#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”

#47

The Andy Griffith Show

Title: “The Fishin’ Hole”

Composed: Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer

Performed (whistling): Earle Hagen

The Andy Griffith TV Show theme is one of the most recognizable songs around. How many times do I whistle along as Andy and Opie walk to the fishin’ pond?

However, much like Bonanza, this well-known instrumental does feature lyrics.

Lyrics: Everett Sloane

Sung: Andy Griffith

#48

Bonanza

Composed: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

Arrangements & Lyrics: David Rose.

Lyrics were never used on the show. Lyrics were performed by Lorene Green

The theme is upbeat and energetic, creating a feel for the show and the Cartwrights.

#49

The Wonder Years

Title: “With a Little Help from my Friends”

Written: John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Performed: Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker originally recorded this song, a soulful remake of the Beatles hit, in 1968 and it was chosen for the theme of this series, which debuted in 1988 because of its nostalgic feel and the feeling of the 1960s. The show was set earlier that the 1968 song, but still fit perfectly.

Joe Cocker performed the song at Woodstock in 1969.

#50

Diff’rent Strokes

Title: “It Takes Diff’rent Strokes”

Written: Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring and Al Burton

Performed: Alan Thicke

We are into the Top 50 of our Daily Countdown: TV Show Themes list with a sitcom about to young black boys being raised by an affluent white man and their lives on Park Avenue, New York.

Alan Thicke has done several theme songs in his career, and has appeared already once in this Top 100 with the theme from Facts of Life, the spin off from Diff’rent Strokes.