Austin City Limits (1976)

Featuring the best, most raucous theme song on public television, courtete of singer-songwriter Gary P. Nunn (former leader of Jerry Jeff Walker's back-up group, the Lost Gonzo Band), Austin City Limits is a consistently fine showcase for country and folk performers who are either new or shoulda-been- famous. The big, complacent country stars dominate the Nashville Network, but Austin City Limits finds the time for worthy folks like Loudon Wainwright III, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and John Prine. The format is wonderfully simple, too: No host, two guests who get a half-hour each h stand on a stage and perform. Nothing fancy, just good music. A