# The all-time best TV show theme song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 14, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408 "2003-03-14T18:56:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/21 "2003-03-14T20:47:23Z")
**Spider-Man** **Wonder Woman** ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/22 "2003-03-14T20:56:19Z")
Barney Miller ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/23 "2003-03-14T20:57:37Z")
Just another vote for “Walking on Air,” a.k.a. the _Greatest American Hero_ theme. The extended version is definitely worth hunting down for a listen. ---
**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/24 "2003-03-14T21:00:04Z")
I always liked the theme to Rockford Files, and Simon & Simon had a catchy little guitar riff. Guiltiest pleasure: “Just two good ol’ boys…” ---
**Author:** ![available\_light](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@available\_light](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/available_light)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/25 "2003-03-14T21:00:32Z")
I nominate the Hill Street Blues theme song. Never even watched the show, but love that music. I took piano lessons for four years with the ultimate goal of being to be able to play that piece–which I eventually did! 😃 I also second (third, whatever) Greatest American Hero. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/26 "2003-03-14T21:02:07Z")
Why, the X-Files of course! And how can we forget the theme to Six Feet Under? ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/27 "2003-03-14T21:08:34Z")
I agree with the already mentioned **Greatest American Hero** and **Cheers**. Two more I’ve always liked are **The Courtship of Eddie’s Father** and **Welcome Back Kotter**. I’d throw in the Simpson’s version of All In The Family (“for no reason here’s Apu”), but I guess that doesn’t really count.😛 ---
**Author:** ![HazyBaby33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HazyBaby33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazyBaby33)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/28 "2003-03-14T21:43:07Z")
I always liked the “Happy Days” theme… not Rock around the Clock, but the actual song “Happy Days.” I also liked the “Family Ties” song, as well as “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction” because they’re just do darn catchy and funny. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/29 "2003-03-14T23:46:51Z")
\*\*Car 54 Where Are You? \*\* and **MST3K** ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/30 "2003-03-14T23:57:14Z")
Mannix-great, swingin’ tune For the best “describe the main plot point” theme song, I nominate “The Nanny”. It’s kicky, cute, and tells the basic story of the show quite well. To bad the show wasn’t better. The “Angel” theme is just gorgeous. I remember the theme to “Days and Nights of Molly Dodd” also used strings, but in more of a jazz setting. My favorie though, is “Harlem Nocturne” which, while a standard, was used as the theme to “Mike Hammer.” ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/31 "2003-03-15T00:28:29Z")
Wrong, wrong, wrong. The best theme song ever is **Space: 1999**. Overwrought orchestra, to disco, and back again. A thing of beauty. It’s neck-and-neck with **Lost in Space** , which would have won except _both_ of that show’s themes are excellent and end up splitting the vote. And you have to give credit to **UFO** , a precursor to **Space: 1999** , too. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/32 "2003-03-15T00:35:23Z")
I like the “Cleveland Rocks” intro to the Drew Carey Show. I’ve always liked The Munsters song too, preferably from the episodes where Herman crashes through the front door. ---
**Author:** ![Grasshopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Grasshopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grasshopper)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/33 "2003-03-15T00:50:43Z")
My pals Laverne and Shirley. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/34 "2003-03-15T00:52:04Z")
**Peter Gunn** Theme **Got Yourself a Gun** theme for _The Sopranos_ I kinda partial to the **Jeopardy!** theme music also. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/35 "2003-03-15T01:14:29Z")
“Mission: Impossible” “Hawaii Five-O” “The Rockford Files” As for MST3K, the end theme is one of the greatest instrumental TV themes EVER. MSTies were forced to unite and petition Comedy Central to get the Penn Gillette voiceovers removed because it interefered with the enjoyment of said theme song. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/36 "2003-03-15T01:27:17Z")
_The Rockford Files Peter Gunn The Bob Newhart Show Barney Miller Scrubs The John Larroquette Show_ (first version) _The Prisoner Jonny Quest The Tonight Show_ (Johnny Carson era) And the all-time best TV show them is: _Cowboy Beebop_! ---
**Author:** ![SadTomato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@SadTomato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SadTomato)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/37 "2003-03-15T01:42:40Z")
**Hawaii Five-0** […and here are the lyrics!](http://www.geocities.com/merrystar3/allysongs/HawaiiFiveO.htm) ---
**Author:** ![double-o-seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@double-o-seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/double-o-seven)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/38 "2003-03-15T01:48:02Z")
A bunch of good nominations here, I like Hawaii 5-0 and Peter Gunn too. I’ll nominate Miami Vice. I think it was Jan Hammer’s band? The instrumentals…the percussion section was awesome, that song is still one of my all time favs. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/39 "2003-03-15T01:50:53Z")
**Rocko’s Modern Life** , the first version. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/40 "2003-03-15T01:58:07Z")
“Who can turn the world on with her smile?” And while I can’t recall if it had a theme song per se, the music for “Cosmos” is great, esp. Vangelis’s _Heaven and Hell._ And who can forget the “Larry Sanders Show” theme song? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408.md?page=3)