For Gen Xers raised on a steady diet of network dramas, alien conspiracies, and moody synths, composer Mark Snow was the man behind the music that scored our childhoods and teen years. From the stylish glamour of Hart to Hart to the sci-fi paranoia of The X-Files, Snow’s themes helped define an entire era of television.
Here are 10 of his most memorable TV themes, ranked not just by popularity, but by their pure nostalgic power.
1. The X-Files (1993–2002, 2016–2018)
Let’s be honest — this is the crown jewel. That whistling, echoing, eerie theme was the stuff of schoolyard dares and late-night chills. Even if you weren’t a believer, the X-Files theme made you feel like the government was hiding something. A defining sound of the '90s and a global chart hit in 1996.
2. Millennium (1996–1999)
Darker and more apocalyptic than The X-Files, Snow’s theme for Chris Carter’s second series was hauntingly beautiful — equal parts foreboding and elegiac. Perfect for Gen Xers who leaned into their angsty side (and who maybe still do).
3. Hart to Hart (1979–1984)
If you grew up in a house where your parents watched TV with a glass of wine in hand, you know this theme. Sophisticated, lush, and oh-so-‘80s, Snow’s romantic score for the glamorous crime-solving couple was pure prime-time gold.
4. T.J. Hooker (1982–1986)
With William Shatner at the wheel and a brassy, action-packed score to match, this one screamed cop show cool. Snow brought the drama with a driving theme that was all sirens, synths, and swagger.
5. Starsky & Hutch (1975–1979)
Snow didn’t write the original theme, but he did contribute music (including a new theme) during the later seasons. His take was funkier and grittier — a solid vibe for a show that gave us car chases and cool jackets.
6. Smallville (2001–2006)
Though best known for its pop-rock opening (“Somebody saaaaave me…”), Snow scored the rest of the show — and his music was the emotional glue that held Superman’s teen angst together. If you stuck around for early-2000s WB drama, you heard his work every week.
7. Ghost Whisperer (2005–2010)
Another later Gen X fave — Snow's music here was atmospheric and spiritual, echoing the show’s themes of loss, memory, and connection. It wasn’t scary per se — but it definitely made you look over your shoulder once or twice.
8. Blue Bloods (2010–2024)
Technically a millennial-era show, but Gen Xers love Tom Selleck — and Snow scored nearly 300 episodes of this police procedural. His music added weight to family dinners and crime scene drama alike.
9. The Twilight Zone (2002 revival)
Snow composed the theme and score for the short-lived 2002 reboot. While nothing can top Marius Constant’s original, Snow’s modern update carried the DNA of creepy TV past — a nod to Gen X nostalgia and futuristic dread.
10. The Lone Gunmen (2001)
This X-Files spinoff was quirky, clever, and cancelled too soon. Snow brought a lighter touch to the music, blending conspiracy with comedy — because even the truth can be fun sometimes.
Honourable Mentions:
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One Tree Hill – not the theme, but yep, Snow was scoring all that teen drama.
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Crazy Like a Fox – for those Gen Xers who remember that mid-'80s detective comedy vibe.
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The Boy in the Plastic Bubble – technically a TV movie, but worth mentioning for its cult status and peak Travolta.
For Gen X, His Music Was Always There
Mark Snow’s themes didn’t just play before the show — they set the mood. They told us when to lean in, when to feel something, and when to brace for the unexpected. He was the unseen hand guiding a generation through the golden age of network television and into the new millennium.
Whether you were a latchkey kid watching Cagney & Lacey with your mom, a ‘90s teen falling into the rabbit hole of The X-Files, or a 30-something catching Blue Bloods on a Friday night — Mark Snow scored your life.
And for that, we thank him.