Ok here it is. The Ultimate TV Show Theme Song poll. To hear the themes in various formats (they are either .wav, .mp3, .rm, or .ra) click on the link.

Best All-Time TV Show Theme Song

The Brady Bunch
The Monkees
The Jeffersons
Welcome Back Kotter
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Love Boat
Good Times
The Greatest American Hero
The Dukes of Hazzard
Laverne & Shirley
Gilligan’s Island
The Addams Family
All In The Family
Three’s Company
The Golden Girls
The Facts Of Life
Diff’rent Strokes
Happy Days
The Fresh Prince Of Belaire
other (please specify)

I had a whole reply written about Jamie And The Magic Torch, Tales Of The Gold Monkey, The Water Margin, and Ulysses 31.

But then I remembered the brilliant Jeeves & Wooster theme, by Anne Dudley out of The Art Of Noise, which is clearly the winner...

Peter

This is kind of an odd poll, because "best" TV theme song usually means "cheesiest" TV theme song. In terms of the actual "best" song to be used as a TV show theme, I was always partial to the Kids in the Hall theme song, but there weren't any words.

Of the ones on the list, gotta go with Gilligan's Island.

maybe I should have named it "TV Show Theme songs that bring back those great memories, or the one that you thought was funny or something"

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it, though?

Hmmm, I think the answer to this is going to be directly related to what shows I used to watch. The notable exception is "Cheers" which I never watched, but always thought had a great theme song.

The Dukes. Saved by the Bell is a close 2nd.

I was always partial to the Kids in the Hall theme song

Thank you! I knew my favorite theme was right on the top of my mind, but I couldn't remember it. That's one of the 3 songs I can play on guitar

the brilliant Jeeves & Wooster theme

Yep, can't fault that, but then I've probably heard it more than any other theme, as I go through those videos every Sunday afternoon! Between myself and my daughter, we knacked the videos and had to replace them- next time round it'll be DVD's.

However, to me the greatest all time TV theme is Peter Gunn, which I think I'm right in thinking, was never actually shown in this Country.
- best of all by Duane Eddy.

Somehow I missed Tales of the Gold Monkey entirely. Apparently you either loved it or hated it, but I don't know on which side of the fence I fall. I only know about it because of the storyline it inadvertantly created on Magnum, P.I.

This isn't my favorite or even what I would consider the "best", but it should be included in the poll...

Sanford & Son

My "other" vote is the Andy Griffith Show. It's got lyrics, and of course are fishing related

OK everyone sing along now!!!

"The Fishing Hole"

Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin' in the shade.
Whether it's hot, whether it's cool, oh what a spot for whistlin' like a fool.
What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o'day.
We'll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin' Hole,
There'll be you, me and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away.
If we don't hook a perch or bass, we'll cool our toes in dewy grass,
Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw.
Hangin' around, takin' our ease, watchin' that hound a-scratchin' at his fleas.
Come on, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o'day.

Not bad. Anyone got the "Bonanza" lyrics?

Bonanza lyrics -> here.

/Michael

There was an episode of "Cheers" where Paul sung a different set of Bonanza lyrics. I don't remember them exactly, but I remember they were hilarious. I searched for them but couldn't find them.

of course are fishing related

How about "Fishing with John"?

How about "Fishing with John"?

I've seen that a few times, and it's bizarre to me. But so are fly fishermen... I think I saw it when he was with Kevin Costner or was it Bacon, I dunno... I'm more along the lines of big bait chuckin' for monster bass... I could make a better show than most of those fishing shows on the outdoor channels, but ESPN has one with supermodel quality women fishing, now that I like!

What about "What's Hapenning?" Rerun was the coolest...;)

I'm with Tony -- Kids In The Hall theme is really looping around my brain right now -- of the cheesier ones, it's gotta be Gilligan and pals.

The Kids in the Hall Theme is called "Having an Average Weekend" and it's performed by "Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet." It is available on their "Savvy Show Stoppers" CD.

While I love the theme songs from Sanford & Son, Greatest American Hero, Scrubs, and Kids In The Hall, I think my all-time favorite would be the theme from The Adventures Of Pete And Pete, which was "Hey Sandy" by Polaris. Oh man, I've gotta go listen to it right now.

My favorite, I think, is the instrumental theme to "Barney Miller". The earlier of the two versions, the one with the really good melodic guitar solo. In the later seasons, they redid the theme with a rather half-hearted guitar solo that sounds like random noodling more than a melody. But the original one was pretty great.

Edit: It's been so long since I've seen an episode of Barney Miller, I might just be getting it backwards. I just know there were two slightly different versions, and I liked one better than the other.

Other: Can't decide, though.....

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (Von Reznicek's Donna Diana Overture)

or Victory at Sea (Richard Rogers)

I'll take my theme songs in glorious black-and-white, thanks!

The theme from "Dallas".

tanstaafl.

All of those are good, but the absolute best has to be
http://www.soundamerica.com/sounds/themes/Television/C-E/dr-who3b.wav
The original Dr Who theme, supposedly the very first electronic music TV theme tune.
I remember hiding behind the sofa for many of those episodes, even the tune was scary.

BTW, telesearch.org seems to have gone ?

Darn. I went to soundamerica.com looking for samples of the Barney Miller theme song. I was rather unhappy with the "barney*" files I dowloaded from their TV themes directory...

Yeah, I love you, too. Now DIE!!! *blam* *blam* *blam*

I can't believe that no one mentioned the themes from Hawaii Five-O or The Rockford Files...they were both good tunes and very representative of their decades a million years ago...

Dan him, booko

Yeah, my good old buddie Jack "Book'em, Dan-O" Lord!

Cheers

I'll second Andy Griffith but will throw these in as contenders:
Mission Impossible
Chico and the Man
Starsky and Hutch
WKRP
LA Law
Hill Street Blues
Peter Gunn (for SpyHunter fans)
M*A*S*H
Wild Wild West
S.W.A.T.
Johnny Quest
Fat Albert
HR Pufnstuff
The Banana Splits

Ahh a mispent youth. I think I'll go get a bowl of Count Chocula and hum along.

How is that I can't remember anything from my calculus classes but I've this crud still stuck in my head?

http://www.tvland.com/theme_songs/

Thunderbirds - one of the most memorable theme tunes ever written, and everyone knows it instantly.

Well, maybe Star Trek, as well....

I'd like to put my vote in for Hawaii 5-0, Johnny Quest, and Fat Albert...

... I was also quite fond of The Prisoner and Get Smart.

(PS: Fishbone does a fantastic version of the Fat Albert theme live...)

I just remembered "Cannonball", but it's showing my age!

I get 'my 3 sons' stuck in my head all the time.
I do the hands'n'knees bit, but know one understands.

my dentist was on that show when he was a kid, played the neighbor's son.

...and the pink panther (henry mancini?)