The Lost thread got me thinking about soundtracks, specifically on TV shows. I felt that Lost was one of the first shows I can recall that really effectively used the soundtrack like you see in cinema. It was more than just background music. Life & Death, Oceanic 6 and Landing Party are just beautiful pieces by Giacchino. What shows do you think leveraged music to make a significant difference in the story?

Some prime examples, in my opinion:

Westworld - Every Ramin Djiwadi version of popular music on the player piano was a brilliant touch. My personal favorite was Heart-Shaped Box from season 2.



Mr. Robot - Maxence Cyrin's version of the Pixie's Where Is My Mind accompanied the season 1 finale to perfection. Beautiful rendition.



Friday Night Lights - So much Explosions In the Sky. Your Hand in Mine always reminds me of small town Texas when I hear it thanks to that show.

Cop Rock

EOT

If we're talking soundtracks I always default to Scrubs. Incredible use of music as character made especially effective in a 22 minute comedy.

For scores, I'm partial to Bear McCreary's work, particularly Battlestar Galactica. Reminds me of Shore's work on LotR the way he leveraged themes for each character / character group. Adama family, Cylons, Starbucks, etc....all have their unique, gorgeous tracks.

Northern Exposure

Great call on Scrubs. I loved the episode with the ukulele version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Never got into BSG, but may have to check it out.

I like the songs they play during the credits of Dark, does that count?

Wonder Years is famous for not being able to afford the music rights for rebroadcast.

Airwolf

I was going to post this exactly. Some of the most gut-wrenching moments in that show. Bout to fan-boy a bit...

My Lunch?


My Old Lady?


And then after dipping, they got back to form for Season 8 (Because Season 9 never happened)


I really haven't seen a show that uses music as well as Scrubs did. I could probably link a scene from every episode.

My Way Home was already mentioned. And then there is one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I've ever experienced watching a TV show... My Screw Up.

The Chris Isaak show

deadhead aggie said:

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Northern Exposure

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True, but like Wonder Years, this is the reason the show isn't available on any streaming service. Which is a bummer. Would love to be able to watch it again.

Sex Panther said:

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deadhead aggie said:

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Northern Exposure

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True, but like Wonder Years, this is the reason the show isn't available on any streaming service. Which is a bummer. Would love to be able to watch it again.

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I heard same problem with the show Ed

First ones that come to mind for TV scores:

1. Lost
2. Friday Night Lights
3. Game of Thrones
4. From the Earth to the Moon / Band of Brothers (mini-series)
5. Star Trek, '67

Peaky Blinders
Stranger Things

Sons of Anarchy
Yellowstone

The Americans made great use of timely period songs. Of note, the pilot's use of Tusk and the Finale's use of With or Without You are both incredible.

Grey's Anatomy

Chuck had a TON of great music.

Sept of Baelor scene with Light of the Seven was perfect. That was my favorite scene from the entire series, and the music helped to make it amazing.

Yea Game of Thrones is my top one. I love how each family had its own music score. The Stark's "Goodbye Brother" was my favorite.

This transition to the Stark theme...chills every time. (Massive spoilers for those who haven't watched GoT.)

We talking score or soundtrack? I see them as two different things.

Score: True Detective Season 1. T-Bone Burnett really snapped with that one. Creepy and atmospheric AF.

Soundtrack: No question, no comp, it's this...

Good point, I agree on the distinction. I appreciate both, especially being able to effectively use current (or past) popular music to complement the scene.

However, I really love when an original score completely transforms the show, and my point in the OP was that I can't remember many shows before Lost that took the score so seriously, especially for network TV. It seems pretty commonplace now.

Man I was huge into The OC (for the first 3 seasons)...

Forgot about Planet Earth. Hans Zimmer ftw.

Rat Patrol
12 O'Clock High
Outer Limits
Flying Nun
The Fugitive
The Invaders
Branded

Stewart Copeland's (of The Police) soundtrack for The Equalizer was the first that really stood out to me. I still listen to that CD semi-regularly.

I really liked the work Max Richter did on The Leftovers. Very haunting.

Don't forget the Colin Hay version of Overkill!

The title to this thread was "Soundtrack", not "Score". Writing a particular score for a show is great, but it is an entirely different thing to pick the perfect existing song for a particular scene.