# Name your favorite TV show credits. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463 "2009-01-15T18:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/1 "2009-01-15T18:16:29Z")
Forget how good the show is, the real test of TV-worthiness is how good the opening credits are, right? I have four favorite opening credits, two of which I feel no shame about, and two of which I name expecting mockery to ensue. The unembarrassing credits: Firefly Veronica Mars. The shameful credits: Friends The Dukes of Hazzard. Sua ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/2 "2009-01-15T18:34:09Z")
- The Rockford Files - especially the pics of Rockford grocery shopping, of Rocky and the way too quick pic of the bikini girl. - Magnum P.I. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/3 "2009-01-15T18:37:19Z")
I like opening credits where there is something to actually watch: Simpsons, of course. Waiting to see what Bart writes on the chalkboard, and how they all hit the couch. Rockford - for the answering machine messages. But - I LIKED Waylon Jennings singing the Duke Boys song (whatever it is called). It has now earwormed its way into my head for the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/4 "2009-01-15T18:46:56Z")
Forgot about the Rockford files - excellent credits. As for the Simpsons, I used to love the credits, but honestly after many years the new snarky chalkboard message got old. I do still love waiting to hear what riff Lisa will play on the sax. Sua ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/5 "2009-01-15T18:49:18Z")
There was once a show called “Hardcastle and McCormick” that had one of the coolest theme songs out there, [“Drive!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDRAlrgK-c&feature=PlayList&p=DB8E0370B782EB35&playnext=1&index=1) Very 80s, you could easily see Kenny Loggins making a hit with it. Mike Post and Pete Carpenter wrote some great songs for TV. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/6 "2009-01-15T18:55:34Z")
Cheers and Gilligan’s Island. Bewitched was pretty cool too. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/7 "2009-01-15T19:00:38Z")
The Sopranos, The Dukes of Hazzard, Cheers, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/8 "2009-01-15T19:02:04Z")
[The Standard](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wrqn_hawaii-fiveo-opening-credit_shortfilms), in my opinion, by which opening credits are measured. [Story](http://archives.starbulletin.com/1996/10/21/features/story1.html) behind some of the images in the montage. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/9 "2009-01-15T19:08:15Z")
Police Squad must deseve a mention, both opening and closing credits. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/10 "2009-01-15T19:16:48Z")
[Mad Men](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo) [Get Smart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyvwJFXyh9g) And uh, [Baywatch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDMYDC2jjKM) because of all the …scenery. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/11 "2009-01-15T19:17:27Z")
I was going to mention Hawaii 5-0, too. The credits were much better than the show itself. Taxi had a great theme, and simple but memorable visuals. Futurama makes me want to dance. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/12 "2009-01-15T19:41:26Z")
**True Blood** - both the song and the images are hypnotic. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/13 "2009-01-15T19:44:29Z")
> [@SuaSponte](#): > > As for the Simpsons, I used to love the credits, but honestly after many years the new snarky chalkboard message got old. Bart: Should I write it on the chalkboard 100 times? Mrs. Krabapple: Honestly, we all got sick of that years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/14 "2009-01-15T19:47:32Z")
For the beauty of the (entirely instrumental) theme song, it’s hard to beat _Angel_ in my opinion. The images were pretty standard stuff, but the music was worth listening to all by itself. Except for the blah first season _The Cosby Show_ is also a winner, but for the reverse reason: they clearly enjoyed playing around with it, and it was always fun to watch. Particularly fun was the first episode of each season, when they’d change it. _Kim Possible_ wins for best opening theme song with words; Powerpuff Girls for closing song with words. And the _Drew Carey Show_ opening with “5 O’clock World” rocks. “Cleveland Rocks,” not so much, ironically. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/15 "2009-01-15T19:49:21Z")
**Hawaii Five-0** …Zulu as Kono, baby!!! **Babylon 5** …especially the Season 3 version with the simple, crushing “It failed.” ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/16 "2009-01-15T20:11:17Z")
I always liked the very end of “Twin Peaks.” Not so much the credits, but the VERY end when they flashed the [Lynch/Frost Productions](http://www.closinglogos.com/page/Lynch%2FFrost+Productions?t=anon) logo. I don’t know why, but there was something about it that always creeped me out! ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/17 "2009-01-15T20:12:56Z")
I was beaten to Mad Men, but Dexter has a great opening sequence as well. And the X-Files opening always got me in the mood for the show. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/18 "2009-01-15T20:17:24Z")
The Big Bang Theory for the coolest song (WE BUILT THE PYRAMIDS) ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/19 "2009-01-15T20:20:56Z")
I like the opening credits for Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463/20 "2009-01-15T20:28:30Z")
_Kim Possible_–great theme. _Total Drama Island_–summarizes characters perfectly. _The Dick Van Dyke Show_–only opening credits that make me smile/laugh every single time I see them. Nobody trips over an ottoman like Dick. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-tv-show-credits/481463.md?page=2)