The Surprising Stories Behind 11 TV Show Theme Songs

(via Mental Floss) Whether it’s a wordy epic that chronicles the show’s backstory or an orchestral piece that lends itself to lyrical parody, a good theme song can augment a TV show’s popularity and even sometimes outlive it. But there’s no clear path to creating—or even just choosing—the perfect track. If you’re trying to include a sleigh bell, it could take months of tinkering; if Will Smith is involved, on the other hand, it might only take 15 minutes. Here’s how 11 iconic TV theme songs came to be.