# Your favorite TV program opening sequence **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890 "2013-02-10T17:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/61 "2013-02-11T15:59:41Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > That’s technically a movie intro, but yeah… No other intro comes close. _Watchmen._ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/62 "2013-02-11T16:03:11Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Ooh, that reminds me. [Jack Of All Trades](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VNsjjYRgjc) Just _once_ I’d like to see a television program or movie centered on a guy named Jack that didn’t use the tag “You don’t know Jack!”. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/63 "2013-02-11T16:35:08Z")
Twin Peaks was indeed cool, it lead you into whatever strangeness the show would reveal. Hill Street Blues had a good intro. it also had many features that are now common in tv drama. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/64 "2013-02-11T16:41:24Z")
Hands down, the best intro was and still is [Police Squad!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOrtgiG7EI) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/65 "2013-02-11T17:24:23Z")
I can’t find video on YouTube, but the old classic WWII documentary, _The World at War,_ had a terribly poignant intro sequence – black and white photographs of people of all sorts, military, civilians, and even children – visible through moving flames, which consumed each photograph. As each new image appeared, you knew that person too would be consumed. As a metaphor for loss, it was incomparable. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/66 "2013-02-11T17:27:28Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned these yet: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9XNWA_yZvWo/hqdefault.jpg "Thunderbirds Are Go") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XNWA_yZvWo) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/E06cNv55jTs/hqdefault.jpg "Stingray TV intro (1964)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E06cNv55jTs) Awesome, especially if you’re a fifth-grader in 1965. I also like the closing credits for “Stingray”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CD96RQ1-wnY/hqdefault.jpg "Stingray TV Show Outro (1964) Aqua Marina") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD96RQ1-wnY) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/67 "2013-02-11T17:31:06Z")
Ah, found a version – [The World at War.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMClpOb49b0) Skip to about halfway through (40-second mark or so) to see what I described above. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/68 "2013-02-11T17:31:09Z")
In the 60s, didn’t the intro to [The Monkees](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHHZb7c3Qy8) desperately make you want to move to California to hang out with these four incredibly cool guys? And didn’t the intro to [That Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm9S7r1ZEg) make you want to move to Manhattan and live the glamorous life? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/69 "2013-02-11T17:33:58Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Hands down, the best intro was and still is [Police Squad!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOrtgiG7EI) It was years before I realized that the “Police Squad” intro was a parody of “M Squad,” a really, really good cop series: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f65xzJN9O18/hqdefault.jpg "M SQUAD [1957-1960]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f65xzJN9O18) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/70 "2013-02-11T17:54:15Z")
Another of my all-time favorite series. It would always open with a (usually very violent) teaser, followed by a minute or so of great narration before they’d get into that night’s story. The theme music is fantastic! (Also, check out the guest stars in this one!) Some more from when TV was still COOL: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrrcSieqMH8) (The full theme starts about halfway through.) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zlG-i2J6qI) https://www.youtube.com/embed/k_DQC3iaWbg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL8C32F4CC407AA8CA ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/71 "2013-02-11T17:56:30Z")
I was going to say _The Prisoner,_ but since that’s been done I nominate _I Spy._. Scenes from the upcoming show at the top, Culp’s eyes commenting on them at the bottom. Especially funny when a clip of his character getting beat up runs. _The Wild, Wild, West_ was good also. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/72 "2013-02-11T18:06:32Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Steve Austin. A man barely alive. But we can rebuild him… Mister McGee, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/73 "2013-02-11T18:09:28Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > And didn’t the intro to [That Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm9S7r1ZEg) make you want to move to Manhattan and live the glamorous life? I much prefer the orchestral version of the theme. It drips and oozes Broadway: https://www.youtube.com/embed/hoB3HCIhy40?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/74 "2013-02-11T18:21:58Z")
I agree with Poirot, Deadwood, Sopranos, and Game Of Thrones. I also love the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine opener, but that series first aired when I was 13 years old so I may be reacting to emotional memories of how much it meant to me rather than to it being a really good opening sequence. The Unsolved Mysteries theme music used to send chills up my spine. ---
**Author:** ![resting](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@resting](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/resting)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/75 "2013-02-11T18:24:59Z")
Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/76 "2013-02-11T18:48:24Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > [Cleopatra 2525](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAbHqcPE9pM) Please, please tell me that was a real show. > [@Sattua](#): > > The Unsolved Mysteries theme music used to send chills up my spine. For me, it still does. What a freakin’ creepy show. Responsible for most of my irrational fears when I was a little kid. I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the intro to [Lie to Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgRJ7-s0u7c). It’s beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/77 "2013-02-11T18:54:13Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > _Dexter_ - it portrays the mundane routines of getting ready for the day as a visceral experience. A perfect way to set the tone for a show about a boring forensics guy who’s also a serial killer. This. There is Dexter…then there is everyone else. Best. Opening. Ever. And the only opening that always makes me want breakfast! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/78 "2013-02-11T18:59:32Z")
Another vote for the original Hawaii 50. But there are a lot of other good ones. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/79 "2013-02-11T19:05:39Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Hands down, the best intro was and still is [Police Squad!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOrtgiG7EI) In color! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890/80 "2013-02-11T19:26:02Z")
Weeds (and trying to guess the performer!) The United States of Tara, Hart to Hart: “That’s Mrs. H. She’s GORgeous!” Because when they met, it was MURder" and The Big C. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-program-opening-sequence/649890.md?page=5)