Best TV Series Opening Sequence Ever

[SolGrundy]

or, "Have y'all seen the anime series Paranoia Agent?"

I can't get either the music or the images out of my head. It amazes me how it manages to be simultaneously uplifting and creepy, people laughing in front of scenes of destruction and devastation set to what sounds like Japanese yodeling. And the image of a man with arms outstretched at the top of a tower, laughing while a huge mushroom cloud looms in the background -- that's a picture that's not going away anytime soon. (I got the soundtrack, and the rest of the music is pretty damn cool as well. I haven't actually seen an entire episode of the show yet, though, since I'm waiting to watch it from the beginning.)

It's taken over Cowboy Bebop's opening as the best ever.

Honorable mentions go to:
Lost in Space: neat theme song, plus cheesy animation of the family doing a space walk while connected by tethers to each other and a flying saucer. Can't beat that for 60's sci-fi.

UFO: Okay, this is the only way you could beat "Lost in Space" for 60's sci-fi.

3-2-1 Contact: Yeah, I said it. All I remember about the visuals was that it was very Epcot Center, and there was somebody petting a cat and striking a match. But I can still remember every word of the theme song, after all these years.

That's all I've got at the moment; I'm sure others will occur to me later.

[Otto]

Season 1 Wonder Woman opening rules. Season 2 is also good, because of the two new verses it introduces to the theme song.

[KJ]

Monito.

That is, if by "TV Series" you mean "animated film project I started working on in high school that has three 10-minute-long episodes completed."

But seriously, I love the intro. You should see it. (That reminds me, I should upload it to that newfangled Google Video service.)

[Larry Mudd]

Twin Peaks, for cinematic juiciness.

Six Feet Under, too. Kind of photographically choreographed. Took on a extra resonance, too, after Nate, uh, buried that person in the place that he buried that person. Thomas Newman's gamelan-like theme makes me feel high, and the tricksy things they did with apparent time really reinforces that feeling. Whoah.

It's probably mostly the kickass music, which any arse can cut good video to, but I rarely skip past the openings for either The Sopranos or Third Watch. They really pump you up.

I really like the opening for Lars von Trier's The Kingdom, too. Cheap, but effective.

[Malodorous]

I always like the opening to Scrubs (about 5 sec. long, plays "I'm no superman" and shows a montage of the characters hanging up an x-ray), it's quick, tells you what show your watching and then gets on with it. I don't need to sit through a 30 sec theme song every time I want to watch my favorite show.

[Snowboarder Bo]

Aqua Teen Hunger Force currently has my all-time fave opening sequence.

From the bit at Dr. Weird's place on the south Jersey shore all the way thru the theme song, it keeps me laughing and I NEVER seem to get that killer Schooly-D rap (http://burtcom.com/kwantem/athf/) outta my head!

[ColonelDax]

One vote here for It Takes a Thief, with the classic playboy-type montage (skiiers on the slopes, spinning roulette wheel, etc.), awesome Dave Grusin theme tune and that pause partway through the sequence where Robert Wagner says, "Let me get this straight - you want me to steal?"

[Ranchoth]

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Bonanza
Cybersix
PBS' Mystery
Babylon 5 (Fifth Season)

Aaand...what do the openings for National Geographic specials count as?

[Alessan]

Babylon 5 (Fifth Season)

Aaand...what do the openings for National Geographic specials count as?

Third season was the best:

"The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace. It failed."

First time I saw that, I nearly jumped from my seat.

[Einmon]

I second Scrubs, short, no-nonsense and lets you get on with the show. Also:

House, because I love the song (Teardrop) and the accompanying graphics

Battlestar Galactica - new series, old intro: the contrast between the eerie mellow music that underscored the pictures of bombs exploding followed by the "hup" and the drums with the blips of the episode to come...really psyched you up for the episode to come. Alas, they've changed the opening because spoiler-phobic wusses complained the blips gave away too much of the episode.

[Kamino Neko]

Cybersix

Seconded.

Other nominations (Going to be a lot of animated shows. I watch a lot of animated shows. >_>):

Witch Hunter Robin (Also has a beautiful ED)
.Hack//Sign
Delta State
Duck Dodgers

Hmm...all animated. >_>

Two related close calls that don't make it:
Robotech and Macross

Robotech has a great theme tune, and most of the visuals (especially the part taken from the Macross OP) look great, but the Very 80s credits, and some of the visual aspects culled from Southern Cross and MOSPAEDA look just plain awful.

Macross has an incredible visual part to the OP, but the song...>_<

[Labdad]

I always liked the answering machine sequence that opened up The Rockford Files - and the theme song was pretty darned good, too!

[RandomLetters]

I really like the opening of Firefly - the western music theme really works well with the show.


burn the land, boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me . . .

[Green Bean]

IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM...

[RealityChuck]

The Texas Wheelers, mostly for the theme song -- John Prine's "Illegal Smile." You can't imagine how bizarre it was to hear a song extolling marijuana on prime time TV in 1974.

[Raguleader]

Third season was the best:

"The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace. It failed."

First time I saw that, I nearly jumped from my seat.


Hmm... for me Season 5 gets it with the dialogue from the previous 4 years of the show. Sort of a "Babylon 5 In a Nutshell"

Other than that, I like Season 4 for it's driving military score and then Season 3 for "It failed." and the little victorious ditty that plays when they show the White Star in the intro.

[CandidGamera]

Ah, a best TV Opening Sequence thread. Must be Wednesday.

:D Seriously, we had one of these not too long ago.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Cowboy Bebop (the coolest)
Arrested Development (very short, narration sets up the premise for the show, images show all the leads, and employs some neat music)
Scrubs (short, sweet, and effective)
The Shield (even shorter and sweeter, a 5-second burst of angsty rock with a Latin flavor and the image of the cracked police badge, telling you "this is a different kind of cop show")

And an honorary favorite...
Sabotage (starring Sir Stewart Wallace as himself, Nathan Wind as Cochese, and the guys who play Bobby the Rookie, The Chief, and Fred Kelly as Bunny)

[BMalion]

Great montage, live-action and animation, humor, excitement and the snazziest jazz-score that still gives me goosebumps...

I Spy

[Steve MB]

Somebody already mentioned Babylon 5 (third and fifth seasons); I'll add The Prisoner.

[DrMemory]

Must second It Takes a Thief
Green Acres( summed it all up)
Wild Wild West
Super Chicken and/or George of the Jungle and/or Tom Slick

[Jonathan Chance]

I honestly don't think you can beat...

"THIS...is the city: Los Angeles California." and then a brief description of LA or the inhabitants or the society leading into 'I carry a badge.'

Dragnet was great. Jack Webb NAILED that role.

[JThunder]

I'll vote for Gilligan's Island, simply because of the succinct and entertaining way in which it summarized the show's premise.

[AndyPolley]

Aqua Teen Hunger Force is up there. "Shake-Zula, the Mike ruler..." It's hard to beat that.

I have to say that I love the Arrested Development theme music. It's so perfect.

I always loved the cheesy montage opening of The X-Files. That was a great theme song, too.

How about Get Smart? Or The Simpsons?

A very honorable mention has to go to The Muppet Show. (Season one coming to dvd very soon!) With the unique cuts to Stadler & Waldorf for each episode...that opening was classy & classic.

[Ichbin Dubist]

I was raised in Northern New Jersey, and the opening to The Sopranos just makes me giggle every time. I mean, Pizza Land in Kearny, for crying out loud. That aside, I think it's oddly effective for setting the tone of the series without giving anything away but its essential Jerseyness.

[RancidYakButterTeaParty]

Fat Albert

A-Team was cool as hell too.

[Max Torque]

A hearty second for Battlestar Galactica. I loved that melancholy music playing over scenes from the miniseries, showing the near-complete destruction of humanity. My favorite shot is the new President being sworn in on her ship (echoes of Lyndon Johnson), looking deeply stunned.

For the reasons Malodorous gives above, I've always kinda liked the opening for Dharma & Greg. About 10 seconds long, kinda sweet, gives you a quick glimpse of what the show is about, and that's it. No more than is necessary.

[BiblioCat]

Northern Exposure. The funky song, the various shots of the town and the moose, with a couple shots of it looking contentedly into the camera always made me laugh.

"Snowmobiles, $1500, Xlent Cond." :D

[Wolfian]

Batman: TAS hands down. It gave me shivers at 4:30 PM in the afternoon.

Honorable mentions: Rurouni Kenshin. Images of our favorite characters doing their thing while that catchy bubblegum music plays. Samuari Jack for the same reason. Well, not bubblegum musc, but catchy.

[Small Clanger]

I always liked the answering machine sequence that opened up The Rockford Files - and the theme song was pretty darned good, too! You tell 'em. Perky, atmospheric and with a bit of variation/humour with the messages.

The Simpsons For the first hundred times you saw it. Now it's just the cue to turn over (like the Archers theme).

For kids shows I'd say any one of three Gerry Anderson shows:

Stingray -- Anything can happen it the next half hour!

Thunderbirds -- are GO!

UFO Already mentioned in the OP (the closing credits were proper creepy too).

[CandidGamera]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Jack of All Trades.

Also, Greg the Bunny.

[Licentious Ectomorph]

I like the new opening for Alias - the montage of many of the fabulous outfits and disguises Sydney has worn. :D

[BlackKnight]

"Gargoyles" - The opening has catchy music, explains the important parts of the backstory, and is surprisingly dark for a cartoon.

"MacGuyver" - It's been years since I've seen the show, but I can still remember the music and the montage of narrow escapes.

"The Sopranos" - Not really sure why, except that it has terrific (and very fitting) music and I love the view of Tony heading from the big city back to Jersey, and pulling into a nice suburban home.

[Peter Morris]

Doctor Who: Jon Pertwee's final season, the recent series, and Tom Baker seasons 1-6 in that order.

Star Trek: TOS

[stanger]

It's GOT to have a great theme song ...

The Best:
The Prisoner

Pretty Darn Good:
Cimarron Strip
Deadwood
Deep Space 9
Men From Shiloh
Cheers
The Avengers

[Hooleehootoo]

Star Trek: Voyager

[GraphicsGal]

I really enjoyed the opening of the mini-series "Kingdom Hospital."

I hope it gets rerun some time with a schedule that doesn't bounce all around and disappear for long periods.

[bouv]

Star Trek: Voyager

If they did nothing but show the opening sequence over and over again, it would have been a good series! :D

I agree, though, the opening theme was, IMO, the best of all Treks.

I also think Babylon 5 seasons 3 and 5, and even 4, where all very good. Season 5 might be the best, because it contains my all-time favorite B5 line:

Sheridan: Now get the Hell out of our galaxy!

[Dr. Rieux]

Star Trek: Voyager

[BMalion]

Best animated openning?

For my money it will always be:

Jonny Quest

[Zeldar]

I know it's an old one, but it may have been in reruns. I saw a DVD with some episodes, anyway.

Peter Gunn went a long way toward turning me on to jazz. I can hum every tune on both albums of the soundtrack. Mr. Lucky was good, too. Same artist and composer.

[bouv]

Best animated openning?

For my money it will always be:

Jonny Quest

Bah! The Venture Brothers did Johnny Quest's opening better than Johnny Quest did Johnny Quests opening.

[Steve Wright]

"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture ... "

Works for me, anyway.

[MovieMogul]

Hands down, Mission: Impossible, with Lalo Schifrin's amazingly tight and propulsive score along with a blizzard montage of what you could look forward to each episode.

[robardin]

"Steve Austin, astronaut: a man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him: we have the technology... We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic Man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before: stronger... faster..."

Of course, he'd cost a heck of a lot more than Six Million Dollars nowadays. On the other hand, he'd probably come with built-in 802.11g wireless networking and whatnot.

[robardin]

"Steve Austin, astronaut: a man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him: we have the technology... We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic Man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before: stronger... faster..."
Mind you, the intro was the best thing about that show. What started out as a pretty neat idea devolved (even in the opinion of my then-8-year-old self) within a few years, as we saw the introduction of an evil twin (the Seven Million Dollar Man), some kind of bionic dog, and eventually, a Bionic Bigfoot(!).

[FlightlessBird]

Most economical has to go to Lost, and it's creepy enough to set the mood.

But my favorite right now has to be Rescue Me. I love that song for that show.

[davenportavenger]

Is this the first mention of the Futurama opening? Okay, then. I like the Futurama opening. Music that really fits the mood of the show (tubular bells!), cool CGI-enhanced animation that gives you a glimpse into the world of the show, cool speed up/slow down effects. An awesome opening.

[Wolfian]

Bah! The Venture Brothers did Johnny Quest's opening better than Johnny Quest did Johnny Quests opening.
Visually, sure, but not musically. The runs in it are insane for all involved.

I personally have a weak spot for Johnny Danger (Ayyy Eeee!).

[jsgoddess]

One of the best matches of music to show is the Dandy Warhols's "We Used to Be Friends" opening for "Veronica Mars." But the opening montage isn't anything special.

"Mission: Impossible" with the lit match, though, is awesome.

And I have a fondness for the opening of "The Nanny."

[Morbo]

Land of the Lost

::cue the banjo::

Marshall, Will, and Holly
on a routine expedition
Felt the greaaaaaatest earthquake
ever knooooooown.
High on the rapids
it struck their tiny raft ("aaaaahhhhhhhhh")*
And plunged them down a thousand feet below
To the Laaaaaand of the Looooooooost!
::cue bad synthesizer, family being chased into rock cave::
To the Laaaaaand of the Looooooooost!
To the Laaaaaand of the Looooooooost!

::cue the worst T-Rex puppet ever turning and, um, roaring into the camera::


*I always loved the underwhelming scream. I think I'd be a little more terrified in their situation.

(Link to WAV file (http://krofft.dementedstuff.com/lotlthem.wav)

[kidchameleon]

I have to go with the Wide, Wide World of Sports, mainly with that scene of the skier whiping out in 'the agony of defeat'.

Thought I do like Megus XLR's little catchy themesong.

[ianzin]

Another vote for Mission:Impossible. The awesome music, the burning fuse, the rapid (always expertly done) montage... you can't beat it.

I also thought that the opening titles for The Sopranos (at least Seasons 1 and 2, which is all I watched) were excellent. It had an absolutely stunning choice of theme music / song (Woke Up This Morning by Alabama 3). The song sounded 100% scored specifically for the Soprano character and series, but no, it wasn't, and it also sounded 100% authentic American to me, but no, the band are based in Brixton, London, UK. And the editing together of the images as we ride home with Tony thru New Jersey was simply brilliant from start to finish.

[SolGrundy]

Ah, a best TV Opening Sequence thread. Must be Wednesday.

:D Seriously, we had one of these not too long ago.
Ah, bite me. I just wanted to talk about how bad-ass Paranoia Agent is.

Other good votes so far:
The Venture Brothers (can't believe I forgot that one), just because it does Jonny Quest so well.
Futurama for the great theme song and the subtitle gag at the beginning of every episode.
Wonder Woman for the sparkle effect they do on Lyle Waggoner's teeth.
The Avengers mostly for the music.

and this website (http://www.ufoseries.com/movieClips/) has a QuickTime file of the opening to UFO so that the non-initiated can bask in its coolness.

[Don Draper]

I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned Hawaii 5 - 0. The theme song and opening montage are even more memorable than the show itself.

Honorable Mentions:

the Mod Squad
Bewitched
the Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (because of that cool maze)
Soap - original opening, when the ceiling collapses on the family & nobody seems to notice.

[PunditLisa]

I also thought that the opening titles for The Sopranos...were excellent. It had an absolutely stunning choice of theme music / song (Woke Up This Morning by Alabama 3). The song sounded 100% scored specifically for the Soprano character and series, but no, it wasn't, and it also sounded 100% authentic American to me, but no, the band are based in Brixton, London, UK. And the editing together of the images as we ride home with Tony thru New Jersey was simply brilliant from start to finish.

I agree, but how does one get a JuJu (JewJew? :eek:) in one's eye and, more importantly, how does one remove it?

My vote goes to Friends. Not a huge fan of the series, but thought that the theme song was quite catchy and the clips of the 6 of them dancing in the water fountain were immensely watchable. Pretty people playing in fountains....does that make me shallow?

[PunditLisa]

Let's try that again.

I agree, but how does one get a JuJu (JewJew? :eek: ) in one's eye and, more importantly, how does one remove it?

My vote goes to Friends. Not a huge fan of the series, but thought that the theme song was quite catchy and the clips of the 6 of them dancing in the water fountain were immensely watchable. Pretty people playing in fountains....does that make me shallow?

[greenlady]

Another enthusiastic vote for Sopranos . I definitely concur that the opening music simply marries with the theme of the show. I'm from northern NJ too, so it's probably just extra-special for that reason as well :) .

Haveta second Law and Order. It seems so methodically thought out and yet the final result is so artistic. I'll bet that one was a collaboration of more than one person...

Oh, anyone love the opening for Teen Titans ? It's so cool! I like the one sung in Japanese (rather than English, the language I know) even better.

And I must cast my vote for classics which many of you have kindly given me remembrances: Wonder Woman (oh, yeah, that sparkle in Lyle's teeth...), Get Smart , Gilligan's Island , Lost in Space (my "greenlady" SDMB persona is from that beloved show), I Dream of Jeannie (has anyone mentioned this 60's classic yet?), Charlie's Angels (1st season with Farrah), Six Million Dollar Man (cheezee, but you know, it's gotta be mentioned in this context), Land of the Lost (thank you, to whomever mentioned this little gem!), and Petticoat Junction -- it's just so, so, well, fun.

[Wolfian]

and this website (http://www.ufoseries.com/movieClips/) has a QuickTime file of the opening to UFO so that the non-initiated can bask in its coolness.
I didn't know something could be both cheesy and cool. Sweet!

Oh, anyone love the opening for Teen Titans ? It's so cool! I like the one sung in Japanese (rather than English, the language I know) even better.
Guilty pleasure*. T-E E-N T-I-T A-N-S! Teen ti-tans, let's go!**


*The song, not the show. The show is all sorts of awesome.
**Yes, that's the ending theme. Its also in the extended version of the theme song.

[lhovis73]

I'll second the vote for Twin Peaks for best ever. Second place would go to: KUNG FU.

(Worst opening would be Star Trek: Enterprise...which I never watched because I couldn't get past that damn theme song...)

[Kamino Neko]

Oh, anyone love the opening for Teen Titans ? It's so cool! I like the one sung in Japanese (rather than English, the language I know) even better.

I got excited for the show mostly because of the theme song - I'm a fan of Puffy.

The Japanese version of the theme is cool - the lyrics, if you can find a translation, amuse me. (I can't find one, now, but they're talking about school and fearing being punished by dad, that sort of thing.)

[Dr. Rieux]

Bah! The Venture Brothers did Johnny Quest's opening better than Johnny Quest did Johnny Quests opening.
Blasphemy!

[robardin]

Anybody else remember the miniseries children's cartoon from the 80s, The Mysterious Cities of Gold? I still find myself humming the song from the intro and thinking about the characters to this day.

[Ranchoth]

Speaking of Johnny Quest...a nomination for The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, from the 90s. The show itself: eh. But the OPENING just sang.

And I probably have to nominate G.I. Joe and Transformers, just because they're supposed to be so iconic. (You know, like how the I Love Lucy episode with the candly assembly line always ranks up with Neil Armstrong in TV Guide's "Greatest Moments in TV" lists.)

[Larry Mudd]

I agree, but how does one get a JuJu (JewJew? :eek: ) in one's eye and, more importantly, how does one remove it?Ha. Nice mondegreen.

It's "Blue moon." (ie; he was born during the second full moon in a single month, so he's extra crazy.)

[lizardling]

Anybody else remember the miniseries children's cartoon from the 80s, The Mysterious Cities of Gold? I still find myself humming the song from the intro and thinking about the characters to this day.

Dude, with the woman who I swore was an Inuit and the bird-shaped plane? And the little redheaded girl? Whatever happened to them? (I loved watching that series, but it didn't come with captions so I didn't have more than half a clue about what was going on)

[BMalion]

Speaking of Johnny Quest...


nitpick:

We were'nt, we were speaking of Jonny Quest. There is no 'H' in his first name.

nitpick over.

I second the vote for The Prisoner.

[robardin]

Dude, with the woman who I swore was an Inuit and the bird-shaped plane? And the little redheaded girl? Whatever happened to them? (I loved watching that series, but it didn't come with captions so I didn't have more than half a clue about what was going on)
Well, I remember the bird-shaped "airplane" and the Inca girl (I wouldn't have said she looked Inuit at all, but then again I haven't met one, but I do see Incas), but no redheaded girl. There were three children: Esteban, the Child of the Sun who was rescued from the sea under mysterious circumstances; Zia, the daughter of the Incan High Priest; and Tau, the last survivor of an ancient and advanced civilization (the Kingdom of Heva?). The flying bird craft was one of the relics of that civilization, they traveled around in it for a while.

It was dubbed in English in the US so I'm not sure where you saw it. What language did you see it in? I noticed the credits were in French.

Here's (http://www.whimsy.demon.co.uk/gold/) a fansite for it, including a link for an audio clip of the intro music.

[Scott Plaid]

Anybody else remember the miniseries children's cartoon from the 80s, The Mysterious Cities of Gold? I still find myself humming the song from the intro and thinking about the characters to this day.Here (http://www.sfxb.co.uk/other80sstuff/multimedia.html) is tyhe link I post when ever anyone mentions a classic eighties cartoons. It contains a link to the intro of that show.

Also, my favorite opening sequence would have to be Beetlejuice: TAS. Unlike any other show I can think of, it was canon to the series, depicting what happens when Lydia travels to the netherworld. That, and it has an excellent theme by Danny Elfman.

[BlackKnight]

I also thought that the opening titles for The Sopranos (at least Seasons 1 and 2, which is all I watched) were excellent.
The opening for The Sopranos has only been changed once, and only slightly then. The short shot of the World Trade Center towers was removed. I believe this was done after season 2.

[Ponder Stibbons]

OK, my personal favorites. Mind you, this is just the opening sequence, not whether I liked the show or not.

Hawaii 5-O as mentioned above by the incomparable Art Vandelay.
Teen Titans. I'm fairly "meh" on the show itself, but I love the intro.
Star Trek (TOS). OK, so it's cheesy nowadays. But I still love it.
Babylon 5. Seasons 3 and 5 are the best intros of the series, and not in that order.
Firefly. "You can't take the sky from me". Goosebumps!

[UncleRojelio]

Hawaii 5-O as mentioned above.


Duh!

[Ponder Stibbons]

Duh!
Uh ... thanks for the syllable of support ... I think. :confused:

[Wolfian]

I got excited for the show mostly because of the theme song - I'm a fan of Puffy.
Hey! P. Diddy hasn't sampled that song yet.


Yet.

[UncleRojelio]

Uh ... thanks for the syllable of support ... I think. :confused:

It was meant as support. "Duh" just happens to be the syllable that seemed most appropriate when I got to the bottom of the first page of this thread and Hawaii 5-0 hadn't been mentioned yet.

[zenith]

Old shows--"Perry Mason", "Hawaii 5-0", "Green Acres"

Recent shows--"Rescue Me", "Six Feet Under", "Sopranos", Both openings to "Red Dwarf".

Surprising that nobody has mentioned Perry or Red Dwarf yet.

[Scott Plaid]

Surprising that nobody has mentioned Perry or Red Dwarf yet.Boy, I haven't seen an episode of that in a long toime. However, last week PBS showed an episode (Polymorph) after Doctor Who. Interesting.
:Sings:

Goldfish shoals, nimbling at my toes.

[ouryL]

The beginning of the Avengers(Emma Peel era) has a percussion intro that grabs you such that you feel you have to hear its resolve. Credit Laurie Johnson(not the tap dancer)

[Baggins111]

M*A*S*H

[PunditLisa]

Ha. Nice mondegreen.

It's "Blue moon." (ie; he was born during the second full moon in a single month, so he's extra crazy.)

Oh. [New Joysey accent] Who fucking knew?[/New Joysey accent]

Thanks for the clarification.

[bmoak]

Most of my faves have already been mentioned, but I'm surprised no one's mentioned Police Squad! yet. "...also starring Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln", plus the guest star getting croaked during the opening credits, plus the title gag.

Can't forget Mystery Science Theater 3000, either.