The 20 Greatest TV Show Theme Songs of All Time
I miss the times when TV show theme songs were big. Back when the opening credits was about laying the groundwork, giving you some context or just telling you the background story. We spent the first 1.5 minutes of each show just jamming, singing along and getting ready for our favorite characters.
TV show jingle writers really were geniuses in giving us the synopsis in such small bites and the opening of shows were part of the experience. Now, shows just start. No prep or nothing.
But yes, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Below are my top 20 favorite TV show theme songs of ALL TIME. This list was SO HARD but here they are in no particular order (because seriously. Who can rank these? NOT ME).
The Jeffersons
Because we cannot forget how the Jeffersons moved on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky. On the East side, of course. Plus, George and Weezy were Shady Royalty.
The Brady Bunch
The story of a lovely lady with 3 girls who met a dude with 3 boys and their meshed family. Oh, and Alice.
Good Times
Even though they didn’t have any good times until the end. We still rooted for them.
Cheers
Where everybody knows your name. Especially if it’s Norm.
Fresh Prince
He got in one little fight and got a life upgrade, basically.
Some people haven’t heard the full version of the Fresh Prince theme song. Getchu a piece. Learn that too.
Golden Girls
Thank you for being a friend. And for Sofia Petrillo the Side-Eye Sorceress. And Dorothy’s shoulder pads. And Blanche’s floozy-ness. And Rose.
Happy Days
Monday, Tuesday, Happy Days. And the Fonz’s bad ass leather jacket.
Facts of Life
“You take the good you take the bad and there you have the Facts of Life.” Come on, life manual!
All in the Family
Those were the days!
Amen
Turn all the lights of Heaven on and let the song take you to CHU’CH. I can’t help but do a church scoot when I hear this. And clap heavily.
Living Single
In a 90s kinda world, I wish I was friends with all of them. I’ve actually met 3 of them!
Diff’rent Strokes
Whatchu talking ’bout, Willis? Everybody’s got a special kind of story!
Gilligan’s Island
The Professor, Mary Ann, The Skipper and Gilligan: Survivor Before Survivor.
Three’s Company
We’ve been waiting for you at the DOE (*head to the side*). Because being a third wheel can be hilarious.
227
There’s no place like home! Especially when you got Miss Pearl on the lookout.
The Nanny
She’s the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan.
Full House
HEYYY Uncle Jesse!
Friends
When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year, get the Rachel haircut.
Family Matters
We’re still wondering why Judy went upstairs and never came down.
A Different World
The reason many people went to HBCUs. I wanted to go to Hillman so bad. I still wanna go.
So there you have it! These are my top 20 and I have spent the last hour singing at the top of my lungs. I STILL know every word to every one of these. One day, this super power will come in handy.
What show’s songs am I missing that you’d like to see here? IT WAS SO HARD TO PICK JUST 20!!!
Edit: There’s a separate list coming for animated show theme songs. Animaniacs is HIGH on that list.
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88 Comments
you have me missing my grandma so much this morning. She loved all those shows. And how could I forget about Amen!!!!
Also different world was my SHOW I even loved the last season when Boyz to Men sung the theme song. I would dance around the living room in my cross colors.
Oh Amber I said the same thing!! These shows got me wanting to call my grandmother and I can’t!! Oh the memories!!
Yes! AMEN was everything; Sis. Vanessa Bell Armstrong took us all the way in and my little pig-tailed self loved every note and beat of that intro. I even did the Deacon Frye strut along with him after he got out of that car. Also, I may or may not have hated the name “Thelma” and/or rolled my eyes at every character subsequently played by Anna Maria Horsford because I wanted Rev. Gregory to wait for me to grow up so he could be my man.
And then Mr. Davis turns round and gets cast in a play as the husband of somebody my age (Michelle Williams) …chile…
Anywho, great list, memory lane, all that good stuff
I has a sad because the theme songs from Growing Pains and The Greatest American Hero ain’t on here. Otherwise, great list.
I must agree with you on The Greatest American Hero. I loved (okay still love) that song. Also…The Love Boat…”Love…exciting and new. Come aboard…We’re expecting yoooouuu…”
I am obsessed with the TV theme song! I use to buy CD’s filled with just theme songs. The Love Boat, Growing Pains, Family Ties ( Sha la la laaaaa), the Greatest American Hero, WKRP in Cincinatti!! I could go on and on! Don’t get me started on cartoons! Fat Albert anybody!! These children just don’t know what they are missing!
And here I was thinking that I was the only one with this super power! Great list!
I’m gonna have to go way back on this… Mary Tyler Moore. Who can turn the world on with her smile?
I was expecting to see this on the list, for sure. But this list is still awesome.
*ESPECIALLY* ’cause of “Amen.”
Vanessa Bell Armstrong took us ALL the way INNN on that one.
Also, I still don’t like the name Thelma because that’s who took my dream man. (And then Michelle Williams got to play his wife in a PLAY?? Now you KNOW Mr. Clifton Davis is the poster-gentleman for timeless fine-ness if he was my hearthrob when I was a little girl and years later, gets cast opposite of someone my same age as her play husband).
Anywho.
I need a full series DVD set of “Amen” in my life.
For my sake.
For my children.
For the love of all things humane and holy.
Universe. Hear me. And deliver.
So of course you know, there gone be folks that will submitt some we think didn’t cross your mine. Or you wasn’t round during them times. So these Honorable Mentions are humbly submitted, if course:
“Barney Miller”: that baseline had to be the funkiest on television!
“Sandford and Son”: ya big dummy!
“Alice”: cause there’s a new girl in town.
“The Electric Company”: PBS is TV too and by that standard you gotta go, “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood”.
“The Pink Panther”: cause he was cool in pink way before The Dipset.
“The Monkees”: and people say we monkey around.
“Perfect Strangers”: don’t be ridiculous.
Any Sid and Marty Krofft kid show, “Sigmund and The Seamonsters”, “The Land of the Lost”, “The Bugaloos”, “H.R. Pufnstuf”, etc.
“Welcome Back Kotter”: cause Minister Ma$e thought it was so good he made it a whole new song.
Yaasssss! This list is when I officially figured out that Luvvie is younger than I am. The only thing that’s still missing is “Sounds of Philadelphia.” How can a list of the greatest TV theme songs be complete without the one that brought every black household in America to a full and complete stop every Saturday afternoon for over a decade?
I’m just gon’ throw up that black power fist on this one because….
Yes!! I had all of the side eye when Perfect Strangers didn’t make the list!! “Standing taaaaallllllllllllllll on the wings of my dreams! Rise and faaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll on the wings on my dreams! The rain and thunder, the wind and haze are bound for better days (aaaaahhh ahhhhh) My life, my dream, nothin’s gonna stop me now “
Yes, to alla deez. Your additions are awesome. I humbly submit “The Wonder Years” theme song. Joe Cocker FTW!
You know Judy went upstairs and never came down cause she used Urkel’s “Matter Transporter” to send herself to L.A., where she quickly got inducted into pr0n.
Love this! Honorable Mention- “Perfect Strangers,” “Roc” ( the En Vogue version), “Family Ties” and “Growing Pains.”
I want to add
Baby, if you’ve ever wondered, Wondered whatever became of me, I’m living on the air in Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, WKRP
Loved this show…and for my all time favorite
And now let’s get things started
Why don’t you get things started
It’s time to get things started
On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational
This is what we call the Muppet Show!
There is a rumor that they are bringing the Muppet Show back and I AM HERE FOR ALL OF IT!!!!
birdy birdy birdy…
So glad you remembered The Muppet Show! That was another one that used to bring the house to a stand-still every Saturday!
Amen is Still the Jam! But the theme from MAUDE was done by Donny Hathaway!!!
Right on, Maude! Yes!
Man…I was just about to be really disappointed in folks if no one mentioned Maude! This could have been a “A” side on a 45 yo.
Love these! Honorable mentions:
1. Silver Spoons: here we are face to face looking for silver spoons
2. Growing Pains: As long as we got each other…
3. Family Ties
I love this list, but you forgot to add In Living Color’s theme song.
This theme song was like a night out at the club….LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pogY-dXPus
The original was a good song too. But I prefer the remixed version I posted before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSO54NSiGiI
Love this list!!! Also will add the ‘Proud Family’ theme song
https://youtu.be/1k1IfrKO4Nk
Partridge Family and Wonder Woman, One Day At a Time…Y’all got me on these inter-webs early in the morning, showing my age!
Love and remember all of these!!! I stand in agreement and have 1 to add that I didn’t see mentioned: Wonder Years!
YAHZ! I was like you can’t forget The Wonder Years! “Lend me yo ear and I’ll sing you a song/I will try not to sing outta key!”
It’s a cartoon, but the Proud Family theme song was and still is the bomb.com. Solange and Destiny’s Child? Yes, please!
I loved the Half and Half theme song.
Hands down, my two favs are 1)Gilligan Island (theme song told the whole story)
2)All in the family (you gotta love Archie)!
I guess my picks really tells my age
A few more that I love:
That’s So Raven
Hanging With Mr.Cooper
Boy Meets World
Jamie Foxx Show
Dawson’s Creek (don’t judge)
7th Heaven
That 70’s Show
Sister, Sister (especially when they got grown and sassy with it)
All That (because who wasn’t jumping off the couch at home singing)
Kenan & Kel
Wayment…where is the love for Nell Carter in Gimme A Break…. she laced that… …”im tired of pretending, i want a happy ending ..wont let them get the best of me… whoa whoa whoa..gimme a break! “
Both Gimme A Break versions give me LIFE!
Yessss! All these memories gave me full bodied LIFE this morning. I’d just like to add the “Fraggel Rock” theme song in there. I think it came on HBO in the early 80’s. That was my show!! “Down with Fraggel rock!” *Clap clap*.
I was just going to say this! Best theme song ever!
You’re definitely missing the Sister, Sister and The Proud Family theme songs.
1. The jazzy voice of the Mr. Belvedere theme song (also the A-L-L stainlifter that’s aaaallll commercial voice)
2. Bosom Buddies – you HAVE to love Billy Joel
3. And let’s throw in The Gummy Bears for good measure. Gummy Bears bouncing here and there and everywhere, want adventure they’re beyond compare, they are the Gummy bears!
The Beverly Hillbillies and Andy Griffith. It was the ultimate whistle challenge.
The Dukes of Hazzard, Rockford Files, The Fall Guy, Sanford and Son, Welcome Back Kotter, Bonanza, I love Lucy, Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, Three Stooges, Littles Rascals, Looney Tunes, Beavis and Butthead, Mickey Mouse, Hardcastle and McCormick.
You forgot Welcome Back Kotter
The Fall Guy
Girlfriends!
I know this is before your time, but “Maude” was everything. Donny Hathaway too?! Lawd.
YAS to Maude!!! I loved that song. I loved Bea Author then and I loved her in Golden Girls. She is the Queen of the “blank stare-side eye combo” look.
I can see from other songs mentioned that I’m not the only on up in here who is of a certain age, I’m also going to throw in some more oldies but goodies: “Phyllis” (…it sure isn’t YOUUUUUU), “Batman” (dadadadada…BATMAAAAN), “The Patty Duke Show” (…when cousins are two of a kind) and “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (People let me tell ya ’bout my best friend) Yes, I watched A LOT of television when I was a kid.
OMG!! Best post Eva… well not really all your posts are great!! But this post has had me at the desk singing and dancing and realizing I am old- because I remember everything on your list and all the ad ons from the 70’s early 80’s..
Gimme a Break!!
Hill St. Blues – both the Mike Post and Rodney Franklin jazz versions.
I loved Moesha’s Theme Song!
I love the theme show to Maude, and Gimme a break, GREEN ACRES… and I too watch too much television, so I might have too many to share.
I nominate Pinky and the Brain for the animated TV show theme song list. “One is a genius, the other’s insane”.
love these, but where’s i dream of jeannie and bewitched? good music and super cute animations
Love this list but I have a few that could be on there too. Mary Tyler Moore and Laverne & Shirley!
How perfect for #TBT! I. AM. OLD. BUT. I. DON’T CARE. My faves:
Taxi
Starsky & Hutch
Get Christy Love- “you’re under arrest sugah”
Mod Squad – I was gonna marry Linc, I really was 🙂
Room 222 – I wanted to go to Walt Whitman High so I could have Lloyd Haynes & Denise Nicholas as my teachers!
Love American Style
The Bill Cosby Show (the first one in the late 60’s – Hoo Lawd!)
Luvvie, you picked some great ones! My all time favs were Amen and Fresh Prince. Had me jamming on every intro. My newest favorite intro is Game of Thrones! I come to attention everytime I hear it! LOL! #addicted
Moonlighting (Al Jarreau)
Reading Rainbow had the best theme song ever. I used to be so disappointed if I missed that song.
Luvvie, I appreciate your list, but you’re missing quite a few.
Hawaii Five-O: How many shows have a theme song that is played by every high school and college band in the country?
Mission Impossible
Sanford and Son
Dallas
Dynasty
The Love Boat
MASH
The Dukes of Hazzard
Bonanza
Baretta
You didn’t have anything from Mike Post on here: The Rockford Files, LA Law, Magnum PI, Hill Street Blues, The Greatest American Hero
The Wire – “Down in the Hole” – each season had a different performance of it;
The Addams Family – da da da da SNAP SNAP
Luvvie, you might need to do a list for instrumentals, too:
Get Smart
Mission Impossible
ooh…and Looney Tunes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-t8PngHgWY
Lawd, where is “Maude”by one of my all-time favorite singers Mr. Donny Hathaway?
I know you’re doing animated shows later but some non-animated kids shows like Salute Your Shorts (Camp Anawanna!!!) and the All That theme song performed by none other than TLC. And Roundhouse! Nickelodeon shows were the best.
No theme song will ever be better than The Jeffersons. But I have always loved Hawaii 5-0.
I’m gonna throw in Step by Step as well…. this post and the comments got me going down memory lane today. I’m gonna be singing theme songs all day.
The theme song from Barney Miller was good but it was mostly instrumental. But the theme song from Baretta goes hard in the paint.
https://youtu.be/qRa9uhiAPBs
Family Ties, all day! Also Who’s the Boss, and One Day at a Time. #80sFTW
I love most of those you selected. Here are some others I enjoyed (some of which have been mentioned by others):
1) Hawaii Five-O
2) Bonanza
3) The Flintstones (they actually were a prime time cartoon)
4) and, of course, The Jetsons
5) Secret Agent
6) The Tonight Show (Johnny Carson)
7) American Bandstand
8) … Soul Train (TSOP)
9) The Monkees
10) The Partridge Family
11) Dick Van Dyke Show
12) The Courtship of Eddie’s Father
13) Taxi
14) Hill Street Blues
15) The Patty Duke Show (I actually sing this song a lot for some reason!)
16) WKRP in Cincinnati
17) Welcome Back Kotter
18) Mission: Impossible
19) The Mary Tyler Moore Show
20) Perry Mason
I love all of those, but you forgot about Family Ties!! What do we do baby, without love? Sha-la-la-la!!
Wow, I’ve been singing theme show songs all morning. Had to pull up WKRP in Cincinnati on Hulu. The 80/90s were THE best!
Gotta mention a few more: Family Ties, Bosom Buddies, Who’s The Boss?, Touched By an Angel (loved Della Reese) and we can’t forget Laverne & Shirley
Best instrumental intros: Dynasty, Dallas, CHiPs, Knight Rider, Charlie’s Angels, Little House on the Prairie, the original Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, and Bewitched.
And does anybody else remember It’s a Living? (lol)
YES! Loved that show.
Mr. Ed! A horse is a horse, of course, of course!
YASSSS to the animated songs..Animaniacs was everything!
Fraggle Rock
The Fall Guy
Dallas
…AND “glamour, glitter, fashion, and fame…” Gem…she was truly, truly, truly outrageous!
*Jem not Gem :-/
P.S. I also liked The Wonder Years
OMG now I wanna make a list like this! LOVE! I’ll be watching TV themes for the next three hours if anyone needs me….
Gotta add ” The Wonder Years”. “What would you do if I sang out of tune…” Joe Cocker FTW!
The theme to Punky Brewster, “Ev-ery tiiime I turn around…”
” All in the Family”
The theme to Night Court, even though it was instrumental.
Honorable mention in commercial jingles: ” I Wanna Be A Toys R Us Kid”, Enjoli, Ban de Soleil, Sassoon ( Oh la la, Sasoon), Jordache, Jean Nate’, lol!
Luvvie!!!
This is an awesome list!!! We used to get our holy ghost on with that Amen intro. Thanks for the memories!!!
ps. On the animated list please don’t forget Duck Tales (Woo-ooo!)
What about Night Court doe? Also no cartoon entries makes me a sad Chris
ALright Luvvie. Now my cheeks hurt. I smiled through this whole list and completely got my life. My faves from you list: Amen and Golden Girls. I was a little surprised tha I actually knew most of the words to each one. This was so great. THANK YOU!
But….Moesha aint on this list. I loooved that song. “Mo to tha…E to tha..”
Once I got stuck in between floors on a crowded, creepy old elevator. It took a while to get help and folks got panicky. I said, “Let’s play TV Theme Song Trivia!” Somebody called out a TV show. Somebody else sang the song. The game was on. Everybody calmed down.
The guys who pulled us out were surprised by all the singing, though.
(It’s a pretty useful superpower.)
You win! Proof that this super power comes in handey. I will use it.
Surprised no one mentioned the theme from TAXI though. good intrumental.
These lists made my day!
THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS EVERYBODY!!!!
What about Family Affair Beverly Hillbilles ,Petticoat Junctions
What about Family Affair Beverly Hillbilles ,Petticoat Junctionsp
Family Ties! Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams gave all the life in that song! What we do, baby, without us?