IN HONG KONG), package of toy police accessories, three dolls of male characters from THE ROOKIES
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
for contrast, the show i think really nailed it musically was THE ROOKIES (1972-6) www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9fs...
youtube.com
'The Rookies' TV Intro (1972)
YouTube video by Bionic Disco
120
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
I don't know whether the network found out that the show had youth appeal and tried to capitalize on it, or whether they retooled it for kids in order to find a bigger audience.
000
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
As with S.W.A.T., there were dolls and a doll car (photos courtesy of eBay seller dyhrdjg24fan-2008) i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~dA...
Starsky and Hutch dolls laid out on a table with a doll-scaled red and white Gran Torino, instruction sheet, the original box for the car, a model sawhorse (to use as a barricade) and a model street light (for craching into, i guess?)
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
That's the season 2 music; the season 1 intro is much more traditional cop-show and doesn't really attempt to Reach The Youths www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdOi...
youtube.com
Starsky and Hutch Opening Credits and Theme Song
YouTube video by Steven
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
I'm a little inclined to think the STARSKY & HUTCH (1975-9) theme tries a little too hard, at least in this iteration, to catch that funk vibe. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_vN...
youtube.com
Starsky & Hutch (Intro & Outro) Season 2
YouTube video by 11db11
100
Soundtracks to Copaganda @copshowtunes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Season 5 featured a revised, disco-era theme with lots of strings and a funkier backbeat. After a promising opening it too drops the tension levels and focuses on Telly's star quality instead of gritty police work. www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_e6...
youtube.com
Kojak: Season Five (1977) Opening Credits
YouTube video by Shout! Studios
000