#32

Spectacular Spider-Man

Composed: Chuck Gil, Joey Medina, Ric Moon, and Steven Mungarro

Performed: The Tender Box

 “Living on the edge / Fighting crime, spinning webs / Swinging from the highest ledge / He can leap above our heads”.

This theme song captured the energy and power of Peter Parker’s hectic life.

This is the third and final Spider-Man animated theme song to appear in the Top 100 TV Show Theme Songs and it is the highest ranked one. The others included #72 (Spider-Man 1967) and #60 (Spider-Man: The Animated Series).

Full theme:

#33

Beverly Hillbillies

“Oil, that is…“

Title: “The Ballad of Jed Clampett”

Composed: Paul Henning

Performed: Jerry Scroggins

Music:  Lester Flatt (guitar) and Earl Scruggs (banjo)

One of the most standout theme songs of any show during the sixties, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” brought the musical style of bluegrass to the forefront of American pop culture.

#34

Baywatch

Title: “I’m Always Here”

Written: Joe Henry and Jimi Jamison

Performed: Jimi Jamison

Produced: Cory Lerios and John D’Andrea

While Baywatch was mocked over its use of bikinis and babes, the opening theme song set a tone for exciting action and a rocking good time. With the lyrics “I’ll be ready, I’ll be ready, / Never you fear… / I’m always here” repeating throughout the song, the heroism of the lifeguards stood out from the tan and luscious bodies. Or at least, that was the idea.

#35

Firefly

Title: “The Ballad of Serenity”

Written: Joss Whedon

Performed: Sonny Rhodes

Firefly was a short-lived series on FOX that has had a long-lived reputation. The show was a “space western” and the theme song perfectly captured that concept with this gritty, gruff song from Joss Whedon. Whedon has written a lot of music, specifically for his own projects such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s musical episode and the online iconic Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog. “The Ballad of Serenity” is one more credit for the director.

#36

Dukes of Hazzard

Title: “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)”

Written: Waylon Jennings

Performed: Waylon Jennings

The 1970s and early 1980s… when Luke and Bo Duke were “Robin Hoods fighting the system” tothe country stylings of Waylon Jennings, who also was on the show as “The Balladeer” aka the narrator of the show.

#37

Moonlighting

Perfromed and lyrics: Al Jarreau

Music: Lee Holdridge

Production: Nile Rodgers

Note: The lyrics reflect the show’s premise of romance, mystery, and style, with a “soft rock/jazz” feel that became iconic for the era. 

Moonlighting is, of course, one of my all-time favorite shows, and the theme song by Al Jarreau was a wonderful way to kick each episode off. It was a smooth-feeling, jazzy song that capturd the style of Moonlighting.

#38

Wonder Woman

Composed: Charles Fox

Lyrics: Norman Gimbel

Performed: John Bähler

Accompanying Chorus: Marti McCall, Carolyn Willis, and Julia Waters

The DC Comics superstar was perfectly cast with Lynda Carter and the theme worked so well for that character.

#39

The Twilight Zone

Originally Titled: “Etrange No. 3” (or “Milieu”)

Composed:  Marius Constant

Music: Guitar parts are believed to be played by session musician Howard Roberts.

Instruments:  electric guitar with bongos

Apparently, the song was not composed for the show. It was done for a library of cues, a stock library.

One of the most recognizable themes on TV, the creepiness, eerieness of the music set a perfect tone for the Twilight Zone.

#40

Happy Days

Composed: Charles Fox

Lyrics: Norman Gimbel

Performed: Pratt & McClain

The first couple of seasons, the theme for Happy Days was “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets.

The recognizable theme was designed to give those 1950’s feels and nostalgia, while keeping things upbeat and energetic.

#41

The Benny Hill Show

Title: “Yakety Sax”

Composed and performed: Boots Randolph

The song, which has a fast paced saxophone within it, has garnered a life of its own beyond the theme for the show. This piece of music, which was a 1963 novelty instrumental hit, has been used for years by other shows and films to show a rapid fire slapstick situation or one where the chaos has really reached a peak comedic manner.

#42

Hong Kong Phooey

“Who is the super hero? Sarge? No. Rosemary, the telephone operator? No. Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? Could Be!“.

Written: Hoyt Curtin, William Hanna, and Joseph Barbera

Performed: Scatman Crothers (who voiced the character of Penry/Hong Kong Phooey)

Narrator: Don Messick

A short-run series from Hanna-Barbera that I loved as a child. I was always so excited when Hong Kong Phooey came on, and a big part of that was the fun theme song that went along with it. How many animated program theme songs ended with some scat?

“Chik chong, chiki chong, chiki chakka, chik chong. Chika bak chak chakkin’ and a bow wow wow“

#43

Batman (1966)

Na na na na na na… Batman!

Composed: Neal Hefti

Vocals: The Ron Hicklin Singers

Note: a famous 12-bar blues instrumental featuring a driving surf-guitar riff, prominent horns, and a vocal chorus chanting “Batman!” 11 times

Campy and energetic, this theme fits the tone of this Adam West/Burt Ward series to a tee. This theme has become iconic over the years throughout all the various iterations of Batman.

#44

Sanford and Son

Title: “The Streetbeater”

Composed: Quincy Jones

Harmonica performance: Tommy Morgan 

Sanford and Son was another show that I watched irregularly, but it definitely had an energy to it. I will say that the theme has a personal connection for me. Back when my friend group would be gaming, one of my more eccentric friends, David, would take the little noise maker (not exactly a kazoo, but in the same concept) and he would do the beginning of this theme. It became a regular part of the game session.

#45

The Bugs Bunny Show

Title: “This is It” or “Bugs Bunny Overture”

Written by: Jerry Livingston and Mack David

Performed: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (both voiced by Mel Blanc)

Animated by: Gerry Chiniquy

The Looney Tunes are all-time classic cartoons and I can remember watching this theme in multiple variations over my childhood years. Whether it was the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show or The Bugs Bunny Tweety Show or just the Looney Tunes, I would love this opening. There are many times where this just pops into my head and I have to sing. This had to have a spot on this list.

#46

The Flintstones

YABBA-DABBA-DOOOOOO!

Title: “Meet the Flintstones”

Composed: Hoyt Curtin

Lyrics: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

Composition: The melody is derived from the ‘B’ section of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 (The Tempest).

Performed: The Randy Van Horne Singers with a 22-piece band

Fact: The first two seasons featured an instrumental theme called “Rise and Shine”