# The Three Greatest TV Theme Songs Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970 "2016-06-09T21:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 10, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/41 "2016-06-10T00:21:35Z")
Three Westerns: * * * Maverick\*\*\* https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tfz5tv_dfLA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL70E7E777BEBF610B _ **Cimarron Strip** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o7m_k4UvCX0/hqdefault.jpg "Cimarron Strip") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7m_k4UvCX0) _ **Gunsmoke** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v1_BGm-8ANk/hqdefault.jpg "Theme From "Gunsmoke"--Warren Barker & His Orchestra") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1_BGm-8ANk) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/42 "2016-06-10T00:30:44Z")
1. Miami Vice 2. WKRP in Cincinnati 3. The Simpsons ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/43 "2016-06-10T00:37:51Z")
I submit that the three best are all from the past 15 years or so. I know, crazy. 1. [Black Sails](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFTcA4QLHw0) - Still on the air. 2. [Game of Thrones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7L2PVdrb_8) - also still on the air 3. [Farscape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orh5IePXv_4)- Not sure if we should use season 1 and 2 or not. I went with season 3. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/44 "2016-06-10T00:45:30Z")
Lots of great ones here. I’ve had the same “fave five” for a long time, and it hasn’t changed. In no particular order: Hawaii 5-0 Get Smart Magnum PI Star Trek TOS Star Trek TNG We could have a thread of “favorite TV theme songs by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter” and it wouldn’t have to change much. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/45 "2016-06-10T01:18:03Z")
Blast from the past: [George of the Jungle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrSUZPek-to) _Watch out for that tree!_ ---
**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:** [June 10, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/46 "2016-06-10T01:19:47Z")
Three service comedies: _ **McHale’s Navy** _ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxGiV44s94) _ **F Troop** _ \*\*\*Gomer Pyle, USMC\*\*\* The last two in particular really do make great military marches! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/47 "2016-06-10T02:25:20Z")
All of the good ones are taken! So, off the top of my head, some other favorites. _Branded Police Squad! Night Court_ Honorable mention: PUSA’s version of \* Cleveland Rocks\* from the _Drew Carey Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/48 "2016-06-10T02:50:13Z")
Fernwood Tonight [Fernwood 2-Night Theme Song - TelevisionTunes.com](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Fernwood_2-Night.html) The Garry Shandling Show (already mentioned by others here) (starts at :35) [It's Garry Shandling's Show - Theme Song - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cWbkWTYwTw) Medical Center, simply because of the insane synth crescendo near the beginning [Medical Center TV show theme song - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGWO35a7qG0) ---
**Author:** ![mambocrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mambocrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mambocrow)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/49 "2016-06-10T03:00:36Z")
\*Route 66 Perry Mason Alfred Hitchcok Presents\* ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/50 "2016-06-10T03:23:08Z")
\*Hawaii 5-0 Mission: Impossible The Wire\* ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/51 "2016-06-10T03:23:09Z")
[Barney Miller](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II71tmVsKrE) [The Rockford Files](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg1Cx26-928) [Hawaii Five-O](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ9xfNn09eQ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/52 "2016-06-10T03:30:47Z")
Lots of good ones here, though a bit surprised that nobody has mentioned these 3 from the 70’s: [The Bob Newhart Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-PLEhiOeVA) [Mary Tyler Moore Show](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x105iaw_mary-tyler-moore-show-theme-and-intro_shortfilms) [Welcome Back Kotter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VlGyMG0ksg) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/53 "2016-06-10T04:13:51Z")
Not gonna do ones already mentioned. How 'bout. [Mannix](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhrSJNDhkDI) [S.W.A.T.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHDg96-ZN_U) [Taxi.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DL8SGEyhZE) One more please? This one has words. [Baretta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HNWhVXcjV8) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/54 "2016-06-10T04:23:21Z")
BTW, I did not realize there were so many versions of the great Barney Miller theme. Also, how much time am I gonna waste clicking links in this thread? Many, many time. That’s how much. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/55 "2016-06-10T05:03:16Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Lots of good ones here, though a bit surprised that nobody has mentioned these 3 from the 70’s: > > [The Bob Newhart Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-PLEhiOeVA) > > [Mary Tyler Moore Show](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x105iaw_mary-tyler-moore-show-theme-and-intro_shortfilms) > > [Welcome Back Kotter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VlGyMG0ksg) The last two have already been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/56 "2016-06-10T05:38:33Z")
I’d like to mention that the new (current) version of Hawaii 5-0 has an opening theme, both audio and video, that are VERY worthy of the original, and I think the producers deserve a shout-out for preserving the legacy of the that awesome show. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/57 "2016-06-10T07:29:36Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The last two have already been mentioned. My mistake. Upon further review, those mentions of MTM and WBK were additionals to a top 3. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/58 "2016-06-10T07:38:48Z")
The first two are easy **Hawaii 5-0** **Mission: Impossible** but rounding out the top 3 is very difficult, there are a lot of great themes to choose from. I gotta go with **Hill Street Blues** And one that I haven’t seen mentioned yet [UFO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CvURidpkCY) > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’d like to mention that the new (current) version of Hawaii 5-0 has an opening theme, both audio and video, that are VERY worthy of the original, and I think the producers deserve a shout-out for preserving the legacy of the that awesome show. They were at least smart enough to know that when something’s that good you don’t mess with it. I saw a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5bzXopNorM) that made the rounds when the reboot was coming out; it was at the recording session for the new theme and everyone saying “don’t mess up the theme song”. And the version in the video is great. Unfortunately, they cut it much shorter for the opening of the show, and in my opinion they did screw it up, completely lost that brass counterpoint during the recapitulation of the theme. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/59 "2016-06-10T07:40:37Z")
Shagnasty was the first to mention the Lone Ranger theme (Rossini’s ‘William Tell’ overture.) It is a magnificent orchestral piece. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2016, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/60 "2016-06-10T07:54:59Z")
[The Virginian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjjUlljGNK0&t=0m28s) [The Name of the Game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igMoIRvjWqI) [Secret Agent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk) (This is the actual TV theme, not the hit record.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=4)