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Top 40 TV Show Theme Songs

Best theme songs for TV series: the opening credits we remember most, from Friends to Star Trek, SWAT, Jeffersons, Munsters and more.

In looking at the best TV show theme songs, we're not focused on the quality of the show itself. In fact some of the best shows on TV have had lame or uninteresting theme songs (Seinfeld, for example), but many shows were blessed with inspiring soundtracks and theme songs. Based solely on the song itself, here are the top 40 most memorable and recognized theme show songs:

1 – Hawaii Five-0 (1968) Does anyone not recognize this theme, Detective McGarrett!

2 – S.W.A.T. (1975) This instrumental was actually a #1 hit song on Billboard's top 40

3 – The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) Rod Serling's extraordinary show always began with that unforgettable theme song. It's been used over and over again in other movies and TV shows.

4 – Battlestar Gallactica (1978)

5 – Mission Impossible (1966)

6 – Peter Gunn Theme (1958) popular P.I. Series, the theme was made famous a 2nd time by the Blues Brothers.

7 – Star Trek TOS (1966-69)

8 – Dr. Who (1963-1989)

9 – M*A*S*H (1972-83) The theme song “Suicide is painless” written by Johnny Mandel, is timeless.

10 – The Munsters, great them with that signature boogie(man) organ

11 – The Partridge Family “Come on, get happy...”

12 – Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (1993-99)

13 – Hill Street Blues (1981 – 1987)

14 – The Land of the Lost (1974)
Marshall, will, and holly, On a routine expedition...

15 – New Land of the Lost (1991) Theme almost as good as its predecessor.

16 – Growing Pains (1985-1992)

17 – Scooby Doo (1969 to present)
Scooby-Dooby-Doo, here Are You...

18 – Happy Days

19 – Laverne & Shirley  Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated....?

20 – The Jeffersons - Movin on up to the deeeeluxe apartment in the sky

21 – The X-Files

22 – Dallas (1978)

23 – The Addams Family (1966) They're creepy and they're kooky...

24 – Bonanza (1959-73)

25 – Johnny Quest (1964)

26 – The Rockford Files theme by Mike Post entered the Billboard Top 10 in 1975

27 – The Monkees : Here we come, walking down the street....

28 – Mary Tyler Moore Show  ... you're gonna make it after all!

29 – Greatest American Hero  “Believe it or not”

30 – The Odd Couple

31 – Law & Order  bong-bong

32 – Gilligan's Island  A three hour tour....

33 – Step by Step (1991-98) And we'll be better….the second time around

34 – The Golden Girls theme is based on a hit 70's song by Andre Gold, “Thank You for Being A Friend”

35 – Friends (1994-2004) I'll be there for you...

36 – Family Matters (1989-98)

37 – WKRP (1978-82) I'm living on the air in Cincinnati; Cincinnati, WKRP

38 – Cheers “Where everybody knows your name...”

39 – Brotherly Love (1995-1997) starring all 3 Lawrence brothers; good theme song.

40 – Get Smart

Here at Top2040, See Also: Top 40 Instrumental Songs of All Time

Most Annoying TV Theme songs: Big Bang Theory (great show, bad song), Frasier, Enterprise, and the Simpsons (song was annoying in year 1, and now in year 29... arggg!)

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