The Files G33Z3R TV Theme Files
Appointment Television
The theme songs of the '70s, '80s and '90s — the shows you were allowed to stay up for, and the ones you weren't.
Before you could skip the intro, the intro was the show. Thirty seconds of a song that told you it was Thursday night, or Saturday morning, or that you should have been in bed an hour ago. Each file has the record — the song, who wrote and sang it, the network, the years — and one question: were you allowed to watch? Then tell us where the TV was.
👕 Wear the memory
The tv theme files you can still put on: the shirt walls at 80sTees for the subjects in this room.
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The files
Sitcoms · 16
Sitcoms · 1982–1993
Who sang the Cheers theme song?
The song: "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"
Sitcoms · 1985–1992
Who sang the Golden Girls theme?
The song: "Thank You for Being a Friend"
Sitcoms · 1985–1992
Who sang the Growing Pains theme?
The song: "As Long As We Got Each Other"
Sitcoms · 1982–1989
Who sang the Family Ties theme?
The song: "Without Us"
Sitcoms · 1987–1995
Who wrote the Full House theme?
The song: "Everywhere You Look"
Sitcoms · 1986–1993
Who sang the Perfect Strangers theme?
The song: "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now"
Sitcoms · 1979–1988
Who sang the Facts of Life theme?
The song: "The Facts of Life"
Sitcoms · 1978–1986
Who wrote the Diff'rent Strokes theme?
The song: "It Takes Diff'rent Strokes"
Sitcoms · 1990–1996
Who wrote the Fresh Prince theme?
The song: "Yo Home to Bel-Air"
Sitcoms · 1989–1993
Who wrote the Saved by the Bell theme?
The song: "Saved by the Bell"
Sitcoms · 1994–1999
Who sang the Friends theme?
The song: "I'll Be There for You"
Sitcoms · 1990–1998
Who played the Seinfeld bass theme?
The song: The Seinfeld theme — slap bass and mouth pops
Sitcoms · 1988–1993
Who sang the Wonder Years theme?
The song: "With a Little Help from My Friends" — the Beatles song
Sitcoms · 1974–1984
Who sang the Happy Days theme?
The song: "Happy Days"
Sitcoms · 1976–1983
Who sang the Laverne & Shirley theme?
The song: "Making Our Dreams Come True"
Sitcoms · 1978–1982
Who sang the WKRP theme?
The song: "WKRP in Cincinnati Main Theme"
Dramas · 7
Dramas · 1984–1990
Was the Miami Vice theme a #1 hit?
The song: "Miami Vice Theme"
Dramas · 1981–1987
Who wrote the Hill Street Blues theme?
The song: "Theme from Hill Street Blues"
Dramas · 1985–1989
Who sang the Moonlighting theme?
The song: "Moonlighting"
Dramas · 1993–1999
Who wrote the X-Files theme?
The song: "The X-Files" (Materia Primoris)
Dramas · 1990–1991
Who wrote the Twin Peaks theme?
The song: "Twin Peaks Theme" ("Falling" with vocals)
Dramas · 1990–1999
Who wrote the 90210 theme?
The song: "Beverly Hills, 90210 Theme"
Dramas · 1977–1986
Who sang the Love Boat theme?
The song: "Love Boat"
Action & adventure · 5
Action & adventure · 1981–1983
Who sang "Believe It or Not"?
The song: "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)"
Action & adventure · 1980–1988
Who wrote the Magnum P.I. theme?
The song: "Magnum, P.I." (the second-season theme; season one used a different one)
Action & adventure · 1983–1987
Who wrote the A-Team theme?
The song: "The A-Team Theme"
Action & adventure · 1982–1986
Who wrote the Knight Rider theme?
The song: "Knight Rider Theme"
Action & adventure · 1979–1985
Who sang the Dukes of Hazzard theme?
The song: "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)"
Cartoons & kids · 4
Cartoons & kids · 1989–1999
Who wrote the Simpsons theme?
The song: "The Simpsons Theme"
Cartoons & kids · 1970–1995
Who sang the Scooby-Doo theme?
The song: "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?"
Cartoons & kids · 1987–1992
Who wrote the DuckTales theme?
The song: "DuckTales Theme"
Cartoons & kids · 1983–1990
Who wrote the Inspector Gadget theme?
The song: "Inspector Gadget Theme"
Questions
- What are the TV Theme Files?
- A directory of the TV theme songs of the '70s, '80s and '90s — each with the record (the song, who wrote and sang it, the network, the years), the original opening where one is on YouTube, a were-you-allowed-to-watch vote and a Memory Wall.
- Which TV themes were actual hit songs?
- Several charted: the Greatest American Hero theme (Joey Scarbury, #2 in 1981), Jan Hammer's Miami Vice Theme (#1 in 1985), the Rembrandts' Friends theme (1995), Al Jarreau's Moonlighting, and the Happy Days theme by Pratt & McClain. Each has a file here, with the song linked to its own page.
- Why don't the pages print the lyrics?
- Theme lyrics are copyrighted songs and we don't reproduce lyrics anywhere on the site. The embedded opening sings them; the file tells you who wrote them and where you were.
- Can I add my own memory?
- Yes. Every file has a Memory Wall. No account needed — tell us which room, which night, and who made you turn it off.
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