Not as simple as Murphy Brown.
The Addams Family was pretty good too. Also good: Twilight Zone.
If by favorite you mean the one that would send me running out of the room with my hands over my ears, that would be Night Gallery
I think Mad Menhas a nifty combination of graphics and music.
For singing along purposes you can’t beatThe Love Boat, sung in your best cheesy lounge singer style.
The Chuck opening is pretty simple, but snappy. Especially if you’re a Cake fan.
The Psych opening song is very catchy, and I like how they’ve played alternate versions of it for some episodes. Like a Spanish version of it for the epsiode where Shawn gets a gig in a Spanish soap opera. And a Hindi version for the Bollywood episode.
If Digital Kitchen did it, I probably love it.
Six Feet Under, Dexter, House, and the one I think is probably the best of all,True Blood. Especially if the standard you’re using is how well the credits convey the mood and energy of the show itself.
They also did Nip/Tuck, Ghost Whisperer, which I only just now saw and it’s cool, as well as The Company, which is terrific.
Go here to watch:
Since the OP mentioned my favorite, UFO, I’ll mention my second favorite:
And my third favorite: The Inspector
I came in here to post this one.
The combination of Andy and little Opie strolling along a dirt road to the fishing spot (then Opie skipping the rock), and the use of the whistle/whistler as a signal of leisurely activity but spiffed up into a structured and melodic tune, along with the pared down drums-with-brushes and bass accompaniment was perfect.
No, I haven’t really thought about this at all, why do you ask?
I also liked the original Goods Times’ opening credits and the theme song, although it was only a couple of years ago that I got the “standing in a chow line” lyric.
I’ve quickly grown to really enjoy the title sequence to the new show Treme. It’s a great song, and I love the archival parade footage. The credits themselves are mostly over static backgrounds, which seems very simple, but you quickly realize that the images are actually walls with water damage, showing how high the levels got during the Katrina flooding. Very effective.
I agree with all of the choices made so far (especially Hawaii Five-O) but how can this have gone onto a second page without someone mentioning:
Police Squad! In Color
HEY YOU GUYS!
We’re going to turn it with The Electric Company (US kid’s language arts show, kin to Sesame Street).
Opening credits with no… um, cast credits?
For instantly recognizable, the A-Team, Mission Impossible and Hawaii 5-0 for me.
Sneaking through a hotel to crash a party? Hum Mission Impossible
Driving my truck at Ludicrous Speed on a back country road? A-Team
Kayaking or canoeing down a river? Hawaii 5-0
Sheer story telling that lets us know exactly what this is about? That is The Duke Boys theme.
Bleh. Give me this one over that one any day.
Dumping that awesome theme was the biggest sin they could’ve ever possibly committed when remaking it.
Another vote for UFO.
The Tomorrow People (The orginal 70’s series).
The Banana Splits “TRA-la-laa-LA-la-la-laaaa…”
Guys, come on!
Nobody remembers the opening of Dinosaurs?
Seconding Hawaii Five-0, the Avengers, Mad Men, Sanford and Son (the only TV theme I have in my iPod), and Mission: Impossible.
Adding Babylon 5, particularly the season three version.
“It failed.”
Thanks to Retro-Toon my kids are addicted to this one! It was one of my favorites as a kid but it's painful to watch now!
I bought the DVDs of Land of the Lost Seasons 1 and 2. Catchy theme but again almost unwatchable acting and special effects.Of course my kids love it and sing the theme song as if it is a nursery rhyme!