Superhero stories are incredibly popular right now. The success of Marvel movies and TV shows like The CW’s Arrowverse has made superheroes huge, but it’s not just Marvel and DC. Shows like *The Boys* and *Invincible* on Prime Video are also attracting large audiences, demonstrating just how much people enjoy these characters. However, this isn’t the first time superheroes have captivated us—there was a particularly memorable wave of superhero entertainment in the 1970s that many adults still remember fondly, complete with a now-classic theme song.
Originally airing as a two-hour movie in 1981 before becoming a three-season series on ABC, *The Greatest American Hero* is now a beloved classic of superhero TV. The show centers around Ralph Hinkley (played by William Katt), a teacher who gains superpowers from a suit given to him by aliens. Ironically, Ralph misplaces the instruction manual, forcing him to figure out how to use the suit’s abilities through comical trial and error.
The Greatest American Hero is a Fun Show — But It’s The Theme Song That Everyone Remembers
The Greatest American Hero is a lighthearted take on the classic story of an ordinary person unexpectedly becoming a superhero. Ralph Hinkley doesn’t *want* to be a hero, but circumstances lead him to become one, even though he constantly struggles to control his superpowers and never gets a cool superhero nickname. The show cleverly mixes superhero action with science fiction, making it a unique and enjoyable experience. While it had a dedicated fanbase, it’s arguably more famous for its incredibly catchy theme song than the show itself.
The theme song is famously known as “Theme from *The Greatest American Hero* (Believe It or Not),” but is often simply called “Believe It or Not.” Created by Mike Post (music) and Stephen Geyer (lyrics), it was sung by Joe Scarbury. The song quickly became popular, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – just behind Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love.” This was a remarkable achievement for a TV theme song, but “Believe It or Not” became much more than just a hit record. It’s become a lasting part of popular culture, even more well-known than the show itself.
The classic show “Believe It or Not!” has been referenced and playfully copied in many TV programs over time. For example, a season eight episode of *Seinfeld* included a parody of the show’s theme song, and that same episode later appeared in a 2021 Super Bowl commercial for Tide. The show also showed up on *Supernatural*, where the character Castiel sings it to a baby, and the fictional band Hep Alien on *Gilmore Girls* performed a rock version of the song.
The phrase “Believe it or Not” is most famously referenced in the TV show *Family Guy*. The show has made references not only to the song itself, but also to *The Greatest American Hero* on several occasions. In the episode “The Man with Two Brians,” Peter Griffin is shown wearing the superhero’s costume and flying while singing the show’s theme song. The show also cleverly parodied the song’s lyrics in an episode title, changing “believe it or not, I’m walking on air” to “Believe It Or Not, Joe’s Walking on Air” for a Season 6 episode.
Believe It Or Not, The Greatest American Hero Is Coming Back
Most people remember the theme song, “Believe it or Not,” more than the show itself, which is a shame because *The Greatest American Hero* is a fantastic series. But that might change soon! AMP Comics has acquired the rights to create a new comic book series based on the show, planned for release in 2026. William Katt, the original star, will be an executive producer, and Tawnia McKiernan, daughter of the show’s creator Stephen J. Cannell, is also involved. Hopefully, the new comics will include a nod to that iconic theme song!
All three seasons of The Greatest American Hero are available to stream on Peacock.
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2025-10-19 02:10