# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/82 "2015-03-23T16:17:41Z")
George of the Jungle Hong Kong Phooey Underdog ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/83 "2015-03-23T17:27:29Z")
Peter Gunn, of course. Secret Agent Hennesy (probably misspelled - The one with Jackie Cooper) The Third Man (The same as the movie, but the TV show played it a lot more.) It had OK plots, but I used to watch it for the theme song. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/84 "2015-03-23T20:14:05Z")
C’mon, people! _Barney Miller_! Love that funky bass riff. And don’t forget _Sealab 2021_. Twenty-five seconds of pure pop perfection. > **[sealab 2021 theme - Bing](http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sealab%2B2021%2Btheme&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=59CAA0A6A636E739DAA959CAA0A6A636E739DAA9)** > > Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you. _WKRP_ for my third. ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/85 "2015-03-23T20:50:56Z")
The young ones (original)newlywed game Unbreakable Kimmy Scmidt ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/86 "2015-03-23T22:02:02Z")
1. [Cheers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-mi0r0LpXo) - the long version for your enjoyment. I read an interview by one of the writers of the show and he pointed out that the most quoted words from the show - “where everybody knows your name” - are ones that none of the scriptwriters had anything to do with. But it sums things up perfectly. 2. [One Day At A Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJ4K4UebxA) - I don’t think I’ve seen more than two episodes of this show, but what a great theme 3. This is too hard to narrow down. Something corny/funny like [Green Acres](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umS3XM3xAPk) or [The Beverly Hillbillies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtvTE3m5jpM)? The first season theme of [The Mary Tyler Moore Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuuYvQsN-ak)? [The Muppet Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvnHgKkNKR4)? [Fraggle Rock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_zsz_MlVvI)? (Great bass line on that one.) And speaking of kid’s shows, who can resist the [Reading Rainbow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=844DzynPG-w) theme? Even the [Kids Incorporated](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnsHpPNltBw) theme is, IMHO, a well-constructed pop tune (though I may be allowing sentimentality to cloud my judgement on that one.) Then there’s [The Facts of Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_GxXRbSFDg), which I don’t think has been mentioned yet, [The Golden Girls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GrEhLUF_k) (though the [original pop song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN3E9Yyd1HA) is better)… The list goes on and on. ---
**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 23, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/87 "2015-03-23T22:13:48Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > Peter Gunn, of course. > > Secret Agent > > Hennesy (probably misspelled - The one with Jackie Cooper) > > The Third Man (The same as the movie, but the TV show played it a lot more.) It had OK plots, but I used to watch it for the theme song. _Secret Agent_ is an excellent one, I did not realize it was a TV Theme song. Here is the link: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk) I never heard of Hennesey either, but here is a link for you. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLdNnMqIMZA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLdNnMqIMZA) Can’t say I love this that one. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/88 "2015-03-23T22:28:00Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > _Secret Agent_ is an excellent one, I did not realize it was a TV Theme song. Here is the link: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-VChTYfOk) > I never heard of Hennesey either, but here is a link for you. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLdNnMqIMZA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLdNnMqIMZA) Can’t say I love this that one. Thanks…I do appreciate it. I also loved “Mr. Lucky” and “Johnny Yuma”…on the second one probably because I had moved from Yuma, Arizona just before it became a TV show. As for “Mr. Lucky,” Ross Martin was fantastic in that show. I feel that John Stamos could revive his career if he played Lucky in a remake. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/89 "2015-03-23T23:05:43Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > 1. [One Day At A Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJ4K4UebxA) - I don’t think I’ve seen more than two episodes of this show, but what a great theme \ I’m gonna be getting hate mail for dragging [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhUKWRyzu4) out again, but it busts me up every time. Spreading sunshine, that’s me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/90 "2015-03-24T00:03:56Z")
1. The Avengers (Steed & Peel) 2. Get Smart 3. Doctor Who ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/91 "2015-03-24T01:19:48Z")
I guess this was more of a TV station theme song, but I really liked the HBO theme back in the 80s. It was the one with the camera swooping through the model city just before a movie came on. ---
**Author:** ![Jalola298](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Jalola298](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jalola298)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/92 "2015-03-29T03:48:40Z")
[Emergency](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGLKXAJeASs) [I Dream of Jeannie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwpH_IYg0N8) [Dallas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZNWdFd1UM) ---
**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 29, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/93 "2015-03-29T04:16:39Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I guess this was more of a TV station theme song, but I really liked the HBO theme back in the 80s. It was the one with the camera swooping through the model city just before a movie came on. [This one?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1NKoMNy5bY) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/94 "2015-03-29T08:10:25Z")
Some favorites of mine: [The Name of the Game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP8Ld9Yr_sc) [The Virginian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e31_9C_4Vl4) and if I’m permitted, a recording that was made many years before the show aired: [The original theme to This Old House](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjnz0LPGy84) ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/95 "2015-03-29T11:51:21Z")
I’m not sure I can narrow down to 3: my top choices would be The Sopranos, Firefly, House, The Simpsons, and Justified. If I had to get rid of 2 of those, I would lose House and (OH GOD THE PAIN) Firefly. The other 3 do such a great job at establishing a feel. Honestly, I’ve always thought that the theme songs were the best part of House and Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/96 "2015-03-29T18:31:27Z")
The Addams Family Not sure if this counts, but the theme song for the Charlie Brown/Peanuts specials was a favorite Pretty sure everything else I like has already been mentioned ---
**Author:** ![The\_Winkler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Winkler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Winkler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/97 "2015-04-01T06:38:25Z")
Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again. ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/98 "2015-04-01T11:26:05Z")
I agree with a lot of the postings already especially Sanford and Son, my 3 are the newlyweds game the young ones unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/99 "2015-04-01T15:26:07Z")
Jeez. I can think of…_maybe_ two from the last ten years that would even stand a chance of cracking my list. 'Don’t know if that says more about TV these days, or about how I’m getting stodgy. Anyway, after a bit of deliberation, I’m going to have to say…[The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFUijdwWdk). For sentimental, nostalgic, and artistic reasons—the latter including the exquisitely designed little action-scene clips seen in the intro that never actually appeared in the show itself, possibly from being scrapped at some point (the show had a bit of a troubled production history, IIRC), or maybe were just animated solely for the intro… Including that part 13-year-old me really liked, where [Jessie Bannon did that shit with her hair.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFUijdwWdk#t=0m40s) [“God, I love it!”](http://thefilmspectrum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shawshank-main.png) ---
**Author:** ![funky\_little\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@funky\_little\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funky_little_lee)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/100 "2015-04-01T15:36:08Z")
The DIck van Dyke Show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK\_8QW8LO-c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK_8QW8LO-c) Batman [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSaDPc1Cs5U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSaDPc1Cs5U) Hawaii Five-O [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkrQXuDq24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkrQXuDq24) Honorable mention: Soul Train (mid-80’s)–by O’Bryan [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N28XNyUzWGg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N28XNyUzWGg) ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618/101 "2015-04-01T17:02:14Z")
> [@TheInimitableMaven](#): > > (snip)Game Shows (yes, Game Shows): It’s tricky, but I’d have to give the nod to **[the 80’s version\* of “Tuning Up” alias the _Pyramid_ theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSPGe_vGcBM)**…in addition to just being a damn catchy and groovy piece, it’s also probably the MOST PERFECT bonus round winning music ever. But it wasn’t easy to pick this one over the likes of [_ **Match Game** _](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXo9wAWn-hA) and [_ **Jeopardy!** _](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6rHqrLA7aw). > > - > - And it should be noted that **[the funky 70’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3O6-CHQLgs)** is no slouch itself.(snip) Ok, I have a major update to this section of my portion of the program…I’d have to relegate Pyramid to honorable mention status, eliminate _Jeopardy!_, and make **[the 70’s _To Tell The Truth_ theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMS_DdEnYZ0)** my top favorite of the game show genre now (and should have had it as such from the get-go). Very underrated and super catchy tune that makes me wish GSN would carry the 70’s TTTT (among many other classics and semi-classics) again, and I really and seriously believe that if it had been released as a single, it would have charted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-three-tv-show-theme-songs/715618.md?page=6)