Another 20 Nostaglic TV Theme Tunes We Just Can’t Let Go

20. TJ Hooker (1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIX7UWIsNXM True to form we kick off the countdown proper now with a police procedural drama guilty of making Gary Sinise quiver. Sure, the CSI boys over at the lab had Science and Technology on their side, but Sargent Thomas Jefferson Hooker acted on instinct alone. OK, there's no real proof that was officially his name, but many sources cite this as the best possibility given his surname came from an American civil war general. The role couldn't be played by anyone else other than William Shatner who was taking the job in-between Star Trek movies (quite literally) to keep himself occupied and, presumably, fit enough for both roles. Shatner played the role of a veteran officer who was tasked with taking a rookie, played by Adrian Zmed, under his wing on the mean streets of LC (the show was shot in LA but it was never actually referred to by any of the cast as to what streets they patrolled). Hooker's theme (how often can one type that in a sentence) had a real 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century' feel to it that was almost completely out of place in a show like this, had it not been for Shatner occupying a considerably more famous role of command. The show underwent a number of changes and introduced various new dynamics and themes, although Shatner stayed for the entire run, which eventually ended after a 5th series on CBS in 1986. This was also the same year that Shatner was invited to host Saturday Night Live and officially entered legendary status among the acting community for his role in Star Trek IV; The Voyage Home. Zmed left the show after Season 4, to pursue other projects, which is a shame considering as of 2012 he is appearing as Nick in "Surf The Musical" at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.