TV Shows Where the Theme Song Lyrics Change Per Episode

Television theme songs are usually very repetitive and help set the mood for each episode. Most shows keep their opening song the same throughout the series, but some creators like to get creative with it. A few shows have theme songs that change with each episode, reflecting what happens in that particular story. This keeps dedicated viewers engaged and might even stop them from skipping the opening credits when they stream the show.

‘Animaniacs’ (1993–1998)

This popular cartoon show is known for its silly comedy and memorable music. Each episode begins with a consistent song, but the last line always changes. Yakko, Wakko, and Dot sing a rhyming couplet with the phrase “totally insaney,” and the second part of that rhyme varies wildly – one time it might be about the movie “Citizen Kane,” another time it could involve playing the drums. This ongoing joke is a fun treat for dedicated fans and shows how much the show values smart humor and jokes about jokes themselves.

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ (2017–2019)

The Netflix series based on Lemony Snicket’s books cleverly uses its theme song, “Look Away,” to help tell the story. Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Count Olaf, sings the song, and the lyrics change with each episode to recap what’s happened or what’s about to happen to the Baudelaire orphans. The song even warns viewers to stop watching, hinting at the difficult events to come. This makes the opening credits an important part of each episode’s narrative.

‘BrainDead’ (2016)

As a huge fan of well-made TV, I was completely blown away by how the creators of ‘The Good Wife’ handled recaps for this sci-fi political show. Instead of just showing clips from past episodes, they had musician Jonathan Coulton write and perform a brand new acoustic song for every episode! It was brilliant. These songs weren’t just catchy tunes; they were funny, clever summaries of the incredibly complicated story – think alien ants colliding with Washington D.C. power struggles. And the best part? He wrote new lyrics each time, so the intro felt like a constantly evolving little story all its own. It was a really innovative way to keep viewers up to speed and honestly, a joy to watch.

‘WandaVision’ (2021)

This Marvel series playfully nods to classic American sitcoms by completely changing its look and feel each episode, even creating a unique theme song for every era it depicts. Each opening sequence, composed by Kristen and Robert Lopez, is designed to sound like the music popular during that specific decade—ranging from the classic ballads of the 1950s to the energetic riot grrrl sound of the 1990s. This changing music isn’t just for fun; it’s a key part of the show’s mystery and mirrors the main character’s unstable world.

‘Weeds’ (2005–2012)

The show’s opening theme song, Malvina Reynolds’ “Little Boxes,” was used throughout most of its run, including the very last season. Starting with season two, the producers had different musicians record their own versions of the song for each episode. Though the lyrics stayed mostly the same, the style of each version was incredibly diverse, ranging from heavy metal to bluegrass. Artists like Elvis Costello and Linkin Park contributed these unique covers, each one creating a different atmosphere for the episode.

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

The show’s final season made a striking change: it replaced its regular opening music with a different song at the start of each episode. These songs weren’t chosen randomly – they were carefully selected to match the episode’s themes and hint at what was to come. The music ranged from 80s pop songs like “Personal Jesus” to familiar tunes from classic TV shows like ‘Perfect Strangers,’ turning the opening credits into a preview of the episode’s mood.

‘Solar Opposites’ (2020–Present)

The show opens with an animated introduction where Korvo, the alien leader, explains why he and his family are on Earth. While the intro’s visuals stay the same, Korvo’s closing speech changes each time. He usually launches into a frustrated rant about something strange he’s noticed in human culture – like magic tricks or changing the clocks for daylight saving time. These funny, spontaneous complaints help develop his character and add humor even before the episode starts.

‘Bill Nye the Science Guy’ (1993–1998)

The catchy theme song of this science show is famous for repeatedly chanting the host’s name. The fast-paced opening always includes a voiceover that explains a scientific idea – and this idea changes with each episode. A robotic voice shouts out phrases like “Inertia is a property of matter” or “Check it out,” making even the intro educational and getting kids ready to learn what Bill Nye would be teaching.

‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ (2012–2016)

Inspired by the well-known podcast, this quirky talk show has a theme song created and sung by Reggie Watts. Each episode, Watts playfully changes the words to the “Comedy Bang! Bang!” song, making silly or strange comments about the host, Scott Aukerman. When Kid Cudi became the bandleader, he kept up this tradition of changing the song’s lyrics. This ever-changing intro perfectly matches the show’s spontaneous and unpredictable style.

‘The Muppet Show’ (1976–1981)

The show begins with a lively and dramatic theme song that welcomes viewers to the variety show. Each week, Kermit the Frog changes the lyrics to introduce the episode’s special guest. The opening always ends with a funny bit – usually Gonzo playing his trumpet or Fozzie Bear telling a joke – giving each episode a fresh and unique moment. These changes showcase the show’s playful, old-fashioned style and put the spotlight on the weekly guest star.

‘South Park’ (1997–Present)

The opening theme song for this popular animated comedy is done by the band Primus, with each of the main characters singing a line. Kenny McCormick has a verse that gets updated every season or so, and it’s usually sung with his voice muffled and containing somewhat naughty lyrics. While it doesn’t change weekly anymore, the verse has often been rewritten over the years to comment on current events or what’s happening with Kenny. Fans frequently need to search online to figure out what Kenny is actually saying in his muffled verse to catch all the new, often crude, jokes.

‘Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?’ (2019–2021)

As a big fan of those old ‘The New Scooby-Doo Movies’ episodes, I’m really enjoying how this series is bringing that same energy back! What’s especially clever is the theme song – every episode, it actually names the guest star in the lyrics, announcing who’s joining the gang. It’s such a fun way to immediately get you excited about the crossover and makes the guest feel like a real part of the show from the very beginning. It’s a catchy hook and a great reveal all in one!

‘Documentary Now!’ (2015–Present)

This show is a comedy that imitates well-known documentaries, and it does so by completely changing its look and feel each episode. It doesn’t have a regular theme song – instead, the opening music and lyrics are written to sound just like the documentary it’s making fun of. One week you might hear a spooky orchestral piece, and the next an 80s power ballad. The music is key to the show’s clever parodies and helps establish the style of each episode.

‘Squidbillies’ (2005–2021)

The Adult Swim show about a family of mud squids that look and act like people originally had a typical country song as its theme. Later on, the show started doing things differently – each episode would feature a new version of the theme song recorded by a different musician or band. These versions covered all sorts of musical styles, from punk rock to gospel, and included artists like T-Pain and The B-52s. This kept the opening exciting and showed how many different ways the song could be performed.

‘One Tree Hill’ (2003–2012)

In its eighth season, the teen drama decided to update its iconic theme song, “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw. Instead of the original recording, producers had different artists record new versions of the song for each episode. While the lyrics stayed the same, the musical style varied from acoustic to rock, depending on the artist. This gave the song, which had been used for almost ten years, a fresh feel.

‘Galavant’ (2015–2016)

This funny musical series has a special feature: nearly every episode starts with a complete musical recap. The main character or a group sings a catchy song that quickly reminds viewers of what happened in the previous episode, including any cliffhangers. These aren’t just simple recaps – they’re fully produced musical numbers with original songs written for each episode, turning a typical plot summary into one of the show’s most entertaining moments.

‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ (1989–2022)

The show is well-known for its “Robot Roll Call,” a musical segment where the puppet characters are introduced. The lyrics of this song change over time to include the current host and the robots who are featured. When the show was revived on Netflix, the song was updated again to reflect the new “Gauntlet” format and the people competing in the challenges. This ensures viewers always know who is stuck on the Satellite of Love.

‘Pop Team Epic’ (2018–Present)

This anime is delightfully strange and unpredictable, constantly surprising viewers with its chaotic and absurd humor. Even the opening theme song is unconventional – it often features different singers, switches between male and female voices, and sometimes includes unexpected sound effects. Occasionally, the visuals and lyrics will glitch or dramatically change, poking fun at other types of anime. This inconsistency isn’t a mistake; it’s a deliberate artistic choice that perfectly captures the show’s wacky and unpredictable spirit.

‘Shameless’ (2011–2021)

The American version of this show starts each episode with a unique opening scene. A main character directly addresses the audience, scolding them for not watching the last one. Though it’s not a song, this fast-paced, spoken scolding functions like an intro, setting the stage before the opening credits. The characters quickly rehash the plot, often with insults aimed at the viewer’s memory or intelligence. This sharp and chaotic recap immediately establishes the show’s gritty tone and reflects the turbulent life of the Gallagher family.

‘Jane the Virgin’ (2014–2019)

This series, inspired by telenovelas, features a distinctive narrator often referred to as the “Latin Lover Narrator.” He begins speaking right away, as soon as the title card appears. While the show’s logo stays the same, the text displayed on screen changes – from “Jane the Virgin” to “Jane the Mother,” for example – to reflect what’s happening in the story. The narrator’s voiceover essentially introduces each episode and sets the scene, acting like a constantly evolving theme song. The combination of the changing on-screen text and the narrator’s delivery makes each introduction feel fresh and unique.

‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022)

This exciting anime went above and beyond by creating a completely new ending theme song and accompanying animation for each of its twelve episodes. Popular Japanese musicians contributed original tracks – spanning genres from heavy metal to pop – with lyrics tailored to the specific episode’s ending. This innovative approach kept viewers engaged through the credits, as each ending offered fresh music and visuals. It’s considered a remarkably ambitious use of theme music in recent animated series.

‘Lucky Star’ (2007)

The anime’s closing segment shows the main characters having fun in a karaoke booth. Each episode, they sing a different popular song, with the lyrics appearing on screen just like at a karaoke bar. The focus is on their performance – which is usually a bit messy, with missed notes and lots of chatter – creating a relatable and realistic feel. What they sing completely changes each week, shaping the whole scene.

‘Steven Universe’ (2013–2019)

The animated series ends with a song called “Love Like You,” which was gradually revealed to viewers over several seasons. At first, only the music played, or just a few humming sounds. But as the show went on, new parts and lyrics were added to the song. Fans who watched consistently noticed the song developing, with the lyrics mirroring the growing connections between characters. It wasn’t a sudden change, but a slow and steady evolution.

‘High School of the Dead’ (2010)

Like many popular anime shows, this series about a zombie apocalypse used a unique ending theme song for each episode. These songs, performed by Maon Kurosaki, were chosen to match the mood of what had just happened – upbeat and energetic for action-packed episodes, and slower, more emotional songs when characters faced hardship or loss. This helped maintain the show’s emotional impact even after the episode ended.

‘Psych’ (2006–2014)

The show always began with the same memorable theme song, “I Know, You Know” by The Friendly Indians, but it often featured unique versions tailored to each episode’s theme. Sometimes fans would hear an a cappella rendition by Boyz II Men, or a Hindi version inspired by Bollywood music, depending on the story. These creative changes to the song became a signature element of the series, letting viewers know the episode would be different from the usual format.

Share your favorite changing theme song in the comments.

2025-12-11 00:21