# 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:** 3
**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, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/41 "2003-03-15T02:34:35Z")
Please overlook all my spelling errors in my eariler post, I’m having caffine withdrawls and am a little more off my game than usual in the letter department. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/42 "2003-03-15T02:43:45Z")
This far in and nobody has yet mentioned **The Jetsons**? Or **The Tick**? Those are great little ditties. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/43 "2003-03-15T03:22:09Z")
And no one has mentioned the _Animaniacs_? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/44 "2003-03-15T03:48:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dinahmoe \* > **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.** Ah, good point. Bonus points for rhyming “Flushing, Queens” with “crushing scenes.” ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/45 "2003-03-15T04:04:45Z")
Double bonus points for rhyming “Nanny” with “fanny” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/46 "2003-03-15T04:05:52Z")
Mission Impossible Hawaii-5 0 Lost in Space (1967 3rd season) ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/47 "2003-03-15T04:14:06Z")
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And no one can talk to a horse of course That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed. Go right to the source and ask the horse He’ll give you the answer that you’ll endorse. He’s always on a steady course. Talk to Mr. Ed. Whoever watched Mr. Ed doesn’t know this song? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/48 "2003-03-15T04:26:13Z")
Another vote for _Six Feet Under_. Creepy but upbeat. And there’s a dance mix! ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/49 "2003-03-15T04:56:50Z")
I’ve love a lot of the one’s mentioned. I have one more: _The Unknown Stuntman,_ theme from _The Fall Guy._ It was performed by Lee Majors, though for part of the series’ run, it was credited to Colt Seavers, his character. Unfortunately, they only played the whole song once, I believe. “I might fall from a tall building so Burt Reynolds don’t get hurt, I might leap a mighty canyon so he can kiss and flirt. While that smoth talker’s kissin’ my girl I’m just kissin’ dirt, Yes, I’m the lonely stuntman that made a lover out of Burt” ---
**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:** [March 15, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/50 "2003-03-15T05:09:56Z")
**Mission: Impossible** The sense of anticipation in that music was phenomenal. (The fuse burning along the bottom of the screen didn’t hurt.) The music stands up on its own, but it also promised something amazing. I can replay it in my head and it just makes me want to know what comes next. And they completely, utterly and totally butchered it for the movie. They took the original syncopated 5/4 and beat on it with a rock until it was “something you could dance to.” Ought to be illegal. Lots of other good ones have been mentioned. The only new song I’d add to the debate is Vince Guaraldi’s **Linus and Lucy**. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/51 "2003-03-15T06:48:33Z")
Does anyone know the artist and song title of the theme to “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”? It’s a really good song. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/52 "2003-03-15T06:55:29Z")
My favorite is the theme to the Gary Shandling Show \*This is the theme to Gary’s Show, The opening them to Gary’s Show. Gary called me up and asked if I’d write this number. … It’s almost halfway finished, How do ya like it so far? … The opening them to Gary Shandling’s show!\* ---
**Author:** ![gorillacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gorillacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorillacus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/53 "2003-03-15T07:01:27Z")
The theme to ‘The Prisoner’ (the whole opening credits was wow!) brass and bongos, so 60s yet so timeless. Seriously Dopers…was the music to that series ever committed to disc? I need information. Be seeing you… ---
**Author:** ![FabioClone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@FabioClone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FabioClone)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/54 "2003-03-15T07:07:41Z")
Come on, people. **Knight Rider** ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/55 "2003-03-15T07:29:18Z")
“You’re Standing On My Neck” by Splendora, aka theme song of **Daria**. This is my stop, got to get off… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Mook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Mr.Mook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Mook)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/56 "2003-03-15T07:53:02Z")
What, no Star Trek? Or did I miss a post? Also: Sopranos ---
**Author:** ![KoalaBear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@KoalaBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KoalaBear)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/57 "2003-03-15T09:10:18Z")
Some of my favorites, in no particular order: Instrumental: **British Broadcasting Corporation** - News24 Countdown (2000, unknown). _what a jam_. **Lost In Space** - Season 3 Front Titles (1966, John Williams). **The Avengers** - Front Titles (1966, Laurie Johnson). **UFO** - [Front Titles (with teletype)](http://www.ufoseries.com/music/index.html) - (1969, Barry Gray). _especially 0:27 - 0:37_. Vocal: **Fireball XL5** - End Titles (1961, Barry Gray). _“I wish I was a spaceman / the fastest guy alive / I’d fly you around the universe / in Fireball XL5 …”_ **The Patty Duke Show** - Front Titles (1963, Sonny Burke). _“Meet Kathy who’s lived most everywhere / from Zanzibar to Barclay Square / But Patty’s only seen the sights a girl can see from Brooklyn Heights / What a crazy pair …”_ **The Beverly Hillbillies** - Front Titles (1962, Paul Henning)"_Come ‘n listen to my story ‘bout a man named Jed / Poor Mountaineer barely kept his family fed / An’ then one day, he was shootin’ at some food / An’ up thru the ground came a bubblin’ crude …"_ Dishonorable Mention: **Krofft Supershow** (1976) - [Electrawoman and Dynagirl - Front Titles](http://web.utk.edu/~lyle/ewdg/Movies/index.html). _hilarious_. ---
**Author:** ![Gerome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gerome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerome)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/58 "2003-03-15T11:51:47Z")
Cowboy Bebop Mission Hill Peter Gunn The Sopranos ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/59 "2003-03-15T13:35:30Z")
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned “Suicide Is Painless”, the theme song from **MASH**. I hate the show, but the song fills me with unexplainable nostalgia. Other themes that I love which have already been mentioned: **The Dukes of Hazzard Cheers King of the Hill Hill Street Blues Barney Miller** And the one I’m sure to be persecuted for: I love the theme to **All in the Family**. Part of the humor from the show can be gleanded directly from the theme song. And two others that haven’t been mentioned: **Good Times The Jeffersons** ---
**Author:** ![herwono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9f8e36/32.png) [@herwono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herwono)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/60 "2003-03-15T16:27:02Z")
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