# Are great/long TV intros/themes a gone forever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2008, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547 "2008-06-11T07:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/21 "2008-06-11T15:18:30Z")
I’m glad certain shows have no musical intros whatsoever. Could you see a muscial intro for LOST with the main characters taking turns looking towards the camera, breaking into a smile, and their names appear? Boy that would suck. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/22 "2008-06-11T15:19:45Z")
Came in here to mention Battlestar Galactica, Dexter and Futurama. Ah well, 1/3 doesn’t constitute mandatory flogging in Latecomer Hell. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/23 "2008-06-11T15:22:50Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] The British show _Shameless_ has what I consider to be a particularly long and somewhat unique intro. The [original intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dssnahZ16uU) introduced every character in the show, every week. But it changed every season because they kept gaining and losing characters. It got odd. The [last season’s intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKge2Am7eW8) was just as long but they gave up on introducing characters and replaced it with a different monologue. [/QUOTE] _the Professor and Mary-Ann…_ ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/24 "2008-06-11T16:36:52Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Have you forgotten the sheer brilliance of Kim Possible? [/QUOTE] The LA Times had an article recently on “Is the TV theme song dead?” after the passing of Earle Hagen and Alexander Courage. One of the conclusions they made is that one of the few types of shows that still have a lenghty theme song are kids shows. I’m inclined to agree- most of the modern shows I can think of that have memorable theme songs are kids shows. Just ask somebody, kid or adult, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” and they’re bound to get it right. The last great long TV intro I can think of is that of _The Simpsons_. Matt Groening has stated on one of the DVD commentaries that he didn’t realize that TV intros weren’t that long anymore when he commissioned the theme. But Danny Elfman’s theme, combined with the now-familiar visuals, are still entertaining us every week even 19 years later. (I remember seeing a website which calculated how much of your life you’ve wasted watching the Simpsons intro.) It’s also the only intro I can think of that can be shortened or lengthened in case an episode runs short or long. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/25 "2008-06-11T17:27:07Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] _the Professor and Mary-Ann…_ [/QUOTE] I was going to comment on how this was a good example of both a great theme song and “here’s all the characters” intro… But now I’m just going to shake my fist at you for getting the _Gilligan’s Island_ theme song stuck in my head for the rest of the day. _shakes fist_ ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/26 "2008-06-11T17:33:51Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] I was going to comment on how this was a good example of both a great theme song and “here’s all the characters” intro… [/QUOTE] Sherwood Schwartz was once asked why the theme songs to _Gilligan’s Island_ and _The Brady Bunch_ explained the premise of the shows. He replied, “Because confused people can’t laugh.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/27 "2008-06-11T17:36:24Z")
The Jeffersons had a good one. The Wonder Years did too even though it was a real song. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/28 "2008-06-11T17:55:53Z")
**Boston Legal** has one of the more catchy opening themes that I can think of recently. The opening is not long, but I like that the music sets the tone for the quirky characters that run amok in this show. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/29 "2008-06-11T18:00:49Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] I’m glad certain shows have no musical intros whatsoever. Could you see a muscial intro for LOST with the main characters taking turns looking towards the camera, breaking into a smile, and their names appear? Boy that would suck. [/QUOTE] ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rIpeAJE6wjE/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIpeAJE6wjE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tni4h7kRb-k/hqdefault.jpg "LOST A-Team") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tni4h7kRb-k) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W0CTAop0fFg/hqdefault.jpg "LOST opening (Charmed theme song)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0CTAop0fFg) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L4AEEoX3d3E/hqdefault.jpg "Lost Theme Tune") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4AEEoX3d3E) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/30 "2008-06-11T18:19:56Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] _the Professor and Mary-Ann…_ [/QUOTE] Who were left off on the first season. It used to be ‘and the rest’, they were added later. Battlestar Galitca has a good ‘opening’ but they don’t show it until about 5 minutes into the show. The original Iron Chef has the longest and best opening sequence in television history ever, bar none. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/31 "2008-06-11T18:32:04Z")
_Look at what’s happened to me I can’t believe it myself Suddenly I’m upon top of the world Should’ve been somebody else…_ Believe it or not, I really liked that theme. Get Smart had a great opening with the various security doors and the steady, Peter Gunn style theme. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/32 "2008-06-11T18:52:47Z")
Believe it or not, so do I. I have that song on my computer and mp3 player. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/33 "2008-06-11T19:04:27Z")
One thing that’s long gone: [announcers reading the introductory credits of a television show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F0wlfmxKdU). (NOT a rickroll.) Last time I heard such a thing a few years ago on Spanish-language television. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/34 "2008-06-11T19:35:21Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] One thing that’s long gone: [announcers reading the introductory credits of a television show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F0wlfmxKdU). (NOT a rickroll.) Last time I heard such a thing a few years ago on Spanish-language television. [/QUOTE] Actually, doesn’t this kinda still happen on late-night TV (SNL, The Tonight Show, etc.)? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/35 "2008-06-11T19:36:11Z")
Saturday Night Live and most talk shows have announcers reading the credits. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/36 "2008-06-11T19:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] The Jeffersons had a good one. The Wonder Years did too even though it was a real song. [/QUOTE] Also great was the _Good Times_ theme, one of whose main characters, Ja’net Dubois (Willona), sang the theme song for the Jeffersons. And if the _Good Times_ theme song didn’t paint a picture of at least the premise of the show, I don’t know what did. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/37 "2008-06-11T19:56:24Z")
It was mentioned, but of recent openings, I loved the Sopranos’ opening. “My Name is Earl” has an interesting opening, but it is short. Futurama and Simpsons were always entertaining. [QUOTE=RealityChuck] And the most successful show on US TV – CSI Miami uses a theme song (as to the other CSIs). [/QUOTE] Is this true? I don’t even know what the top 10 are any more. This would depress me that such an awful show anchored by the worst actor on TV could be #1. Please tell me that I was Whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/38 "2008-06-11T20:30:09Z")
Long sitcom intros do seem harder to come by these days. Although, [**Friends**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN09np5ep6o) and [**Everybody Loves Raymond**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WwTzG-vqO4) had some long intro sequences during their runs. And it seems that animated shows almost always have 'em, such as **South Park** and **Family Guy** and the much-mentioned **The Simpsons**. Adding to the HBO dramas, [**Big Love**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KeTZY6HUn4) has a long intro, done to the music of The Beach Boys. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/39 "2008-06-11T20:36:06Z")
The most recent one I can think of where the song explains the show is _The Nanny_. We are indeed past the golden age of TV theme songs (hey, you forgot Magnum P.I.) Also, _Big Love_ has a memorable title sequence and theme song, even though it’s not written for the show. But can’t you imagine all those HBO shows if they did have theme songs that explained the premise? It would be _hilarious_. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547/40 "2008-06-11T22:33:28Z")
I don’t know if the _CSI_ shows really count, as they are not originally-written. > [@What Exit?](#): > > Is this true? I don’t even know what the top 10 are any more. Top 10 TV shows of 2007: 1. American Idol (results show) 2. American Idol (performance show) 3. Dancing With The Stars (performance show) 4. Dancing With The Stars (results show) 5. NBC Sunday Night Footbal 6. CSI 7. Grey’s Anatomy/Samantha Who? (tie) 8. House 10: CSI: Miami Source: Nielsen Media Research [QUOTE=Zsofia] But can’t you imagine all those HBO shows if they did have theme songs that explained the premise? It would be _hilarious_. [/QUOTE] [sung to the tune of _Sex and the City_ theme] _These four girls fuck everybody in town…_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-great-long-tv-intros-themes-a-gone-forever/452547.md?page=3)