# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/101 "2004-11-27T04:09:04Z")
I’ve always been partial to the theme for “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” Gounod’s **Funeral March of a Marionette** ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/102 "2004-11-27T04:17:55Z")
**Night Court Barney Miller Newhart St. Elsewhere Family Guy** ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/103 "2004-11-27T05:24:10Z")
**Knight Rider** , by far. Or the final 1:27 of **Fleetwood Mac** ’s _The Chain_, which was the theme song for Formula One racing when it was on the BBC. Play it for almost any British person and they’ll think of motorsport. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/104 "2004-11-27T09:59:10Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > **Knight Rider** , by far. > Or the final 1:27 of **Fleetwood Mac** ’s _The Chain_, which was the theme song for Formula One racing when it was on the BBC. > > Play it for almost any British person and they’ll think of motorsport. If we’re going to include lifted pieces on factual programmes, then that is beaten by _Whole Lotta Love_ being used as the Top of the Pops theme for many years. It was so popular that when they changed it, there was so much fan outcry that they had to change it back. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/105 "2004-11-27T12:31:18Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > Doctor Who (Jon Pertwee/ Tom Baker era) Definitely the Doctor Who theme: moody, scary electronic instumental music conjured up by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop before synthesisers had even been invented {and has been hugely covered}. Batman, just because it’s such fun {and has also been hugely covered}. And The Simpsons theme, by Danny Elfman: a subtle yet perfect Leonard Bernstein homage {especially the numerous closing credit variations: Hill St Blues, Sonic Youth, Addams Family, Phillip Glass…} ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/106 "2004-11-27T12:57:20Z")
> [@shy guy](#): > > Oops, I forgot about the first (American) **Pokemon** theme song. Damn that thing is catchy. > > “You teach me and I’ll teach you - POOOKEEEEEMOOOOOON” > > And then there are the **Hamtaro** opening and closing songs, which are as addicting as crack - and available in 3 languages! > > “Snoozer, Penelope, Panda, Howdy, Oxnard, Bijou, and Boss, let’s go!” I agree… I used to watch **Hamtaro** specifically so I could hear the beginning and end theme songs… in the same vein, though not English, but anime, I love all the goofy, poppy, sugary sweet music from **CardCaptor Sakura** … :o Oh, oh, and Ryu Kumon’s theme from **Ranma 1/2** … “_Battle Renaissance_” - woo! Anyway… back to North America… 😉 I actually really enjoy the theme for **Desperate Housewives**. As a child I loved the **Nightcourt** theme. Here’s another vote for **Futurama**. \*\*The Simpsons \*\* is classic. **Pink Panther** **The Monchichis** And… hee… \*\*The Fresh Prince of Bel Air \*\* always makes me and hubby groove. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/107 "2004-11-27T20:39:16Z")
The Avengers Twelve O’Clock High UFO Captain Scarlet The Baron ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/108 "2004-11-27T21:19:16Z")
Where’s the love for Dave Grusin’s excellent effort for **It Takes a Thief**? Well, maybe part of the charm was the period footage used in the opening credits to convey hipness - the skiers spraying snow, the spinning roulette wheel, you know. “Let me get this straight - you _want_ me to steal?” ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/109 "2004-11-27T21:39:17Z")
More votes for **Dr Who** and **Knight Rider** I’ll also throw **The A-Team** into the mix **Battle of the Planets** was also a long-time fav. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/110 "2004-11-27T21:41:41Z")
**Perfect Strangers** is without question the greatest. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408/111 "2004-11-28T07:25:10Z")
**The Name of the Game** was a forgettable show with a great theme song. Dave Gruisin wrote it, along with the themes to **The Bold Ones** , **Dan August** , **The Ghost and Mrs. Muir** , **Good Times** , **It Takes a Thief** , **Maude** and **St. Elsewhere**. See [here](http://www.grusin.net/compositions.htm) for a list of Druisin compositions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-best-tv-show-theme-song/161408.md?page=5)