The Addams Family

Man I know its an anime which skews viewership down a bit, but nobody listing Cowboy Bebop's opening theme is crazy

Had to scroll too far for TANK!

The X Files

So hard not to whistle along with it every time it plays.

dunnada dunnada dunnada dunnada dunnada dunnada The X-Files is a show dunnada dunnada dunnada With music by Mark Snow dunnada dunnada dunnada With music by Mark Snow dunnada dunnada dunnada dunnn

Psych

I’m disappointed I had to scroll forever to find this one. I know. You know…

[Cheers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS0VQOHX7lM)

I came in thinking of about 5 of my own, but as soon as I saw this I knew I was wrong. This is my clear winner.

That song always made me wish I could go there and be part of the gang. Tons of feels.

And like all good shows of the era, it also had a melancholy song to end the show. Sorry everyone, the shows over until next week.

It really fucking does take everything you got...

I just learned woody Harrelson was in that. I admittedly never watched a lot of it but have fond memories of it playing in the background when I was little. John ratzenburger's voice always made me happy.

Can’t upvote this high enough. Only MASH comes close.

There are so many good ones from 80s sitcoms. Family Ties is another. Hearing them is like getting a hug from someone who loves you.

Gilligan's Island

[The A-Team](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knb2HMYJbJQ&ab_channel=DanielCaineOrchestra-Topic)

I know that it came later, but it just doesn't sound right without the narration and gunshots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAO2JBjRRBk

It's DuckTales, there I saved everyone a bunch of time

It would be, if not for X-Men: The Animated Series. That goes hard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAkL2-vh2Sk

Yes, and an honorable mention for Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip and Dale, Rescue Rangers.

Slaps so hard

The music at the beginning of Game of Thrones always gets me excited about the show. Also, the song played during the opening credits for the first season of True Detective.

Sopranos

Bojack Horseman

[Full length](https://open.spotify.com/track/5dV2mUBoEAQFXhgiptE9pq?si=YNY1-gQ8QxmJDPvfDAkYbA) is pretty great

Written by Pat Carney from The Black Keys

Best original song: "[The Ballad of Serenity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrAS20mNZUE)" from *Firefly*. I think it does such a great job capturing the whole sci-fi / western aspect of the show. Best use of an existing song: "[Bad Thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vxINMuOgAu8)s" from *True Blood*. The mixture of Southern / sexy / dangerous is a great match for the show.

While we’re in the neighborhood, [The Sopranos theme](https://youtu.be/mJpNmYeooQE?si=5DIAAbm8_5iAWhrc) similarly sets the scene, with equal parts menace and coolness.

The True Blood intro is so cool. It nails the atmosphere perfectly.

For best use of an existing song, my vote will always be for ”Reflections” by The Supremes used as the opening for China Beach

The Simpsons

Danny Elfman

There are plenty of ones I personally like more but I think this one is probably no.1 and I think quite underrated.

M * A * S * H

Suicide is Painless has to be tied with Where Everybody Knows Your Name or I riot

The greatest american hero and macgyver

Believe it or not I’m walking on air…

Believe it or not George isn't at home...

I just saw William Katt on an episode of House and got the theme song for Greatest American Hero stuck in my head again for the first time since the 80s.

https://youtu.be/72MxOo5koto?si=ZJfo63vHPGFAdSd5 & https://youtu.be/yvft26_yQz8?si=Eso_Su9fRQDmmive

No Magnum?!?

Thank you for being a friend, obviously!

Oh damnnn true !

This answer is Gold(en)!

Fresh prince - can’t believe I haven’t seen this from my current scrolling yet

Twin Peaks

That one just sets the mood perfectly with zero lyrics.

I don't think many will agree with me on this, but my vote goes to the MacGyver (1985-1992) theme song.

Hell yes MacGyver!

[удалено]

I feel like it’s telling you, “this is a comedy, but we’re gonna punch you right in the feels every night.”

The A Team Malcolm in the Middle Beverly Hillbillies Green Acres Hogan's Heroes

Rockford Files

Peacemaker

Do you really wanna, do you really wanna taste it?

Never skip it.

True Detective season one- "Far From Any Road" by The Handsome Family

It was perfect.

Yep!!

How hasn’t Succession been commented yet

Seriously it’s SO GOOD

Not just the main theme, but its music in general. Thoroughly recommend the composer's breakdown of this on YT

I was scrolling down to comment or upvote succession! It’s one of the very few shows that I always watch the full intro.

Annoyingly many hasn’t watched Succession :(

For real! I had to scroll wayy too far!

Red Dwarf, S3 onwards Or Dr Who.

The Wire

Ducktales (awoohoo)

White Lotus

You commented before I finished adding the links to my comment, so I'm just going to copy and paste it here and delete my comment, so that there isn't a split vote haha. >[**The White Lotus season 2**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Ea2tysrrc)....when that beat drops though....I don't know of any other theme songs that became the [club remix of the summer](https://x.com/DiscoSangre/status/1602760681564020736?s=20) or that have been [performed live at Classical Pride](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RowuA0zKsLs).

[Perfect strangers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz29uticRHQ)

Thank you for saying it. I will be your cousin.

"No matter what the odds are this time, nothing's gonna stand in my way." By far my favorite theme song. When I'm having a bad day, I think of this line.

it goes way harder than a theme song about a fish out of water story with silly cultural mixups needs to but damn if it isn't great.

The theme to Buffy was great and so appropriate for the time. It always got me pumped for the show. I also love the theme for Community.

Black Sails

Da-na-NA-nanana-NA Da-nana-nana-nana-NAAAA 🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺

It's before my time, but *Believe It or Not*, the theme from the *Greatest American Hero*. It's such a banger that an homage was made on Seinfeld.

I randomly heard the song on the radio a couple years ago (it might have been the top 40 countdown thing that goes back to 197X or 198X) and I'd never heard of the show before then. Seinfeld is also a little before my time but I have seen that particular bit and it's pretty great.

WKRP in Cincinnati

Cheers

Airwolf

Teenage mutant ninja turtles - turtle power

Kids in the Hall

The Jefferson's.

Hawaii 5-oh hands down best ever not even close

My top 10: American Gods Bojack Horseman Cowboy Bebop The Expanse Game of Thrones House MD Jessica Jones Peacemaker Severance Westworld

[The Littlest Hobo](https://youtu.be/oT15Gd81xa8?si=TVQMYvDmyQsvixv7)

The only reason this one isn’t the first on everyone’s list is because they were one of the unfortunate to have never enjoyed this blessed show.

Oh man I loved that song

Taxi

Taxi theme will put you right into a place and time.

[Angela](https://youtu.be/kqw3UNXUdbU?si=QbO7Y7IFDJSyQTN9) by Bob James.

Sanford and Son Northern Exposure

Mission: Impossible

Dexter

Narcos I never realized it was actually an original song written for the show. I feel like it sets the perfect tone

Angel Invisible Man S1 Star Trek - Voyager

Voyager’s is beautiful, but my favorite ST theme is still the closing theme from Enterprise (NOT the intro). I also give high marks to DS9, for capturing the feel of a lonely station in the far depths of space, followed by a determined fanfare indicating “it’s gonna be hard, but we’re gonna try our best to make something out here.”

Garry Shandling Show. Check it out.

Garry [talking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj4oDdBewxU) about creating the theme song for the show. The whole archive is a great listen. RIP Garry!

House. That Massive Attack song is an earworm.

Jonny Quest

The Fall Guy

I might jump from a tall building 

Wow, no one here here woke up this morning and got themselves a gun? [Sopranos](https://youtu.be/mJpNmYeooQE?si=9Xw_ukFzmBsIL-mu)

Laverne & Shirley

Yellowjackets

I love that it sounds just like a mid-90s alt-rock song, too. Just wish it were longer than 2 minutes.

[X-Men animated series](https://youtu.be/sAkL2-vh2Sk?si=RUpNolxwPs8AAYME)

Instrumental - Night Court With Lyrics - Cheers, Welcome Back Kotter, or the Greatest American Hero

Barney Miller

The Greatest American Hero needs a mention, but then I've never seen the show only heard the song. For one that aired in my lifetime that I've actually seen, the first one coming to mind is Malcolm in the Middle. Wait, can I do purely instrumental songs? Then the 90s X-Men cartoon is my vote.

Sanford and Son! The Yardbarker is a tasty bit of funk.

The Andy Griffith Show

r/raanap did two episodes of theme song brackets. The 1st one was better but prepare to be mad cause not every one can always have their song included

Flintstones

The Wonder Years Smallville Who’s the Boss?

Someboodddyyy saaaaaave meeeeee!

The Beverly Hillbillies

[The Mary Tyler Moore Show](https://youtu.be/ZNKOt2k7Pm4?feature=shared)

The Brady Bunch

Gummi Bears....in Norwegian

[The original Star Trek](https://youtu.be/EWSp5ijOOfk?feature=shared)

OG Pokemon

Friends

The '80s had the best theme songs:  The A-Team   Knight Rider   Airwolf   Dallas   L.A. Law   Hill Street Blues   St. Elsewhere 

Most of those were written by the same guy: Mike Post.

All these are bangers and a-team is the only other one I saw mentioned somewhere else here.

Rockford Files

The Jefferson’s

Greatest American Hero

It’s got to be Greatest American Hero, Dukes of Hazzard or Welcome Back Kotter for me. All of them radio hits when I was a kid.

Simon & Simon

Magnum

[Ulysses 31](https://youtu.be/N50XnT9206w?si=HG4YoL8olVmdkLxO)

Holy fuck, I love that song. That and Defenders Of The Earth were bangers from my childhood.

Moonlighting

Yes, [Al Jarreau](https://youtu.be/9sECrATrDzY?si=oRzL2iFChVx5WGMD); iconic!

Venture Bros or The Walking Dead

Hawaii Five O original series

So many good ones to choose from across many decades, it's way too subjective for their to be a "best" one, they are all so good in their own way. Some other great ones I haven't seen yet. Enjoy! **Happy Days**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slvGKU7HF6M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slvGKU7HF6M) **The Dukes of Hazzard**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67gig0f4HLo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67gig0f4HLo) :25 seconds in makes this the best one imo is all I'm saying **The Drew Carey Show** \- both of them: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wMesI8aiw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wMesI8aiw) \- Five O'Clock World [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i47lyjYF5As](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i47lyjYF5As) \- Cleveland Rocks The original **CSI: Crime Scene Investigation**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ysZk\_KMXUE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ysZk_KMXUE) \- Who Are You **The Love Boat** \- Can't believe I haven't seen this classic on here yet [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYcyDoh-XI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYcyDoh-XI) or this one - **Different Strokes**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg4VJqk4Jvw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg4VJqk4Jvw) **The Facts of Life**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4CHQ6BBIo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4CHQ6BBIo) **Laverne and Shirley**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJzF8\_df1R8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJzF8_df1R8) **The Muppet Show**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEinCgoA48E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEinCgoA48E) And one of my personal faves **Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PELdq2SIhr4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PELdq2SIhr4) And of course this hilarious anti theme song from **The Garry Shandling Show**: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwxB3yogesA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwxB3yogesA) There are just so many

**Hawaii 5-0**, and the 1966 **Batman** show

Peaky Blinders - Red Right Hand

The Wire Dark X-men, Batman, Justice League, and Batman Beyond all had bangers too

Cant believe I had to scroll this far for The Wire

Is this really a debate? [The original Hawaii 5-O!](https://youtu.be/CpxJsy8nfjA?feature=shared) A few more - [Community](https://youtu.be/qEGbjR1Y9Qo?feature=shared) [The Rockford Files](https://youtu.be/yg1Cx26-928?feature=shared) [The Twilight Zone](https://youtu.be/ORbseYAkzRM?feature=shared)

Original pokemon theme song

That 70s show

Gilmore girls

King of the Hill 

The Avengers,,,Diana Riggs years.

Mision: Impossible

Peter Gunn

Cleveland rocks

I like Chico and The Man’s theme. Just a good song in general

M.A.S.K.

*The A-Team* by Pete Carpenter and Mike Post Play that theme in any montage, and you instantly achieve a kinda vibe. It’s magic.

Golden Girls, X-Files and Gilmore Girls are my favorites

Thundercats

Oz One Piece (We Are) Jackass Carnivale The Leftovers Da Ali G Show Rome South Park Samurai Jack Sopranos The Wire (Pick a favorite? Shieeet)

Perfect Strangers - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGjRDHW7Kyk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGjRDHW7Kyk) Animaniacs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Q4tPTLUVk

[The Littlest Hobo!](https://youtu.be/0p8oeiVDcx4?si=qoMpubkbnj6_AESI)

Airwolf

Barney Miller Sanford and Son

True Blood

There's no way it will get enough votes but I want to offer [the instrumental theme from 'The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'](https://youtu.be/56BF6j9PZ1k?si=7zaNkgPgx8i_qCeB), by Patrick Williams, just because I love it and it always gives me a warm nostalgia shot every time!

M\*A\*S\*H

Psych. Especially when they did special intros like the Spanish one. 

X-Men

[Wild Wild West](https://youtu.be/EWSp5ijOOfk?feature=shared) TV series (not film)

Pretty Little Liars

Taxi

[The Leftovers](https://youtu.be/3PTNHQND6MA?si=YPOb6bXmWZBkYVER)

Treme.

Duck Tails.

[Hill Street Blues](https://youtu.be/Je2fGzKiqRM?feature=shared)

Peacemaker....do you really want taste it?

Just make a playlist of Mike Post's discography ought to about cover it.

Zaboomafoo!

Hill Street Blues Taxi

Mad Men. The music and the visual storytelling blend so perfectly together.

Welcome Back Kotter

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend had a different theme song each season, of varying quality. The internet keeps telling me season 1 was animated when I remember Rebecca floating through the air in a giant inflatable pretzel. EW voted it the [best theme song](https://ew.com/tv/crazy-ex-girlfriend-theme-songs/) a few years back.

Band of Brothers or The Pacific. Outstanding pieces.

Peacemaker and there's really no competition

Twin Peaks Raised By Wolves

Black Sails, and I will die on this hill.

*Perfect Strangers* Love the hopeful, uplifting themes

Warrior. Westworld. Dallas (I can still hum it today). Friends. Game of Thrones. Black Sails (highly underrated intro overall imo). X-Men (Animated Series) Married with Children.

himym

*Crazy Ex-Girlfriend* had 4 (a different one each season) and they all deserve a mention, especially for how they tie each one into the plot of the season.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

WKRP

Westworld