I suspect it is more the latter. Most shows have music which is fine, but the emotional connection to it comes through associating the music with a pleasurable experience.

And to be honest, I always thought the X-Files music was a bit naff and boring.

Now Hill Street Blues ... there was a theme tune.

I think that, compared to producing a show in the first place, picking the theme music (whether it be an existing track, as with 'Enterprise', or a commissioned new piece) is a relatively simple matter.

That said, I love 'The Sopranos's theme (been catching the repeated series), but never really watched 'Roswell High', because the theme put me off, even though the record itself, when I heard it properly on the radio, is great (got the album now, courtesy of Music4you ). Putting vocals on a theme is a risky business. For every '10th Kingdom', there's er... something that doesn't work quite as well.

PS, not sure about the 'Smallville' theme, but that doesn't stop me yelling 'Saaavve me...' when the mood takes me

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by Joe
That said, I love 'The Sopranos's theme (been catching the repeated series),

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I would love to know how a song by an underground Brixton Country-Acid band who met in rehab made it onto the opening credits of the Sopranos.

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by Joe
PS, not sure about the 'Smallville' theme, but that doesn't stop me yelling 'Saaavve me...' when the mood takes me

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That's one theme that I really do like

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by Wobag
Maybe its something aboutt the right creative team coming together,

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I suspect that as with many things - the right team of people can make a bad idea work, whereas the wrong team can ruin even the best of plans. A random story idea will get sufficient backing from the studios to have an even chance of succeeding so long as it's got the right crew producing it.