# What's the best TV theme song? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985 "2001-09-26T20:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/1 "2001-09-26T20:42:25Z")
Come on, fellow TV addicts! Speak out. Be heard. What’s the best TV theme song of all time? And why? For me, it would have to be _WKRP In Cincinnati_. For some reason, it just kinda tugs at the ol’ heartstrings. I think it’s that line that goes: “Maybe you and me were never meant to be…just maybe think of me once in a while.” I suppose that “My Life” for _Bosom Buddies_ would qualify, too, even though it was originally a Billy Joel song. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/2 "2001-09-26T20:55:57Z")
Monday Night Football… “Are you ready for some foootbAAAAAALLLLL?!” ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/3 "2001-09-26T20:56:58Z")
The _Jeffersons._ ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/4 "2001-09-26T21:21:30Z")
Come on, no theme song can compare with _The Simpsons_. Thread over, go home. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Venkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ec9cab/32.png) [@Venkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venkman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/5 "2001-09-26T22:06:23Z")
I always liked the theme to The Rockford Files. ---
**Author:** ![Kvallulf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Kvallulf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kvallulf)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/6 "2001-09-26T22:07:47Z")
The A-Team, sheesh. As if the world doesn’t realize that. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/7 "2001-09-26T22:12:50Z")
I have three for submission: The Jeffersons Barney Miller M_A_S_H_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/8 "2001-09-26T22:13:07Z")
“Hawaii Five-O” or “Mission: Impossible” Duh! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/9 "2001-09-26T22:23:33Z")
Futurama. And a vote for the short-lived Dilbert. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/10 "2001-09-26T22:29:35Z")
I was always a fan of _The Monkees_ and _The Greatest American Hero_. ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/11 "2001-09-26T22:31:43Z")
I used to know a guy who played the composition “Green Metamorphosis” for a piano competition. It wasn’t until the competition was over (I think he came in 2nd, if he didn’t win) that he revealed the piece was actually the theme from “The Incredible Hulk”. I admire his chutzpah. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/12 "2001-09-26T22:34:14Z")
truly, the answer is “Sanford & Son” ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@Bluesman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluesman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/13 "2001-09-26T23:55:05Z")
LOVED “Hawaii Five-0”, man. Not the show, just the theme. “Black Sheep Squadron”. “Miami Vice”. “Charlie’s Angels”. No, wait…I liked the T&A, not the theme. Or the show. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/14 "2001-09-27T00:05:35Z")
_Red Dwarf_. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/15 "2001-09-27T00:30:35Z")
Hill Street Blues. I loved that song. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/16 "2001-09-27T00:51:30Z")
Dukes of Hazzard Simon & Simon Magnum P.I. ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@Bluesman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluesman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/17 "2001-09-27T01:39:05Z")
Good’un, **Brynda**. I’d forgotten about that one, but I used to tune in just to hear the theme. Same with “L.A.Law”. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/18 "2001-09-27T01:44:44Z")
I always liked the MacGuyver theme. And the Dave Barry Show. ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/19 "2001-09-27T03:12:53Z")
Obviously, the mid 70’s era TV shows cranked out the most ass-kicking theme songs. Barney Miller! Taxi! Sanford & Son Rockford Files Cool funky bass-lines, jazzy horn arrangements, & soulful percussion. Everything else is simply noise. [sub]**The Simpsons gets a nod for overall whistleability[/sub]** ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/20 "2001-09-27T03:17:36Z")
What the hell!? Have you people never heard of **Peter Gunn**? It’s not even a contest. I _would_ like to hear a band like Cream do the Sanford & Son theme, I’ll admit, but any of these holding a candle to Peter Gunn? No way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985.md?page=2)