One of the most famous moments in TV history came on September 26, 1962 with the airing of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" episode "Never Name a Duck," the first episode of the second season. During the opening credits of the show, Rob Petrie (Van Dyke) entered through his front door while the upbeat theme music (composed by Earle Hagan) played on the soundtrack. The announcer shouted out the names of the stars: Dick Van Dyke, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Larry Matthews, and Mary Tyler Moore. Rob stepped out of a foyer and immediately tripped over a large ottoman in his way. Van Dyke, a brilliant physical comedian, tumbled all the way over, rolling over his shoulder and landing on his back. It remains, to this day, one of the most celebrated pratfalls in the history of the medium.
For many years, certain audience members assumed the fall was accidental and that the show's creator,...
For many years, certain audience members assumed the fall was accidental and that the show's creator,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
When Jake Owen announced the track list for his upcoming album Loose Cannon, his first in four years, one song’s writing credits stood out above all the others: “On the Boat Again” is credited to Devin Dawson, Kyle Fishman, Rocky Block, Blake Pendergrass and…Willie Nelson. It’s easy to hear why.
“On the Boat Again” borrows the chorus melody of Nelson’s 1980 touring anthem “On the Road Again,” changing the lyrics to summon that most cherished of Southern weekend outings: boat day. “On the boat again/I just...
“On the Boat Again” borrows the chorus melody of Nelson’s 1980 touring anthem “On the Road Again,” changing the lyrics to summon that most cherished of Southern weekend outings: boat day. “On the boat again/I just...
- 5/26/2023
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 3, “The Andy Griffith Show” is one of the most charming comedies in the history of American television. The CBS program was never outside of the top seven in TV ratings throughout its eight-year run and continues a strong six-decade domination in syndication.
Starting with the 1960 debut as a spinoff from “The Danny Thomas Show,” the series starred comedian Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, sheriff of small-town Mayberry in North Carolina. One of the keys to the popularity was casting Don Knotts as bumbling but well-meaning deputy Barney Fife. Audiences got to know the young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie, long before his successful time on “Happy Days” and decades before his Oscar-winning career as a film director and producer.
SEERon Howard movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
While Griffith never received an Emmy nomination for his work on the program,...
Starting with the 1960 debut as a spinoff from “The Danny Thomas Show,” the series starred comedian Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, sheriff of small-town Mayberry in North Carolina. One of the keys to the popularity was casting Don Knotts as bumbling but well-meaning deputy Barney Fife. Audiences got to know the young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie, long before his successful time on “Happy Days” and decades before his Oscar-winning career as a film director and producer.
SEERon Howard movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best
While Griffith never received an Emmy nomination for his work on the program,...
- 10/3/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 3, “The Andy Griffith Show” is one of the most charming comedies in the history of American television. The CBS program was never outside of the top seven in TV ratings throughout its eight-year run and continues a strong six-decade domination in syndication.
Starting with the 1960 debut as a spinoff from “The Danny Thomas Show,” the series starred comedian Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, sheriff of small-town Mayberry in North Carolina. One of the keys to the popularity was casting Don Knotts as bumbling but well-meaning deputy Barney Fife. Audiences got to know the young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie, long before his successful time on “Happy Days” and decades before his Oscar-winning career as a film director and producer.
While Griffith never received an Emmy nomination for his work on the program, Knotts won five times as Best Comedy Supporting Actor. In fact,...
Starting with the 1960 debut as a spinoff from “The Danny Thomas Show,” the series starred comedian Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, sheriff of small-town Mayberry in North Carolina. One of the keys to the popularity was casting Don Knotts as bumbling but well-meaning deputy Barney Fife. Audiences got to know the young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie, long before his successful time on “Happy Days” and decades before his Oscar-winning career as a film director and producer.
While Griffith never received an Emmy nomination for his work on the program, Knotts won five times as Best Comedy Supporting Actor. In fact,...
- 9/30/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Earle Hagen, the Emmy-winning composer who wrote the iconic themes for “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Spy” and many others, would have turned 100 years old on July 9.
He was one of the most influential composers in TV history, formally recognized for his landmark work when the Television Academy inducted him, posthumously, into its Hall of Fame in 2011. He was only the second musician to be so honored.
Hagen pioneered the creation of original music for television in the 1950s, when most TV music was cheaply recorded mood music licensed from pre-existing libraries. By the 1960s, he was composing, arranging and conducting for as many as five shows a week — “The Danny Thomas Show,” “That Girl” and “The Mod Squad” among them — and set a high standard that other TV composers would aspire to in years to come.
“Earle was a huge influence on us, and really good with the tunes,...
He was one of the most influential composers in TV history, formally recognized for his landmark work when the Television Academy inducted him, posthumously, into its Hall of Fame in 2011. He was only the second musician to be so honored.
Hagen pioneered the creation of original music for television in the 1950s, when most TV music was cheaply recorded mood music licensed from pre-existing libraries. By the 1960s, he was composing, arranging and conducting for as many as five shows a week — “The Danny Thomas Show,” “That Girl” and “The Mod Squad” among them — and set a high standard that other TV composers would aspire to in years to come.
“Earle was a huge influence on us, and really good with the tunes,...
- 7/9/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most recognizable theme songs in television history is now the subject of a lawsuit by the heirs of the men who wrote it.
The federal court suit against CBS claims that the network is using the work, titled “Theme For the Andy Griffith Show,” without a license. The whistling theme opened and closed the show. Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer wrote the tune in the 1950s and registered its copyright in 1960, according to the complaint, which was filed Thursday in California federal court.
Rights to the theme music were transferred to a partnership, Larrabee Music. Upon the songwriters’ deaths, the rights were transferred to The Diana R. Spencer Trust and the Hagen Family Trust. They, in turn, dissolved Larrabee and gave partial copyright ownership to the Hagen Children’s Trust and the Hagen Decedent’s Trust.
The suit claims CBS is selling DVDs of the series without licensing the music.
The federal court suit against CBS claims that the network is using the work, titled “Theme For the Andy Griffith Show,” without a license. The whistling theme opened and closed the show. Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer wrote the tune in the 1950s and registered its copyright in 1960, according to the complaint, which was filed Thursday in California federal court.
Rights to the theme music were transferred to a partnership, Larrabee Music. Upon the songwriters’ deaths, the rights were transferred to The Diana R. Spencer Trust and the Hagen Family Trust. They, in turn, dissolved Larrabee and gave partial copyright ownership to the Hagen Children’s Trust and the Hagen Decedent’s Trust.
The suit claims CBS is selling DVDs of the series without licensing the music.
- 5/24/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
An enormous family fight has erupted over 2 of the most iconic TV theme songs in History.A dude named Earle Hagen wrote the opens for "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It doesn't matter how old you are ... you know these songs.Hagen died in 2008, but the royalties keep streaming in. The 2 songs have netted $390,402 since 2011 ... not bad for compositions from shows that aired in the early 60's. Here's the rub.
- 11/8/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
I'm mighty glad how things worked out.
Things always seem to work out at the end of the day in Mayberry. Along with Andy Taylor's (Andy Griffith) uncanny ability to manage his son Opie (Ron Howard) and his officious deputy Barney (Don Knotts), the clean, moral endings are what makes The Andy Griffith Show (1960-68) what it is. Can you even read the name of this show without whistling? I Love Lucy is perhaps the only theme tune that comes close to being as instantly recognizable as Earle Hagen and Herbert W. Spencer's opening whistle. The first thing about this new Blu-Ray edition of season one of The Andy Griffith Show is that it seemed to spring out, fully formed with its first episode as strong as all the others. And it is a strong show, simple and warm-hearted. Of all the old 'classics' I've revisited in reviews like this,...
Things always seem to work out at the end of the day in Mayberry. Along with Andy Taylor's (Andy Griffith) uncanny ability to manage his son Opie (Ron Howard) and his officious deputy Barney (Don Knotts), the clean, moral endings are what makes The Andy Griffith Show (1960-68) what it is. Can you even read the name of this show without whistling? I Love Lucy is perhaps the only theme tune that comes close to being as instantly recognizable as Earle Hagen and Herbert W. Spencer's opening whistle. The first thing about this new Blu-Ray edition of season one of The Andy Griffith Show is that it seemed to spring out, fully formed with its first episode as strong as all the others. And it is a strong show, simple and warm-hearted. Of all the old 'classics' I've revisited in reviews like this,...
- 5/16/2014
- by Jason Ratigan
- JustPressPlay.net
The film music culture over the years has a developed a bit of an elitist complex in the way we talk about the artform, leading some to believe that if you don’t have little black dots as prevalent as you have red blood cells in your veins then you must not be trying very hard. After all, we were born with this, right? It’s in our DNA.
Arguable, at best. A lot of people say we were born with certain aptitudes toward this gig but I would argue that while that might be true about musical intuition and a predisposition toward cognitive retention of scales and other functional repeating mathematical sequences, quality skilled composition only comes out of tireless practice, varied experience and loads of trial and error. It’s not a far-flung theory then to assume that there could be a serious self-esteem issue working against emerging composers,...
Arguable, at best. A lot of people say we were born with certain aptitudes toward this gig but I would argue that while that might be true about musical intuition and a predisposition toward cognitive retention of scales and other functional repeating mathematical sequences, quality skilled composition only comes out of tireless practice, varied experience and loads of trial and error. It’s not a far-flung theory then to assume that there could be a serious self-esteem issue working against emerging composers,...
- 6/13/2013
- by Deane Ogden
- SCOREcastOnline.com
Andy Griffith's sad passing today has almost everyone whistling the theme song for the legendary actor's celebrated sitcom, "The Andy Griffith Show."
The opening sequence features Sheriff Andy Taylor and his son Opie (Ron Howard, credited as "Ronny") strolling to their favorite fishing spot, poles in hand, as co-composer Earle Hagen whistles along to "The Fishin' Hole."
Although Griffith himself didn't perform the whistling as many fans believe, he did sing the ditty's original cheerful lyrics.
Here they are, along with the original recording, so you can sing along with Andy.
We can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.
Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at the fishin' hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade,...
The opening sequence features Sheriff Andy Taylor and his son Opie (Ron Howard, credited as "Ronny") strolling to their favorite fishing spot, poles in hand, as co-composer Earle Hagen whistles along to "The Fishin' Hole."
Although Griffith himself didn't perform the whistling as many fans believe, he did sing the ditty's original cheerful lyrics.
Here they are, along with the original recording, so you can sing along with Andy.
We can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.
Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at the fishin' hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade,...
- 7/3/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
On Thursday night, January 20, old school Hollywood gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to honor some of TV's biggest legends. The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences inducted seven honorees into their Hall of Fame, adding them to a list of over 100 other famous names from in front of and behind the camera.
This year's inductees were actresses Cloris Leachman and Diahann Carroll, writer/producer Susan Harris and TV executive Tom Freston. Posthumous honors were given to game show producer Bill Todman, journalist Peter Jennings and composer Earle Hagen. Presenters for the special awards were also legends in the industry — Carl Reiner, Florence Henderson, Bob Woodruff, George Englund, Bob Daly, Fred Silverman, Tavis Smiley.
On hand to congratulate the honorees were other TV luminaries including Rose Marie, Valerie Harper, Marsha Strassman and David Steinberg. The evening's hosting duties were fulfilled by Survivor's Jeff Probst.
We were lucky enough to...
This year's inductees were actresses Cloris Leachman and Diahann Carroll, writer/producer Susan Harris and TV executive Tom Freston. Posthumous honors were given to game show producer Bill Todman, journalist Peter Jennings and composer Earle Hagen. Presenters for the special awards were also legends in the industry — Carl Reiner, Florence Henderson, Bob Woodruff, George Englund, Bob Daly, Fred Silverman, Tavis Smiley.
On hand to congratulate the honorees were other TV luminaries including Rose Marie, Valerie Harper, Marsha Strassman and David Steinberg. The evening's hosting duties were fulfilled by Survivor's Jeff Probst.
We were lucky enough to...
- 1/26/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Some bite-sized TV news for your Tuesday:
Fox isn't ordering any more of "Lie to Me" this season -- but that doesn't necessarily mean the show is canceled. It will complete its 13-episode order by the end of January, after which "The Chicago Code" takes its timeslot; the network will make a decision on "Lie to Me's" future closer to upfronts time in the spring. [Deadline]
The CW has a "Glee"-esque musical series in development, but it's focused more on rock 'n' roll. It's tentatively titled "The Prickly Spheres" and is about a musician who turns down a Julliard scholarship and joins an indie-rock band in Minneapolis. Music manager and producer Jeff Kwatinetz ("Royal Pains") is among the executive producers. [Vulture]
"The Middle" just expanded a little bit. ABC has tacked on two episodes to the season order for the comedy, bringing its total to 24. [TV Guide]
The final season of "Law...
Fox isn't ordering any more of "Lie to Me" this season -- but that doesn't necessarily mean the show is canceled. It will complete its 13-episode order by the end of January, after which "The Chicago Code" takes its timeslot; the network will make a decision on "Lie to Me's" future closer to upfronts time in the spring. [Deadline]
The CW has a "Glee"-esque musical series in development, but it's focused more on rock 'n' roll. It's tentatively titled "The Prickly Spheres" and is about a musician who turns down a Julliard scholarship and joins an indie-rock band in Minneapolis. Music manager and producer Jeff Kwatinetz ("Royal Pains") is among the executive producers. [Vulture]
"The Middle" just expanded a little bit. ABC has tacked on two episodes to the season order for the comedy, bringing its total to 24. [TV Guide]
The final season of "Law...
- 12/7/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
North Hollywood, CA – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Committee has selected two iconic actresses, a ground-breaking comedy writer, an innovative cable executive, a trail-blazing TV game show producer, a universally respected journalist and television’s most beloved composer as the newest inductees into the Hall of Fame, announced Television Academy Chairman-ceo John Shaffner. Actresses Diahann Carroll and Cloris Leachman, cable executive Tom Freston, composer Earle Hagen, writer and producer Susan Harris, broadcast journalist Peter Jennings, and game show producer Bill Todman will be honored in the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on January 20th. The event will be produced by Lee Miller. Earle Hagen, Peter Jennings, and Bill Todman will be inducted posthumously. “This year’s group of Hall of Fame inductees continues to exemplify and define the accomplishments that we recognize with this honor. Each one of...
- 12/7/2010
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
We were scoring a film on Newman Scoring Stage last Friday. At take 282 Rick Marvin, our composer, wondered how many takes we would accumulate by the time we finished our fifth session on the day this article posts. Vinny “Smart Water” Cirilli, our Protools Recordist, and software virtuoso of CueChronicle said, “I wonder how many takes "The Simpsons" are up to?” We found out that “The Simpsons”, which had scored mostly at Fox, was at the take thirty thousand mark.
Funny thing is, up until a couple of months ago I had no idea most T.V. shows were scored in the box - that’s how long it’s been since I worked in TV. In my day everything was scored with an orchestra of about thirty players. I started in T.V. and we scored five shows a week, every week. I’m aware of what a composer...
Funny thing is, up until a couple of months ago I had no idea most T.V. shows were scored in the box - that’s how long it’s been since I worked in TV. In my day everything was scored with an orchestra of about thirty players. I started in T.V. and we scored five shows a week, every week. I’m aware of what a composer...
- 8/4/2009
- by noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stambler)
- SCOREcastOnline.com
Emmy-winning composer Earle Hagen has died at the age of 88.
The musician died of natural causes at his home in San Diego, California on Monday.
Hagen wrote original music for more than 3,000 TV shows through his 33-year career - composing the theme tunes of hit U.S. series The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mod Squad.
He also shared an Oscar nomination with Lionel Newman for his work on the Marilyn Monroe film Let's Make Love in 1960. He scored his Emmy for musical works on espionage series I Spy in 1968.
He is survived by his second wife Laura - who he married in 2005 after his first wife Eloise Sidwell died - and two sons, Deane and James.
The musician died of natural causes at his home in San Diego, California on Monday.
Hagen wrote original music for more than 3,000 TV shows through his 33-year career - composing the theme tunes of hit U.S. series The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mod Squad.
He also shared an Oscar nomination with Lionel Newman for his work on the Marilyn Monroe film Let's Make Love in 1960. He scored his Emmy for musical works on espionage series I Spy in 1968.
He is survived by his second wife Laura - who he married in 2005 after his first wife Eloise Sidwell died - and two sons, Deane and James.
- 5/28/2008
- WENN
Earle Hagen, Emmy-winning composer of some of the most memorable musical themes in TV history and the man heard whistling the theme song of "The Andy Griffith Show," died Monday of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 88.
In addition to writing the folksy "Andy Griffith" tune, Hagen penned the themes for "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Danny Thomas Show," "I Spy," "That Girl," "The Mod Squad" and "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer," many for famed TV director Sheldon Leonard.
Hagen composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes during his TV career, which spanned more than three decades.
The composer also was active in the film business, mostly as an arranger and orchestrator for 20th Century Fox. He received a 1960 Oscar nomination (shared with Lionel Newman) as musical director for the Marilyn Monroe film "Let's Make Love."
Hagen, who played trombone with the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey orchestras,...
In addition to writing the folksy "Andy Griffith" tune, Hagen penned the themes for "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Danny Thomas Show," "I Spy," "That Girl," "The Mod Squad" and "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer," many for famed TV director Sheldon Leonard.
Hagen composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes during his TV career, which spanned more than three decades.
The composer also was active in the film business, mostly as an arranger and orchestrator for 20th Century Fox. He received a 1960 Oscar nomination (shared with Lionel Newman) as musical director for the Marilyn Monroe film "Let's Make Love."
Hagen, who played trombone with the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey orchestras,...
- 5/27/2008
- by By Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Earle Hagen, Emmy-winning composer of some of the most memorable musical themes in TV history and the man heard whistling the theme song of The Andy Griffith Show, died Monday of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 88.
In addition to writing the folksy Andy Griffith tune, Hagen penned the themes for The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Danny Thomas Show, I Spy, That Girl, The Mod Squad and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, many for famed TV director Sheldon Leonard.
Hagen composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes during his TV career, which spanned more than three decades.
The composer also was active in the film business, mostly as an arranger and orchestrator for 20th Century Fox. He received a 1960 Oscar nomination (shared with Lionel Newman) as musical director for the Marilyn Monroe film Let's Make Love.
Hagen, who played trombone with the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, composed the jazz standard Harlem Nocturne. Written in 1939 for big-band leader Ray Noble, the tune went on to be recorded by Les Brown, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Ray Anthony and many other bands.
In addition to writing the folksy Andy Griffith tune, Hagen penned the themes for The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Danny Thomas Show, I Spy, That Girl, The Mod Squad and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, many for famed TV director Sheldon Leonard.
Hagen composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes during his TV career, which spanned more than three decades.
The composer also was active in the film business, mostly as an arranger and orchestrator for 20th Century Fox. He received a 1960 Oscar nomination (shared with Lionel Newman) as musical director for the Marilyn Monroe film Let's Make Love.
Hagen, who played trombone with the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, composed the jazz standard Harlem Nocturne. Written in 1939 for big-band leader Ray Noble, the tune went on to be recorded by Les Brown, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Ray Anthony and many other bands.
- 5/27/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BMI honors continued Wednesday. The performing rights organization celebrated the composers of music for the biggest-grossing features, top-rated network TV series and highest-ranking cable programs of the year at its Film & TV Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Harry Gregson-Williams received the BMI Richard Kirk Award for outstanding career achievement. Gregson-Williams' credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Shrek, Shrek 2, Kingdom of Heaven and Domino. Earl Hagen was honored with the Classic Contribution Award, recognizing more than 50 years as a BMI affiliate. A former Kirk Award recipient, Hagen has penned the memorable themes for such TV series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy and The Mod Squad.
- 5/18/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BMI honors continued Wednesday. The performing rights organization celebrated the composers of music for the biggest-grossing features, top-rated network TV series and highest-ranking cable programs of the year at its Film & TV Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Harry Gregson-Williams received the BMI Richard Kirk Award for outstanding career achievement. Gregson-Williams' credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Shrek, Shrek 2, Kingdom of Heaven and Domino. Earl Hagen was honored with the Classic Contribution Award, recognizing more than 50 years as a BMI affiliate. A former Kirk Award recipient, Hagen has penned the memorable themes for such TV series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy and The Mod Squad.
- 5/18/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.