# Most loved TV show themes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407 "2012-05-19T08:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bmasters1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/1 "2012-05-19T08:49:24Z")
What is at least one of your most loved TV show opening themes? One of mine is that one from _Hart to Hart_, especially in the opening strains where Max (Lionel Stander) talks about his employers (first Jonathan, then Jennifer [Mrs. H]), and then says that he himself takes care of both of 'em, 'which ain’t easy, ‘cause when they met, it was murder!’ Another one is the original version of the theme from _Hawaii Five-O_ (the classic one w/Jack Lord); the current show had that cut in half, quite shamefully. Others: _Trapper John, M.D._ _Hardcastle and McCormick_ _Hill Street Blues_ _St. Elsewhere_ _Hotel_ _Vega$_ ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/2 "2012-05-19T09:01:13Z")
**My Top 20:** The Untouchables (with Robert Stack as Eliot Ness) The Avengers (John Steed and Emma Peel) Perry Mason (“Park Avenue Beat”) M Squad (aka Police Squad and Naked Gun themes) 77 Sunset Strip Mike Hammer (“Harlem Nocturne”) Hawaii Five-O (with Jack Lord as Steve McGarett) Wild, Wild, West (with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin) Danger Man (with Patrick McGoohan) Secret Agent (with Patrick McGoohan) The Prisoner (with Patrick McGoohan) The Persuaders The Saint (post-1965) Star Trek TOS Star Trek DS9 Star Trek VOY Time Tunnel Combat! Rat Patrol 12 O’Clock High ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/3 "2012-05-19T09:01:41Z")
[The Black Adder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWJHN5j3tc0) - The sound of hoofbeats cross the glade! [Knight Rider](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo8Qls0HnWo) [The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5KgAefDeMY) [Return of the Saint](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj3Ogsn5Vr4) and of course: [Doctor Who](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfHtIOPcIs) ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/4 "2012-05-19T09:05:24Z")
> [@bmasters1](#): > > What is at least one of your most loved TV show opening themes? > > One of mine is that one from _Hart to Hart_, especially in the opening strains where Max (Lionel Stander) talks about his employers (first Jonathan, then Jennifer [Mrs. H]), and then says that he himself takes care of both of 'em, 'which ain’t easy, ‘cause when they met, it was murder!’ > > Another one is the original version of the theme from _Hawaii Five-O_ (the classic one w/Jack Lord); the current show had that cut in half, quite shamefully. > > Others: > > _Trapper John, M.D._ > _Hardcastle and McCormick_ > _Hill Street Blues_ > _St. Elsewhere_ > _Hotel_ > _Vega$_ Hart to Hart was very good. Hill Street and St. Elsewhere are definitely in my top 100 playlist. ---
**Author:** ![bmasters1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/5 "2012-05-19T10:11:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Hart to Hart was very good. Hill Street and St. Elsewhere are definitely in my top 100 playlist. I’m glad we agree on those. With regard to _Hardcastle_, there were two themes used there (“Drive” and “Back to Back,” of which I believe strongly that “Drive” (used for all of #1, and then brought back for the remainder of #2 and all of #3) was the better of the two. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/6 "2012-05-19T10:36:13Z")
I’ll be the first to mention my all time favorite, [Barney Miller](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox-DmJ9H3ng&feature=related). Bum…bumbumbum… mmm ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/7 "2012-05-19T11:00:47Z")
[The Odd Couple](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2be6jGwLoJ0) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/8 "2012-05-19T11:08:11Z")
**Rockford Files** ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/9 "2012-05-19T11:15:44Z")
Taxi. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/10 "2012-05-19T11:39:51Z")
Cheers! ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/11 "2012-05-19T11:50:02Z")
Believe it or not, I liked the theme to The Greatest American Hero. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/12 "2012-05-19T11:52:59Z")
Dr. Who already mentioned. The Sopranos. Obcsure (probably) for non-Brits, but [Bergerac](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpC4Vijy-uw). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/13 "2012-05-19T12:23:27Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > Obcsure (probably) for non-Brits, but [Bergerac](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpC4Vijy-uw). Let’s not forget [Van Der Valk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8t3jA-krc). Or [The Sweeney](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSwRjvwXPEg). Or [The Professionals](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCFVEvZvo3g). Or [Mission Impossible](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq-YeD4L-bg). Or [The Avengers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELRaqSzEKew). Or [Thunderbirds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIAKj3Gl1E). Or [The Tomorrow People](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xez4o1ujOPI). Or [Danger Mouse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7WrEidvyY). Or [Supergran](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtymNiYlSD4). Or [Jamie and the Magic Torch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeMMow_Itqw). Or [Black Beauty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIeA-ETWk0I). Or [Follyfoot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwJoEGyGMY). Or [Peter Rabbit and Friends](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXEHA6-5J-M). ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/14 "2012-05-19T12:34:10Z")
[Twin Peaks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGGQ958K_s) Never seen the series because David Lynch does not agree with me, but I dig the intro. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/16 "2012-05-19T13:08:59Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > **My Top 20:** > > The Untouchables (with Robert Stack as Eliot Ness) > The Avengers (John Steed and Emma Peel) > Perry Mason (“Park Avenue Beat”) > M Squad (aka Police Squad and Naked Gun themes) > 77 Sunset Strip > Mike Hammer (“Harlem Nocturne”) > Hawaii Five-O (with Jack Lord as Steve McGarett) > Wild, Wild, West (with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin) > Danger Man (with Patrick McGoohan) > Secret Agent (with Patrick McGoohan) > The Prisoner (with Patrick McGoohan) > The Persuaders > The Saint (post-1965) > Star Trek TOS > Star Trek DS9 > Star Trek VOY > Time Tunnel > Combat! > Rat Patrol > 12 O’Clock High > [@MostlyClueless](#): > > [Twin Peaks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGGQ958K_s) > > Never seen the series because David Lynch does not agree with me, but I dig the intro. To most of these I will add: Peter Gunn Mr. Lucky Mannix Then Came Bronson Adventures in Paradise The Bob Cummings Show (with all the models) Air Power and if you gave me another 20 minutes I could name 20 more! But hardly any of them would be from the last 10 years! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/17 "2012-05-19T14:26:51Z")
[Dup-dweeeeee, da-da-da dwee dow.](http://youtu.be/cUW0lj5CfuQ) As brilliant, in its way, as anything Angelo Badalamenti ever did for Twin Peaks. The openings Christopher Franke did for Babylon 5 in seasons [three](http://youtu.be/v92K3_f0MUo) and [five](http://youtu.be/vQ7pWAf8iJg) were quite nice, and the stuff he did for the show proper was interesting too. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/18 "2012-05-19T14:54:51Z")
[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AmqBGDJDs) (Funeral March of a Marionette - Gounod) ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/19 "2012-05-19T14:55:51Z")
George of the Jungle (“Watch out for that tree!”) Laverne and Shirley The Big Bang Theory Firefly Dastardly and Muttley (“Stop that pigeon!”) Funky Phantom Hong Kong Phooey ---
**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:** [May 19, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/20 "2012-05-19T14:55:58Z")
I actually do have a playlist of what I consider the 100 best TV themes on YouTube, though I cannot, unfortunately, make it public. Many of the suggestions above (Mission:Impossible, The Protectors, Cheers!) are on my list. To bring some kind of order to it, I found I had to break it down into categories (sitcoms, westerns, SF, cop shows, PIs, and so on), and arrange them roughly in chronological order. So—The Honeymooners, Amos ‘n’ Andy, and Jack Benny come before Dick van Dyke, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s island, and Hogan’s Heroes, and they all come before Cheers! and Night Court. Man from UNCLE comes before Mission: Impossible; The Rebel and Bonanza come before Gunsmoke and Cimmaron Strip; Dallas comes before Knot’s Landing; Love Boat comes before Angie. And so on. One thing I loved doing was selecting themes from cartoons and Gerry Anderson series: Top Cat, Johnny Quest, Fireball XL-5, Stingray (opening and closing), UFO! The only two I really wanted and couldn’t find were 77 Sunset Strip (at least not the full, closing version, with lyrics) and You’ll Never Get Rich (Sgt Bilko), one of my earliest childhood memories… I think the only shows from the `90s I have are The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, and Due South, and nothing afterwards. They just don’t make TV themes like they used to… ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407/21 "2012-05-19T14:59:18Z")
Bonanza - I don’t know if it has a name MASH - Suicide is Painless I never watched MASH because I liked the movie better, but I liked the MASH (movie and TV) song. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loved-tv-show-themes/622407.md?page=2)