The Five Best American TV Theme Songs with Lyrics

5. The Nanny

A naughty little show that was far funnier than it really had a right to be. Probably the last great theme song in the tradition of telling the back story of the show that followed: in the tradition of everything from Gilligan's Island to the Beverly Hillbillies. Even if you hated Fran Drescher's accent (I don't count myself among those) you've simply got to hand it to a theme song writer who dared to rhyme joie de vivre.

Who would have guessed that the girl we've described,
Was just exactly what the doctor prescribed?
Now the father finds her beguiling (watch out C.C.!).
And the kids are actually smiling (such joie de vivre!).
She's the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan...
The flashy girl from Flushing, the Nanny named Fran!

4. The Addams Family

The most romantic couple in television history, Gomez and Morticia Addams. Am I right? Who, upon hearing just the name Addams', doesn't immediately snap their fingers and launch into this song? It is simply terrific. Funny and catchy and in perfect harmony with the ambience of the show.

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,
The Addams Family.

3. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

Dobie Gillis was a meta-sitcom at a time when you would think such a thing would stick out like a sore thumb. For all the self-knowing and self-reverential hip sitcoms that exist today, shows like Dobie Gillis, the Jack Benny Show and Ozzie and Harriet were far more groundbreaking as postmodern meditations than even something like Seinfeld. That bleating trumpet really makes this one sing.

Oh Dobie, wants a girl who is dreamy,
Dobie, wants a girl who's creamy,
Dobie, wants a girl to call his own.
Is she blond, is she tall, is she dark, is she small, Is she any kinda dreamboat at all
No matter, he's hers and hers alone.

2. The Patty Duke Show.

Any show that is about identical cousins (and this was decades before Twin Peaks) had better have a great theme song. I mean, I don't know about you, but I'm still dying to meet anyone-guy or girl-who loses control over a hot dog.