# What are your top three TV show theme songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618 "2015-03-21T17:32:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/62 "2015-03-22T04:55:40Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Say, that’s pretty snazzy! Featuring Sammy Davis, Jr., to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/63 "2015-03-22T05:47:11Z")
1. Bonanza 2. Dragnet 3. The Monkees ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/64 "2015-03-22T06:40:30Z")
Really surprised that no one’s picked the theme to Magnum P.I. You could fill this thread with just Mike Post compositions. I’ll also throw in the theme to S.W.A.T (the 70’s show). and to complete the cheesy 70s-80s cop show theme, how about The Streets of San Francisco? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/65 "2015-03-22T08:21:27Z")
I’m special, so I get to go again: [My Three Sonny Boys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n822jKafw0) …oops, wrong one: here’s the [right one.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3nLLI-CilM) [The Jetsons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Z8kPpLg1g) But, the forehead slapper (oh, why didn’t I think of that?!:smack:), and clear, decisive thread-winner, is this [musical masterpiece](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZ_v8cwFPk). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/66 "2015-03-22T09:40:11Z")
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned [The Odd Couple](https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEVrc1jQ5VOpgA4qAPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTB0dmRibmhwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1lIUzAwMV8x?p=opening+theme+from+the+odd+couple&tnr=21&vid=D195440289D199D41730D195440289D199D41730&l=86&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.608005161587904381%26pid%3D15.1&sigi=11rio7q01&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAf1h4ibpKJA&sigr=11bdv1q20&tt=b&tit=The+Odd+Couple+TV+Show+Opening+Theme+Season+Two+1970&sigt=11kj981u4&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dopening%2Btheme%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2Bodd%2Bcouple%26type%3Dmcy_dnldstr_15_09_sa%26fr%3Dsfp%26param1%3Dyhsbeacon%26param2%3Df%253D1%2526b%253DFirefox%2526cc%253DUS%2526p%253Dmcy%2526cd%253D2XzuyEtN2Y1L1QzuyD0D0Ezz0C0CtD0EtGtC0DzyyDtGyDzyyByCtGzz0E0A0BtG0A0D0CtAtBzz0E0BtA0CyDzztN1Q2Zzu0StCtCyDtCtN1L2XzutBtFtDtFtDtFtCyBtN1L1Czu%2526cr%253D1045357131%2526a%253Dmcy_dnldstr_15_09_sa%26hsimp%3Dyhs-fullyhosted_011%26hspart%3Diry%26ei%3DUTF-8&sigb=1cl27kvl0&hspart=iry&hsimp=yhs-fullyhosted_011) (The Original). ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/67 "2015-03-22T12:09:47Z")
**Cowboy Bebop** and **Greatest American Hero** have already been mentioned so 3 more: [Attack On Titan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMXgHfHxKVM) 1st OP [Batman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XJ3HJXxDwc) (TAS) [The Fall Guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oIBqmX4ook) - “The Unknown Stuntman” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/68 "2015-03-22T12:48:23Z")
[Perry Mason.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVUKD4d7qlE) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/69 "2015-03-22T13:15:03Z")
Peter Gunn of course. Hogan’s Heroes video [link of theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UnB-9tIZAo) Mission Impossible ---
**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:** [March 22, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/70 "2015-03-22T13:22:01Z")
Wow, how do you narrow it down to three? I have to eliminate such great music as _Taxi_, _HR Pufnstuf_, or _Blackadder The Third_. [Jamie and the Magic Torch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeMMow_Itqw) [Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhAf62wfgE) [Terriers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD8Kh7Pmzho) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/71 "2015-03-22T13:51:12Z")
I was going to mention HHGttG as part of the BBC trio. That, Doctor Who, and Red Dwarf (closing credits song) I actually didn’t like the Firefly song at first, but it grew on me quickly. Have to mention Mission Impossible Brian ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/72 "2015-03-22T14:02:31Z")
[Six Feet Under - Thomas Newman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as1dUhUnvgU) [Sons of Anarchy (This Life - by Curtis Stiger)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd9ULJf2jqU) Woke Up This Morning - The Sopranos Very Honorable Mentions: Firefly Justified Hill Street Blues [Night Court](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUltrX-ICew) - neat, funky tune. [The Walking Dead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cymqAVPWuo) ETA: Terriers! Good call, **GuanoLad!** ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/73 "2015-03-22T14:14:45Z")
D’oh…I forgot about [Simon & Simon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN1bmTI5qjg)! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/74 "2015-03-22T20:04:00Z")
I’m disappointed in myself for not mentioning Dragnet. And I’m surprised no one else has mentioned the Addams Family or Star Trek (TOS). Also, I see no one has mentioned the theme to the Incredible Hulk. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/75 "2015-03-23T01:18:25Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > 1. Hawaii Five-0 (original version) > 2. Miami Vice > 3. Mission: Impossible Great minds think alike and in this case so did ours. Although I will admit on waffling between Mission: Impossible and The Man from U.N.C.L.E ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/76 "2015-03-23T05:48:09Z")
Hawaii 5-0 Jonny Quest Starblazers “We’re off in outer space, protecting Mother Earth, to save the human race…our…Star Blazers!” ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/77 "2015-03-23T06:46:18Z")
Top 3 in terms of Music and Visuals combined, Miami Vice being the best: Miami Vice [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjXPY9jOx8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjXPY9jOx8) Magnum PI: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgXhiOpeQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgXhiOpeQ) Welcome Back Kotter: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VlGyMG0ksg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VlGyMG0ksg) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/78 "2015-03-23T08:54:34Z")
[Breaking Bad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0g3Wja-Zqg) [Treme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M1Iagf3GSs) [Big Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcdpUu7jPJY) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/79 "2015-03-23T12:54:46Z")
Some of my true favorites have already been mentioned more than once, but I’ll add (repeat?) three that are memorable: [Henry Mancini “Mr. Lucky”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9-8Wxv6m2k) [Mannix Theme: Music by Lalo Schifrin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLTb3_-pdU4) [then came bronson openning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnPIOH8bCfk) And some bonus ones: [NORMAN DELLO JOIO: “Airpower” - Music from the 1956 CBS series](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsvcXyGKqY) [Star Trek Original Series Themes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IyJ3uoDMsg) [Nelson Riddle / Route 66](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZ1k4d02KA) [Adventures In Paradise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMdeOw-Lak) ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/80 "2015-03-23T15:57:56Z")
I rotate my ringtone between \*Mannix \*(linked above by Zeldar), [_The Name of the Game_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-xExiIxS48), and _[Van Der Valk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-xExiIxS48)_. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/81 "2015-03-23T16:10:20Z")
_[Miami Vice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Qsjpr1AbI)_\*\* _[Crime Story](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is5ofSHZWTM)_\*\* _[Hardcastle & McCormick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dhpSp3sG20)_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618.md?page=5)