Top 10 commercials with pre-famous actors

Last week I finally saw the movie "Whiplash" with Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons.  I thought the movie was very well made and Simmons was great in it.  What is interesting about Simmons is he currently is best known for Farmers Insurance commercials.  Commercials are a great way for an up and coming actor to try to get their big break so it's interesting to see a pretty established actor in Simmons having such a prominent commercial gig.  This got to me thinking what stars have used a commercial to get their career started and so I give you the top ten list for this blog.

The Top 10 commercials featuring actors before they were stars (Flash recommended).

10. Ben Affleck- Creative ad but who orders a Chef Salad from Burger King.

9. Matt LeBlanc- Who doesn't like the show Friends, and who doesn't like ketchup?

8. Lindsay Lohan- She is just so cute but loses point with the whole Bill Cosby in the commercial.

7. Paul Rudd- Who knows how popular Paul Rudd would be without his director friend Judd Apatow but I like to think it was the Super Nintendo that made it all work.

6. Brad Pitt- Always been sexy and just think there was a time where there was just one Pringles flavored chip.

5. Morgan Freeman- Has always had the great Freeman voice and always has been impressed with technology.  You can take a picture with a Polaroid camera and see the image within minutes.

4. Bryan Cranston- From hemorrhoids relief to Breaking Bad, really a ride any person would be willing to take.

3. Bruce Willis- This has 80's commercial written all over and it makes me really want an alcoholic beverage.

2. Jason Alexander- Alexander has hair and it's a commercial about the McDLT. Enough said.

1. Steve Carell- This wins the countdown because it's funny and shows that Steve Carrel has always had great timing.

The Top Ten Theme songs

10. Flintstones- Meet the Flintstones, yabba dabba do!!!

9. Friends- High on the list because of the success of the show but not top notch material because overall song not that great.

8. Mister Rogers Neighborhood- It truly always was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

7. Cops- What were the bad boys really going to do?

6. Golden Girls- No golden girls, thank you for being a friend for all those years.

5. Brady Bunch- Here's a story I want to tell.

4. Sesame Street- Can anyone tell me how to get there?

3. Gilligan’s Island- It was suppose to only be a three hour tour.

2. Fresh Prince of Bel Air- Age range 25-40 I would say could pretty much sing this whole theme song.

1. Turn and Smile- It's catchy and really gets to the point of what the show was about.

Haha got those of you that didn't just scroll all the way too the bottom, I figured I needed to have that spoof theme song in the countdown, but the real number one.....

1. Cheers- Everybody really did know your name.

Theme songs 20-11

Let us continue our countdown shall we.......

20. Growing Pains-  Show me that smile, one of the cheesiest theme songs but one you just can't help but show that smile.

          

19. Muppet Show- This theme song gets point because it was sung by actual Muppets.

18. Saved by the Bell- I was never really lucky to be saved by the bell but this theme song still hit home for me in the mornings getting ready. 

17. Mr. Ed- A horse of course. Simple theme song that was easy to sing.

16. Mary Tyler Moore- Minneapolis background so you really can't beat that.

15. Family Ties- This song just wanted you to hug your family tight.

14. Married with Children- The theme song is sung by Frank Sinatra, I mean what more do you need?

13. Three’s Company- Come and knock on our door.

12. Scooby Doo- Scooby dooby doo where are you?

11. Greatest American Hero- Forget the great theme song, this is just a great song.

Don't forget to check back for the top ten!!!

Theme songs 30-21

And the countdown continues......

30. Laverne and Shirley- Who needs the Rocky theme song to get them up, this song heard just once would be enough for a person to chase their dreams, their way.

29. Petticoat Junction- Maybe I’m a little bias because the theme song has a train whistle in it.

28. Beverly Hillbillies- You probably don’t even realize it but you can sing most of this song.     

    

27. Duck Tales- Duck Tales, a whoo hoo

26. Pee Wee’s Playhouse- In classic Pee Wee form it was wacky and classic.

25. F-Troop- A trumpet in the song and the catchiest words you have never heard of.

24. Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers- Pretty sure this theme song introduced us to the repeating the first syllable in a song if it’s not long enough to keep the beat.

23. Animaniacs- Another cartoon show and continues to show how important theme songs are to the Saturday mornings.

22. Fraggle Rock- After hearing this song every week you couldn’t help but want to go down to Fraggle Rock.

21. Full House- We can all sing it but it is pretty cheesy and doesn’t hold the test of time, that’s kinda what makes it great.

  Just the top 20 songs left!!!

Theme songs 40-31

40. Tiny Toon Adventures- A cartoon from the 90’s not everyone has heard of but hear this theme song once and you can’t help but sing along with Baby Bugs Bunny.

39. Green Acres- One of the most famous theme songs that uses the song to express the title of the show.  It got everyone to want to go to Green Acres but not as high on the list due to the lack of the creativeness of the song.

38. South Park- Another cartoon on the list that is tricky to know all the words and gets points for having the characters themselves sing in the theme song.

37. All in the Family- Groundbreaking show of the time meant it had to have a theme song that caught your attention.  This theme song also has been parodied a few times over the year, most notably by the show Family Guy (Spoiler alert, Family Guy doesn’t make the list but most likely would have made honorable mention)-

36. The Jeffersons- The theme song that allowed us all to dream and movin’ on up in the World.

35. Car 54- A simple theme song that just wanted to know where Car 54 was.

34. Family Matters- TGIF was never really known for great theme songs, a show like Step by Step don't make the list even though that was solid.  Family Matters was catchy but one that kinda got lost throughout the years.

33. Charles in Charge- The sad part of this show and theme song is many kids under the age of 25 probably never even heard of this show but if you have I know for a fact you are singing it out loud right now.

32. The Courtship of Eddie’s Father- The one show one the list that I not only never saw but never even heard of.  While doing my research this theme song kept coming up time and time again as one of the greatest theme songs ever.  Since I hadn’t ever heard of the show I knocked down points but it still is a great theme song once I finally heard it.

31. Diff'rent Strokes- The show had Gary Coleman in it.  Who cares about the theme song.

I'm sure the arguments are already building so make sure to come back tomorrow for 30-21

Theme songs 50-41

We have the theme songs without any words to them so today let's start up the list and talk about theme songs 50-41

50. Addams Family- What a great start to the list, you know it's going to be a great list if a theme like The Addams Family is at 50. This theme song taught us all how to snap our fingers.

49. Inspector Gadget- 90's cartoons tended to have some pretty good theme songs so I'm guessing we will see more to come.  What makes this theme song impressive is it's catchy and only has three words in it.

48. Love Boat- Theme songs that are catchy and use the words of the show title in the theme song give it much earned extra points.

47. Happy Days- This theme song told us every day was a happy day.  You can't help but smile and clap at this classic theme song.  It just makes you happy.

46. Batman- One word but so so catchy.

45. The Jetsons- A theme song that described exactly who everyone was on the show, was very helpful to the viewers.

44. Big Bang Theory- This song gets points because everyone tries to sing it but does anyone really know all the words?  It loses points however because it's sung by the Barenaked Ladies

43. Malcom in the Middle- Our first of theme songs that the song actually had a pretty good run outside the theme song.  This theme song means a little more to me because I always remember me and my brother saying you're not the boss of me now, over and over.

42. Baywatch- Not a great theme song but when watched with the video is why it's higher on the list.

41. Facts of Life- Another theme song that uses the title in the theme song which is always a plus in my eyes.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for 31-40.

50 best TV Theme songs all time

Over the last couple months whenever I have had some downtime I searched and listened to TV theme songs.  Before anyone gets mad that I forgot about a certain theme song, don't worry I didn't.  During this time I listened to over 500 theme songs and made a list of which ones I liked and which ones were not so great.  Everyone has their own definition of what makes a great theme song and there was really only one rule I had. My rule was the theme song needed to have lyrics, a good theme song is something you can sing along to.  Also not really a rule but the show itself did not have to have much success, but it is hard to argue that a great show can help boost an average theme song. 

Before we start though I do want to cover the 10 theme songs that didn't qualify because they have no words to them.  Still solid theme songs that have easily got stuck in all our heads. 

10. X-Files- Gives the chills every time you hear it.

9. Breaking Bad- Great show that probably made the theme song more catchy.

8. Sanford and Son- Everyone should be able to hum this tune even if most people my age never saw an episode.

7. Sex in the City- Never saw this show but a lot of chicks did.  I put it on the list and in this spot because they have a slot machine at the casino that I won big on once and it played the theme song.  It's always had a special place in my heart for that.

6. Doctor Who- The theme song has changed a little over the years but fans of the show can still recognize it within the first second.

5. Andy Griffith Show- You are whistling right now, that's how powerful this song was.

4. Bonanza- You know this song and it plays in your head, younger folks probably didn't know this show is where it is from.

3. Mission Impossible- We have all hummed this tune when we feel we have been in a tricky situation.

2. The Simpsons- Of course this is going to make the list, call me a "Homer" of sorts.

1. The Twilight Zone- Come on this scary but effective tune got us every time.  And talk about standing the test of time.

Some great songs there so I can only imagine what the list of 50 that you can actually sing along to will bring us.  Guess you will have to come back tomorrow to see the start of the list......