# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/121 "2021-12-22T12:58:27Z")
Harry Lubin’s [music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlNMDsJlMQ0) that played during the closing credits of the second season of the original “Outer Limits” (skip ahead to a little after 3:00). ---
**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:** [December 22, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/122 "2021-12-22T13:21:05Z")
[Hee Haw!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBEreTkQbds) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/123 "2021-12-22T15:06:35Z")
How did we get this far into the thread without these two? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o2ObCoCm61s/hqdefault.jpg "Get Smart (Intro) S3 (1967)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ObCoCm61s) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Af1h4ibpKJA/hqdefault.jpg "The Odd Couple TV Show Opening Theme Season Two 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af1h4ibpKJA) ---
**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, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/124 "2021-12-22T15:48:08Z")
Can’t believe I didn’t think of The Odd Couple 🤦‍♀️ Not only is it a great song, but I just saw this the other day . . . [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrW6waab9a0) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/125 "2021-12-22T16:05:04Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SfyhL-pFFMw/maxresdefault.jpg "Airwolf | Original Soundtrack Theme | Extended Version") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfyhL-pFFMw) ---
**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 22, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/126 "2021-12-22T16:09:05Z")
_ **Topper** _ (Possibly the first TV theme I ever learned.) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-LKb0J35PU) _ **Dick van Dyke** _ (with lyrics) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7DW9BZnhhAs/hqdefault.jpg "The Dick Van Dyke Show Theme [With The Rare Unused Lyrics]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DW9BZnhhAs) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/127 "2021-12-22T16:50:17Z")
I thought that was pretty lame, then I chuckled at the very end. mmm ---
**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 22, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/128 "2021-12-22T17:25:32Z")
_ **Top Cat** _ (jazz version with slightly different lyrics) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DxsovWDPhFM/maxresdefault.jpg "Top Cat (Full Theme Remix) — Hoyt Curtin & His Orchestra (1961)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxsovWDPhFM) ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/129 "2021-12-23T00:29:59Z")
Don’t think this one has been posted yet. loved this show. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/D21U59XHDn4/maxresdefault.jpg "China Beach Opening and Closing Credits and Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D21U59XHDn4) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/130 "2021-12-23T00:42:15Z")
The LaVerne and Shirley theme. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/k6tRnbz90R4/maxresdefault.jpg "Laverne & Shirley theme song - Make All Our Dreams Come True (full song, stereo)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6tRnbz90R4) ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/131 "2021-12-23T03:44:02Z")
Ok I have a bunch to contribute. I don’t know what was happening in the 1970s with British telly themes, but damn they were awesome… Jamie and the Magic Torch [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xtr3N0lOLAs/hqdefault.jpg "Jamie and the Magic Torch Intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtr3N0lOLAs) Magpie [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tkd-1hBK9fI/maxresdefault.jpg "Magpie Opening titles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkd-1hBK9fI) World in Action [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f35K-sGe9mo/hqdefault.jpg "World in action theme tune, Entitled, "Jam for World in Action".") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f35K-sGe9mo) Weekend World [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y2dpq4sExgs/hqdefault.jpg "Weekend World Theme.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2dpq4sExgs) BBC Theme for Wimbledon [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8TXyxtvqMnQ/maxresdefault.jpg "BBC Wimbledon Theme (Light and Tuneful) (From "BBC Wimbledon")") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TXyxtvqMnQ) BBC Theme for Test Match Cricket [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/67xXbTaQlKI/hqdefault.jpg "The Original BBC Test Match Cricket Theme Song-Soul Limbo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67xXbTaQlKI) BBC Grandstand Theme [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_da9u9om_is/maxresdefault.jpg "Grandstand titles BBC very early, late 1970s") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_da9u9om_is) ---
**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 23, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/132 "2021-12-23T04:10:48Z")
Ooooh, here’s one I had briefly forgotten that ranks up there with any of them. I truly love this song: Wall Street Week’s “TWX in 12 Bars” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LHc4Ge_HZLc/hqdefault.jpg "PBS's 'Wall $treet Week' with Louis Rukeyser, "TWX in 12 Bars" (( Stereo ))") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHc4Ge_HZLc) As I said in the music appreciation thread, it comes in all serious and self-important, but then ends with a human sounding side. It’s money, money, money, industry, and then it references the people musically, which is why the economy is important. Then it marches back out on its original theme. Just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![SDWC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@SDWC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDWC)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/133 "2021-12-23T04:23:11Z")
Flying Blind with Tea Leoni. Song is A Million Miles Away sung by David Byrne. An underrated show ahead of its time. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ed02LzrKsp8/hqdefault.jpg "Flying Blind - Intro 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed02LzrKsp8) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/134 "2021-12-23T11:11:36Z")
Thankfully, no one’s mentioned Banana splits ---
**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 23, 2021, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/135 "2021-12-23T11:51:39Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Thankfully, no one’s mentioned Banana splits **[VOICE OF NELSON MUNTZ]:** HA-HA! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XMl6HnhFFIA/hqdefault.jpg "The Banana Splits Opening and Closing Theme 1968 - 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMl6HnhFFIA) ---
**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 23, 2021, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/136 "2021-12-23T12:14:41Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Thankfully, no one’s mentioned Banana splits About four hours before this was posted I was deciding whether or not to mention Banana Splits. I chose not to. Another one I thought of and rejected was Get a Life. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P-7pgeD__qU/hqdefault.jpg "Get A Life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7pgeD__qU) ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/137 "2021-12-23T22:52:58Z")
Most of the best have already been mentioned; I like Tank!, Archer, Justified, and the Simon & Simon theme was a real blast from the past. The Last Kingdom theme song and intro grabbed my attention, too. Good mix of music and visuals to set the scene. [The Last Kingdom - Intro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY0rlYxA0bE) ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/138 "2021-12-23T23:03:56Z")
Oops; sorry. NM ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/139 "2021-12-23T23:30:02Z")
Theme from the Huntley & Brinkley News Hour (also known as Beethoven’s 9th, 2nd movement). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vTMdfjy2a5I/maxresdefault.jpg "Symphony No. 9, 2nd Movement (Huntley-Brinkley Report)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMdfjy2a5I) And who can forget “Rawhide”? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3_rHrLHIeyI/maxresdefault.jpg "Rawhide Opening and Closing Credits and Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_rHrLHIeyI) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287/140 "2021-12-24T01:29:52Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bfWIQfqik3c/maxresdefault.jpg "Opening Themes: Dark Shadows / Collinwood ~ The Robert Cobert Orchestra (Original Music)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWIQfqik3c) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song-please-post-a-link/956287.md?page=8)