# Great TV theme songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939 "2011-04-19T08:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/1 "2011-04-19T08:11:19Z")
I don’t recall seeing a thread on this recently, if there is one my apologies. Anyway, through the magic of YouTube I was bookmarking some great TV show themes that stand up as pretty good music on their own: [The Rockford Files](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXtpoO_DlDM) [Dallas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffo2Oqt8bIM) [Kojak](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z-3vP9HQ-E) And of course anything by Henry Mancini, like [Peter Gunn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcflCzZlLcQ&feature=related) and [the Pink Panther](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHwnrlZRus&NR=1). Discussion? Do they even have any decent TV show themes anymore, or is it all like the intro to Lost? ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/2 "2011-04-19T08:30:30Z")
Very Brit (did this ever make it to the States?) but [Bergerac](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y5E63jGT2I). And Dr. Who of course. Recent-ish good one - The Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/3 "2011-04-19T08:41:40Z")
The West Wing musical intro gets me every time! ---
**Author:** ![groovie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d6d6ee/32.png) [@groovie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groovie)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/4 "2011-04-19T08:58:12Z")
[Sons Of Anarchy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHQMvhcj0EI) Springs to mind, Curtis Stigers giving it some. [Justified too](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXKSuHuYslU) ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/5 "2011-04-19T11:23:33Z")
The [Space: 1999](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLhdY6_juDk) theme. It’s almost like three different theme songs mashed into one. ---
**Author:** ![DivineComedienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DivineComedienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DivineComedienne)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/6 "2011-04-19T13:39:10Z")
Quantum Leap. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/7 "2011-04-19T13:40:52Z")
Believe it or not, I like the Theme to The Greatest American Hero. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/8 "2011-04-19T13:47:48Z")
Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/9 "2011-04-19T13:53:55Z")
[The Avengers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUQzNIxGLyM&feature=related) (the mid-60s British duo, not the American superhero team. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/10 "2011-04-19T14:02:15Z")
I have maybe 2 to 3 dozen shows’ theme songs in my earworm category and keep adding to the list each year. [Browse our huge archive of 18,952 theme songs.](http://www.televisiontunes.com/) where you can find [World of Gerald McBoing Boing Theme Song](http://www.televisiontunes.com/World_of_Gerald_McBoing_Boing.html) [Then Came Bronson Theme Song](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Then_Came_Bronson.html) [Mannix Theme Song](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Mannix.html) [Adventures in Paradise Theme Song](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Adventures_in_Paradise.html) But one that’s not (at the time of this post) there is [NORMAN DELLO JOIO: “Airpower” - Music from the 1956 CBS series](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsvcXyGKqY) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/11 "2011-04-19T14:09:05Z")
When it comes to theme songs, you really cannot beat _Wonder Woman_. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/12 "2011-04-19T14:31:22Z")
That 70’s Show ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/13 "2011-04-19T14:35:18Z")
The Big Bang Theory ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/14 "2011-04-19T14:49:36Z")
I think the theme to _The Simpsons_ is top-notch as far as theme songs go. As for new shows, I like the theme from [Hustle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGyIDtBX7f0). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/15 "2011-04-19T14:50:33Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > And of course anything by Henry Mancini, like > [Peter Gunn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcflCzZlLcQ&feature=related) and [the Pink Panther](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHwnrlZRus&NR=1). > > Discussion? Do they even have any decent TV show themes anymore, or is it all like the intro to Lost? Another favorite Mancini, perhaps my most favorite: [Henry Mancini - Mr Lucky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5OsLatnCFY) As for currently running shows, my favorite in terms of instant identification with the show and some decent opening video to go with it, has to be [Dexter Opening Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utqoFsMYPKs) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/16 "2011-04-19T15:04:15Z")
Sorry, but you cannot beat the \*Magnum PI \*theme song. \*Hawaii Five-O \*comes close, though (new and old versions). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/17 "2011-04-19T15:11:09Z")
_ **Jonny Quest** _ Best of the best. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/18 "2011-04-19T15:15:02Z")
Two cop shows: \*Hill Street Blues High Incident\* ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/19 "2011-04-19T15:18:19Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I don’t recall seeing a thread on this recently, if there is one my apologies. After a search to find the last time I mentioned some of the shows I just have here, I thought it peculiar that the last thread for that was [Favorite TV opening Title Credits](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=559899) which had 69 posts from 04-16-2010, 06:26 AM to 04-20-2010, 09:06 AM – almost exactly a year ago! Only a strained version of “recently” would let that one count. Besides, tastes change over time and music fads come and go. Just out of curiosity, is there anybody else who still has a warm place in his/her heart for [CLASSIC TV - 1960s - Captain Kangaroo Show Open](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3w7w58CREY) ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939/20 "2011-04-19T15:22:44Z")
For sheer ridiculousness, nothing beats the theme to [_It’s Garry Shandling’s Show_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac8cQuEzDCQ). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-theme-songs/578939.md?page=2)