Watchmen.
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!”.
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.
Hands down, the best intro was and still is Police Squad!
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.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned these yet:
Awesome, especially if you’re a fifth-grader in 1965. I also like the closing credits for “Stingray”:
Ah, found a version – The World at War. Skip to about halfway through (40-second mark or so) to see what I described above.
In the 60s, didn’t the intro to The Monkees 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 make you want to move to Manhattan and live the glamorous life?
It was years before I realized that the “Police Squad” intro was a parody of “M Squad,” a really, really good cop series:
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 (The full theme starts about halfway through.)
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.
Mister McGee, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.
I much prefer the orchestral version of the theme. It drips and oozes Broadway:
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.
Cheers.
Please, please tell me that was a real show.
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. It’s beautiful.
This.
There is Dexter…then there is everyone else. Best. Opening. Ever.
And the only opening that always makes me want breakfast!
Another vote for the original Hawaii 50. But there are a lot of other good ones.
In color!
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.