# TV theme songs you like or hate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094 "2003-08-09T22:25:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/61 "2003-08-11T07:51:48Z")
Didn’t the Average White Band also cover the Batman theme? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/62 "2003-08-11T12:05:18Z")
The Good: Twin Peaks Dallas Dukes of Hazzard Andy Griffith Dick VanDyke Get Smart The Bad: Rockford Files Gomer Pyle USMC Friends One Day at a Time Mission Impossible (at one time every high school marching band in the US has butchered this tune) The Ugly: Brady Bunch Three’s Company (what the hay does “down in our rendevous” mean?) ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/63 "2003-08-11T12:43:40Z")
I am suprised only one person has mentioned Greatest American Hero. That song is incredible. How about the Transformers? I always thought is was cool. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/64 "2003-08-11T15:07:21Z")
My current favorite: Theme from NBC’s Kingpin Worst: Friends, thank god it gets cut short in syndication. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/65 "2003-08-11T18:34:29Z")
Great theme music: Doctor Who The Avengers Bewitched Dark Shadows (0riginal show, for the kitsch factor) Bonanza Bad theme music: Any Star Trek theme, but especially the “Enterprise” dreck. ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/66 "2003-08-11T19:01:57Z")
Firefly, Angel, and Buffy all have/had good theme songs that were appropriate to their subject material as well as being good examples of their respective genres. Charmed also pulls it off. I liked Deep Space Nine’s orchestral theme. I used to have a .wav file of the Simpsons theme as well. It’s actually good - more than just a jingle. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/67 "2003-08-11T23:21:47Z")
Another vote for _Welcome Back Kotter_ and _Greatest American Hero_. Also, _China Beach_ (“Reflections” by the Supremes), _Pinky and the Brain_ and _Punky Brewster_. And is it possible no one’s mentioned _The Jeffersons_ (I might have missed it)? The worst theme song I’ve ever heard (don’t ask) has got to be a theme song from a travel show by folks in RVs. I don’t remember the show name, but to this day I can hear that twangy voice in my head… _…RV travelin’s the best way/To see the country in style…_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/68 "2003-08-12T00:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LilyoftheValley \* > \*\*The worst theme song I’ve ever heard (don’t ask) has got to be a theme song from a travel show by folks in RVs. I don’t remember the show name, but to this day I can hear that twangy voice in my head… > > _…RV travelin’s the best way/To see the country in style…_ \*\* [Promised Land](http://www.promised.com/)? ---
**Author:** ![Padmaraga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Padmaraga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padmaraga)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/69 "2003-08-12T00:26:22Z")
Personally, I think all of the old 60’s & 70’s shows’ theme songs that had lyrics intended to “explain” the show (e.g., The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch) are dorky-sounding. The best theme songs were all instrumentals. I think my favorite is Peter Gunn. I also like the Hawaii 5-0 theme, the Rockford files theme, St. Elsewhere. There are probably more, but I’m having trouble recalling very many. I like the song from The Kids in the Hall. I can’t think of any current ones that I really like, but I don’t watch as much TV as I used to, and most of it (that I do watch) is on PBS or Discovery. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/70 "2003-08-12T00:27:00Z")
[RV Today](http://www.rvtoday.tv/) would be a better bet. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/71 "2003-08-12T01:50:49Z")
Cagny and Lacey ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/72 "2003-08-12T05:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Just _one?_ I know, I’m so uncultured. Thought of another like: the Thundercats theme. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/73 "2003-08-12T12:43:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shy guy \* > \*\*I know, I’m so uncultured. > > Thought of another like: the Thundercats theme. \*\* I thought about putting this one down, but didn’t want to make myself look stupid. It was pretty repetitive if you’ll remember correctly: “Thunder, thunder, thunder, thundercats!” ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/74 "2003-08-12T14:31:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CadburyAngel \* > **Charmed also pulls it off.** Don’t they use that awful cover of “How Soon Is Now?” Or am I thinking of a different show? I’ve never been able to figure out what the song has to do with teenage witches (or whatever the show is about). My favorite theme music is from the already cited _Twin Peaks_. Angelo Badalamenti’s music has become almost synonymous with David Lynch in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/75 "2003-08-12T15:29:23Z")
Oh I forgot earlier- Perry Mason! ---
**Author:** ![SpaceForRent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@SpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/76 "2003-08-12T16:05:12Z")
> [@](#): > > How can no one have said the theme from SWAT yet? No doubt! That’s one of my favorites. I still have the 45 vinyl for that one. Also, I may have missed it, but has no one mentioned The Simpsons? A classic. And (mentioned already) Greatest American Hero. One of the few theme songs to outlive and even become more popular than the actual show. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/77 "2003-08-15T19:18:50Z")
I cringe when I hear “Three’s Company” theme come and knock on our door…blah ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/78 "2003-08-15T20:14:14Z")
One glaring omission by the group (including me): The [Starblazers](http://www.newmoanyeah.com/2003-plugs/042103_star_blazers_theme.php) theme(s). If nothing else, they deserve recognition as the most tortured attempts at lyrics in a show intro. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/79 "2003-08-15T23:08:37Z")
Here we go - TV Land, Monday, 8PM Eastern: > [@](#): > > Harry Shearer narrates a countdown of viewers’ favorite television theme songs, as determined by an Internet poll. > > It’s a Top 40 list of catchy stick-in-your-head tunes that touts instrumental ditties from such series as I Love Lucy, Hawaii Five-O, M_A_S\*H and The Simpsons, along with lyrical standards from All in the Family, Cheers, Green Acres, Family Ties, Happy Days and Friends. During the hour, celebrities and composers offer insights and share anecdotes about the popular opening numbers. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094/80 "2003-08-15T23:33:41Z")
I cant believe nobody said DALLAS!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-songs-you-like-or-hate/194094.md?page=5)