# Best TV theme song? Please post a link **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, music\ **Created:** [December 18, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287 "2021-12-18T16:18:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/201 "2022-12-05T14:47:58Z")
Here’s one written by Mark King & Mike Lindup (of Level 42 fame - one of my favorite groups). Not brilliant quality, but you get the idea … The Steam Video Company :- [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BqUufv5mesk/hqdefault.jpg "The Steam Video Company - Episode 5 (Part 2 of 2) - Rare UK comedy series") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqUufv5mesk) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/202 "2022-12-06T21:09:20Z")
One of my favorite sitcoms: [https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=night+court+theme+song#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f9314904,vid:\_IwUwmaTwmc](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=night+court+theme+song#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f9314904,vid:_IwUwmaTwmc) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/203 "2022-12-10T00:04:22Z")
Roadrunner [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wbl_ElsgtJY/maxresdefault.jpg "Roadrunner Original Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbl_ElsgtJY) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/204 "2022-12-10T00:09:14Z")
Since we’ve clearly just degenerated into posting any TV theme song, I will contribute the original Transformers theme, and a second video explaining just how bizarre it is, musically. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nLS2N9mHWaw/hqdefault.jpg "Transformers opening theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLS2N9mHWaw) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4Lk1d1PbHYY/maxresdefault.jpg "The First Transformers Theme Was WILDLY Confusing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lk1d1PbHYY) ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/205 "2022-12-10T01:10:34Z")
A couple from the past, Hercules and Spiderman, both from the late 60’s, early 70’s. At the tender age of 8, we thought changing out the Hercules lyrics to “fighting for his life, with a plastic knife and the strength of ten plastic army men” was classic comedy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/laoBvt9CcQo/maxresdefault.jpg "The Mighty Hercules Opening Theme | THE MIGHTY HERCULES") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Z8N9TTvKeQ/hqdefault.jpg "Spider-Man 1967 Cartoon Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z8N9TTvKeQ) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/206 "2022-12-10T01:17:51Z")
The Mighty Hercules theme song was sung by Johnny Nash… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/207 "2022-12-10T02:27:55Z")
Instead of “Fire in every part of the Mighty Hercules,” we always sang “Fire in every fart.” 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/208 "2022-12-10T02:31:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “A ~~wiener~~ hot dog makes her lose control!” 🤭 > > Ja, sure! The second I hit play on the Patty Duke theme I was instantly transported to 10 year old me, in the house I grew up in, sitting on the couch watching this. It was the last thing I’d watch before going to bed (but mom would usually let me stay up a few extra minutes until the Alfred Hitchcock Presents intro played) Speaking of which: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/flD-aRMwcjs/hqdefault.jpg "Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV intro.wmv") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flD-aRMwcjs) A few more of my favorites. I realize sentimentality may be playing a bigger role in picking them than I realize. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NT1tZmGvFfY/hqdefault.jpg "Fraggle Rock Intro (1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT1tZmGvFfY) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/y7K-lk6MnEE/hqdefault.jpg "I Dream of Jeannie (Intro) S2 (1966)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7K-lk6MnEE) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/209 "2022-12-10T02:35:53Z")
My favorite Hitchcock episode will always be “Lamb to the Slaughter” with Barbara Bel Geddes (aka “Miz Ellie” on _ **Dallas** _). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/210 "2022-12-10T04:02:16Z")
No love for _Puffin’ Billy_? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tSW-LJJHH3U/hqdefault.jpg "Captain Kangaroo Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSW-LJJHH3U) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/211 "2022-12-10T04:22:52Z")
My claim to fame is hitting him right square on the forehead with a ping pong ball on live TV. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/212 "2022-12-10T07:24:53Z")
> [@txtumbleweed](#): > > At the tender age of 8, we thought changing out the Hercules lyrics to “fighting for his life, with a plastic knife and the strength of ten plastic army men” was classic comedy At the very end of the Hercules song, Herc yelled out a long word or short phrase which was hard to distinguish, esp after Johnny Nash’s excellent enunciation (the linked video cuts out before the yell). A mother wrote a letter to a columnist at the local Chicago newspaper (I think it was the Dorsey Conners column) saying, “After watching the Hercules cartoon, my young son runs all around the the house yelling ‘Hold on, Pierre!!!’ That can’t be right! What on earth is Hercules saying???” The answer was, “O-lymm-ppia!” ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/213 "2022-12-10T18:15:40Z")
Well, we seem to have very limited restrictions as to what we identify as a theme: we have openings, closings, and character specific ones listed. As well as instrumental and non-instrumental, so I figured I’d contribute a few, starting with a few western ones. First, I cannot (!) believe no one linked this one in the approximately one year the thread has been open! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ntv9R1She5A/hqdefault.jpg "Incredible hulk - Lonely Man - Walking away theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntv9R1She5A) I mean, really? It’s a great tune, evocative, and the music and imagery has been used enough in various other situations to be all but it’s own trope (and may well be, I won’t bother to go checking). Second, from the amazing Batman The Animated Series [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rrmUk2YUm14/maxresdefault.jpg "Batman: The Animated Series | Remastered Opening Titles | Warner Bros. Entertainment") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrmUk2YUm14) Moving music, which combines perfectly with the visuals to fully evoke the world. Although a bit of a cheat since Elfman was involved and it was designed like the show to evoke the live-action movie. While I’d probably not identify it as a “best” I’m glad StarBlazers theme was linked upthread, because I’ve always had a fondness for it, and as a similar example, I’ll link the Robotech Theme that was always moving for me as a tween. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i4Y5fvWF1kU/hqdefault.jpg "Robotech = Opening Theme Song from the Macross Series") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Y5fvWF1kU) Last, two lovely pieces from anime TV series that I always enjoy but may be much less familiar to readers who aren’t fans of the genre. From Record of the Lodoss War Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (TV series rather than OAV to keep in line with the OP) https://www.youtube.com/embed/GPpRaBe27wo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL9j2a41pE28e_aZAJDfpGHHx8ApitHwus Although almost all of the themes from the OAV are frankly amazingly evocative. And last, but certainly not least, the full Theme from the Anime Spice and Wolf [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/W6q1AWnjNiU/hqdefault.jpg "Spice and Wolf OP 1 FULL (with lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6q1AWnjNiU) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/214 "2022-12-10T22:16:20Z")
I think these are unique to the thread thus far. In roughly chronological order, don’t hold me to that: The Flintstones [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uq7noaMwLfg/maxresdefault.jpg "The Flintstones Opening and Closing Theme 1960 1966") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq7noaMwLfg) The Fugitive [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FHjE9KsIDZU/maxresdefault.jpg "Peter Rugolo - Theme from "The Fugitive" - (The Fugitive, 1963)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHjE9KsIDZU) Green Acres [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/umS3XM3xAPk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGAgZShIMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBMBQX2BQtOhE5MqE1MfnaoXItZDQ ""Green Acres" Opening and Closing Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umS3XM3xAPk) In The News [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Kh9hpEtUx5U/hqdefault.jpg "TV THEME - "IN THE NEWS"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh9hpEtUx5U) The Love Boat [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m_wFEB4Oxlo/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHeAoAChgKKAgwIABABGCggLyh_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLBdxtFr2uuBJT6f8o1-O59e862JOQ "The Love Boat") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_wFEB4Oxlo) Buck Rogers in the 25th Century [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6J3fCfjPse0/maxresdefault.jpg "Buck Rogers In The 25th Century Main Theme - Long Version") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3fCfjPse0) The Powerpuff Girls [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f7MiaSr-0ug/maxresdefault.jpg "The Powerpuff Girls | Theme Song | Cartoon Network") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7MiaSr-0ug) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/215 "2022-12-10T23:43:31Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tTq6Tofmo7E/maxresdefault.jpg "Theme Song | The Jetsons | Warner Archive") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTq6Tofmo7E) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/216 "2022-12-11T04:35:09Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tZlvvdv1ffU/maxresdefault.jpg "Great Pretender : Official Opening Credits / Intro (Anime Series) (2020)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZlvvdv1ffU) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/217 "2022-12-11T04:38:13Z")
And another “I can’t believe it wasn’t in this list” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YUIE4ueIx8s/hqdefault.jpg "Del Shannon - Runaway - 1986 - Crime Story Theme (Historia Del Crimen)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUIE4ueIx8s) Del Shannon’s amazing Runaway for Crime Story. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/218 "2022-12-11T06:35:47Z")
Good one! I loved _ **Crime Story** _; too bad the second season sucked. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/219 "2022-12-11T14:59:05Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Buck Rogers in the 25th Century The instrumental is nice, but I prefer the sung version from the pilot. In the regular series, they played a truncated version during the end credits. Although I really wish they had gotten a baritone or a bass to sing it. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qi7SSsPvd0) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/220 "2022-12-11T17:34:08Z")
That’s a nice version. Fun fact: Kipp Lennon performed the Michael Jackson singing parts in the Season 3 Simpsons episode “Stark Raving Dad.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=12)