Historical TV shows with a theme song about the main character
June 8, 2014 11:01 AM   Subscribe

For some reason, I’ve been thinking lately about the Monty Python sketch “Dennis Moore”, which contains repeated snippets of a song about the main character. (The first instance begins at about 2:40.) I’m looking for similar shows, but played straight instead of as comedy.

Specifically, I’m looking for TV shows where the theme song (opening or closing) is about the main character(s), where the show has an historical setting. So not the theme from The Brady Bunch, for example.

The only example I can think of is the closing theme from Season 1 of Blackadder, which makes me think they were both spoofing a show or shows that would have been on British TV in the 50’s or 60’s. Examples from that era would be most appreciated.

So, to sum up, I would love to find examples of TV shows that:
- are set in the past;
- open or close with a song about the main character;
- (extra special bonus feature) mention the main character's horse.
posted by five toed sloth to Media & Arts (22 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The Rebel. Its theme song mentions the main character, Johnny Yuma.
posted by fuse theorem at 11:12 AM on June 8, 2014




Davy...Davy Crockett. King of the wild frontier.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:15 AM on June 8, 2014 [3 favorites]


Branded
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:24 AM on June 8, 2014 [1 favorite]




Quantum Leap
Not a song...but is about the main character, and is pretty historical.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 11:27 AM on June 8, 2014


Daniel Boone
posted by gimli at 11:27 AM on June 8, 2014 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Adventures of Robin Hood
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:28 AM on June 8, 2014


Of course there's always Bonanza
posted by QueerAngel28 at 11:31 AM on June 8, 2014


Zorro
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:33 AM on June 8, 2014


Jack of all Trades
posted by oh yeah! at 11:37 AM on June 8, 2014 [1 favorite]


F Troop. Sure, it only indicates the main character in the third person, and sure, no mention of the horse. But it IS F Troop, which overcomes all doubts.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 11:58 AM on June 8, 2014


It's the Robin Hood theme in particular that they're parodying, by the way.
posted by Grangousier at 12:18 PM on June 8, 2014


Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds

Some of the later series of Blackadder also have songs about the title character.
posted by biffa at 12:23 PM on June 8, 2014


Secret Agent Man
posted by cazoo at 12:49 PM on June 8, 2014


Best answer: Ivanhoe
posted by rjs at 12:55 PM on June 8, 2014


And now, for some reason, I keep thinking how much I wish the theme to The Borgias had lyrics.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 1:11 PM on June 8, 2014


George... George... George of the Jungle... I'm inferring historicity since it's a parody of Tarzan. No horse, but the song does mention George's pet ape. Similar arguments can be made for Tom Slick, a segment in the same show.
posted by ubiquity at 1:32 PM on June 8, 2014 [1 favorite]


Scotland by the Lumineers -- it's the theme to Reign, which is about Mary Queen of Scots.

Some of the lyrics are:

They all need something to hold on to
They all mean well
Pay your respects to society giving me hell

You could never feel my story
It's all you know
You could never feel my story
It's all you know

which I think is supposed to suggest that this is the "true" story of Mary, vs whatever fake stories you've been hearing.
posted by spunweb at 1:48 PM on June 8, 2014


Best answer: Not a TV show, but a Walt Disney special, Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow.
posted by fancypants at 1:58 PM on June 8, 2014


The Flintstones
posted by SisterHavana at 4:32 PM on June 8, 2014


How can you mention the Flintstones and not the Jetsons?
posted by Billiken at 1:18 PM on June 9, 2014


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