# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/101 "2021-12-21T00:44:18Z")
This one has been stuck in my head for a long time: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/D_QMRDmA7-s/hqdefault.jpg "The Courtship of Eddie's Father Intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_QMRDmA7-s) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/102 "2021-12-21T00:45:56Z")
I love the original of this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VYakrSp9DqM/hqdefault.jpg "Original Squibillies Theme With Lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYakrSp9DqM) But it has so many different versions of it, I can’t even begin to pick a favorite among them: Alabama Shakes [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v20dUss14Ow/hqdefault.jpg "Alabama Shakes Covers Squidbillies Theme Song | Squidbillies | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v20dUss14Ow) The B52s [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tifpXP5cRq8/maxresdefault.jpg "The B52s Theme Song Cover | Squidbillies | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tifpXP5cRq8) Centro Matic (hey, I know that guy!) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3f2Y1ihsJ8I/maxresdefault.jpg "Centro-Matic Theme Song Cover | Squidbillies, Season 8 | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f2Y1ihsJ8I) Jan Hammer [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/syZ45PEGHxA/maxresdefault.jpg "Jan Hammer Theme Song Cover | Squidbillies, Season 8 | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syZ45PEGHxA) Jimmy Cliff [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9DLrYHtEJkQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Jimmy Cliff theme song cover | Squidbillies | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DLrYHtEJkQ) The Preservation Hall Jazz Band [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rE24SNZIqEM/maxresdefault.jpg "Preservation Hall Jazz Band Theme Song Cover | Squidbillies | adult swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE24SNZIqEM) TY SEGALL!!! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QxBIbiyW3Oc/maxresdefault.jpg "Ty Segall: Theme Song Cover | Squidbillies | Adult Swim") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxBIbiyW3Oc) OK, yeah, I probably like that last one best, but they all have their charms. And there are many, many more. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremyphilip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Jeremyphilip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeremyphilip)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/103 "2021-12-21T01:57:48Z")
I dunno but I’m a big fan of the CW Flash opening. I stopped watching the series after season two itself but the opening doesn’t have any song or something but I like it somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/104 "2021-12-21T05:04:20Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lWUD7MBdDuo/hqdefault.jpg "And Then There's Maude Family Guy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWUD7MBdDuo) ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/105 "2021-12-21T05:47:26Z")
Did anyone mention Galavant? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QWnDwM0RSX4/maxresdefault.jpg "Cast of Galavant - Galavant (Official Lyric Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWnDwM0RSX4) ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/106 "2021-12-21T12:40:50Z")
An old earworm for me is theme from The Dating Game - Spanish Flea [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3pPYUjzPZnA/maxresdefault.jpg "Spanish Flea (Theme from the "Dating Game")") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pPYUjzPZnA) ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/107 "2021-12-21T18:12:33Z")
Wow. That brings it back. In 1967, our TV died while I was watching an episode of Speed Racer. I was six. My academic parents were dubious about the value of TV, so they didn’t replace it; I had to watch at friends’ houses for the next eight years. In 1975, my mom got tired of not having TV and rented(!) a black-and-white(!) 20"(!) TV. It arrived around 4PM and at 7PM we watched Nixon resign. My dad decided maybe TV wasn’t so bad after all. Within a few years, they had a large color TV with cable–of course I’d moved out by then. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/108 "2021-12-21T18:15:18Z")
In the “unanswerable” category, I have to wonder how many of these are beloved because they’re great tunes, and how many because the shows are so evocative. I tried to be objective as I listened to the ones that made me go “Oooh” when I saw them here, and several of those seemed pretty bad. This is a fun exercise no matter what! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/109 "2021-12-21T19:13:23Z")
Unless I’ve missed it, nobody’s mentioned Elmer Bernstein’s music for the National Geographic specials [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bp-ICI-9gXs/maxresdefault.jpg "National Geographic 1964 - 1987 Full Theme and Montage HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-ICI-9gXs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4UK-GT5b1Tk/maxresdefault.jpg "Elmer Bernstein - National Geographic Theme (Audio Only)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UK-GT5b1Tk) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/110 "2021-12-21T19:19:07Z")
Or how about Jean-Joseph Mouret’s _Rondeau_, the theme for Masterpiece Theater [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Qbag8xT2sNQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Rondeau (Theme From Masterpiece Theater)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbag8xT2sNQ) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/111 "2021-12-21T19:25:10Z")
All these trumpet fanfares made me nostalgic for the _Dynasty_ theme song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DzTlyRmXPQk/maxresdefault.jpg "Dynasty Theme Song - Original 1981 - Bill Conti") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzTlyRmXPQk) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/112 "2021-12-21T19:35:48Z")
Gotta give a shoutout to Saturday morning tv Electra Woman and Dyna Girl [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqB36FsglEE) Josie and the Pussy Cats [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q3DIMbOEi2E/hqdefault.jpg "Josie and the Pussycats Theme Song (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3DIMbOEi2E) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/113 "2021-12-21T19:36:52Z")
This wasn’t written as a show theme, but _We Care A Lot_ by Faith No More was used as the theme for _Dirty Jobs_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LQhX8PbNUWI/maxresdefault.jpg "Faith No More - We Care a Lot (Official Music Video) [4K]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQhX8PbNUWI) ---
**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 21, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/114 "2021-12-21T20:39:21Z")
_ **The Untouchables** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/u9Cqu6iRC2E/hqdefault.jpg "Untouchables Theme Music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Cqu6iRC2E) _ **Whirlybirds** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-KgPC5RkYFo/hqdefault.jpg "Whirlybirds Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KgPC5RkYFo) _ **The Avengers** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/10QW3Az1FTw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Avengers TV Intro - Season 5 - 1966") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10QW3Az1FTw) _ **The Rat Patrol** _ https://www.youtube.com/embed/zyFvoARQYXg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL6C009401E80EA294 _ **Combat!** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Lhu9EOpEMA/hqdefault.jpg "Combat! HQ TV Show Season 1 ending credits higher quality music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lhu9EOpEMA) _ **Twelve O’Clock High** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uubEuPhti-I/hqdefault.jpg "Twelve O'Clock High") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubEuPhti-I) _ **McHale’s Navy** _ (The signal flags spell out “C-H-K-L.” “Chuckle,” geddit? 🙂 ) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7fBJSlFdZcs/maxresdefault.jpg "Classic TV Theme: McHale's Navy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fBJSlFdZcs) _ **F-Troop** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ihcd1XInF24/hqdefault.jpg "F Troop 1965 - 1967 Opening and Closing Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihcd1XInF24) _ **Gomer Pyle, USMC** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sECy38-2gKc/hqdefault.jpg "Gomer Pyle USMC Season 1 Closing Credits") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sECy38-2gKc) _**Danger Man (UK)/Secret Agent (US)**_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLgNPYw9QMw/hqdefault.jpg "Tv Theme Danger Man (Full Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLgNPYw9QMw) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L-yaT6fWTP4/hqdefault.jpg "Johnny Rivers ~ Secret Agent Man") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yaT6fWTP4) _ **Coronet Blue** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/46uZkxiCZTM/maxresdefault.jpg "Lenny Welch - Coronet Blue - 1967 TV Spy Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46uZkxiCZTM) _ **Strange Report** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WEfjftpEA-s/maxresdefault.jpg "STRANGE REPORT \* TV THEME \* VOCAL VERSION") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEfjftpEA-s) _ **The Protectors** _ (vocal version) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/utiTsH6hGv8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Protectors Theme Song - Avenues and Alleyways - Tony Christie - ATV/ITC 1972/74") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utiTsH6hGv8) _ **The Persuaders** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t99QQIXez4M/hqdefault.jpg "Tv Theme The Persuaders (Full Theme)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99QQIXez4M) ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/115 "2021-12-21T21:04:42Z")
We’ve had _All In The Family_ and _The Jeffersons_ in this thread…so it seems only appropriate: […and then there’s Maude](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhXBpslomp8) Say what you want about the show…the theme is a bop! ---
**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 21, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/116 "2021-12-21T21:05:22Z")
_ **Fireball XL 5** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kXVkRy1HpKs/maxresdefault.jpg "Fireball XL5 End Titles ft. "I Wish I Was a Spaceman"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXVkRy1HpKs) _ **Stingray** _ (intro and outro) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/45NtEXv7DZs/maxresdefault.jpg "Gerry Anderson's Stingray (1964) - HD Opening Titles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45NtEXv7DZs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CD96RQ1-wnY/hqdefault.jpg "Stingray TV Show Outro (1964) Aqua Marina") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD96RQ1-wnY) _ **Thunderbirds** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/a2n0widQ4nA/maxresdefault.jpg "Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds (1965) - HD Opening Titles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2n0widQ4nA) ---
**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 21, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/117 "2021-12-21T21:06:10Z")
Did anyone mention _Perry Mason_? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PA9t1nSGXXE/hqdefault.jpg "Perry Mason Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA9t1nSGXXE) ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/118 "2021-12-21T22:48:19Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y2hWXiZxgMI/hqdefault.jpg "Man in a suitcase tv theme (3 different versions)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2hWXiZxgMI) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vkal2bNKZe4/hqdefault.jpg ""Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" TV Intro (1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkal2bNKZe4) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/119 "2021-12-22T01:13:11Z")
_George of the Jungle_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/D8rViF7V_oA/hqdefault.jpg "George of the Jungle - Intro (1967) Theme (VHS Capture)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8rViF7V_oA) Watch out for that tree! **(Ah-a-ah-a-ah-a!)** Watch out for that **(Ooooh!)** tree! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/120 "2021-12-22T12:44:25Z")
How about the scariest theme song? I can remember being around 10, home alone in the afternoons after school and freaking myself out watching **Night Gallery.** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jBY2d2qa4Mk/hqdefault.jpg ""Night Gallery" TV Intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBY2d2qa4Mk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=7)