# TV Show theme songs that are not just "Theme from\_\_\_\_\_" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337 "2009-03-13T15:49:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/21 "2009-03-13T17:08:48Z")
The theme from “Psych” is “I Know You Know”, written by Steve Franks, and recorded by The Friendly Indians. And the theme from “Monk” (after the first season) is “It’s a Jungle Out There”, by Randy Newman. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/22 "2009-03-13T17:11:27Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > But isn’t that just called “Peter Gunn Theme?” Quite so. Or Theme from Peter Gunn. If it has another name I have yet to hear of it. But I’m not too picky about sticking with the title. Anything to do with TV show themes is fair game. I just thought the title was a good enticement to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/23 "2009-03-13T17:12:34Z")
“Danger Ahead” is one of the best known TV theme songs. It has no lyrics, but I don’t even have to mention the show: Dum-dah-Dum-Dum. Dum-dah-Dum-Dum Dum-dah-Dum-Dum DUMMMMM! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/24 "2009-03-13T17:15:56Z")
So far as I know, the Late Late Show theme was written and recorded by Craig himself. Wikipedia backs me up on this. I have no idea if it has a title. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/25 "2009-03-13T17:16:59Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > So far as I know, the Late Late Show theme was written and recorded by Craig himself. Wikipedia backs me up on this. I have no idea if it has a title. The comments at YouTube seem to back that up. It surely is catchy. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/26 "2009-03-13T17:28:24Z")
One of my favorites, used for the show “Sanford and Son,” is called _The Streetbeater_. It was composed by Quincy Jones. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/27 "2009-03-13T17:36:26Z")
Any old radio drama fans might appreciate [The Shadow - 1940s Theme Song - TelevisionTunes.com](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Shadow_-_1940s_(The).html) as well as knowing the right answer to his question. 😃 And does anybody who was in on early TV want to go back to those days after this: [http://www.televisiontunes.com/Winky\_Dink\_and\_You.html](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Winky_Dink_and_You.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/28 "2009-03-13T17:49:53Z")
**Tour of Duty** used the Stones’ “Paint It Black” **Big Love** uses The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/29 "2009-03-13T18:10:29Z")
Weeds uses [Little Boxes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boxes) and until I saw the credits for it, I thought Pete Seeger had written it. There have been many versions on the show, but I like this one best: [Weeds Theme Song - TelevisionTunes.com](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Weeds.html) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/30 "2009-03-13T18:14:47Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Danger Ahead” is one of the best known TV theme songs. It has no lyrics, but I don’t even have to mention the show: > > Dum-dah-Dum-Dum. > Dum-dah-Dum-Dum > Dum-dah-Dum-Dum DUMMMMM! It’s said that next to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, those are the most recognizable opening four notes in the history of music composition. I won’t disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/31 "2009-03-13T18:31:03Z")
Anybody recognize [Woke up this morning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woke_up_this_morning) in its [full version](http://www.televisiontunes.com/Sopranos_-_Full_Version.html)? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/32 "2009-03-13T18:37:44Z")
“Love and Marriage” was the theme for _Married with Children_. The Sinatra version at that. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/33 "2009-03-13T18:44:26Z")
[Heavy Action](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Avmrhcl8A&feature=channel_page) is the song used as the theme for Monday Night Football. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/34 "2009-03-13T18:57:33Z")
Oddest choice of an existing song for a TV theme: John Prine’s “Illegal Smile” for **The Texas Wheelers**. Why anyone chose a song about smoking marijuana as the theme song for a warmhearted family comedy is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/35 "2009-03-13T21:19:45Z")
**The Lone Ranger** used “The William Tell Overture”. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/36 "2009-03-13T21:47:56Z")
_Charmed_, like the witchy movie _The Craft_ used a cover of The Smith’s “How Soon Is Now” recorded by the band Love Spit Love. _China Beach_ used “Reflections” by The Supremes as its main theme. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/37 "2009-03-13T22:01:48Z")
Ended Shows: Party of Five --\> “Closer to Free” by the Bodeans Roswell --\> “Here With Me” by Dido The O.C. --\> “California” by Phantom Planet Glory Days --\> “Excess” by Tricky Joan of Arcadia --\> “One of Us” by Joan Osborne Dirty Sexy Money --\> “Money” by Jesca Hoop Current Shows: Smallville --\> “Save Me” by Remy Zero Gossip Girl --\> “Something To Believe In” by Aqualung True Blood --\> “Bad Things” by Jace Everett ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/38 "2009-03-13T22:03:27Z")
Nice work, **elfkin477**! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/39 "2009-03-13T22:29:39Z")
**Bewitched** : “Bewitched” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337/40 "2009-03-13T22:34:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Bewitched** : “Bewitched” And by the same token: Three’s Company = Three’s Company. A more wretched piece of music does not exist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-theme-songs-that-are-not-just-theme-from_____/489337.md?page=3)