See, we told you we'd write a theme songs list. The shows may have boring title cards -- you know, random scenes from the show, awkward shots of the stars looking "relaxed," unrelated nature backgrounds -- but their tunes are as memorable as it gets. From claps to snaps, violins to guitars, and whistles to lyrics, these songs have become pop culture staples -- and they've definitely been stuck in our heads on more than one occasion. Here are the top 15 theme songs of all time.
15. It's Garry Shandling's Show
Ah, sweet meta-reference!
14. The Beverly Hillbillies
I'm not sure what a heapin' helpin' of hospitality is. But it sounds nice!
13. Dukes of Hazzard
There's something about a western-themed theme song, isn't there?
12. Gilligan's Island
If only Lost or Survivor had a theme song this jolly ...
11. The Greatest American Hero
The best part about this song isn't even the song. It's what the song inspired.
Comments (106)
I am not surprised The Flintstones would be one of the top 15 themes.
I'm suprised that The X-Files and The Golden Girls aren't on this list.
No Twin Peaks ? :(
Meh, and that's overlooking the eerie instrumentals of the X-Files theme. Hell, instead of doing a stupidly arbitrary 15 picks the poster (or "staff writer", as tv.com pretentiously calls them) should've done a full 25 or 50.
wtf? No Twilight Zone? No Sanford & Son? Not even the Fresh Prince? Plus despite the author having an incredible hard-on for westerns she didn't even list the greatest western theme of them all, Paladin! Have gun will travel reads the card of a man...
not to mention no powerpuff girls. seriously, the only cartoon is batman.
some of these are good, but their definitely missing some. SVU? scooby-doo where are you? come on, stop favoriting all those westerns
Terrible! Where's MacGyver, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Doctor Who, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Alf, The A-Team, Family Guy or even (as much as I dislike that show, everybody knows the theme song) 7th Heaven ?
Simply HORRIBLE and unaceptable! Where's KOJAK, The Original Twilight Zone , M.A.S.H., Seinfeld, Battlestar Galactica ('70), Crime Story, the music by Mike POST...
Those are good. M*A*S*H?
Where the hell is Barney Miller?????
Oh, this is soooo wrong - Where are the theme songs to "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons." Get Real. This whole list is BOGUS!
And i'm missing johnny test opening and yugioh opening.Gosh,there's so many great theme songs that aren't here.Friends is overrated all the way.
And where's smallville?What's new scooby doo?I can't belive chalk zone is not here.Did you forgot chala la head chala by dragon ball Z?Why didn't i see the johnny bravo opening there?
Some very mediocre thems in there. And a lot of very good ones missing (e.g. Star Trek TOS, Hawaii 5-0 and Baretta). Very bias selection.
Where*s Buffy?
macguyvers good, simpsons psych monk are all good. raymond didnt have a theme song really but their theme music was good.
Smallville....? And Yeah where's growing pains!?
Where was growing pains?
Get Smart and Police Squad.
Not a bad list of good theme songs(with a few exceptions), but without going into arrangement, there are quite a few omissions for it to be a top 15 list. Most notably, where are the "Black" shows?
Sucks.Where the hell is pokemon opening theme?I'm not kidding,its the most badass opening to a tv show ever.
Dexter Theme Song!
what about SWAT, Combat!, and the Rifleman? i remember breakin out my GI helmet and my wooden gun and doing all the poses as the SWAT theme song played.
I think everybody's list would be a little different. Mine would include: The Fall Guy, Golden Girls, and the A Team.
Oh come ON! Where's "The Jeffersons"? I'm movin' on up, to the big time. To a dee-lux apartment in the sky-ay-ay...
Alfred Hitchcock Presents....
I like Psych and the Simpsons
I like some of those heme songs but I missed others such as "The Golden Girls", "Remington Steele" or "MacGyver".
i honetsly love the theme song for Flintstones!!!
I agree with the list for the most part. When I start thinking about it, I realize a lot of shows have good theme songs. I would have put Firefly, Angel, and Buffy on the list as well.
I always thought that the theme from "One Day at a Time" was a great one. Not a wasted second.
Decent list. The M.A.S.H theme was the first one that leapt to mind as an omission. Also could have used the themes to Knight Rider and Air Wolf.
Also agree with those who said The Jeffersons and WKRP in Cincinatti.
Also The Sopranos had a good theme. And gotta give love to the Fresh Prince.
boring
good list- i didn't notice anything "missing" until I read the comments.
What about the big bang theory and 30 rock ?
Indeed, "MASH", "Hill Street Blues" and "Moonlighting" for those in which I show MY age. Slightly more modern, "Buffy" should not be dismissed and for current affairs "True Blood" is the best.
I agree with all the shows, but I would love 5 or 10 more. My vote for one which shouldn't be absent: The Pink Panther. This theme was incredible good. Then I would like The Simpsons, Star Trek (at least the original series), Mc Gyver and the A-Team
These are good, but I feel that there indeed some greats missing here? I mean really, "Greatest American Hero" and "The Gary Show"!? Those were two wasted ones!
I agree with most of the songs on here. Some that were left off the list.
EVERYONE knows these songs:
The Muppet Show
The Simpsons
Star Trek
Transformers
Sesame Street
Some others I think were great:
Firefly
Ally McBeal
Hill Street Blues
x-men the animated seriesone of the best themes ever !
x-men the animated seriesone of the best themes ever !
where's frsh prince of bel-air, the big bang theroy and 2 1/2 men?
Where's Roseanne, Doctor Who, M*A*S*H, Fraggle Rock and Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
What , no LOST?
What about ER and Doctor Who?
The Benny Hill Show, Night Court, Hogan's Heroes, All In The Family and my all time favorite, Northern Exposure (great theme and great intro both)
Where's "Magnum, p.i.?" Also, I hated M*A*S*H, but we all know that show has a hell of a theme song.Man, screw "Greatest American Hero."