# Best TV Theme song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168 "2001-08-31T18:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EVO95](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@EVO95](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVO95)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/21 "2001-08-31T19:56:53Z")
“Welcome Back Kotter” had a great little ditty that just about anybody could sing along with, even with a rubber hose up your nose… ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/22 "2001-08-31T19:58:58Z")
My favorites in no particular order: Underdog Secret Agent Man Ultra Man Friends Batman Twilight Zone Green Hornet Lone Ranger “Five O’Clock World” from Drew Carey Peter Gunn The Original Spider-Man Theme ---
**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:** [August 31, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/23 "2001-08-31T22:15:24Z")
Most of these are before my time, but I like ‘em anyway… Secret Agent Man The Monkeys The Munsters Andy Griffith Batman Daniel Boone Rawhide Happy Trails Hawaii Five-O Mission Impossible ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/24 "2001-08-31T22:29:38Z")
Hawii 5-0 kicked major but, but let’s not forget Route 66 Peter Gunn The NBC Nightly News theme composed by John Williams used back in the mid-80s. I used to play it to calm my duaghter. I’d throw in the theme from the old CBS Reports, but since it was “Appalachian Spring” we’ll just have to say “adapted from another medium” ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/25 "2001-08-31T22:33:02Z")
I agree with a lot of these (Especially Dr Who. Anyone ever hear the remix by The Timelords?). Also, Batman Beyond has a cool theme. The opening graphics fit the music very well. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/26 "2001-08-31T22:37:36Z")
Another vote for “The Jeffersons” theme song. I love that song! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/27 "2001-08-31T22:40:20Z")
Battlestar: Galactica Loved that show. The theme is still is a thrill to listen to. 🙂 SWAT Wonderful instrumental number. Tres cool. 🆒 Peter Gunn Route 66 What can I say about these that others haven’t said better? 🆒 🆒 🆒 Space This was a PBS documentary series on Space Exploration. It had a grand sound to it. Very nifty. Hey. All of these are instrumentals. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/28 "2001-08-31T22:41:31Z")
Sorry. Route 66 wasn’t instrumentals only. :o ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/29 "2001-08-31T22:47:20Z")
Rawhide Hogan’s Heroes (12 and under) Batman (if you’re under 9) Hawaii Five-O Jonny Quest ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/30 "2001-08-31T22:57:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dalovindj \* > **I gotta say my all time favorite is the theme to “Greatest American Hero”.** HELL YEAH! The moment I read the subject line, that was the answer which popped into my mind. Nothing else comes close. Okay, _maybe_ the theme from **The Muppet Show,** but… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/31 "2001-08-31T23:06:28Z")
Inspector Gadget ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/32 "2001-08-31T23:08:20Z")
> [@](#): > > posted by Kilt-wearin’ man: > \*\*Batman - The Animated Series \*\* > posted by Zoggie: > \*\*Tales from the Crypt \*\* > posted by Oldscratch: > \*\*…and the Simpsons a close third. \*\* Completists could insist that this ranking should include The Flash, Family Dog, Dilbert, the animated Beetlejuice, and Sledge Hammer. And I wouldn’t argue with them. Indeed, I would remind them to put Fast Times (the TV version of the Ridgemont High movie) on the list. But now we’re not even talking overall quality, just obsession. Elfman, Mancini, and Mike Post. TV themes in a nutshell. No, people don’t rock-out enough to The Rockford Files. But they should. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/33 "2001-08-31T23:58:19Z")
“The Bill Cosby Show”, 1971 or so. Not to be confused with “The Cosby Show” of the 1980s. Great little Quincy Jones gem, and Bill himself warbles the nonsensical lyrics. “HOO LORD! GONNA GET SOME RAGGETS…AN’ SOME ROLLS…AN’ SOME REEZINRIZINS, HA HA HA HA! EVERYDAY! LONG AS I’M AWAY…” ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/34 "2001-09-01T00:03:52Z")
Here we go: “Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Acres is the place to beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm living is the life for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” Cheers is pretty cool, too. I’m shocked that nobody’s mentioned the best T.V theme song ever - the theme to “All In the Family.” Jean Stapleton’s voice cracks me up every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/35 "2001-09-01T00:30:21Z")
Gotta add Magnum PI and the World News Polka. \*Politics and foreign wars. All the weather, all the scores. That’s the World News Polka! Business news from Tokyo. Stuff you saw on Koppel’s show That’s the World News Polka! It’s late at night, you’re wide awake and you’re not wearing pants. So grab your World News Now mug and everybody dance!..\* ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/36 "2001-09-01T02:51:37Z")
" . . . I’m livin’ on the air in Cincinnati . . . " ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/37 "2001-09-01T02:56:20Z")
Oh! The Monkees, how could I have forgotten? Yeah, and I like the “All in the Family” theme song too. Think I have it memorized by now. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/38 "2001-09-01T02:57:42Z")
Come on , belt it out with me! GREEEEN Acres is the place to be. Farm living is the life for me. Land spreadin’ out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan just give me that countryside do do do do do … ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/39 "2001-09-01T03:04:25Z")
For pure singalong value I don’t think you can do much better than either Gilligan’s Island or The Brady Bunch. The theme from Mannix is nothing but listening pleasure. Lalo Schifrin can incite me to aural orgasms. Have I shared too much? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168/40 "2001-09-01T03:13:58Z")
Malcolm In The Middle King Of The Hill MASH Cheers Absolutely Fabulous [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-theme-song/79168.md?page=3)