And the all-time favorite show theme song is.....

Suicide is Painless played a big role in the movie, so to that extent, yes.

 

But they were made to be songs, too. They were radio hits and didn't mention the show title in the song. If any of those other songs were radio hits, it was only because of the successes of the shows.

As far as a show taking an already existing song and making it work perfectly as a theme, Freaks and Geeks deserves a nod for "Bad Reputation."

 

Rolling Stone voted the Cheers Theme as the best theme song two years or so ago...

 

That's a good call. That song worked perfectly with that show.

 

I always dug this one:

 

I prefer the original Andrew Gold version you linked to, though I suppose they needed a woman singing for a show called Golden Girls.

 

Theme from Miami Vice kicks all of these songs ass.

 

I lean to Reflections from the show China Beach in that category.

 

No love for Perfect Strangers? For shame.

http://nothingsgonnastopmenow.com/

 

I forgot about that one but yeah, you're right. It inspired me to wish for baseball in Brooklyn again.

 

"Hill Street Blues" just didn't have the lyrics, but it was a fave of mine.

If there's a non-lyrics division: Fox's NFL (and now, all sports) theme rocks.

 

Dukes of Hazzard needs to be brought up.