Conti's theme to Dynasty has got to be one of the prime examples of an absolutely gorgeous piece of music for a truly crap TV program--and one completely unworthy of that theme. I always found the music quite melancholy.
Another good one - HeartBeat (not the long-running British TV show, although HeartBeat was shown in the UK as well - http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1991-02-21#at-23.00). There are episodes on YouTube, but they've been uploaded by a Kate Mulgrew fan who insisted on removing the opening titles and the end credits. (The huge "Julia" bug she's stuck on each vid doesn't help.)
Definitely DYNASTY. It's not only a good tune, it also communicates a lot of stuff about the series. I remember doing this thread back in the day, when I was studying (it's clearly written by a student in the first year of media studies, he, he...):
If it's of any interest, I did a quick search online for "HeartBeat" composers. Ken Harrison lists on his site doing the pilot and multiples. I also found that Peter Bernstein did some work. I've submitted the pilot credit to IMDb. I'm pretty sure I have a PDF file from Harrison with series and what episodes he worked on.
JULY, 2016 EDIT:
Harrison scored all the episodes and did the theme. Bernstein did an unrelated TV movie by the same name.
Even if it is not a dramatic series such as Falcon Crest and Dynasty it is still a theme made for television so it counts (sort of anyway), my vote goes to American Gladiators. What a great and heroic theme, I love it. Actually I bought the soundtrack just because of that theme.
Interestingly, while FALCON CREST was big in Norway in the 80s, it pales in comparison to DYNASTY -- which was a cornerstone of Norwegian media culture in a time where we only had one tv channel. It's more than a series for us; it's a pop cultural phenomenon.
I have vivid memories of sitting up with my mom and watching it every Wednesday evening or so, for several years during my childhood. I even once made a 'puppy' in art class that I called 'Blake' because I was such a big fan of Blake Carrington, LOL! These days, of course, I wouldn't really have any interest in such soaps.
So this theme has the double effect of being a nostalgic favourite as well as a great tune in its own right.
If it's of any interest, I did a quick search online for "HeartBeat" composers. Ken Harrison lists on his site doing the pilot and multiples.
They worked on the very shortlived E.A.R.T.H. Force* as well - Bill Conti wrote the original theme and Ken Harrison scored the two-hour pilot. (I say the original theme because for some reason, the producers junked it and hired Cory Lerios and John D'Andrea to do a new theme and the episode scores. No wonder it was cancelled so quickly.) You can check out the pilot on YouTube, with the blessing that CBS's "let's completely blank out the music for the sections where the announcer talks" policy was averted for the end credits. (There's still talking, but at least you can still hear music.)
*The Elite overseas, where all six produced episodes aired (it was understandably the first new show of its season to be pulled.)
That was too funny Jim. 
