# 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:** 6
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/101 "2016-06-10T17:54:44Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > From three different genres of shows: > > 1. Super Chicken > 2. Gilligan’s Island > 3. Perry Mason Oh, man, I forgot about _[Super Chicken](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKss2pBYQ6Y)_. I stand by my list, but _Super Chicken_ deserves honorable mention. My screensaver at work once said “You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.” Only one person got it. ---
**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, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/102 "2016-06-10T17:56:11Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > Blast from the past: [George of the Jungle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrSUZPek-to) > > _Watch out for that tree!_ I’ll go along with this as best cartoon theme music! ---
**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, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/103 "2016-06-10T18:18:16Z")
By the way, only the first verse of the theme was ever played on WKRP. The entire song runs for nearly three minutes and can be heard here: [Complete recording of WKRP in Cincinnati theme by Steve Carlisle.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgrVP_J0BHk) ---
**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, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/104 "2016-06-10T19:05:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’ll go along with this as best cartoon theme music! I like [this one better.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGOTkUwIje4) ---
**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, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/105 "2016-06-10T19:11:08Z")
Too intellectual. Too many words. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/106 "2016-06-10T19:30:03Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > 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. ☹ Perhaps in the tradition of Bill Murray’s bit, cable channel Nickelodeon used to have some hilarious fake-lyrics-to-themes commercials, to promote various of their _Nick at Night_ shows. This was apparently twenty years ago (per the article I’m linking)–I haven’t watched the channel for a long time, so don’t know if they still show them. But engraved on my brain is this classic by the channel’s Tom Hill: > [@](#): > > Oh, “My Three Sons,” > Yes, “My Three Sons,” > It’s “My Three Sons” > On Nick at Nite. > They’ve got a dad, > His name is Steve, > He’s got a job, > He’s really tall. > And then there’s Bub, > He makes them food, > They’ve got a dog, > They’re “My Three Sons.” I have been known to sing it in the shower. :o [Inquirer.com archives](http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-26/news/25692425_1_nite-theme-song-nickelodeon) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/107 "2016-06-10T19:51:38Z")
I’ve posted it here before in the music appreciation society thread, but my favorite TV theme song is [TWX in 12 Bars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHc4Ge_HZLc), the theme for Wall Street Week. Warning: Sexy but SFW picks of Louis Rukeyser in the vid. Control yourself. It’s instrumental, comes in all important and big, marching along about the economy. Then there’s a soft, gentle electric piano/flute break, then the economy comes back to close it. It’s perfect, that’s pretty much how Rukeyser ran his show. It was hard facts about the economy, then the human side of it, and what it might mean. I listen to that 48 seconds pretty often. It’s a little masterpiece. ETA: Good lord, **Czarcasm** , give us some warning next time. I can’t un-hear anything. ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/108 "2016-06-10T21:03:21Z")
The Lonely Planet theme song is gorgeous. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbxsw7Uf4ro) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/109 "2016-06-10T21:21:50Z")
[77 Sunset Strip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrrcSieqMH8) [Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-44zvFjJ8E) [Winky Dink](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CLazJrMDCY) & [You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5TdRhNLOPk) ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/110 "2016-06-10T21:25:18Z")
I will second _Gravity Falls_ and _Cowboy Bebop_ and also add … _Buffy The Vampire Slayer_ ---
**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, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/111 "2016-06-10T21:33:06Z")
Johnny Quest is kick ass. There should be a thread just on great cartoon songs. I have so many favorites-- not all theme songs. ---
**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 11, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/112 "2016-06-11T01:13:40Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > 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)! Unfortunately, I suspect the significance of this song was somewhat lost on the US audience. ☹ ---
**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 11, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/113 "2016-06-11T01:18:28Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Johnny Quest is kick ass. There should be a thread just on great cartoon songs. _ **The Bugs Bunny Show** _ My all-time favorite! :cool: ---
**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 11, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/114 "2016-06-11T01:33:04Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I haven’t watched the channel for a long time, so don’t know if they still show them. But engraved on my brain is this classic by the channel’s Tom Hill: > > I have been known to sing it in the shower. :o [Inquirer.com archives](http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-26/news/25692425_1_nite-theme-song-nickelodeon) Funny you should mention it. This was on [MSN.com](http://MSN.com) this morning: [http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/11-fun-facts-about-my-three-sons/ar-AAgNGBP?li=BBnb2gh&OCID=mailsignoutlc](http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/11-fun-facts-about-my-three-sons/ar-AAgNGBP?li=BBnb2gh&OCID=mailsignoutlc) ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/115 "2016-06-11T01:54:00Z")
The Waltons Monday Night Football (original) ABC’s Wide World of Sports ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/116 "2016-06-11T02:06:44Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > OK this is a wide topic. I’m gonna make an executive decision from a position of no authority at all, that 3 is not enough and I’m doing 5. > > Batman > The Munsters > The Avengers (60s) > National Geographic Specials (60s) > ABC Movie of the Week (Bacharach theme or “Nikki”) > > Honorable Mention: The Name of the Game, The Prisoner, Room 222, Wild Wild West, Mission Impossible, Perry Mason, Underdog, HR Pufnstuff, Josie and the Pussycats, Hawaii 5-0, The Bold Ones. Come on now, the rule is 3 greatest themes ever per post… Love American Style Star Trek M_A_S\*H ---
**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 11, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/117 "2016-06-11T02:26:05Z")
[The 1970s NBC Sports theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUing_cfzSM) ---
**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 11, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/118 "2016-06-11T02:42:50Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > ABC’s Wide World of Sports \*The \*\*THRILL \*\*of \*\*VICTORY \*\*… and the \*\*AGONY \*_of **DEFEAT**!_ Ouch! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/119 "2016-06-11T15:22:00Z")
Nobody’s mention [The Big Bang Theory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMSYv_Z4SI8) ---
**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 11, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/120 "2016-06-11T17:07:12Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Nickelodeon used to have some hilarious fake-lyrics-to-themes commercials, to promote various of their _Nick at Night_ shows. I once saw the “lyrics” to the _ **Star Trek** _ theme in some local rag back in Minneapolis in the '80s (probably _ **The Twin Cities Reader** _). All I remember is _Space guys in a starship, oh-oh-OHHHHHHH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oooooooh! Kiirk, and Spock, and McCoy-oy. And Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, and Uhura, toooooo…_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=7)