# TV Shows Whose Theme Song Changed During The Show's Run **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308 "2015-01-19T19:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/1 "2015-01-19T19:59:11Z")
I can think of four. 1. _Gilligan’s Island_ - Not only do the lyrics change from “and the rest” to “The Professor and Mary Ann,” it seems that there are new vocalists singing the song. The later voices are deeper. 2. _The Brady Bunch_ - More mature voices in the later seasons. Did the actual kids sing either version of the theme song? 3. _Happy Days_ - Changed from Rock Around The Clock Tonight to a generic, show-specific song, for reasons that elude me. 4. _Mike & Molly_ - First few seasons the theme was slow and bluesy. Now it’s the same words and same performer, but much more up-tempo. And I hate it. What else? ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/2 "2015-01-19T20:00:57Z")
Mary Tyler Moore–changed in the second season from “How will you make it on your own” to “Who can turn the world on with her smile” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/3 "2015-01-19T20:04:50Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > 1. _Happy Days_ - Changed from Rock Around The Clock Tonight to a generic, show-specific song, for reasons that elude me. IIRC the Happy Days theme was always the end credit song. After the first couple of seasons it was put in the opening sequence too. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/4 "2015-01-19T20:21:25Z")
_The Drew Carey Show_ changed songs multiple times (Cleveland Rocks, Moon Over Parma, Five O’Clock World) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/5 "2015-01-19T20:21:28Z")
_The Drew Carrey Show_ - the first season had a short jazzy bit, then they changed to this 1960s pastiche, and then, in the third season I think, they settled on the Presidents of the United States of America and stuck with them to the end. Edit - good grief. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/6 "2015-01-19T20:23:56Z")
_The Wire_ used a different version of the same song for each season, didn’t it? I remember one of them was really good, but don’t know which season. I gave up on it somewhere in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/7 "2015-01-19T20:25:39Z")
In the US, the recent Battlestar Galactica changed. [In the UK, it had used the somber sounding singing version of its opening.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4UPJv08c1k) This was deemed too depressing by the Scifi channel, so they had Bear Mccreary make a new one without the singing. I don’t have a link to it, but it was nice too. However, it was even more somber sounding(intentionally so, I believe). 🙂 So in the second season, the US switched to the vocal as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/8 "2015-01-19T20:29:36Z")
Mystery Science Theater 3000 [changed themes several times](http://www.mst3kinfo.com/mstfaq/lyrics.html). Not only between Joel and Mike hosting but six times in total. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/9 "2015-01-19T20:30:34Z")
Oh yeah. _Simon & Simon_ had two different songs, too. Semi-related to the topic: I was in Brazil in the 80’s and they mixed up all the theme songs for the American TV shows. I seem to recall _Hill Street Blues_ with the theme to _Magnum P.I., Magnum_ had the later version from _Simon & Simon_, and that show used the early version, with English lyrics. 😕 It was very odd ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/10 "2015-01-19T20:58:46Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I can think of four. > > 1. _The Brady Bunch_ - More mature voices in the later seasons. Did the actual kids sing either version of the theme song? Not the season 1 version, but they recorded two or three versions for subsequent years. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/11 "2015-01-19T20:59:56Z")
_Dirty Jobs_ originally had Faith No More’s “We Care A Lot” as the theme song. Then it went to a generic tune that sounded similar because they didn’t have the rights. Then it went back and forth a few more times. It seems like a crapshoot when you watch the older epsidoes as to what you’re going to get. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/12 "2015-01-19T21:03:45Z")
_Big Love_ Started with _God Only Knows_ and finished with _Home_ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/13 "2015-01-19T21:06:03Z")
The pilot for Lost in Space borrowed the theme song from The Day the Earth Stood Still; subsequent episodes used the more commonly-known theme song written by Johnny Williams (yes, aka John Williams). ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/14 "2015-01-19T21:18:41Z")
The Facts of Life song was the same but the rendition changed over time. The theme of DS9 changed in I think the the third or fourth season. It was kind of a subtle change but it changed. I think Enterprise’s changed too. Several shows had to change their theme in syndication. Bosom Buddies was one. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/15 "2015-01-19T21:21:51Z")
**The Cosby Show** incorporated true variations of a theme with each season featuring a different version of the basic melodic structure of their opening song. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/16 "2015-01-19T21:22:35Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Several shows had to change their theme in syndication. Bosom Buddies was one. House changed in syndication from a Massive Attack song to some generic techno-soundin’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/17 "2015-01-19T21:25:21Z")
_Sesame Street_ ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/18 "2015-01-19T21:27:45Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > 1. _Gilligan’s Island_ - Not only do the lyrics change from “and the rest” to “The Professor and Mary Ann,” it seems that there are new vocalists singing the song. The later voices are deeper. This was actually a request, or demand, from Bob Denver (Gilligan) that the remaining cast members, The Professor and Mary Ann be added to the theme song. The studio balked at the cost of redoing the song but that crazy Gilligan prevailed. > [@](#): > > The “Gilligan” theme song underwent this one major change thanks to star Bob Denver, who personally went to the studio and asked that Johnson and Wells be added to the theme song’s opening credits. When the studio at first refused, saying it would be too expensive to reshoot, Denver insisted, even saying that if Johnson and Wells weren’t included, he wanted his name out of the song as well. The studio caved in, and “the Professor and Mary Ann” were added.[6][7][8] Wells elaborated that star Denver went to the studio executives to get her and Johnson added to the opening credits.[9] Denver pointed out that his contract stated he could have his name anywhere he wanted in the credits, so they could move it to the end credits along with Johnson and Wells. Wells said Denver never mentioned this to anyone in the cast, and she did not find out about it until years after the show ended > **[Gilligan's Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilligan's_Island)** > > Gilligan's Island is an American sitcom created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz. The show's ensemble cast features Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, and Dawn Wells. It aired for three seasons on the CBS network from September 26, 1964, to April 17, 1967. The series follows the comic adventures of seven castaways as they try to survive on an island where they are shipwrecked. Most episodes revolve around the dissimilar castaways' conflicts a... ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/19 "2015-01-19T21:28:37Z")
Weeds had a song during the first season and kept that song in the second, although it was different every episode, because it was sung by a different artist. Sometimes it was sung by country singers, sometimes by opera singers, sometimes by rappers… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/20 "2015-01-19T21:28:42Z")
Cagney & Lacey [season 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCy6mrGBFLk) [season 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ-RDj_50oI) Doctor Who has had numerous arrangements of the theme over the last 50 years. Star Trek season 1 - instrumental theme Star Trek season 2 - added ahhh-ahhh-ahhhs [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9IyJ3uoDMsg/hqdefault.jpg "Star Trek Original Series Themes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IyJ3uoDMsg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308.md?page=2)