# Best TV Series Opening Sequence Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396 "2005-08-03T05:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/41 "2005-08-03T17:23:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/42 "2005-08-03T17:27:18Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/43 "2005-08-03T17:27:37Z")
"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture … " Works for me, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/44 "2005-08-03T17:44:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/45 "2005-08-03T17:44:54Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/46 "2005-08-03T18:06:09Z")
> [@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(!). ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/47 "2005-08-03T18:09:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/48 "2005-08-03T18:13:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/49 "2005-08-03T18:21:35Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > 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!). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/50 "2005-08-03T19:19:11Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/51 "2005-08-03T19:20:57Z")
**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) ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/52 "2005-08-03T19:24:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/53 "2005-08-03T20:05:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/54 "2005-08-03T20:19:11Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Ah, a best TV Opening Sequence thread. Must be Wednesday. > > 😃 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. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/55 "2005-08-03T21:07:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/56 "2005-08-03T23:18:27Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > 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? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/57 "2005-08-03T23:19:33Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![greenlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/58 "2005-08-03T23:48:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/59 "2005-08-04T00:06:50Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > 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! > [@greenlady](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![lhovis73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecd19e/32.png) [@lhovis73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lhovis73)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396/60 "2005-08-04T00:12:08Z")
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…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tv-series-opening-sequence-ever/315396.md?page=4)