"Believe It or Not" is the theme song to the television show The Greatest American Hero and was composed by Mike Post (music) and Stephen Geyer (lyrics) and sung by Joey Scarbury.
The full lyric, "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air", is the basis for the title of the episode "Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air".
In "The Man with Two Brians", Peter Griffin sings it while attempting a Jackass-like stunt, being pulled on roller blades on to a ramp while dressed as The Greatest American Hero.
On Gilmore Girls, Jackson chooses this as his campaign song and asks Hep Alien to play it at a campaign rally. Not wanting to ruin their reputation they play a rock-and-roll version of the song, soliciting the remark of "it sounds different live..." EditThe Greatest American Hero (1981–1983)
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Remade as
The Greatest American Hero: The Fan Series (2009) (Short)
Referenced in
Laverne & Shirley in the Army: Super Wacs (1981) (TV Episode)
Laverne & Shirley are given a super suit.
Gilligan's Planet: Super Gilligan (1982) (TV Episode)
Gilligan is given a magic cape that gives him super powers.
Urusei yatsura: All-Star Banquet! We Are Immortal!! (1986) (TV Episode)
One of the students is dress up as Ralph Hinkley
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Slime People (1989) (TV Episode)
Servo mentions this show as a bad tv show.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Angels Revenge (1995) (TV Episode)
Crow: I'm gonna put the suit on the aliens gave me.
Seinfeld: The Susie (1997) (TV Episode)
George's answering machine message is his version of the theme song.
You Don't Know Jack: Television (1997) (Video Game)
The television series is mentioned in one of the questions.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Pumaman (1998) (TV Episode)
Crow (to the tune of "Believe It Or Not"): "Believe it or not, this movie's still on, it should've ended two hours ago..."
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Werewolf (1998) (TV Episode)
Mike: "Mr. William Katt, you truly are 'The Greatest American Hero.'"
Seinfeld: The Chronicle (1998) (TV Episode)
George's answering machine message is his own version of the theme song.
Homestar Runner: The House That Gave Sucky Treats (2001) (TV Episode)
Homestar Runner dresses up as The Greatest American Hero.
The Tick: Arthur, Interrupted (2002) (TV Episode)
A character not supposed to be a superhero is caught wearing a hero uniform and singing "Believe It or Not"
The Making of Snakeskin (2002) (Video)
Mentioned.
Saturday Night Live: Queen Latifah/Ms. Dynamite (2003) (TV Episode)
Title mentioned during where Are They Now? Sketch.
Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire: Scott/Judi (2004) (TV Episode)
Referenced in one of the $50,000 questions.
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played when Bush is on the ship and there is a "Mission Accomplished" banner.
Gilmore Girls: Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too (2004) (TV Episode)
Hep Alien performs "Believe It Or Not".
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played while Andy's riding his bike.
Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates the Lottery (2006) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
My Name Is Earl: Didn't Pay Taxes (2006) (TV Episode)
When Earl and Randy are hanging in the watertower they sing "Believe It Or Not".
Homestarrunner.com: Everything Else, Volume 2 (2006) (Video)
In "The House That Gave Sucky Treats", Homestar is dressed as the title protagonist and his trick-or-treat intro parodies the show's theme song
Family Guy: Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air (2007) (TV Episode)
The episode title is a reference to the theme song: "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air."
The Big Bang Theory: The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization (2008) (TV Episode)
Shirt with emblem from this show seen
The Cinema Snob: The Eerie Midnight Horror Show (2008) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Big Bang Theory: The Griffin Equivalency (2008) (TV Episode)
Sheldon wears a shirt with the symbol from this show on it
Family Guy: The Man with Two Brians (2008) (TV Episode)
Peter wears the costume from The Greatest American Hero and sings that show's theme song
Heroes: Chapter Four 'Hysterical Blindness' (2009) (TV Episode)
A choir of children performs "Believe It Or Not".
The Big Bang Theory: The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary (2009) (TV Episode)
Sheldon wears a shirt with the symbol from this show on it
The Cinema Snob: Troll 2 (2009) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.99 (2010) (TV Episode)
Included in a $12,500 question
The Cinema Snob: The Body Shop (2010) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: Video Violence 2 (2010) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: Caligula: Part I (2010) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: Blood Feast (2011) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: Criminally Insane (2012) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: Silent Night, Deadly Night III: You Better Watch Out (2012) (TV Episode)
other, more decent Robert Culp projects
The Cinema Snob: Debbie Does Dallas (2013) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: I Spit on Your Grave: Part 1 (2013) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
The Cinema Snob: I Spit on Your Grave: Part 2 (2013) (TV Episode)
Song "Believe It Or Not" is played.
Toy Hunter: Battle for Seattle (2013) (TV Episode)
Steve has a "Greatest American Hero" convertible Bug toy.
Harmontown: USS Hubris (2013) (Podcast Episode)
Mentioned.
The Big Bang Theory: The Hofstadter Insufficiency (2013) (TV Episode)
Sheldon wears a shirt with this show's logo on it
Supernatural: Heaven Can't Wait (2013) (TV Episode)
Castiel sings "Believe It Or Not" to the baby.
The Chronic Rift: The Chronic Rift Pilot (2014) (TV Episode)
Time capsule review
Brandon's Cult Movie Reviews: The Last Shark (2014) (TV Episode)
"I'm assuming these teenagers are trying to get some practice in before their Greatest American Hero audition."
Tosh.0: Dumped by Sweetheart (2014) (TV Episode)
Daniel Tosh sings "Believe It Or Not".
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Choke Hold (2014) (TV Episode)
Mentioned in dialogue by FBI Agent Leia Pendergast.
Teen Titans Go!: Oil Drums (2015) (TV Episode)
Other popular 80's shows listed down by Cyborg
CHIKARA the Secret of the Ooze (2016) (Video)
Fan in crowd wearing the "Greatest American Hero"-inspired CHIKARA logo shirt.
The Goldbergs: Snow Day (2017) (TV Episode)
Bev lip-synchs to theme song.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: Starcrash (2017) (TV Episode)
Jonah (singing): "Believe it or not, I'm not William Katt."
Ready Player One (2018)
The symbol of Ralph's suit on the side of Wade's VR goggles.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Will Smith/Fran Lebowitz/Billie Eilish (2018) (TV Episode)
Jimmy Fallon and Will Smith sing the theme song
The Chronic Rift: In Review - April 2018 (2018) (TV Episode)
Referenced in pop culture op/ed on remakes and reboots
Housesitters (2018)
Dan describes the plot of the episode "The Beast in the Black" (S2E6) when discussing how to escape the house.
Trainwreckords: "Van Halen III" by Van Halen (2018) (TV Episode)
theme music composed by Mike Post
The Goldbergs: The Lasagna You Deserve (2021) (TV Episode)
Clips shown, narrator references
Free Guy (2021)
Theme song of this show is heard in one scene.
Minty Comedic Arts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Problem Child 2 (2021) (TV Episode)
Minty mentions the movie.
Best of the Worst: Halloween Spooktacular 2021 (2021) (TV Episode)
still of Ralph Hinkley from The Greatest American Hero appears when Josh mentions him
Featured in
I Love the '80s: 1981 (2002) (TV Episode)
Footage from this TV series was edited into this mini-series
20 to 1: One-Hit Wonders (2006) (TV Episode)
Some clips from this title are played in a segment about its theme song, Believe It Or Not.
20 to 1: All Time Favourite TV Themes (2010) (TV Episode)
Clips shown in a segment on Believe It Or Not.
Pioneers of Television: Superheroes (2013) (TV Episode)
William Katt is a pioneer of superhero television with "The Greatest American Hero".
Atop the Fourth Wall: Target $20 Lamp Review (2013) (TV Episode)
The theme for the show plays over the opening title card
Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Anthony Mackie/Edgar Ramírez/Tune-Yards (2021) (TV Episode)
Clip shown during interview with Anthony Mackie.
Spoofed in
Saturday Night Live: Robert Culp/The Charlie Daniels Band (1982) (TV Episode)
Spoofed at end of the cold open.
Dead End (1985)
guy in red flying suit
Greatest American Blonde (1988) (Video)
Video's title is a takeoff on the TV series' title.
Robot Chicken: Yancy the Yo-Yo Boy (2007) (TV Episode)
A nerd receives a super suit from aliens, but the powers are hard to control
What TV show was the theme song Believe It or Not I'm Walking on Air?
What TV show did believe it or not come from?
The Greatest American Hero | |
Theme music composer | Mike Post Stephen Geyer |
Opening theme | "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" Performed by Joey Scarbury |
Composer | Mike Post |
Country of origin | United States |