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How Streaming Killed the TV Theme Song and the Intros We Will Never Forget
As time goes on, more and more people are canceling their cable subscriptions and instead streaming shows and movies. In May 2025, about 44.8% of all TV usage was streaming. This is a 71% increase from 2021.
While not surprising, it is changing how we view TV and how producers edit it together. For instance, when was the last time you listened to an entire intro for a show? Often, when you binge a series (as many of us do), you skip the introduction and theme song to get to the next episode.
Unfortunately, this is killing theme songs and openings. One study even found that openings/theme songs are lasting only about 5 seconds, compared to 20+ seconds during the 1980s.
This change is inevitable. Still, streaming can't take away the best theme songs. Click through the slideshow for the best theme songs that even streaming can't touch.
For these theme songs, 24/7 Tempo reviewed entertainment and music-related websites to find iconic TV theme songs known across generations.
"I'll Be There for You"
- TV Show: "Friends"
- Artist: The Rembrandts
"Sex and the City Theme"
- TV Show: "Sex and the City"
- Artist: Douglas J. Cuomo.
"Meet the Flintstones"
- TV Show: "The Flintstones"
- Artist: Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
"It's Cartoon Gold"
- TV Show: "The Bugs Bunny Show"
- Artist: Steve Zuckerman and John Klawitter
"With a Little Help From My Friends"
- TV Show: "The Wonder Years"
- Artist: Joe Cocker
"Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day"
- TV Show: "Phineas and Ferb"
- Artist: Bowling for Soup
"Think!"
- TV Show: "Jeopardy!"
- Artist: Merv Griffin
"Scooby Doo, Where Are You?"
- TV Show: "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?"
- Artist: Larry Marks and Austin Roberts
"Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?"
- TV Show: "Sesame Street"
- Artist: Jon Stone, Bruce Hart, and Joe Raposo
"The Addams Family Theme"
- TV Show: "The Addams Family"
- Artist: Vic Mizzy and Ted Cassidy
"The Twilight Zone Theme"
- TV Show: "The Twilight Zone"
- Artist: Marius Constant
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
- TV Show: "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"
- Artist: Fred Rogers
"The Brady Bunch"
- TV Show: "The Brady Bunch"
- Artist: Peppermint Trolley Company
"Theme from Mission: Impossible"
- TV Show: "Mission: Impossible"
- Artist: Lalo Schifrin
"The Simpsons Theme"
- TV Show: "The Simpsons"
- Artist: Danny Elfman
"In the Street"
- TV Show: "That '70s Show"
- Artist: Todd Griffin and Cheap Trick
"Low Rider"
- TV Show: "George Lopez"
- Artist: War
"SpongeBob SquarePants Theme"
- TV Show: "SpongeBob SquarePants"
- Artist: Blaise Smith, Mark Harrison, Derek Drymon, and Stephen Hillenburg