# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/81 "2016-06-10T13:49:23Z")
[Hill Street Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pThIeuKD6uM) [The Fall Guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeau4zBZgZg) [The Dukes of Hazzard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fSEf6tnG4) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/82 "2016-06-10T13:57:08Z")
I need to amend my list: this goes to the top: [Jonny Quest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0kg_tzQvf4) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/83 "2016-06-10T14:01:09Z")
Green Acres Dukes of Hazzard The Andy Griffith Show ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/84 "2016-06-10T14:07:26Z")
Have to add these, too: [Pinky and the Brain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzZmU0aGmcc) [Danger Mouse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7WrEidvyY) [Road Runner Theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwYQsZuh2CM) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/85 "2016-06-10T15:15:50Z")
All great suggestions as well as some of my favorites. The greatest song ever written: Underdog Scrubs version (The Blanks) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RNiGeKzc-98/hqdefault.jpg "Underdog") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNiGeKzc-98) Twilight Zone [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NzlG28B-R8Y/hqdefault.jpg "Twilight Zone intro.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlG28B-R8Y) Dragnet [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hDVVplAweZw/maxresdefault.jpg "Dragnet theme song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDVVplAweZw) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/86 "2016-06-10T15:42:45Z")
[_The Zoo Gang_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4EdVmJOLfo) [_The Magician_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu7W0DKndek) [_Sea Hunt_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QxXk6X9GDo&index=92&list=PL6law6Uk-M4H7hg_iAIrhf5U9ewBqvyhU) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/87 "2016-06-10T16:09:53Z")
I don’t think any of these have been mentioned yet. True Detective, Season 1: Gravity Falls: Murdock Mysteries: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfVpBlDDkPM) ---
**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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/88 "2016-06-10T16:31:21Z")
I still get goose bumps when I hear _ **Whirlybirds** _: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NO3UBIjU8ZA/hqdefault.jpg "Whirlybirds Theme (with Credits)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO3UBIjU8ZA) ---
**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, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/89 "2016-06-10T16:39:36Z")
Three from Gerry Anderson: _ **Stingray** _ (outro “Marina”) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CD96RQ1-wnY/hqdefault.jpg "Stingray TV Show Outro (1964) Aqua Marina") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD96RQ1-wnY) _ **Thunderbirds** _ \*\*\*Fireball XL-5\*\*\* [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/M26fZ4O9qus/maxresdefault.jpg "Fireball XL-5 Kid's TV Show From 1962 An Extended Theme Song.wmv") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M26fZ4O9qus) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/90 "2016-06-10T16:43:31Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:31, topic:756970”] _ **Hawaii Five-O** _ with lyrics! Don Ho: Sammy Davis, Jr: [/QUOTE] There are lyrics to [The Bob Newhart Show theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOeRSfzkV0E). FF to 1:06. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/91 "2016-06-10T16:53:12Z")
Crap, I was just about to mention _Thunderbirds_ and couldn’t believe it hadn’t shown up yet. So here’s my three: _Mission Impossible_ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq-YeD4L-bg) _The Equalizer_ \*Miami Vice\* That all three had great intro visuals in not a coincidence. ---
**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, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/92 "2016-06-10T16:57:13Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > There are lyrics to [The Bob Newhart Show theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOeRSfzkV0E). FF to 1:06. When I was co-hosting a radio show back in the '90s, I once surprised the DJ by singing the “lyrics” to _ **Hawaii Five-O** _ on the air: _It’s Hawaii Five-O! It’s Hawaii-Five (It’s Hawaii Five-OH)! It’s Hawaii Five-OH! It’s Hawaii FIIIIIIVE! OOOOOOH! Five-O, Five-O, Five-O, Five-O! FIVE-O, FIVE-O, FIVE-O, Five-OH, Five-OH! Five-OH! It’s Hawaii-Fiiiiiive! OOOOOOOOOH!_ I could have gone on a lot longer, but he threatened to cut off my microphone. 😃 I wish I could find Nick the Lounge Singer doing the Five-O theme. I know that clip used to be on YouTube but I can’t find it any more. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/93 "2016-06-10T17:12:39Z")
From Germany: Ein fall für zwei (A case for two). That 80s German synthpop. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYMfxNNm04) ---
**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, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/94 "2016-06-10T17:13:40Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > [Return Of The Saint](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoDWzIXAqlo) I always preferred the 1966 version of the \*\*\*Saint \*\*\*theme: But this one is nice too: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e-gs8IjqdBo/hqdefault.jpg "THE SAINT credits - theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-gs8IjqdBo) ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/95 "2016-06-10T17:18:07Z")
The ultimate in “buddy” detective series, _**Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)**_: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo3lTbYFK6A) ---
**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, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/96 "2016-06-10T17:26:00Z")
I have the oddest feeling that my life is flashing before my eyes… :dubious: :eek: :smack: :o ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/97 "2016-06-10T17:38:25Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Peter Gunn The winner in a landslide. > Hawaii 5-0 (the original) > Mission Impossible > … Sooo close. Toss out Hawaii 5-0 and replace it Jan Hammer’s these for _Miami Vice_ theme. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/98 "2016-06-10T17:42:35Z")
WKRP Taxi Magnum PI Tales From The Crypt The Muppet Show What’s Happening Now Starblazers Quest For Iscandar Breaking Bad ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/99 "2016-06-10T17:44:07Z")
From three different genres of shows: 1. Super Chicken 2. Gilligan’s Island 3. Perry Mason ---
**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, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/100 "2016-06-10T17:46:42Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:89, topic:756970”] _ **Fireball XL-5** _ [/QUOTE] This came up just the other day. I keep telling people, if you're gonna link to that song, [do it right](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDrGmUlmutY)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=6)