# 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:** 4
**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, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/61 "2016-06-10T08:10:12Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > [Secret Agent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk) (This is the actual TV theme, not the hit record.) In the UK, the series was known as _ **Danger Man** _. And a great series it was, too! 🆒 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u6jYfJgj-o) ---
**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, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/62 "2016-06-10T08:17:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > _Police Squad!_. _ **Police Squad!** _ was originally the theme from another classic series, _ **M Squad** _, starring the great Lee Marvin. Played by the Count Basie Orchestra. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f65xzJN9O18/hqdefault.jpg "M SQUAD [1957-1960]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f65xzJN9O18) ---
**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, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/63 "2016-06-10T08:33:39Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > **Hill Street Blues** Oh, the NBC lineup in the '80s! :o _ **St Elsewhere** _ Mark Harmon with a pornstache! 🆒 \*\*\*Remington Steele\*\*\* Stephanie Zimbalist, mmmmmmmmmmmm! :) \*\*\*LA Law\*\*\* Susan Dey, grrrrrrrrowar! :o https://www.youtube.com/embed/OysN8_B551o?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/64 "2016-06-10T08:56:46Z")
Welcome Back Kotter Route 66 Bonzanza ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/65 "2016-06-10T09:33:47Z")
Moonlighting [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MuQaE5zDn1Q/hqdefault.jpg "Moonlighting Theme Song (Season 1 to 3)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuQaE5zDn1Q) The Sopranos Scooby Doo ---
**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, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/66 "2016-06-10T09:38:04Z")
Any theme composed by Mike Post. The Who even recorded a song called _Mike Post Theme_. _Hill Street Blues The Rockford Files Magnum, P.I. The A-Team The Greatest American Hero Quantum Leap Law & Order_ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/67 "2016-06-10T10:16:50Z")
[Knight Rider](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhxRBa7zaOI) [The Odd Couple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af1h4ibpKJA) [Terriers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD8Kh7Pmzho) ---
**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, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/68 "2016-06-10T11:42:00Z")
Classic sitcoms: _ **The Jack Benny Program** _ (outro, aka “The J&M Stomp”) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VPmpJGmlVCc/hqdefault.jpg "The Jack Benny Program - "Jack Renews His Driver's License"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPmpJGmlVCc) _ **Amos ‘n’ Andy** _ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Us6SjoRkU) _ **The Honeymooners** _ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N2maOGkKE_A/maxresdefault.jpg "Theme Song and Credits to The Honeymooners") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2maOGkKE_A) ---
**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, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/69 "2016-06-10T11:48:50Z")
Classic sitcom runners-up _ **The Dick van Dyke Show** _(with lyrics) \*\*\*Our Miss Brooks\*\*\* ("Written by Al Lewis," aka "Grandpa" on \*\*\*The Munsters\*\*\*) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/l5FozSPUn6M/hqdefault.jpg "CBS Our Miss Brooks 1955") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5FozSPUn6M) _ **The Ann Sothern Show** _ (aka _ **Private Secretary** _, aka _ **Susie** _) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PyxOTFfaBoQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Ann Sothern Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyxOTFfaBoQ) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/70 "2016-06-10T11:53:30Z")
As much as I love _Firefly_, the theme song ain’t one for this thread. ---
**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, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/71 "2016-06-10T12:07:28Z")
Others that should have been mentioned by now: _ **That Girl** _ (instrumental, the best version) \*\*\*Car 54, Where Are You?\*\*\* \*\*\*The Rifleman\*\*\* \*\*\*Have Gun, Will Travel\*\*\* \*\*\*The Rebel\*\*\* [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a34ta4rN9Pw/hqdefault.jpg "Theme Song to The Rebel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a34ta4rN9Pw) ---
**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, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/72 "2016-06-10T12:12:10Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:71, topic:756970”] Others that should have been mentioned by now: _ **Have Gun, Will Travel** _ [/QUOTE] My apologies to **Colibri**! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/73 "2016-06-10T12:12:36Z")
For shame, how has this not been name-dropped yet? [Pokemon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuYeHPFR3f0) I don’t have much in terms of old TV shows to draw from, mostly modern stuff, but… [One Punch Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAnfiIpiCiQ) [Ducktales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMU2NwaaXEA) So it’s animated. 😃 ---
**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, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/74 "2016-06-10T12:16:24Z")
Here’s one great sitcom theme I’ll bet no one else would have thought of: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kz06eCFF-oI/hqdefault.jpg "Lynsey De Paul - No Honestly") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz06eCFF-oI) Reached No 7 on the UK charts in 1974! ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/75 "2016-06-10T12:24:30Z")
Sanford and Son is my favorite. The music itself is some great work by Quincy Jones, but it also fits the show perfectly because it was supposed to be out of step with its time. S&S was the Chitlin’ Circuit meeting the 70s. My next two choices are Peter Gunn and Miami Vice. ---
**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, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/76 "2016-06-10T12:37:33Z")
Positively majestic, this one is! Bill Conti on the trumpet: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fGBxwqL6jbw/hqdefault.jpg "Bill Conti - Dynasty Opening Theme, Extended Version") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGBxwqL6jbw) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/77 "2016-06-10T13:04:21Z")
Some great ones are listed already. Just want to add [Highlander](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypyvcfnu4Gg) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/78 "2016-06-10T13:27:27Z")
[Van Der Valk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8t3jA-krc) [Angels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu0fyzu7TZE) [Black Beauty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u5NgC4lZ8s) [Follyfoot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwJoEGyGMY) [Hitch-hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKilWkX4jA) [Return Of The Saint](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoDWzIXAqlo) ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/79 "2016-06-10T13:43:48Z")
Cowboy Bebop, “Tank”: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWk-VpK4hJo) ---
**Author:** ![Fossil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/47e85d/32.png) [@Fossil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fossil)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/80 "2016-06-10T13:46:14Z")
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