# Best and Worst T.V. Show Theme Songs Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965 "2005-03-04T20:47:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/61 "2005-03-05T15:31:19Z")
I love the theme songs from: Laverne and Shirley Absolutely Fabulous----wheeeeeels on fiiiiiire…rolllllllllling down the rooooad… The Muppet Show Mary Tyler Moore The Sopranos Family Ties (yes, I’m an idiot) Roseanne (the original one) Seinfeld I can’t think of any I actively hate. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/62 "2005-03-05T15:41:12Z")
> [@Millit the Frail](#): > > Polaris did a lot of songs for **The Adventures of Pete and Pete.** \* A lot of music by Stephin Merritt, my favorite songwriter (of The Magnetic Fields, The 6ths and The Future Bible Heroes) ended up on the show as well. And now I’m getting all nostalgic for the show … **Murder Most Horrid** had a terrific theme song. If I remember correctly, it was sung by Shirley Bassey. At any rate, it sounded like a James Bond theme song. There were several different ending lines, and it was always fun to see which one ended the episode: "You awake in the night, your face flushed and florid … " "You awake in the night, enormously torrid … " "You awake in the night, wearing something you borr’ed … " ---
**Author:** ![Grendel\_s\_Father](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grendel\_s\_Father](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grendel_s_Father)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/63 "2005-03-05T15:47:35Z")
I’ll second (or third or fourth) **Pete and Pete** ; all the music from that show was classic. The only theme music that ever got me to watch a show I had decided looked dumb was **SeaQuest**. And I think the award for “theme music so creepy I still can’t listen to it alone in a dark room” is **Unsolved Mysteries**. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/64 "2005-03-05T15:49:07Z")
I always loved the themes from the westerns during the late 60’s and into the 70’s. Men From Shiloh Cimaron Strip The Outcasts Iron Horse Always thought the theme from “The Prisoner” was great and fit the opening montage perfectly. For singing themes, the one from “Cheers” seemed to be the classiest and fit the show well. Also loved the theme for “Grand”. As for today, I like the theme for “The Amazing Race” and the music I have been hearing in the promos for “The Contender”. And this is stretching back a ways, but how about the theme from the 50’s show, “Topper” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/65 "2005-03-05T16:13:48Z")
I love the Adult Swim themes: _Harvey Birdman, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021_. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/66 "2005-03-05T16:20:26Z")
> [@stanger](#): > > As for today, I like the theme for “The Amazing Race” Good one. That music is very exciting. On the other side of the reality show spectrum, the theme for American Idol is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/67 "2005-03-05T16:28:54Z")
There are various reasons to call a theme song good: Do you like to hear it? Do you like to watch the video that goes with it? Does it set up the show’s premise? Does it hold up through repeated viewings? Etc. Many good choices so far. I would like to second the **Beverly Hillbillies** theme. All the reasons above, and it’s performed by two of America’s greatest musicians ever (Flatt and Scruggs). The **Green Acres** theme is especially great at setting the mood for the show – my friends and I refer to the bass harmonica (that thing that sounds like a pig grunting) as the “Swine-a-phone”. I always liked the **Drew Carey** show’s themes – the non-original songs (“Five O’Clock World”, “Cleveland Rocks”) were always good choices, but my favorite was always the original one, “Moon Over Parma”, which IIRC, was actually played and sung by Carey himself. And the one that I’m shocked no one has mentioned yet: **F Troop** (the vocal version). ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/68 "2005-03-05T16:52:57Z")
I like the **Teen Titans** theme a lot, too. Also **Sealab2021** and **Futurama**. Also partial to the original **Power Rangers** theme with the vocal bits added. “Ahhh! After ten thousand years I’m free! It’s time to conquer _Earth_!” “Alpha, Rita’s escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with _attitude_!” ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/69 "2005-03-05T17:06:09Z")
The best: _X-Files_ - The theme is creepy and foreboding. They couldn’t have come up with a better one. _Smallville_ - I downloaded Remy Zero’s song, “Save Me” and I still listen to it. Very fitting. _The Drew Carey Show_ - I can’t help but sing along to this when I watch the opening credits to the show. Just a very, very fun song. And just a few classics: _Cheers_ _The Wonder Years_ _Family Ties_ And laugh all you want, but I always thought the theme to _Doogie Howser, M.D._ was quite fitting and good. It just _sounded_ medical. 😉 I totally agree about the suckability of the tune from _That 70’s Show_. I love the show, but that song makes my teeth grate. Adam ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/70 "2005-03-05T17:07:29Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > I always liked the **Drew Carey** show’s themes – the non-original songs (“Five O’Clock World”, “Cleveland Rocks”) were always good choices, but my favorite was always the original one, “Moon Over Parma”, which IIRC, was actually played and sung by Carey himself. I guess it pays to read the prior posts _before_ posting, not after. Sorry. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/71 "2005-03-05T17:18:13Z")
> [@stegon66](#): > > Too many contenders for the best, but the theme from _The Price is Right_ irritates the shit out of me - I’d rather have railroad spikes pounded into my ears than listen to it. Is the freakin’ show even on anymore? We used the _Price is Right_ theme as the opening theme to a movie I just finished making. BMG owns it, and we’ve been “negotiating” with them for the rights. And by “Negotiating” I mean “trading faxes and then waiting a month or two until someone pays attention to us again.” I’m pretty sure we’re going to end up replacing it with an original song rather than shelling out the money for it. The festival rights aren’t so bad, but they want an outrageous amount of money for the DVD sales, and I’m not sure it’s worth it to keep the joke in place. Anyways, my favorite TV theme song is “Tank!” by Yako Kanno and the Seatbelts, the theme to _Cowboy Bebop_, which is going to go down as one of the greats right next to “Peter Gunn”. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/72 "2005-03-05T21:42:49Z")
Ah, many other good ones mentioned… I love this thread. I get to hear some of my favorite music as I scan down through the posts… No mention of the charming **Darkwing Duck** theme? Or, I’ve just been watching the DVD set of **Sledge Hammer!** and it has a great Danny Elfman piece. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/73 "2005-03-05T22:18:56Z")
Loved the X-Files theme–just the right way to get you psyched up for some creepy, eerie, horrifying fun with aliens, ghosts, and FBI agents. Mark Snow has done some really magical work, even if he tends to recycle some of his themes. Buffy theme? In the words of Crush the turtle, “Righteous! Righteous! Excellent!” 🙂 Pete Townshend’s “Who Are You”? Great as a song on its own. Not great for CSI’s opening theme, at all. Wonderful song, wonderful show, they just… don’t… _go_ together. I actually _liked_ the Friends theme. It was catchy and bright and funky, and the goofy stuff was mildly amusing. But I can see how it would get on your nerves after a while. Not technically a song, but the ‘beep-beep-beep’ intro to 24 never fails to get my heart racing. Absolutely perfect way to open an episode. The Law and Order theme (in all its incarnations) is just classic. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/74 "2005-03-05T22:24:31Z")
Cheers’ is the best for me. I don’t hate Friends’ as much as some others do, in fact, I liked it at first. I started to dislike it by the end of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/75 "2005-03-05T23:21:26Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Please tell me you’re kidding. No. And thanks for the reminder about “Sealab 2021” **shy guy**. I love that voice. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/76 "2005-03-06T02:06:05Z")
For all of you cartoon afficionados, [here](http://www.toontracker.com/realaudio/ttra.htm) is a fun site. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/77 "2005-03-06T05:36:23Z")
The theme song to ABC’s _Sonic the Hedgehog_ is in the top five, at least, in the “saturday morning” category. (Along with the themes to _Cybersix_ and _Escaflowne_, in my book.) Gotta second _Inner Universe_, too. No reference to _Star Trek: The Next Generation_? For shame! ---
**Author:** ![benlormat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@benlormat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benlormat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/78 "2005-03-06T06:06:11Z")
I always liked the theme song for **The Courtship of Eddie’s Father**. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/79 "2005-03-06T07:57:04Z")
Best: Sanford & Son Rockford Files Bob Newhart Venture Bros. Worst: Three’s Company Rhoda Ebert & Roper Saved by the Bell ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965/80 "2005-03-06T12:52:21Z")
Worst: The Brady Bunch- WAY too cute and sweet Three’s Company- contains one of the worst lines in any theme “Down at our rendevous”. Huh? BTW, the singers for the theme are [Ray Charles and Julie Rinker](http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/shows/three.htm) . Someone please tell me it’s not THE Ray Charles. Best: Twin Peaks. Do yourself a favor and get the CD of Angelo Badalamenti’s music for the show. Eight is Enough. Of course any song that gives me clips of Laurie Walters (Joannie) would get my vote. Sponge Bob Squarepants. Watch it with a room full of kids and go ahead and shout along. One Day at a Time. Kinda catchy, plus it had clips of Valerie Bertinelli. Hockey Night in Canada. So sad I never got to hear it this year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-t-v-show-theme-songs-ever/292965.md?page=5)