Deadwood
I loved the theme song and opening credits to Now And Again.
Dead Like Me.
Anime tends to have pretty good credits in general, but there’s a couple that really stand out:
**-**Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex–The full CGI here is best described as ‘yummy’, IMHO. (It had better be good–the first two episodes aired without it). The doll getting broken is a very nice touch. I never get tired of watching this.
-Naruto Shippuden: The production values have gone up since the original series started, and nowhere is this more apparent than the openings. Someone’s been having fun with the CGI. I also particularly like the second opening, because of the imagery with Naruto and Sasuke.
I liked the opening of **Weeds **during it’s first few seasons. They’ve completely changed it now though, which goes right along w/ the terrible turn the show has taken.
Best television show credits ever?
Posh Nosh, from the BBC. Seriously, hands down, most hilariously handled credits. Ever.
Mad Men’s opening credits are indeed fantastic.
My favorite title sequence belongs to Carnivale. Perfectly sets the stage for the period of history and the gypsy carnival and and the zany religious imagery you’re about to witness.
25 responses and no mention of Mission: Impossible? Blasphemy!
You’ll appreciate this.
BANG!
My 3 year old *lurves *that song.
No mention of Cowboy Bebop? Tank! is awesome!
Star Trek TOS!
I was too late!
The Prisoner had excellent opening stuff, giving the complex setting briefly and efficiently. The closing credits were pretty good also.
I Spy had excellent opening credits, with Robert Culp’s eyes watching bits of the upcoming show and commenting on them. Wincing when his character gets beaten up, for instance. Best eye acting ever!
Green Acres had the good song, but the actual credits were often as surreal as the show - for instance when Lisa finds them on eggs, and comments on them.
We’re on the third season of The Wire, and the opening credits are the only thing I don’t love about that show. Each version of the song is worse than the season before. I hope it eventually improves.
Ooh, good call!
I have a question: are we interpreting “credits” strictly? I.e. do people’s names actually have to appear on screen? Or can we also include opening “title sequences” (= theme song + whatever we see on screen while it’s playing), for shows that save all their actual credits until the end?
Although some of these fall into the latter category, I’ll add, to some of those that have already been mentioned:
The Muppet Show. The opening “credits” do a good job of getting you in the mood for the show.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It’s gotten kind of old now that I’ve seen it so often, but at the time it first appeared, Terry Gilliam’s anmation must have been a unique and surreal way of starting a show.
The Weird Al Show. You get a fast-paced Weird Al Song that explains the “origin” of the show, accompanied by, not one, but three styles of animation.
The Addams Family. Especially the closing credits, with the family staring into the camera and snapping along to the ooky instrumental version of the theme song.
Yeah, I’m going to have to second, third and fourth that one.
Of course, I also think that the opening credits for 60 Minutes are perfect, so…
Thank you soul brother! Exactly what I came in here to say.
WKRP In Cincinnatti!
**
M.A.S.H.**
I guess I’m dating myself, maybe throwing out Spongebob Squarepants will redeem me?
In spite of having a character named Uniqua, The Backyardigans has a great theme.
**The Six Million Dollar Man
Land of the Lost
Sopranos
The Twilight Zone**
Dexter - I can’t get this song out of my head. Also the opening credits are also cool in that they show a serial killer doing a mundane thing like preparing his breakfast and getting ready for work. The way it’s shown also makes it look sort of violent and gory.
True Blood - The combination of the song and opening credits set the tone for the show. I like the fact they don’t show any any of the main characters in the credits and instead show footage of the south (and that “God Hates Fangs” sign is a riot). It also makes some mundane things seem kind of creepy. For instance the kid eating ribs and the church scene.
Firefly - Another good one. This one is pretty standard in terms of using footage of the characters but the song sets the tone for the show.
Cowboy Bebop
FLCL Only I think the ending credits are the awesome part. Sorry if that’s sort of cheating.
Paranoia Agent The song is really surreal when matched the unsettling images of the main characters laughing in an unnatural manner.
Not enough Bailey.
I’ve got two…
“Boy, the way Glenn Miller played…”
And
“Who can turn the world on with her smile…”
Due South – but only the first season. Love that theme song, but they chopped it up and updated it and ruined it in the later seasons.