# What show had the worst theme song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256 "2018-08-08T00:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [August 8, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/41 "2018-08-08T16:30:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sickening? Gato, that was Henry Freakin’ Mancini. I know! But it’s like drowning in sugar-spiked honey. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/42 "2018-08-08T16:53:53Z")
I don’t know if I’ll call it the worst ever, but [“Believe It or Not”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4JCehDOy54), the theme to _The Greatest American Hero_, is definitely in the running. It’s a really bad example of a really bad genre. It barely has any connection to the series it’s the theme song for. And, unlike most theme songs, it managed to get some airplay on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/43 "2018-08-08T17:42:18Z")
When my kids were watching Pokémon that song really grated on me for whatever reason. > [@dorvann](#): > > If we are including ring themes for pro wrestlers there is always this: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHAQiYz7NU0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHAQiYz7NU0) You listen to Tony Schiavone’s podcast, don’t you? ---
**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:** [August 8, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/44 "2018-08-08T18:03:57Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The theme to **The Nanny** always went through my head like a nail. Still, you gotta admire a songwriter rhyming ‘Flushing, Queens’ and ‘crushing scenes.’ ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/45 "2018-08-08T18:11:52Z")
The Facts Of Life. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/46 "2018-08-08T19:20:27Z")
Malcolm in the Middle. I know it’s done by TMBG, but it sounds like what you’d get if you asked a couple of 13 year old boys to “sing” in as irritating a manner as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/47 "2018-08-08T19:29:32Z")
One Day at a Time theme was not good. BTW Rob Reiner is really into TV themes. He was on a show once and people named all kinds of obscure themes and he knew them and sang a bit of each one. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/48 "2018-08-08T19:32:35Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > [The Banana Splits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u1VCPdplQ4) > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Even as a kid, I hated every single thing about that show. Even “Uh, oh! Chango!”? How about the Calliopa Saxafier Trumparina Claribassa Trombaphone? > [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > Sugar Time The theme wasn’t that bad - it was those opening credits with the women on the trampoline that soured it for me. Well, that, and Barbi Benton’s attempts at acting. > [@Lorne\_Armstrong](#): > > The second theme song (the one with lyrics) from Eight Is Enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. There was nothing wrong with the original, instrumental theme - especially the second version, with the key change (in the original episodes, when Diana Hyland was still alive, it was in a different key). ---
**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:** [August 8, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/49 "2018-08-08T19:52:57Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > But it’s a riff on “Stout-Hearted Men”! I thought it was hilarious, since the men on that show were the exact not what the song was asking for. “Give me some men/who are stout-hearted men”? I … don’t think so. :dubious: > [@](#): > > I liked _The Brady Bunch_ theme song because it was so utilitarian. If you’d never seen the show before, but you paid attention to the words of the theme song, you were all caught up. All theme songs should be like that. Which is what Sherwood Schwartz intended; he had to come up with a similar theme to sell _ **Gilligan’s Island** _ to CBS (he talks about this in his _ **History of American TV** _ interview). The one used in the unaired pilot was very different from the one we know and love today; the big thing at the time (the pilot was filmed in November 1963) was Harry Belafonte–calypso-type music: Don't know about you, but I'm glad they changed it! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/50 "2018-08-08T20:24:07Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > The only thing worse than the glurgy lyrics was Grant Goodeve’s overly earnest warbling. Funny thing is, I think I actually liked it at the time. I certainly sang along with it :smack: I’ll bet Mark Hamill still kicks himself for dropping out of that role. Imagine where his career might otherwise be today. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/51 "2018-08-08T21:17:04Z")
[Roseanne](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8fsRLRtfM8). Saxophone is an awful instrument which should be left to the ash heap of the 80s. Without the Banana Splits, there’s no Buffalo Soliders. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/52 "2018-08-09T00:25:58Z")
What about The King of Queens (which show is aired repeatedly, ENDLESSLY, 10 times a night at LEAST on cable)…‘Mah eyes are gettin’ weary…mah back is gettin’ tight…blah blah blah . cash mah check and drivin’ home to yoooooooooouuuuu.’ :rolleyes: And all they do on the show is fight! So trashy and countrified, even if it is about a couple of goobers living the dream in Queens. It’s awfully close to the equally awful trashy countrified Christmas song about some guy drivin’ home for the holidays. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/53 "2018-08-09T04:05:00Z")
_Monk_ traded down from one I liked a lot to one that was just kind of okay. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/54 "2018-08-09T05:53:34Z")
Bonkers Starski and Hutch V Cover Up The Invaders ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/55 "2018-08-09T06:55:08Z")
_The Jeffersons_ never sounded good. Nor did the theme for _Maude_. For that matter, _Those were the Days_ was a bag of whistling farts. Norman Lear did some decent, challenging shows, but the theme songs were all worth muting. > [@terentii](#): > > Don't know about you, but I'm glad they changed it! They really had to, though. The Belafonte version is nearly 2 minutes long, and that might be ok but there was really no way to shorten or condense it to half that. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/56 "2018-08-09T09:51:34Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > What about The King of Queens (which show is aired repeatedly, ENDLESSLY, 10 times a night at LEAST on cable)…‘Mah eyes are gettin’ weary…mah back is gettin’ tight…blah blah blah . cash mah check and drivin’ home to yoooooooooouuuuu.’ :rolleyes: And all they do on the show is fight! So trashy and countrified, even if it is about a couple of goobers living the dream in Queens. It’s awfully close to the equally awful trashy countrified Christmas song about some guy drivin’ home for the holidays. :rolleyes: I will agree to this. It had to be Kevin James writing these lyrics. I have to switch the channel before the “on the Queensboro Bridge tonight” line is sort of sung. (shudders) And you’re right: it belongs to a different kind of show where people are stable and love each other. Not shows that are “how the hell did he land HER” kind of shows. Eeeeeee, Leah! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/57 "2018-08-09T10:33:41Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sickening? Gato, that was Henry Freakin’ Mancini. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > I know! But it’s like drowning in sugar-spiked honey. We all know that Mancini could bring the goods when he wanted to. If it’s like drowning in sugar-spiked honey, I have to assume Mancini wanted it to be like drowning in sugar-spiked honey. And for Bob Newhart, in the '80s, on CBS, sugar-spiked honey worked. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/58 "2018-08-09T11:03:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Give me some men/who are stout-hearted men”? I … don’t think so. :dubious: No, the back-up during the chorus is just “Men, men, men men-- men, men, men men!” That part. > [@eschereal](#): > > _The Jeffersons_ never sounded good. Nor did the theme for _Maude_. For that matter, _Those were the Days_ was a bag of whistling farts. Norman Lear did some decent, challenging shows, but the theme songs were all worth muting. I always thought the theme to _Maude_ was supposed to be campy. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/59 "2018-08-09T14:16:32Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > No, the back-up during the chorus is just “Men, men, men men-- men, men, men men!” That part. I always wondered if it was inspired by [this](https://youtu.be/h_QcdSv40CE). ---
**Author:** ![bmasters1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256/60 "2018-08-11T21:06:22Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Oh, yes ma’am. > Also, I can’t believe I forgot about the \*Friends \* theme. The Rembrandts actually had some good songs but that ain’t one of 'em. I never liked _Friends_– neither the title track nor the show! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-show-had-the-worst-theme-song/819256.md?page=4)