# Best TV Themes #1: Just Kidding! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063 "2005-07-04T22:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/1 "2005-07-04T22:19:33Z")
Do you know what I really liked about Saturday morning cartoons? The catchy theme music that let you know it was time to pour that milk over the sugar bombs and plant your ass in front of the almighty tube. Tunes you would sing or hum along with, like: _Gigantor_-looove them bongos! _Cool McCool_-got a jazzy beat, it does. _Land Of The Lost_-as close to a cartoon as live action can get. So sue me. _George Of The Jungle_, _SuperChicken_ and _Tom Slick_-the holy trio of cartoon slickness. _Jonny Quest_-If you don’t see that giant eyeball on legs when you remember the tune, I feel sorry for you. _Speed Racer_-in his powerful Mach Five! _Spider-Man_-does whatever a spider can! _Mighty Mouse_-Here I cooome to save the daaaaay! So, which ones do you remember with love, and maybe sing to yourself when no one’s around? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/2 "2005-07-04T22:28:00Z")
I bet there are few people who remember the Saturday morning show “It’s About Time” with fondness. The theme song shows up in my head often, for no reason that I can think of. **It’s about time, It’s about space, About strange people in the strangest place. It’s about time, It’s about flight, Travelin’ faster than the speed of light …** ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/3 "2005-07-04T22:37:23Z")
The best, most infectious Saturday morning theme ever: **The Banana Splits**!BTW, did they steal the chorus from “Buffalo Soldier”, or was it the other way around? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/4 "2005-07-04T22:41:54Z")
Well, from days gone by Its ; Bonanza Paladin Adams family Hawaii 5-0 to name a few. Oh yeah, I Dream of Jeanie whenever I heard it I started drooling. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/5 "2005-07-04T22:53:45Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > The best, most infectious Saturday morning theme ever: **The Banana Splits**!BTW, did they steal the chorus from “Buffalo Soldier”…? 😃 Nah… NAH NAAAHHH!!! NA NA-NA NAAAHHH!!! The Banana Splits aired in the late '60s to early '70s. Bob Marley recorded Buffalo Soldier in 1983. I still sing it at work sometimes, mainly to get funny looks. Besides that, how about the theme to The Magic Schoolbus, or the theme to the Rockford Files for a prime time theme? ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/6 "2005-07-04T22:55:31Z")
Oops! “Buffalo Soldier” was _released_ in 1983, obviously without Marley’s help. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/7 "2005-07-05T00:28:56Z")
There’s a kids show from the UK called \*\*Charlie and Lola \*\* which has the most cracking, upbeat, hummable theme song I’ve ever heard. It makes the Banana Splits sound like Mahler. Visit their site, click “clips” and then click “titles.” [Charlie and Lola](http://www.charlieandlola.com/website.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/8 "2005-07-05T01:13:39Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Well, from days gone by Its ; > > Bonanza > > Paladin > > Adams family > > Hawaii 5-0 > > to name a few. > > Oh yeah, I Dream of Jeanie > > whenever I heard it I started drooling. Well, I know there were 1 or 2 _Addams Family_ cartoons out there, but the others?? ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/9 "2005-07-05T01:28:43Z")
Anyone remember the **Hercules** cartoon? Best theme song ever! All I remember, though, is the parody version that made its way around the schoolyard circa 1974: \*Hercules - you are a real phony Hercules - you’re made of cheese and baloney Fighting for his life With a rubber knife With the strength of ten Tiny little men Hear the cry - Waa! Of Hercules \* ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/10 "2005-07-05T01:32:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Well, I know there were 1 or 2 _Addams Family_ cartoons out there, but the others?? Doh :smack: I read the title to the thread… Mine might be Inspector Gadget Of course the looney tunes theme. The Beatles cartoon. Top Cat ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/11 "2005-07-05T01:40:24Z")
Best use of horn section: _The Jetsons_ ---
**Author:** ![EnderWay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@EnderWay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnderWay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/12 "2005-07-05T02:07:34Z")
Magilla Gorilla Underdog - Once he was like lightning Bing Bing Bingggg Rickochet Rabbit And Ahmmm … H. R Puff ‘n’ Stuff! H.R. Pufnstuff, Who’s your friend when things get rough? H.R. Pufnstuff Can’t do a little cause he can’t do enough? I loved that show when I was like 5 or 6 … loved it … but even then it was freaky! And talk about subliminal messages aimed at kids! Nice, couldn’t get away with that today! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/13 "2005-07-05T02:29:54Z")
No mention of _Woody Woodpecker_ yet? I’m shocked. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/14 "2005-07-05T02:32:23Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > Anyone remember the **Hercules** cartoon? Best theme song ever! All I remember, though, is the parody version that made its way around the schoolyard circa 1974: > > \*Hercules - you are a real phony > Hercules - you’re made of cheese and baloney > Fighting for his life > With a rubber knife > With the strength of ten > Tiny little men > Hear the cry - Waa! > Of Hercules > \* I went to a slightly rougher school:Softness in his eyes, Iron in his thighs, Testicles of brass, Sparks fly from his ass, He’s the mighty…HERCULES! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/15 "2005-07-05T02:59:37Z")
Dudes, you need to get [this album.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002OYG/qid=1120533268/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-0662323-6817509) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/16 "2005-07-05T03:42:45Z")
Don’t remember if it was on Saturday morning or not, but whenever I heard the theme to He-Man, I about peed my pants with anticipation. I was looking for an online mp3 of it to see if it still had the pants-peeing effect. While looking, I found the German version. Which did make me pee my pants. [(Scroll down and click on **He-Man Theme De**. Makes me wish I’d’ve watched the German version when I was a kid.)](http://www.he-man.de/downloads/sounds/index.php) Happy ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/17 "2005-07-05T04:14:31Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Dudes, you need to get [this album.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002OYG/qid=1120533268/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-0662323-6817509) One of the best albums I own. The Reverend Horton Heat does the _Jonny Quest_ theme with a fast rockabilly/surf guitar, and if there’s another minute-and-a-half that kicks more musical ass, I haven’t heard it. And Liz Phair can sing “Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork” and make it sound sexy. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/18 "2005-07-05T04:27:35Z")
If I am allowed a puppet show as a cartoon, I will take **Fireball XL5**. ---
**Author:** ![EnderWay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@EnderWay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnderWay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/19 "2005-07-05T08:46:36Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Dudes, you need to get [this album.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002OYG/qid=1120533268/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-0662323-6817509) Cool, thanks! Zebra’s link shows this also, and I can’y believe I forgot and no one else has mentioned … Though they are not cartoon theme songs, but you can’t talk about old Saturday morning TV without mentioning! School House Rocks! Conjunction junction what’s your function? Hooking up participles, phrases, and clauses ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063/20 "2005-07-05T09:18:58Z")
Transformers. More than meets the eye. Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of. The Decepticons. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-themes-1-just-kidding/311063.md?page=2)