The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time TV Programs
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The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time

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These are the best TV theme songs and TV intros of all time. Television theme songs set the tone for the entire series, and for the beginning of each episode. We all have a special connection to what we think are the best TV themes. They get stuck in our head, we sing them without noticing and we remember them fondly after a series has ended. So vote on the best TV show theme songs here and make sure your favorite gets the attention it deserves.
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Rank     Name
  1. 1
    Up 871
    Down 312

    Cheers

    John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Kelsey Grammer More
    BUY
  2. 2
    Up 1067
    Down 505

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    Alfonso Ribeiro, Joseph Marcell, Tatyana Ali More
    BUY
  3. 3
    Up 774
    Down 277

    The Addams Family

    Jim Cummings, Ken Weatherwax, Anjelica Huston More
    BUY
  4. 4
    Up 683
    Down 232

    The Muppet Show

    Steve Whitmire, John Lovelady, Richard Hunt More
    BUY
  5. 5
    Up 597
    Down 304

    M*A*S*H

    Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr More
    BUY
  6. 6
    Up 615
    Down 243

    Happy Days

    Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Scott Baio More
    BUY
  7. 7
    Up 702
    Down 385

    Friends

    James Michael Tyler, Allisyn Ashley Arm, Jennifer Aniston More
    BUY
  8. 8
    Up 617
    Down 277

    Mission: Impossible

    Greg Morris, Peter Graves, Barbara Anderson More
    BUY
  9. 9
    Up 439
    Down 138

    The Flintstones

    Bea Benaderet, Mel Blanc, Jean Vander Pyl More
    BUY
  10. 10
    Up 671
    Down 328

    The Simpsons

    Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden More
    BUY
  11. 11
    Up 517
    Down 205

    Gilligan's Island

    Tina Louise, Dawn Wells, Jim Backus More
    BUY
  12. 12
    Up 416
    Down 149

    Scooby-Doo

    Don Messick, Kate Melton, Scott Innes More
    BUY
  13. 13
    Up 524
    Down 255

    Hawaii Five-O

    Herman Wedemeyer, Kam Fong Chun, Peggy Ryan More
    BUY
  14. 14
    Up 341
    Down 115

    The Pink Panther Show

    Brian George, Sonny Melendrez, Paul Frees More
    BUY
  15. 15
    Up 369
    Down 193

    The Monkees

    Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones More
    BUY
  16. 16
    Up 380
    Down 181

    Batman

    William Dozier, David Lewis, Neil Hamilton More
    BUY
  17. 17
    Up 381
    Down 292

    Welcome Back, Kotter

    John Travolta, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Marcia Strassman More
    BUY
  18. 18
    Up 370
    Down 212

    The Beverly Hillbillies

    Donna Douglas, Kathleen Freeman, Irene Ryan More
    BUY
  19. 19
    Up 469
    Down 235

    Sesame Street

    Sonia Manzano, Linda Bove, Frank Oz More
    BUY
  20. 20
    Up 330
    Down 233

    Dukes of Hazzard

    Tom Wopat, Peggy Rea, Nedra Volz More
    BUY
  21. 21
    Up 336
    Down 246

    WKRP in Cincinnati

    Tim Reid, Gordon Jump, Richard Sanders More
    BUY
  22. 22
    Up 406
    Down 260

    The Jeffersons

    Damon Evans, Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert More
    BUY
  23. 23
    Up 378
    Down 273

    The A-Team

    Marla Heasley, George Peppard, Melinda Culea More
    BUY
  24. 24
    Up 324
    Down 218

    The Brady Bunch

    Susan Olsen, Ann B. Davis, Christopher Knight More
    BUY
  25. 25
    Up 364
    Down 202

    The Big Bang Theory

    Simon Helberg, Kaley Cuoco, Melissa Rauch More
    BUY
  26. 26
    Up 258
    Down 179

    The Greatest American Hero

    William Bogert, William Katt, Faye Grant More
    BUY
  27. 27
    Up 372
    Down 278

    The X-Files

    Mitch Pileggi, David Duchovny, Annabeth Gish More
    BUY
  28. 28
    Up 351
    Down 288

    That '70s Show

    Christina Moore, Debra Jo Rupp, Ashton Kutcher More
    BUY
  29. 29
    Up 278
    Down 161

    Married... with Children

    Fergie, Matt LeBlanc, Gary Coleman More
    BUY
  30. 30
    Up 297
    Down 236

    Laverne & Shirley

    Kenneth Mars, Betty Garrett, David Lander More
    BUY
  31. 31
    Up 301
    Down 183

    Star Trek: The Original Series

    Majel Barrett, James Doohan, William Shatner More
    BUY
  32. 32
    Up 247
    Down 131

    The Andy Griffith Show

    Andy Griffith, Maggie Peterson, Howard Morris More
    BUY
  33. 33
    Up 334
    Down 257

    Sanford and Son

    Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson
    BUY
  34. 34
    Up 259
    Down 217

    The Love Boat

    Jill Whelan, Fred Grandy, Gavin MacLeod More
    BUY
  35. 35
    Up 361
    Down 316

    South Park

    Mona Marshall, April Stewart, Trey Parker More
    BUY
  36. 36
    Up 299
    Down 253

    All in the Family

    Danielle Brisebois, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor More
    BUY
  37. 37
    Up 310
    Down 287

    Doctor Who

    Peter Davison, Elisabeth Sladen, Billie Piper More
    BUY
  38. 38
    Up 313
    Down 232

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    James L. Avery, Sr., Jack Angel More
    BUY
  39. 39
    Up 198
    Down 129

    Green Acres

    Pat Buttram, Barbara Pepper, Eddie Albert More
    BUY
  40. 40
    Up 153
    Down 67

    The Addams Family

    Ted Cassidy, Carolyn Jones, Lisa Loring More
    BUY
  41. 41
    Up 257
    Down 186

    Three's Company

    Don Knotts, Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers More
    BUY
  42. 42
    Up 176
    Down 122

    I Love Lucy

    Keith Thibodeaux, Vivian Vance, Lucille Ball More
    BUY
  43. 43
    Up 242
    Down 278

    Malcolm in the Middle

    Justin Berfield, Jennette McCurdy, Frankie Muniz More
    BUY
  44. 44
    Up 152
    Down 126

    Dallas

    Bert Remsen, Susan Howard Chrane, Ian McShane More
    BUY
  45. 45
    Up 252
    Down 280

    The Sopranos

    Edie Falco, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt More
    BUY
  46. 46
    Up 202
    Down 196

    Miami Vice

    Don Johnson, Michael Talbott, Saundra Santiago More
    BUY
  47. 47
    Up 159
    Down 165

    The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight More
    BUY
  48. 48
    Up 191
    Down 134

    Animaniacs

    Julie Brown, Chick Vennera, Tom Bodett More
    BUY
  49. 49
    Up 190
    Down 203

    The Rockford Files

    Stuart Margolin, Gretchen Corbett, James Garner More
    BUY
  50. 50
    Up 212
    Down 277

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    Danny Strong, Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield More
    BUY

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    1. carpool lame
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 12/09/2012 5:30 AM
      Admirable best tv theme songs, brother.
    2. Darius Cabriales
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 6/25/2012 5:30 AM
      Considerable best theme songs of all time, brother.
    3. The Executioner
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 5/11/2012 5:41 AM
      The Fresh Prince
    4. MadameLil
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 5/07/2012 10:02 PM
      What about Kids In The Hall? Solid Gold? Or - seriously - the Electric Company, Masterpiece Theatre, or even The French Chef (with Julia Child)
    5. Calcaneus
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 5/06/2012 6:53 AM
      Where is Law & Order theme??
    6. Mike Murphy
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 3/28/2012 1:39 PM
      The Wild Wild West. Imaginative theme, cleverly arranged. The Wild Wild West theme would make a great band piece for a High School or College
    7. FlorianGradert
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 3/20/2012 2:05 PM
      Missing the Saber Rider-Theme...pure awesomeness
    8. ShockedAndNotAwed
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 2/20/2012 11:35 PM
      RUFKM!?!?!?!!??!! Peter Gunn doesn't even make your list?
      In 50 years, Peter Gunn will still be being played by every wannabe electric guitarist alive; and - no disrespect to Fresh Prince - one of my favorite 80/90's shows - no one will even recognize Will's theme!
    9. Armin Tamzarian
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 1/10/2012 12:10 AM
      5 - And finally, this comment box ought to be able to recognize a f**king carriage return.
    10. Armin Tamzarian
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 1/10/2012 12:07 AM
      1 - It was my understanding that the word 'best' in the title of the list denoted music that is actually 'enjoyable' ("MASH", as opposed to just 'famous' ("Fresh Prince", "Addams Family"), 'instantly-recognizable' ("I Love Lucy", "Beverly Hillbillies") or 'pop**ar' ("Friends"). 2 - Many voters are clearly voting for the show ("Simpsons", "Sopranos", "South Park"), or indeed AGAINST the show ("Friends"), rather than the music. I would note that I do personally like all three shows, though none of them would make my Top 100 list of the 'BEST' TV Theme songs. I also dislike "Friends", but don't think the song is completely horrid. 3 - A significant portion of the constituent voters here obviously need scans to detect brain trauma (12+ votes in favor of "Step By Step" and 25+ for "Tiny Toons"!?!?). The voting pool is clearly tainted with idiocy (or perhaps deafness). 4 - There are dozens (if indeed not HUNDREDS) of TV theme songs that are easily the equal of (if not better than) most of the tunes listed--but if I had to make a single pick to add to the list, I would have to go with the title sequence from "Boardwalk Empire".
    11. dukethepcdr
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 1/04/2012 12:31 AM
      Seinfield had the best theme song. Quirky, clever and very memorable. You only had to hear a few bars to know what was on.
    12. Misteraxe
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 10/29/2011 8:16 AM
      How is it possible that the Perry Mason theme isnt at least in the top 5??????????????????
    13. Clark Griswald
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 8/19/2011 1:42 PM
      Call me crazy, but I always loved the Theme song to Angel. I thought it was perfect for the show, and I even have it on my ipod.
      1. acrosstheflame
        The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 12/13/2011 10:31 PM
        not crazy! the most beautiful theme ever
    14. djsieg
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 7/24/2011 10:50 AM
      Like.....what happened to Miami Vice?
    15. stahov
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 5/12/2011 10:19 AM
      Rollin', rollin', rollin', keep them dogies movin' RAWHIDE. That was a good theme song
    16. Nattiexs
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 5/10/2011 9:03 PM
      There are a lot series missing! macgyver, Airwolf, The A-Team...Just to name a few.
      1. Clark Benson
        The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 6/24/2011 11:41 PM
        so add them! add your own list
    17. Deadpool
      The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 4/30/2011 6:19 PM
      No Big Bang theory? I know its recent, come On! It summarizes the entire history of the universe in 30 seconds. Pure Awesome!
      1. dukethepcdr
        The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time at 1/04/2012 12:33 AM
        I'm a big fan of The Barenaked Ladies. The band too. But I hate that song.

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