# 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:** 8
**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 16, 2016, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/141 "2016-06-16T08:48:50Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Though rolling around on big wheels playing Rat Patrol was probably fun too. I had a brand new bicycle for that. And a Mattel tommy gun. And a real Australian bush hat. And a pair of military surplus goggles. And a pair of boots just like Sgt Troy’s. :o ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/142 "2016-06-16T15:03:32Z")
Peter Gun Hawaii 50 Pink Panther ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/143 "2016-06-16T15:39:22Z")
Did a quick tally of people who actually submitted lists. Here are the themes on two or more lists and how many votes they got. Hawaii 50 11 Mission Impossible 6 M_A_S\*H 5 Gilligan’s Island 4 Alfred Hitchcock Presents 3 Barney Miller 3 Cowboy Bebop 3 Hill Street Blues 3 Magnum PI 3 Miami Vice 3 Peter Gun 3 Taxi 3 The Addams Family 3 The Avengers 3 Welcome Back Kotter 3 77 Sunset Strip 2 Batman 2 Cheers 2 Combat! 2 Gravity Falls 2 Greatest American Hero 2 Jonny Quest 2 Law & Order 2 Perry Mason 2 Route 66 2 Secret Agent 2 Star Trek 2 The A-Team 2 The Beverley Hillbillies 2 The Garry Shandling Show 2 The Odd Couple 2 The Peter Gunn theme 2 The Rockford Files 2 The Wire 2 True Detective 2 Twilight Zone 2 WKRP 2 ---
**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 16, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/144 "2016-06-16T16:04:53Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > Peter Gun 3 > . . . > The Peter Gunn theme 2 You have Peter Gunn on there twice. ---
**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 17, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/145 "2016-06-17T19:21:45Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The only line I remember for certain (for some reason), is _'Love–strange love a star woman teaches…_.’ > > Groovy, man! Yeah, well, I know all of it by my drunken little heart, and I’m not ashamed to say **I like it!** \*Beyond the rim of the star-light, my love is wand’ring in star-flight. I know he’ll find in star-clustered reaches, love, strange love a star-woman teaches! I know his journey ends never. His Star Trek will go on forever. But tell him while he wanders his starry sea: remember, remember me!\* ---
**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 17, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/146 "2016-06-17T19:25:51Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > Did a quick tally of people who actually submitted lists. > > Here are the themes on two or more lists and how many votes they got. > > Combat! 2 Only \*\*two?!? \*\* :eek: :smack: Here is a much better version of the theme, more like it was back in '62: The best TV series \*\*ever!\*\* :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 17, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/147 "2016-06-17T19:55:01Z")
I have to post this one as well, despite the ease with which I parodied it: \*"Gentlemen, may I present the 'Cane and Derby Hat,' the latest fashion from St Looey! Here we have the 'Horizontal Forward' model. Makes it easy t' tip yer hat to th' ladies!"\* ---
**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 17, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/148 "2016-06-17T19:59:50Z")
_“Folks figgered he wuz a little batty, wearin’ that Cane ‘n’ Derby Hat. So they started callin’ him ‘Batty Masterson.’ An’ afore y’knew it, it was down to just plain ol’ ‘Bat.’ ‘Bat’ Masterson!”_😃 ---
**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 17, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/149 "2016-06-17T20:16:44Z")
Oh, wow! The German version of the Bugs Bunny theme, “My Name is Bunny”: Unfortunately, my German is way too rusty to understand everything they're singing. Can anyone give a translation? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/150 "2016-06-17T20:46:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Oh, wow! The German version of the Bugs Bunny theme, “My Name is Bunny”: > > Unfortunately, my German is way too rusty to understand everything they're singing. Can anyone give a translation? I can’t. I _can,_ though, tell you that the intro for **The Six Million Dollar Man** is creepy in German; I don’t speak the language, but he’s clearly delivering scientific exposition about a man who’s better – stronger – faster – MACH SCHNELL! ---
**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 17, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/151 "2016-06-17T20:52:30Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I can’t. I _can,_ though, tell you that the intro for **The Six Million Dollar Man** is creepy in German; I don’t speak the language, but he’s clearly delivering scientific exposition about a man who’s better – stronger – faster – MACH SCHNELL! A technological amerikanishe Uebermann! Ausgezeichnet! 🆒 ---
**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 17, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/152 "2016-06-17T21:55:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Oh, wow! The German version of the Bugs Bunny theme, “My Name is Bunny”: Bugs and Daffy sound so different here - like gentlemen. What would the German equivalent be of Bugs’ Brooklyn accent? Is there some reason they didn’t try to duplicate Daffy’s slobbering lisp? ---
**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 18, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/153 "2016-06-18T18:09:23Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Best cartoon theme -[Amazing Three](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vskm4V8DZbE)- ‘Spacemen with a mission’!. [URL=“[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QDlkj302tA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QDlkj302tA)”]) Finally somebody else who’s heard of this show! ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/154 "2016-06-18T21:51:32Z")
None of these yet?! Road Runner (If he catches you you’re through) Tennessee Tuxedo (Anything so he can measure up to man) Wally Gator (There has never been a greater operator in the swamp) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/155 "2016-06-18T22:03:48Z")
1. Six Million Dollar Man 2. Battlestar Galactica (1978) 3. Greatest American Hero ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/156 "2016-06-18T22:56:00Z")
MTM WKRP All in the Family ---
**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 18, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/157 "2016-06-18T23:02:21Z")
Hong Kong Phooey Baretta ZOOM ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/158 "2016-06-19T00:36:38Z")
1. St. Elsewhere 2. House Calls 3. Grandpa Goes to Washington ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/159 "2016-06-19T01:31:09Z")
[Animaniacs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnWwN1z_UM) [Queer Duck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wImRXN5Y5-w) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970/160 "2016-06-19T16:06:42Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Why did _George of the Jungle_ make _Tom Slick_ pop into my head? Round my parts…George of the Jungle, Tom Swift, and Super-Chicken were played in rotation on a local cartoon show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-tv-theme-songs-ever/756970.md?page=9)