Soundtracks to Copaganda
@copshowtunes.bsky.social
Theme music from police procedurals, mystery series, and adjacent TV programs, occasionally with commentary.
Like superhero stories, Westerns often embody law-enforcement themes but have their own set of tropes, so OI haven't been super interested in posting any music from them. One exception is WILD WILD WEST, because "science fiction spy Western."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuCu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuCu...
"The Wild Wild West" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Like superhero stories, Westerns often embody law-enforcement themes but have their own set of tropes, so OI haven't been super interested in posting any music from them. One exception is WILD WILD WEST, because "science fiction spy Western."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuCu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuCu...
I've been steering clear of superhero stuff so far because it's a totally different vibe, but I do want to post THE GREEN HORNET (1966-7).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIws...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIws...
Green Hornet Open
YouTube video by tvradiodude
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I've been steering clear of superhero stuff so far because it's a totally different vibe, but I do want to post THE GREEN HORNET (1966-7).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIws...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIws...
A less successful POLICE STORY spinoff was DAVID CASSIDY, MAN UNDERCOVER (1978), in which the former Keith Partridge tried to shake his teen-idol image through the time-honored vehicle of a police procedural.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmFe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmFe...
"David Cassidy: Man Undercover" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
A less successful POLICE STORY spinoff was DAVID CASSIDY, MAN UNDERCOVER (1978), in which the former Keith Partridge tried to shake his teen-idol image through the time-honored vehicle of a police procedural.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmFe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmFe...
Occasionally a POLICE STORY episode would get spun off into its own series; the most successful of these was POLICE WOMAN (1974-78), starring Angie Dickinson as Sgt. Pepper Anderson, who mostly worked undercover in roles that often excused revealing costumes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmv...
Police woman Intro
YouTube video by TVTunes Quiz
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Occasionally a POLICE STORY episode would get spun off into its own series; the most successful of these was POLICE WOMAN (1974-78), starring Angie Dickinson as Sgt. Pepper Anderson, who mostly worked undercover in roles that often excused revealing costumes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmv...
POLICE STORY (1973-77) was an anthology series created by LAPD detective-turned-novelist Joseph Wambaugh. The full theme music only ran over the end credits; this video contains four different arrangements of Jerry Goldsmith's tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8WA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8WA...
Police Story Theme (4 Different Versions)
YouTube video by 11db11
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
POLICE STORY (1973-77) was an anthology series created by LAPD detective-turned-novelist Joseph Wambaugh. The full theme music only ran over the end credits; this video contains four different arrangements of Jerry Goldsmith's tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8WA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8WA...
THE UNTOUCHABLES (1959-63) ran approximately four times as long as Eliot Ness' historical operation against Al Capone's syndicate (counting Capone's conviction as the end date).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZTj...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZTj...
"The Untouchables" (1959) TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 AM
THE UNTOUCHABLES (1959-63) ran approximately four times as long as Eliot Ness' historical operation against Al Capone's syndicate (counting Capone's conviction as the end date).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZTj...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZTj...
Speaking of MACGYVER (1985-92), Richard Dean Anderson's beloved action engineer had one of the most generic theme tunes I've ever listened to. Could easily run behind the credits of ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT or some half-hour sports highlight show.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hAg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hAg...
MacGyver Intro Season 1
YouTube video by Fuzziato
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Speaking of MACGYVER (1985-92), Richard Dean Anderson's beloved action engineer had one of the most generic theme tunes I've ever listened to. Could easily run behind the credits of ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT or some half-hour sports highlight show.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hAg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hAg...
Former Hardy Boy Parker Stevenson played asocial genius Austin James in the Sherlock Holmes (and possibly MACGYVER)-inspired PROBE. James owned some sort of tech company that he barely paid attention to while solving a lot of sciencey crimes. Isaac Asimov co-created.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jy...
Classic TV Theme: Probe (Isaac Asimov)
YouTube video by David Gideon
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Former Hardy Boy Parker Stevenson played asocial genius Austin James in the Sherlock Holmes (and possibly MACGYVER)-inspired PROBE. James owned some sort of tech company that he barely paid attention to while solving a lot of sciencey crimes. Isaac Asimov co-created.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jy...
CROSSING JORDAN (2001-07) was a crime-lab procedural set in Boston and starring Jill Hennessy as forensic pathologist Jordan Cavanaugh. Hence the Celtic music in the season 1 theme.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z308...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z308...
Crossing Jordan (2001-2007) Season 1 Intro
YouTube video by ThatAlexDude
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
CROSSING JORDAN (2001-07) was a crime-lab procedural set in Boston and starring Jill Hennessy as forensic pathologist Jordan Cavanaugh. Hence the Celtic music in the season 1 theme.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z308...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z308...
I'm running out of intro clips for NBC MYSTERY MOVIE spokes, so let's pivot to 1985's half-season MacGRUDER & LOUD, in which our buddy cops are secretly married.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvh...
MACGRUDER AND LOUD 1985 - John Getz, Kathryn Harrold - opening credits
YouTube video by PREHISTORICTELEVISION1956
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I'm running out of intro clips for NBC MYSTERY MOVIE spokes, so let's pivot to 1985's half-season MacGRUDER & LOUD, in which our buddy cops are secretly married.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvh...
Reposted by Soundtracks to Copaganda
In this week's newsletter, I give some thought to company's going all-in on America as a brand (and how TV is serving this up)
... plus, the return of NBA on NBC also means the return of "Roundball Rock," which I think is a good thing — a signature piece of music functions as a logo in audio form!
... plus, the return of NBA on NBC also means the return of "Roundball Rock," which I think is a good thing — a signature piece of music functions as a logo in audio form!
When companies go all-in on America as a brand
Plus the power of "Roundball Rock" ... and a look at the celebrity documentary industrial complex.
buttondown.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
In this week's newsletter, I give some thought to company's going all-in on America as a brand (and how TV is serving this up)
... plus, the return of NBA on NBC also means the return of "Roundball Rock," which I think is a good thing — a signature piece of music functions as a logo in audio form!
... plus, the return of NBA on NBC also means the return of "Roundball Rock," which I think is a good thing — a signature piece of music functions as a logo in audio form!
TENAFLY (1973-4), another second-season entry in the NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE, was sort of the opposite of blaxploitation: Harry Tenafly (James McEachin) lived with his wife and kids in a suburban tract home, drove a sensible car, and worked for a large agency.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-5c...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-5c...
Tenafly Theme (Intro)
YouTube video by 11db11
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM
TENAFLY (1973-4), another second-season entry in the NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE, was sort of the opposite of blaxploitation: Harry Tenafly (James McEachin) lived with his wife and kids in a suburban tract home, drove a sensible car, and worked for a large agency.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-5c...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-5c...
The second season of NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE carried BANACEK over from the first and added three new legs. THE SNOOP SISTERS (1973-4) starred Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick as a mystery novelist and her sister (and typist) who solved crimes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRI7...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRI7...
Classic TV Theme: The Snoop Sisters
YouTube video by David Gideon
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The second season of NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE carried BANACEK over from the first and added three new legs. THE SNOOP SISTERS (1973-4) starred Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick as a mystery novelist and her sister (and typist) who solved crimes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRI7...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRI7...
The third original leg of the Wednesday installment was MADIGAN, in which Richard Widmark reprised his 1968 movie role as an NYPD detective, now transplanted to Europe. This is the intro to the second episode "The London Beat."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh1...
"Madigan" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The third original leg of the Wednesday installment was MADIGAN, in which Richard Widmark reprised his 1968 movie role as an NYPD detective, now transplanted to Europe. This is the intro to the second episode "The London Beat."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh1...
Another original leg of the NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE was COOL MILLION (1972), with the premise that retired CIA agent Jefferson Keyes (James Farentino) was so good at detective that he could command one million 1972 dollars per case. (music starts at 5:00)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRC...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRC...
"Cool Million" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Another original leg of the NBC WEDNESDAY MYSTERY MOVIE was COOL MILLION (1972), with the premise that retired CIA agent Jefferson Keyes (James Farentino) was so good at detective that he could command one million 1972 dollars per case. (music starts at 5:00)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRC...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRC...
BANACEK (1972-4) was a spoke on the second NBC MYSTERY MOVIE wheel, when the show split into a Sunday and a Wednesday installment. George Peppard played the title role, an insurance investigator whose paychecks came from recovering stolen items.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTj...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTj...
Générique - Banacek (Saison 2)
YouTube video by Le Monde des Avengers
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
BANACEK (1972-4) was a spoke on the second NBC MYSTERY MOVIE wheel, when the show split into a Sunday and a Wednesday installment. George Peppard played the title role, an insurance investigator whose paychecks came from recovering stolen items.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTj...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvTj...
IT TAKES A THIEF (1968-70) featured Robert Wagner as an elite jewel thief/cat burglar who had been pressed into service stealing for Uncle Sam. This intro is from the pilot and may be less familiar than the theme that succeeded it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGm...
It takes a thief Intro
YouTube video by TVTunes Quiz
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
IT TAKES A THIEF (1968-70) featured Robert Wagner as an elite jewel thief/cat burglar who had been pressed into service stealing for Uncle Sam. This intro is from the pilot and may be less familiar than the theme that succeeded it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGm...
William Conrad was tapped for NBC's 1981 adaptation of NERO WOLFE when Orson Welles dropped out for reasons that vary depending upon the source. A young Lee Horsley played Archie; the show ran half a season.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAF...
Classic TV Theme: Nero Wolfe (William Conrad)
YouTube video by David Gideon
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
William Conrad was tapped for NBC's 1981 adaptation of NERO WOLFE when Orson Welles dropped out for reasons that vary depending upon the source. A young Lee Horsley played Archie; the show ran half a season.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAF...
I just realized I haven't posted the third spoke of THE MEN's wheel. JIGSAW starred James Wainwright as a missing-persons specialist with the CA state police.
Haven't found a theme posted, but here's the opening five minutes of the pilot, with title music:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfV...
Haven't found a theme posted, but here's the opening five minutes of the pilot, with title music:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfV...
JIGSAW 1972 Man on the Move James Wainwright, Vera Miles TV Pilot - Director William Graham
YouTube video by Hard To Find Rare Videos
www.youtube.com
October 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I just realized I haven't posted the third spoke of THE MEN's wheel. JIGSAW starred James Wainwright as a missing-persons specialist with the CA state police.
Haven't found a theme posted, but here's the opening five minutes of the pilot, with title music:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfV...
Haven't found a theme posted, but here's the opening five minutes of the pilot, with title music:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfV...
I've been busy and tired and fallen well behind my post-a-day target, but it's time to start catching up. Today's first theme is ADAM-12 (1968-75), a Jack Webb coproduction about LAPD beat cops Pete Malloy and Jim Reed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gS...
Adam 12 Theme Song Intro
YouTube video by CrazyAboutTV
www.youtube.com
October 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I've been busy and tired and fallen well behind my post-a-day target, but it's time to start catching up. Today's first theme is ADAM-12 (1968-75), a Jack Webb coproduction about LAPD beat cops Pete Malloy and Jim Reed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gS...
Here's the second spoke, rendered in messed-up VHS: THE DELPHI BUREAU, featuring Lawrence Luckinbill as a guy with a photographic memory putting it to work in counterespionage for Uncle Sam.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-RH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-RH...
"The Delphi Bureau" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Here's the second spoke, rendered in messed-up VHS: THE DELPHI BUREAU, featuring Lawrence Luckinbill as a guy with a photographic memory putting it to work in counterespionage for Uncle Sam.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-RH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-RH...
The easiest spoke of the MEN wheel to find is ASSIGNMENT: VIENNA, which featured Robert Conrad as American spy hunter Jake Webster, who operated a bar and grill as cover for his covert work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJW...
Assignment: Vienna Theme (Intro & Outro)
YouTube video by 11db11
www.youtube.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The easiest spoke of the MEN wheel to find is ASSIGNMENT: VIENNA, which featured Robert Conrad as American spy hunter Jake Webster, who operated a bar and grill as cover for his covert work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJW...
ABC's wheel series THE MEN (1972-3) is mostly memorable only for Isaac Hayes' theme music, hot on the heels of his success with SHAFT and hitting the R&B chart that year. I couldn't find a clip of the actual show intro, unfortiunately.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiy...
Isaac Hayes - Theme From "The Men"
YouTube video by Stax Records
www.youtube.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
ABC's wheel series THE MEN (1972-3) is mostly memorable only for Isaac Hayes' theme music, hot on the heels of his success with SHAFT and hitting the R&B chart that year. I couldn't find a clip of the actual show intro, unfortiunately.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiy...
I love the signature trumpet riff in the theme for THE MAGICIAN (1973-4) with its stage-magicky (and maybe problematically orientalist) opening and final classical flourish.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsa...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsa...
"The Magician" TV Intro
YouTube video by The Rap Sheet
www.youtube.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
I love the signature trumpet riff in the theme for THE MAGICIAN (1973-4) with its stage-magicky (and maybe problematically orientalist) opening and final classical flourish.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsa...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsa...
DIAGNOSIS: MURDER was a spinoff of JAKE AND THE FATMAN (1987-92), which I didn't count as a late-career procedural because William Conrad already had so many cop shows on his resume (e.g., CANNON)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4q...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4q...
Jake and the Fatman intro
YouTube video by jayleno2000
www.youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
DIAGNOSIS: MURDER was a spinoff of JAKE AND THE FATMAN (1987-92), which I didn't count as a late-career procedural because William Conrad already had so many cop shows on his resume (e.g., CANNON)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4q...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4q...