# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/41 "2001-09-27T21:44:30Z")
Well it sure as hell ain’t the Enterprise theme. Ack! Good ones include Twin Peaks, and Six Feet Under, but NYPD Blue is probably my favorite. I love the heavy percussion at the end with drops out leaving that beautiful chord by itself – it makes me feel like there’s a story there. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Elvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@Elvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/42 "2001-09-27T21:46:49Z")
“I Dream of Jeannie” “Bewitched” “The Simpsons” ---
**Author:** ![greenlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/43 "2001-09-27T22:18:59Z")
Okay, let me break it down for ya: 60’s: Flintstones Beverly Hillbillies Lost in Space Addams Family Munsters 70’s: Brady Bunch Charlie’s Angels Odd Couple 80’s: Hill Street Blues Taxi L.A. Law 90’s: Um…none. My life was put on hold whilst I bore/raised a brood… My ultimate fav now is **The Sopranos**. Maybe being from NJ makes me biased though… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/44 "2001-09-27T22:24:04Z")
Honorable mentions to **The Rockford Files** , **Hawaii 5-0** and **Sanford and Son** but the all time best is, without a doubt **Secret Agent Man**. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/45 "2001-09-27T22:55:23Z")
If my eyes are correct, I don’t see **Cheers** up there anywhere. How can that be? Alot of these are quite good, but the competition begins and ends with Cheers for the top slot. ---
**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 27, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/46 "2001-09-27T22:57:19Z")
How about the Theme from S.W.A.T.? The theme’s popularity lasted longer than the show! ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@Bluesman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluesman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/47 "2001-09-28T03:19:19Z")
Two more I forgot: “The High Chapparal” “12 O’Clock High” ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/48 "2001-09-28T09:58:07Z")
_The Lone Ranger_ had the best theme song ever. _Walker, Texas Ranger_ had the worst theme song ever. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/49 "2001-09-28T12:32:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omniscient \* > \*\*If my eyes are correct, I don’t see **Cheers** up there anywhere. How can that be? Alot of these are quite good, but the competition begins and ends with Cheers for the top slot. \*\* Gotta agree with ya! That was the first that popped into my head. Great lyrics. And for purely instrumental, I choose _Six Feet Under_. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/50 "2001-09-28T17:01:08Z")
[sup]duh-duh[/sup][sub] duh-duh[/sub] duh-duh [sup]duh-duh[/sup] [sup]duh-duh[/sup][sub]duh-duh[/sub] duh-duh [sup]duh-duh[/sup] **BATMAN!** ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/51 "2001-09-28T18:48:10Z")
No, no, no. Do I have to spell it out for everyone? Ok, I will. \*Boy, the way Glenn Miller played Songs that made the hit parade Guys like us we had it made Those were the days. And you knew who you were then Girls were girls and men were men Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again Didn’t need no welfare states Everybody pulled his weight Gee our old LaSalle ran great Those were the days!\* ---
**Author:** ![Joyfulgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Joyfulgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joyfulgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/52 "2001-09-28T22:24:21Z")
2 pages and no one’s thought of [Shaft?](http://users.aol.com/tagsound/shaft.html) (Click to hear sound clip) Who’s the black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft!) You’re damn right Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man? (Shaft!) Can ya dig it? He’s a complicated man But no one understands him but his woman ([John Shaft](http://www.proguitar.com/bands/isaachayes/shafttheme.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/53 "2001-09-28T22:34:55Z")
Ally McBeal, with Vonda Shepard performing. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/54 "2001-09-28T22:49:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slackergirl \* > \*\*My favorite theme from a current show is Angel - cool cello stuff. \*\* I like this one, too. The cello music is great. I also love the theme from MST3K – every version of it. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/55 "2001-09-28T23:08:21Z")
too hard to pick a favorite!! i guess i’ll take WKRP. when i was out of work and watching daytime tv alot, i would tune into the first minute of Scarecrow and Mrs. King to hear the song. i have never seen one single episode, though! ---
**Author:** ![GreatKingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@GreatKingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreatKingRat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/56 "2001-09-28T23:26:41Z")
'Nother vote for Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Gretchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Miss\_Gretchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Gretchen)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/57 "2001-09-28T23:40:44Z")
WKRP was the first one I thought of, but what’s the second theme song to that show, the one that plays at the end? I’ve always wondered. But moving right along, then, how about: “Hockey night in Canada”? Not a huge hockey fan, but I do love the song. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985/58 "2001-09-29T06:02:24Z")
How about _I Love Lucy_ or _Married With Children_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tv-theme-song/83985.md?page=2)