The Philo Farnsworth Experiment

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Blues or The greatest TV themes out there right now and a special nod to Hall of Famers from years gone by.

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The Philo Farnsworth Experiment.mp3

"There's nothing on it worthwhile, and we're not going to watch it in this household, and I don't want it in your intellectual diet." - Philo Farnsworth's feelings about watching television.

We love our tube. There's no question about it. Some want to argue against the television, or at least, the programming on it. They get holier-than-thou because the television and networks want to rot your brain with soul-crushing game shows and spirit-sucking talking heads. Me, I fucking love high definition television, and frankly, it's really all about what you (Grace Slick would smile) feed your head. You can load up on soul-sucking reality shows that bear no semblence to any life you've ever led and mind-numbing game shows that upon which you will never appear. You can feed your head the poison of MTV and the endless prattle of cable news. Or... you can see good acting, character evolution and watch a *GASP* plot play itself out.

Of course, along the way, we'll have sounds accompanying us. What the hell good would any of it be without great music. There's a fucking reason the record industry sells film and television soundtracks. Exactly how good would Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns be without Ennio Morricone's transcendent score? John William's Imperial March will be forever etched into the skin of pop culture the world over. Alabama 3's brooding and hypnotic Woke Up This Morning set the tone for the equally brooding and hypnotic Tony Soprano. The Jefferson's Theme achieves soaring heights that might not have been possible lest for the Ja'net DuBois' arching vocal reach. Some themes become even more towering because of their melody or even their universal message. Case in point: Where Everybody Knows Your Name. You know it, your neighbor knows it, your kids probably know it and they don't even know where the hell it came from. Some themes are just plain fucking fun. Quincy Jones' Sanford and Son Theme is the real deal, funk and soul with the eclectic breakdown befitting a man of Jones' unimpeachable talents.

So go ahead, give this a listen and the Ear Candy Update double dog dares you not to picture the characters in these shows. Be sure to listen to the song beds too, because there are some SERIOUS gems inbetween songs. I promise you, you'll have Herman Munster stuck in your head for a week. So thank you, thank you, Mr. Farnsworth. Here's to you.

Read The Electromagnetic Spectrum Blues: An Elegy for Dr. Philo Taylor Farnsworth II
The Electromagnetic Spectrum Blues: An Elegy for Dr. Philo Taylor Farnsworth II

If you have any suggestions, bitches, gripes, complaints or praise, email the Duke right here: Dukewilbury@yahoo.com

The Themes:
Woke Up This Morning - Alabama 3, from The Sopranos
Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, from John From Cincinnati
The Bomb - Bitter:Sweet, from The Lipstick Jungle
Teardrops - Massive Attack, from House, M.D.
Sanford and Son Theme Song - Quincy Jones, from Sanford and Sons
Movin' On Up - Jeff Barry/Ja'net Dubois, from The Jeffersons
The Munsters (Main Theme) - Jack Marshall, from The Munsters
Mission: Impossible - Lalo Schifrin, from Mission:Impossible
Suicide is Painless - Johnny Mandel, from M*A*S*H
Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Judy Hart Angelo, Gary Portnoy, from Cheers
Way Down In The Hole - Tom Waits, from The Wire
How Soon is Now - The Smiths, from Charmed
I'll Be Your Man - The Black Keys, from Hung
Bad Things - Jace Everett, from True Blood
Short Skirt/Long Jacket, Cake, from Chuck
A Beautiful Mine - RJD2, from Mad Men
Jonny Quest/Stop that Pigeon - The Reverend Horton Heat, from Jonny Quest








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