# TV show changes theme song: Do you prefer the new one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2026, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002 "2026-01-25T10:14:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/61 "2026-01-30T08:08:46Z")
I remember that _White Collar_ changed its theme song a couple of seasons in. I didn’t particularly think the new one was an improvement musically, but I did like the show very much, and it seemed to me that if USA went to the trouble of commissioning a new theme song, it meant that it thought the show was a hit and would be around for a few seasons. They gave up on the new theme song and went back to the original within a few episodes, which I found rather miraculous. I mean, how often does that actually happen? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/62 "2026-02-07T14:32:00Z")
Regarding “Comedy Tonight” as the Muppets’ original theme song–I think I’ve solved the mystery. _The Muppet Show_ debuted on 1976, and the third episode featured the ensemble singing “Comedy Tonight” as a production number. It’s quite possible that I missed the first two episodes and watched this number, not realizing it was several minutes into the episode of a show I’d never seen before: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOyI35ldSPA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOyI35ldSPA) ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/63 "2026-02-07T18:58:12Z")
I saw a video about a slight change to _The Muppet Show_ theme song. The original is: C C A B A# B G and the new version is: C C A B A B G A change worthy of discussion here! BTW I prefer the original. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/64 "2026-02-07T19:09:54Z")
FTR, “Comedy Tonight” was itself the third opening number Sondheim wrote for _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum_, after “Love Is in the Air” and “Invocation.” (You may have heard the former number in _The Birdcage_.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/65 "2026-02-07T21:03:33Z")
SquidBillies (Adult Swim cartoon) had many guests perform the opening song. Some notables I can recall were Todd Snider, Drive-By Truckers and Neko Case. Show was ridiculous, but damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002/66 "2026-02-08T22:36:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Hawaii 5-0s iconic (it should be the national anthem) theme music > [@SCAdian](#): > > I think it would be a lot better than the current “To Anacreon in Heaven” tune. Love the tune. Don’t know about the lyrics. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JR9jN20RqJ4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/JR9jN20RqJ4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDJR9jN20RqJ4 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-changes-theme-song-do-you-prefer-the-new-one/1027002.md?page=3)