# The all-time greatest TV show theme MUSIC?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964 "2004-01-06T06:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/1 "2004-01-06T06:17:39Z")
Hey, I know this thread has been done before, but some topics are just worth revisitng. . . .more than once! I’m talking themes (without lyrics) that were so good you always sat through the opening credits. My picks are: 1. - Doctor Who. I’m talking the _original_ theme music, used by the show from 1963 to 1980. The BBC monkeyed with it a bit afterward, but never improved upon the original. That weird, unearthly electronic screech at the beginning, followed by something that sounded like the howl of of a wounded robot. Cooler than cool. 2. - Angel. I think it’s that opening cello that does it for me. Those mournful notes, followed by a guitar riff, convey without words the spirit of the show. 3. - Hill Street Blues. Didn’t really go with a serious cop show, IMHO, but a great piece of music nonetheless. 4. - Knight Rider. The theme stayed cool longer than the show did. How many tv shows from the 80s have their beats ripped off to make a rap tune? Honorable Mention: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Don’t know who the drummer was, but he could flail! Overrated themes: 1. - Miami Vice. Gah! 2. - Hawaii Five-O. To every high school marching band in the country: You can stop now! ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/2 "2004-01-06T07:06:54Z")
1. Alias. Written by series creator J.J. Abrams, it’s terrific. Very high-energy and fun to listen to. 2. Night Court. Funky bass line. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/3 "2004-01-06T07:42:58Z")
MacGyver. I listened to the _This American Life_ episode the other day and the music was played. I hadn’t heard it for years, and never really followed the show, but it seemed really fitting for the times and the show. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/4 "2004-01-06T12:17:46Z")
The ol’ Raymond Burr _Perry Mason_: diddley dummmmmm da DUM! diddley dummmmmm da DUM! And the _Avengers_. Where’s the thread about cheesy TV music? ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/5 "2004-01-06T18:07:50Z")
I have another Honorable Mention: Quantum Leap. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/6 "2004-01-06T19:44:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*Hill Street Blues > > I have another Honorable Mention: Quantum Leap.\*\* Just about everything Post and/or Carpenter ever composed would be on this list. Along with “Hill Street Blues” and “Quantum Leap” is “Magnum P.I.”, “The Rockford Files”, “The A-Team”, “Hardcastle and McCormick”, “Law & Order” (all three), etc. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/7 "2004-01-06T19:45:43Z")
Star Trek, original series. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/8 "2004-01-06T19:46:46Z")
Oh, and M.A.S.H. Forgot that one for a minute. Plus, I always liked the theme to Hogan’s Heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/9 "2004-01-06T19:53:52Z")
Hillstreet Blues Firefly In that order. ---
**Author:** ![Aries28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Aries28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aries28)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/10 "2004-01-06T20:16:23Z")
[hijack] **Homebrew** , check your email, please. [end of hijack] ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/11 "2004-01-06T21:08:27Z")
the original Johnny Quest ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/12 "2004-01-06T21:08:32Z")
**Rockford Files** **Secret Agent Man** **The Twilight Zone** ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/13 "2004-01-06T21:17:13Z")
What was that nice bit of classical music at the beginning of _Wings_? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/14 "2004-01-06T21:25:26Z")
**Sanford and Son** I think Quincery Jones write it. The best. The **Barney Miller** theme was great, too. ---
**Author:** ![Snite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Snite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snite)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/15 "2004-01-06T23:18:28Z")
Batman the Animated Series. Teen Titans. That song rocks. Psychopachik Vampire ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/16 "2004-01-06T23:21:47Z")
The _Miami Vice_ theme was pretty popular on the radio back in the day. I’ll also second _The A-Team_ ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/17 "2004-01-06T23:24:07Z")
I’ve always like the theme from **Mission Impossible**. I even bought the soundtrack cassette from the dollar bin a few years ago to play on my daily walks. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/18 "2004-01-06T23:25:23Z")
I’m amazed each time this topic comes up that a mod doesn’t just post **Peter Gunn** , announce that this is a General Question, move it, note that s/he has answered it, and close the thread. Since that doesn’t happen, **Peter Gunn**. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/19 "2004-01-07T00:01:19Z")
oh yeah, forgot **Land of the Lost** ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964/20 "2004-01-07T00:27:43Z")
Second Secret Agent, (Danger Man) in England. Both the theme and the introductory music. Music for the Prisoner wasn’t bad either. **photopat** which season of Star Trek? The third season theme was awful - my mother said it sounded like fashion show music. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-all-time-greatest-tv-show-theme-music/222964.md?page=2)