12 TV Show Theme Songs That Changed, For Better or Worse

Worse: "Yes, Dear"

Incorporating a show's title into a new theme song can prove quite fruitful (a la "Happy Days"), or be its undoing. Unfortunately for "Yes, Dear," the latter happens much more often. Accompanying this new tune with clips from the series that showcase its zany side didn't help matters, either. The new credits sequence ran from seasons 4 through 6. The theme was entitled "Family is Family" and performed by Bill Janovitz.

Better: "Beverly Hills, 90210"

While there is really nothing wrong with the "Beverly Hills: 90210" season 1 opening credits theme, it lacked a certain, shall we say, punch. The theme song used for season 2 on is probably the first thing that comes to everyone's mind when they think about the series, whereas the same would most likely not reign true had the original, synopsis-driven opening credits stuck around.

Worse: "Walker, Texas Ranger"

We like this one for our "worse" list because it is the most justifiable. Who the hell thought it was a good idea to change it up and let Chuck Norris sing his own theme song? Oh well, guess it could be even more terrible. Someone could have asked Bobcat Goldthwait to sing a TV theme song. Oh no, they did?!

Better: "The Flintstones"

We're willing to bet that hardly anyone remembers the original instrumental opening to "The Flintstones" first two seasons, entitled "Rise and Shine." It is assumed that the switch to the now classic "Meet the Flintstones" theme in season 3 was partially due to the original closely resembling the theme to "The Bugs Bunny Show," which aired around the same time.

Worse: "Rocko's Modern Life"

The theme song itself didn't change between the season 1 and 2 opening credits of "Rocko's Modern Life." That is to say, the lyrics and visual aspect of the credits never changed. So how could a theme song alone be so horrible? We have one word (we think) to answer that question: "B-52's." Yes, the new wave band took over the show's theme, and the result was understandably devastating to our childhoods.

Better: "Family Matters"

Talk about your all-time no-brainers. We aren't saying we hate the song "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. All we are saying is that for the first five episodes, it was the theme to "Family Matters," and it simply didn't fit the montage. Jesse Frederick's "As Days Go By," however, sets the tone perfectly from the opening "Ka-choom."

Worse: "Boy Meets World"

When someone mentions "Boy Meets World," what theme song comes to mind? If you are drawing a blank, you aren't alone, and that is why this show makes the "worse" cut. With three different theme songs (as well as various instrumental theme songs composed by Ray Colcord between seasons 2 and 3), it's no wonder that one specific theme never really stood out.

Better: "Simon & Simon"

There are actually two reasons why we have this one as a change for the better. First and foremost, it just is. The original theme "Best of Friends" by the Thrasher Brothers and its second, slight variation in the video above don't hold a candle to Barry De Vorzon's theme from season 2 on. But even more importantly, without this second season version, we would have all been robbed of "The Greatest Event in Television History."

Worse: "The Drew Carey Show"

"The Drew Carey Show" had three different theme songs during the series run. The original theme, "Moon Over Parma," was sung in the opening credits by Carey himself. The following year, it was replaced by The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World," and eventually landed on "Cleveland Rocks" by The Presidents of the United Stated of America. The show is probably most famous for "Cleveland Rocks." However, it still never really found its footing with a single theme, as season 8 began running remixed versions of the three themes as new openings. But by that point, the series had already lost several main cast members, so sporadic themes were the least of its troubles.

Better: "The Wire"

With a show as groundbreaking as "The Wire," it's no shock that its theme song followed suit. While the song itself was always "Way Down in the Hole" by Tom Waits, only season 2 is the Waits recording. For every other season, the song is covered by various artists in order to better fit the theme, as the show focused on a different point of view of the city of Baltimore every season. The series "Babylon 5" did the whole "each season has a new intro to match the theme" idea, too.