# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/41 "2015-01-19T23:42:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Avengers** _ had at least two themes; I believe the one most associated with the show came in with Emma Peel and was modified a bit when she was replaced by Tara King. IIRC, that theme was the second of the Peel themes, and came in when they shifted to colour. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/42 "2015-01-19T23:46:05Z")
On the DVD collection I have, _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _ had a completely different theme in the beginning. I’d have to dig out the discs and watch them again to be sure, but I think the familiar “Ballad of Jed Clampett” wasn’t heard until after the pilot and the first couple of regular episodes. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/43 "2015-01-19T23:52:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > IIRC, that theme was the second of the Peel themes, and came in when they shifted to colour. Right; the opening was changed in 1966, and the music along with it (but only slightly); a trumpet solo was then added for the Tara King episodes. They definitely had a different theme for the very early Ian Hendry episodes; what I’m uncertain of is whether they had a permanent one for Cathy Gale. (Steed had a couple of other partners before Emma came along as well.) There’s a tribute to the Cathy Gale episodes on YouTube that sounds as though it might have her theme, but I just haven’t seen enough of them to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/44 "2015-01-19T23:54:07Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I was going to mention that. This is the theme to the Bollywood episode. > > [http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LbodxiyYAHw](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LbodxiyYAHw) [Dual Spires](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JiiIyQ1u-M) (audio only) [All of them, I think](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbjFOOAA7Bo) What? . ---
**Author:** ![scoots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@scoots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scoots)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/45 "2015-01-19T23:55:29Z")
Baywatch The original theme for the first series was: [Save Me by Peter Cetera](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK9-XZIu2kg) This changed for the rest of the seasons to: [I’m Always Here by Jimi Jamison](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilAJJ3WHg6g) But on the DVD release of the first season they used: [Strong Enough by Evan Olson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv2RFeZ65CU) But on some DVD releases we had: [Above the Waterline by Kim Carnes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot6y3F5QTYU) I can’t decide which is the best (and most appropriate). Think maybe Strong Enough. Or maybe I’m Always Here. Gah I don’t know - they’re all good ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/46 "2015-01-19T23:57:34Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Even referenced in the episode “Mr. Monk and the TV Star”. “If you ever get a TV show, don’t change the theme song”. And then they played the old theme in the closing credits. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/47 "2015-01-20T00:07:12Z")
_In Living Color_ went from this: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSO54NSiGiI) to this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ataHNEclz44/hqdefault.jpg "In Living C0l0r season 3 intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ataHNEclz44) Not songs, but _The Twilight Zone_ went from this: to this: https://www.youtube.com/embed/hjwI9Oz0yl0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLA336700916DA0783 > [@Ethilrist](#): > > 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). Then they switched theme songs again and it was also composed by John Williams. Pilot: [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xstcih\_lost-in-space-1965-no-place-to-hide-unaired-pilot-episode\_shortfilms](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xstcih_lost-in-space-1965-no-place-to-hide-unaired-pilot-episode_shortfilms) First season: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH6j63lhAAc&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH6j63lhAAc&feature=youtu.be) Third season: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jan\_xK89l6Y&feature=youtu.be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jan_xK89l6Y&feature=youtu.be) ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/48 "2015-01-20T00:12:16Z")
I never realized that _ **The Man from UNCLE** _ went through four different versions of its theme: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3_NytrnoI_Q/hqdefault.jpg "THE THEMES FROM U.N.C.L.E.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_NytrnoI_Q) ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/49 "2015-01-20T00:14:28Z")
The aforementioned Cathy Gale tribute: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_ntlb8ltTCQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Avengers - Someone Has Stolen Big Ben") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ntlb8ltTCQ) ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/50 "2015-01-20T00:18:33Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/51 "2015-01-20T00:19:14Z")
UK comedy “Peep Show” used an odd little jazzy number in the first season, subsequent seasons have all used Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta.” Huge improvement; the original song seemed way, way too square. Even for Mark. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/52 "2015-01-20T00:20:32Z")
Somewhere in its five-year run, **The Wild Wild West** ’s theme song changed slightly. Along with the opening graphics (though maybe not at the same time). **The Munsters** theme song changed somewhere along the way. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/53 "2015-01-20T00:25:29Z")
Openings of _ **The Avengers** _, seasons one and two. The themes are the same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef4XI-O\_K3U ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/54 "2015-01-20T00:29:19Z")
Each of the five seasons of **Babylon 5** had different opening credits, with unique narration and theme music for each. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/55 "2015-01-20T00:31:55Z")
Like the _ **Star Trek** _ theme, _ **The Munsters** _ theme had lyrics that were never heard on the TV show (or in the movies, IIRC). A vocal version was, however, released on a children’s LP, and I got a copy for Christmas 1965: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nRbbfyBCwMY/hqdefault.jpg "The Munsters - RARE vocal version of Theme Song!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRbbfyBCwMY) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/56 "2015-01-20T00:33:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > On the DVD collection I have, _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _ had a completely different theme in the beginning. I’d have to dig out the discs and watch them again to be sure, but I think the familiar “Ballad of Jed Clampett” wasn’t heard until after the pilot and the first couple of regular episodes. I have a one-season DVD collection of TBH, and in place of the familiar “Ballad of Jed Clampett” (played by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and sung by Jerry Scoggins), it features a bluegrass instrumental that AFAIK was never part of the show. I assume this was due to copyright issues - there was a thread recently about how tortuously difficult it can be to license music for old TV shows for video collections. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/57 "2015-01-20T00:35:32Z")
A couple of seasons into _White Collar_, they replaced the opening montage and its rock-oriented theme music. Nobody really liked the changes, so within a few episodes, they changed back. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/58 "2015-01-20T00:37:28Z")
_ **The Saint** _’s theme changed considerably when it switched to color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWr\_1uLjqic ---
**Author:** ![MsKaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MsKaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsKaren)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/59 "2015-01-20T00:38:32Z")
All the CSI shows use different songs by the Who, but I don’t think they change from season to season. From wikipedia: "The opening themes for all four series are remixes of songs performed by the rock band, The Who. Series Theme song CSI: Crime Scene Investigation “Who Are You” CSI: Miami “Won’t Get Fooled Again” CSI: NY “Baba O’Riley” CSI: Cyber “I Can See For Miles” ---
**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:** [January 20, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308/60 "2015-01-20T00:40:11Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I have a one-season DVD collection of TBH, and in place of the familiar “Ballad of Jed Clampett” (played by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and sung by Jerry Scoggins), it features a bluegrass instrumental that AFAIK was never part of the show. I assume this was due to copyright issues - there was a thread recently about how tortuously difficult it can be to license music for old TV shows for video collections. On my collection, the familiar ballad is heard after the first couple (or few) episodes. I was very surprised to hear the bluegrass instrumental when I first watched the pilot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-whose-theme-song-changed-during-the-shows-run/710308.md?page=4)