Gene Barry moved effortlessly from Bat Masterson and Burke’s Law to The Name of the Game, Broadway, and late-career revivals, continually reinventing his sophisticated screen image across changing television eras.

The Bob Newhart Show became a comedy classic by building around Bob Newhart’s deadpan brilliance—but an earlier television failure nearly stopped it from happening.

Cesar Romero created the template for DC Comics' most infamous villain: The Joker.

Some television theme songs are so recognizable that just a few notes instantly bring back memories of favorite characters and storylines. What many viewers don't realize is that these iconic tunes often have fascinating origins involving last-minute rewrites, unexpected performers, unusual recording sessions, or surprising creative decisions. Here are 20 famous television theme songs whose real-life backstories are every bit as interesting as the shows they introduced.

Susan Saint James conquered 1970s television playing women who knew their worth—then walked away when Hollywood tried to dictate her next move.