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Favourite Credits Sequences

post #1 of 55
4/13/11 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 

I've been catching up on Fringe, and I just watched the season 2 episode set in the 80s, which features a hilariously retro version of the show's opening credits with blocky old-school CGI and a synth version of the theme. At first I was writing off the Fringe credits as rather generic, but this alternate version made me realize how much that opening had gotten under my skin, especially with the seemingly random imagery (the seahorse, the apple, etc.) beginning to pop up in the context of the show itself.

 

I think a cool credits sequence (complete with theme song) is essential for establishing the mood of the show, and I always appreciate when a show takes the time to put together something nifty to start the show with. I realize it's sort of a last-minute, we-don't-have-the-time-or-budget-to-do-this-right aspect for a lot of series, but it's such an essential part of the show's personality--you see it every week, after all--that I think it's vital.

 

Also triggering this thread: people are raving about the forthcoming Game of Thrones opening, which is being called "Emmy-worthy" (Do they give Emmys for opening credits? I guess that makes sense, I never thought of it.)

 

What are some favorites?

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post #2 of 55
4/13/11 at 12:38pm

The other great thing about the three different Fringe credit sequences is that each one uses the fringe science research that's allegedly going on in that time-frame or universe. Nice attention to detail.

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post #3 of 55
4/13/11 at 12:45pm

Six Million Dollar Man

 

The Prisoner

 

Buck Rogers In The 25th Century

 

 

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post #4 of 55
4/13/11 at 12:51pm
Thread Starter 

Ooh, there's another one? SPOILERS!!

 

(Now I'm picturing a grainy, 19th-century opening Fringe credits sequence with PHRENOLOGY! ELECTRICAL POWER! EUGENICS! WOMEN VOTERS!)

 

I'm trying to think of some other "alternate" opening sequences--there are surprisingly few. Supernatural did the "Sitcom" opening sequence, which was hilarious, and Buffy did an alternate opening with the episode where Jonathan was magically the star of the show, though they wimped out on that one and just inserted lots of shots of him into the regular credits. It would have been way cooler to see a credits sequence that tried to convince people that Danny Strong was the star of the show.

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post #5 of 55
4/13/11 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 

Supposedly there was a point, early in the development of Monty Python's Flying Circus, where they were having so much trouble agreeing on a title for the show that they were seriously talking about calling it something different every week. Which I guess is something The Brak Show followed through on decades later.

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post #6 of 55
4/13/11 at 1:18pm

The Sopranos rules all, but I really, really, really dug Carnivale's as well.  The Wire also was great for how the pictures and song would change but stay basically the same from season to season.

 

Two post-westerns that had half of it down:  Deadwood has a great tune with some uninspired imagery, while Firefly had great title design paired with a turgid theme song.

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post #7 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 

HBO's credit sequences tend to rule, but honestly, Deadwood's never did it for me. I mean, it's fine, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's pretty generic. Just a bunch of western imagery. It doesn't convey any of the themes or style of the show, other than the basic look and the fact that there are whores, gold, and westerny stuff. Compare this with the clever, distinctive credit sequence to Rome, or the quirky, witty credits to Six Feet Under, both of which convey a sense of what the shows are about beyond the subject matter.

 

When I first watched the Firefly opening my jaw dropped at how goofy the song was--it didn't help that Star Trek: Enterprise had just struck out with their own stupid alt-country theme song--but after I got used to it I realized that it's actually a really, really effective theme song. I mean, it's a real theme song. It details everything that the show is about, and on another level, it arguably exists within the context of the show as a bit of world-building. And it's lyrically clever too.

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post #8 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Prankster View PostI mean, it's a real theme song. It details everything that the show is about, and on another level, it arguably exists within the context of the show as a bit of world-building. And it's lyrically clever too.


All true.  It just sounds terrible.

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post #9 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 

Before anyone beats me to it: Dexter's credits are arguably the best thing about the show.

 

Doctor Who's credit sequence and song are an all-time classic. Though I have to say, the current incarnation is one thing I find inferior to Russell T. Davies' run on the show.

 

Of the various Star Treks, TNG's is, I'd argue, the best, due to theme music. The original's is iconic and fine for what it is, but that 60s go-go theme has never fit for me. DS9 and Voyager's themes are pretty generic, and Enterprise is hate cancer.

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post #10 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post

All true.  It just sounds terrible.



Again, I thought so on first listen, but it's musically fine once you get used to it. I mean, I'm not a huge country music fan to begin with, so it's never going to light my ass on fire, but it's fine within that tradition. As opposed to Enterprise, which is godawful new country soft rock satellite radio corporate easy listening devourer of souls.

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post #11 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:16pm

batmanz.jpg

 

No credits. No names. Just the score, the action, and that shot. To this day, Im pretty sure this is still the only time in TV history a show's been able to skate with this kind of open.

 

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post #12 of 55
4/13/11 at 2:23pm

As far as doing alternate takes on opening credits go, Psych wins this round.  They've done Bollywood versions of the theme song.  They've had Boys II Men do an R&B version.  They've had Curt Smith from Tears for Fears (the main character's favorite group) do an '80s synth pop version.  Last season, there was an episode where the cast found themselves in the quirky little town of Dual Spires, an homage to Twin Peaks.  The show came up with this Julee Cruise-led version:

 

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post #13 of 55
4/13/11 at 3:08pm

Haven't watched it since I was young, but I remember Get Smart's opening credits being pretty much perfect.

 

I love Firefly, but yeah I hate the hell out of that song. A different singer or arrangement or something could have saved it, I guess.

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post #14 of 55
4/13/11 at 8:48pm

Lots of good TV Openings spring to mind:


The Wire

 

The Prisoner

 

Dr Who

 

Star Trek TOD and TNG

 

Land of the Lost (the old one with the atrocious FX)

 

X-Files

 

Babylon 5

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post #15 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:03pm
Treme. They're their own thing now for me, independent of the show. Sometimes I'll just watch the credits and stop. They also work really great at establishing the show's tone and environment.
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post #16 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:03pm

I have no idea how I didn't list Miami Vice as numero Uno. What a great opening. Dated? Sure. But awesome.

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post #17 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:26pm

Ditto the Sopranos, The Wire, and Batman TAS (And the 60's Batman show for that matter)

 

I've heard some people complain because they thought it spoiled the episodes, but no credits sequence got me more excited for a show than Moore's BSG. Also, I'll admit, I may have broken out the air guitar for the Buffy credits once or twice.

 

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post #18 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post

batmanz.jpg

 

No credits. No names. Just the score, the action, and that shot. To this day, Im pretty sure this is still the only time in TV history a show's been able to skate with this kind of open.

 



I always, always fast-forward through these boring credits when I watch the DVDs. But the static title cards, unique to each episode, are outstanding.

Another boring cartoon intro is that old, endless Simpsons one. Thank god they finally got around to shortening it after a few years.

 

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post #19 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:30pm

- Police Squad!  (in color)

You had to love how the credits ended with the 'special guest star' getting killed.  The end credits with the fake freeze frame?  Priceless.

 

- The Rockford Files

Quite simply the best theme music of all time.

 

 

 

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post #20 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:32pm

GAH.jpg&sa=X&ei=nHimTbGkM4KosQOl5MH5DA&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFCwYH9abWbDAKahTGF8VtwLupbYQ

 

It's the song that does it...

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post #21 of 55
4/13/11 at 9:57pm

The opening credits and especially the theme song to Taxi is one of my favorites. It perfectly sets up the mood of the show, you can't really tell that it's a comedy at all.

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post #22 of 55
4/13/11 at 10:26pm

The original "The Twilight Zone" openings, in all their incarnations, just really set the mood.

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post #23 of 55
4/14/11 at 5:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Prankster View Post

--it didn't help that Star Trek: Enterprise had just struck out with their own stupid alt-country theme song--



Speaking of alternative titles, Enterprise did a great "dark" version when they had that alt-timeline two episode arc, where the Federation was basically a conquering empire.

 

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post #24 of 55
4/14/11 at 5:47am

Everyone knooows it's Butters!

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post #25 of 55
4/14/11 at 6:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Prankster View Post

Before anyone beats me to it: Dexter's credits are arguably the best thing about the show.

That's the one I came in to post. Just a great, great opening sequence.

 

A couple good openings from Buffy episodes: The old-fashioned titles for Once More With Feeling, and the Jonathan-centric opening from Superstar
 

 

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post #26 of 55
4/14/11 at 6:19am

Oh, I forgot. The Mad Men credits are ridiculously well designed, too.

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post #27 of 55
4/14/11 at 6:24am

You know what has great opening credits?  Parks and Recreation.  It perfectly sets up the City of Pawnee and has a catchy tune to boot.

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post #28 of 55
4/14/11 at 7:22am

Loved the alternate theme for the D&D episode of Community.

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post #29 of 55
4/14/11 at 8:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post

You know what has great opening credits?  Parks and Recreation.  It perfectly sets up the City of Pawnee and has a catchy tune to boot.

 

For me, the strongest thing about the Parks credits its how well it contrasts the show with The Office, the sort of stepfather show that cast a big shadow over it.  The Office credits show everyone scowling or looking bored, which is entirely appropriate for the milieu, whereas Parks has everyone in a happy moment, beaming and laughing (or the relative equivalent for the more taciturn characters).

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post #30 of 55
4/14/11 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
 (or the relative equivalent for the more taciturn characters).

 

Wielding a golden gun? Perfect!

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post #31 of 55
4/14/11 at 9:16am
Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post

 

- The Rockford Files

Quite simply the best theme music of all time.

 

 



It's a tight finish, but Rockford comes in third behind -- come on, now -- Hawai'i 5-0 and S.W.A.T.

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post #32 of 55
4/14/11 at 10:12am

I'll third Dexter.  Even better that they've used the music twice in the show to show when Dexter was off his game and things didn't line up the same.

 

Magnum PI.  It is everything great about a staple 80's show.  It helps that I'm a sucker for the show, admittedly.

 

A-Team.  Whatever you think of the show it did a great job of giving you the background and throwing in some action.

 

The Fall Guy.  Yeah, I said it.

 

The Garry Shandling Show.  "This is the theme to Garry's Show, the opening theme to Garry's Show..."

 

I might have a soft spot for 80's credits the more I look at this...

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post #33 of 55
4/14/11 at 10:27am

Tales from the Crypt: Danny Elfman's music and the opening tour of the Crypt Keeper's place set the tone for this series so well. No matter how terrible some of the episodes were, I never got tired of those credits.

 

Honorable mentions: Night Court, Invader Zim, Misfits of Science, Gilligan's Island, Chuck, and Brisco County, Jr.

 

 

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post #34 of 55
4/14/11 at 10:48am

I loved Big Love's opening credits from the first 3 seasons, the sequence that used "God Only Knows." I still don't understand why they changed it.

 

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post #35 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:01am

"The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.", which I've been watching for the first time, has stellar opening credits. I love the theme music most of all. Not the most original opening credits, but what they do, they do well. I like the '78 Superman-like recap with the newspapers telling the story of the pilot before we get clips from other episodes and the standard iconic shots of the cast. On the topic of one-time custom credits for a show, I love what was done for the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode where Jonathan is suddenly the main character. The inserted clips of him seemed sort of awkwardly forced in there, but that's part of the gimmick's charm. I second the love for the alternate "Star Trek: Enterprise" opening.

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post #36 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:07am

Welcome Back, Kotter

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post #37 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:12am

JPL, great call on Tales From the Crypt.

 

And may I just say that it makes me sad that we're 36 posts in and not a single person--including myself--has mentioned The Simpsons.  C'mon, it features the song stylings of Danny Elfman before Tim Burton ruined him and the best introduction to the citizens and geography of an entire town since The Andy Griffith Show (I presume).  Plus, new gags in each opening that force you to pay attention.  Hate what The Simpsons has become, but respect it for what it was.

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post #38 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:14am

My all time fave:

 

 

 

For one minute every week, they made a portly middle aged British Gentleman with a Jaguar XJ6 look like the fucking Punisher.

 

Also at the risk of sounding a bit fleedy, I love a lot of those openings from the 1980s that had cool narration, no matter how awful/cheesy the actual show e.g. John Ashley on the A-Team, Ernie Anderson (father of Paul Thomas) on Street Hawk, and of course the supreme gravitas of Richard Basehart on Knight Rider.

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post #39 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post

And may I just say that it makes me sad that we're 36 posts in and not a single person--including myself--has mentioned The Simpsons.  C'mon, it features the song stylings of Danny Elfman before Tim Burton ruined him and the best introduction to the citizens and geography of an entire town since The Andy Griffith Show (I presume).  Plus, new gags in each opening that force you to pay attention.  Hate what The Simpsons has become, but respect it for what it was.


Actually Paul McCartney mentioned them in a negative context, along with the B:TAS opening, thereby proving once again that he's an evil being from another dimension.

 

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post #40 of 55
4/14/11 at 11:59am

Ah, well, so much for reading for content as I did scan back through the thread before posting, although, of course, I'm right while he's really, really wrong.

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post #41 of 55
4/14/11 at 12:16pm

If we're doing animated shows too, I've always loved the opening to Thundercats - the superior animation (compared to what the eps had to offer) combined with that theme made for a grinning ten year old.  Still one of my favourite openings to this day.

 

Also?  Amazing Stories had a great opening with a weekly dose of John Williams to score your Sunday night.

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post #42 of 55
4/14/11 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post

My all time fave:

 

 

 

For one minute every week, they made a portly middle aged British Gentleman with a Jaguar XJ6 look like the fucking Punisher.


 

Absolute truth.

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post #43 of 55
4/14/11 at 1:14pm

Stewart Copeland's brilliant theme is what really makes it, but I think the baby crying is a moment of pure genius, icing on the "our version of New York is a horrible, dark nightmare of a place with criminals around every corner, and it's probably best if you never ever set foot out the door" cake.

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post #44 of 55
4/14/11 at 1:37pm

I think it was Season 4 of Alias that used nothing but split-second cuts of Jennifer Garner in different disguises. Dug it.

 

Old school, I have to praise the original Battlestar Galactica. Something about concentric iris-wipes always works for me, plus that majestic music.

 

If we're just talking about the music, Barney Miller.

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post #45 of 55
4/14/11 at 2:30pm

This awesome shit right here:


 

 

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post #46 of 55
4/14/11 at 2:42pm

I'm not a huge fan of any of the current shows I watch (full title sequences have kind of fallen out of fashion as networks shave additional minutes off every hour for ads), but I just started catching up on Justified, which has the best theme song since The Sopranos.  Those are probably my favorites, at least until Sunday night rolls around.

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post #47 of 55
4/14/11 at 3:01pm

Since someone's already mentioned Get Smart (and I'm surprised that if anyone mentioned Batman, I missed it), a few more of my old-school favorites:

 

T.H.E. CAT (credits proper begin about a minute in):

 

 

The Avengers (Series 4, the best of the lot IMHO):

 

 

The Wild Wild West:

 

 

 

 

 

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Season 2, the best arrangment of the theme);

 

 

 

I'll quit with the videos now, but a few others that deserve mention are Secret Agent (the U.S. version of Danger Man), The Prisoner (best expository opening ever), The Time Tunnel, Lost in Space, and, of course, Mission:Impossible.

 

 

And I have to say, I think the Modern Family credits set the tone for the show very nicely.

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post #48 of 55
4/14/11 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post

This awesome shit right here:


 

 




Ahhhh, yeah! Can't believe that one escaped me!

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post #49 of 55
4/14/11 at 3:07pm

How could I forget:

 

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post #50 of 55
4/14/11 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post

This awesome shit right here:

I feel rather stupid for not thinking of this. An all-timer, animated or otherwise, in my opinion.
 

 

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