14 TV Theme Songs Everyone Knew—But Forgot the Show
These unforgettable TV theme songs once ruled the airwaves — instantly hummable earworms that outlived the shows they were meant to sell.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
A few TV theme songs were just so catchy that they became landmarks of pop culture — outliving the series they debuted on. Whether the sound was smooth jazz, breezy pop, or funky keyboards, these melodies got stuck in our shared memory while the original programming was lost in the ether. This list goes back into 14 classic theme songs everyone’s familiar with but may not remember the show for.
1. “Believe It or Not” – The Greatest American Hero
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This breezy, soaring ballad (“Believe it or not, I’m walking on air…”) hit the Billboard charts in 1981 and was later spoofed by Seinfeld. However, most people couldn’t name the show it came from: The Greatest American Hero, a quirky dramedy about a schoolteacher who gets a superhero suit from aliens — and promptly loses the instruction manual. It ran for just three seasons, yet the theme outlived it by decades.
2. “Theme from S.W.A.T.” – S.W.A.T. (1975)
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A funk-infused instrumental that rose all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, this theme introduced wah-wah pedals and brass stabs to the masses. The show itself was a brief police procedural from the makers of The Rookies that only lasted two seasons. Nevertheless, that theme song lasted longer than the entire franchise until it was revived decades later.
3. “Angela” – Taxi
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You know this one: rich electric piano, melancholy jazz sounds, automatically nostalgic. It’s “Angela” by Bob James, the sort of tune that registers as a 3 a.m. taxi ride up and down Manhattan — but few would associate it with Taxi, the sitcom that introduced the world to Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, and Tony Danza. The series was critically acclaimed, but the theme fell into the recesses of memory.
4. “Welcome Back” – Welcome Back, Kotter
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This smooth, feel-good song was written by John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful and reached No. 1 in 1976. Though the song continues to be hummed by the masses, few remember Welcome Back, Kotter, the show that launched young John Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino. The show tracked a teacher returning to his tough Brooklyn high school to teach remedial students — aka the Sweathogs.
5. “Moonlighting Theme” – Moonlighting
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Al Jarreau’s sensuous voice and dreamy saxophones rendered this theme unforgettable, particularly for soft jazz listeners and romantics. The show, Moonlighting, featuring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd as arguing private detectives, has largely been forgotten from mainstream consciousness. Although a huge success in the late ’80s, it’s largely recalled today for behind-the-scenes antics rather than the series itself.
6. “My Life” (Billy Joel) – Bosom Buddies
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It’s not a Billy Joel deep cut—My Life was already a hit, but few knew it was the theme to Bosom Buddies, the show that started Tom Hanks’ career. The show featured Hanks and Peter Scolari dressing in drag to inhabit a women-only apartment complex—cue laugh track and gender mayhem.
7. “Theme from The Rockford Files” – The Rockford Files
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This mellow country-jazz theme tune was an unexpected hit on the radio in the ’70s. Folks adored the theme but did not remember the show: a detective series featuring James Garner as the rugged, down-on-his-luck private eye Jim Rockford. It had grunge, charm, and voice-overs on an answering machine, but the theme overshadowed it all in public consciousness.
8. “Theme from L.A. Law” – L.A. Law
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Slick, classy, and synth-laden, this Mike Post theme song set the tone for late-’80s prestige drama. The series addressed controversial legal topics and boasted a massive ensemble cast, but it’s not well-remembered today. What remains is that saxophone hook, which has become synonymous with network drama seriousness.
9. “Theme from Hill Street Blues” – Hill Street Blues
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Tender piano, soaring strings, and an air of wistfulness — this theme created a new emotional standard for cop shows. Hill Street Blues changed the way of serialized storytelling, but its title failed to catch on as much as its eerie tune. Even those who never saw the program can whistle the tune.
10. “Theme from The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” – Best Friend
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Harry Nilsson sang “People let me tell you ‘bout my best friend…” and it was an anthem of feel-good nostalgia. However, the 1969 dramedy The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, which deals with a widowed dad and his young son, doesn’t come up in TV talk today. The theme song continues to thrive in ads and pop culture uses.
11. “Theme from The Love Boat” – The Love Boat
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“Love… exciting and new…” — just those three words trigger memories of cheesy romance and ocean liners. The show was a frothy anthology of celebrity guest stars and cruise ship escapades that ran for nine seasons. While the premise aged poorly, that theme is still a go-to karaoke favorite.
12. “I’ll Be There for You” – Friends
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It’s still immediately familiar, but strangely, many younger folks are familiar with the song without ever having watched an episode of Friends. The Rembrandts’ song was forever linked to clapping and coffee shop friendships, but now it’s reduced to meme status. Its complete chart success actually came after the show premiered.
13. “Theme from The Mod Squad” – The Mod Squad
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Psychedelic funk collides with dramatic strings in this über-’60s theme that shouts “groovy danger.” The series, concerning three counterculture young adults who work undercover for the police, was provocative in its day but has faded into obscurity. The theme is still a cult classic among crate-diggers and retro DJs.
14. “It’s a Jungle Out There” – Monk
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Randy Newman performed and wrote this offbeat, paranoid tune, which captured the mood of the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk. Still, few viewers recall the theme and the character or vice versa. It even won an Emmy award, yet it hardly ever gets listed among well-known TV themes.