4 different versions of Believe It or Not were used during the original run on ABC. 2 of those versions survived intact when the series entered syndication in April 1984 and could be heard until the series was pulled out of circulation after it concluded it’s run on the FX network in the late 90s. The other 2 versions were heard only on ABC and have not appeared again since those original broadcasts. It’s unknown if all 4 versions were heard on any original overseas broadcasts.
Once the series was remastered in the late 90s and appeared back in syndication in 2000 3 of those versions had been scrubbed and only the original version remained. That’s currently what’s heard on the DVDs, syndication and streaming.
Below are the 4 versions of the song heard on ABC. Note that the actual onscreen credits may have varied depending on the episode that featured whatever version of the theme and may not be accurate to the broadcast in the video below. Several variations of the onscreen text in the opening credits were used for the main cast and production team. Most all the variations did not survive when the series was remastered. This means when the series is viewed today people on the production side are getting credit for episodes they did not work on and others are missing on episodes they did work on. In the case of the cast Sellecca now only has a Connie Sellecca credit when in fact it was eventually changed to "and Connie Sellecca as Pam Davidson" then later to "and Connie Sellecca as Pam Hinkley". Neither credit is seen today. Don Cervantes is missing altogether in 14 of the 15 episodes where he was added to the opening credits. The only opening credits he remains seen in is It’s All Downhill from Here. The multiple variations of the onscreen credits will be a subject detailed eventually on the website.
This page is designed for viewing on a desktop or laptop computer. Viewing on a mobile device may cause video or photos to be displayed differently.
The video on the top left features the original version of Believe It or Not that was used on the opening credits for 30 original broadcast episodes on ABC. This is the version heard today attached to all episodes. The video on the top right features a shorter version of Believe It or Not created by editing down the song. It was heard only during the 1st season on 3 episodes.
The video on the bottom left is an alternate version of Believe It or Not recorded between the 1st & 2nd seasons. Joey Scarbury told the archives in a interview "I think we nailed it on the 2nd recording" This version of the song was used during seasons 2 and 3 on ABC. It was used 3 times on original broadcasts during season 2, and once during season 3. What's impossible to track (because I did not record every ABC rerun) is the fact that the theme was also used occasionally when ABC reran an episode where on the first broadcast it featured the orignal theme. Some of those episodes still had the alternate theme attached when the series entered syndication in April of 1984. That's led some people to erroneously believe this is the syndication version of the song which is not true. Finally the version on the bottom right is a version heard only once during season 3. It's identical to the orignal theme except around the 1 minute 32 second mark we hear dual Scarbury vocals not heard in any other version. This version did not appear in syndication.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976, ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR “FAIR USE” FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING, SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. FAIR USE IS A USE PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT STATUTE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE INFRINGING.Screen captures and motion clips used on this website are protected by the Fair Use Law, section 107 used for commentary, criticism, news reporting or education for transformative use.