Greatest opening sequence

Slugs · 30-01-2010 2:30pm #1

Very simple question, what is the best opening sequence from any tv show. Can be cartoon, sitcom or otherwise. For me this is it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlobFExM-UM

Such a shame it's cancelled, best cartoon ever made.

Diabhal Beag · 30-01-2010 2:40pm

The Simpsons. They added new jokes to nearly every opening and no other show was that innovative with something so important to every show on TV.

i_inky · 30-01-2010 2:46pm

Band of Brothers. The music gets me every time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23ibUHxlNY

phasers · 30-01-2010 2:46pm

For me it has to be Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmJWVc1RGY

The part before the opening titles makes it even better though, Garth Marenghi reads exerpts from his books and introduces the episodes

amacachi · 30-01-2010 2:58pm

phasers wrote: »

The part before the opening titles makes it even better though, Garth Marenghi reads exerpts from his books and introduces the episodes

...and bits of sick. Definitely the best TV opening ever, without a single doubt.

dambarude · 30-01-2010 3:04pm

Dallas!

Aidric · 30-01-2010 3:07pm

Mad Men is pretty sweet. (embedding disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo&feature=fvw

TonyD79 · 30-01-2010 3:08pm

Cant beat this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUT07eZoXPw

L31mr0d · 30-01-2010 3:11pm

I just love how they turned the simple act of a morning routine into something gruesome and sociopathic.

Everything about it, the clarity of the shots, the exposition of the angles and focus, the immaculate typeface choice. It's perfection imo. One of the only intro sequences I still watch and don't skip through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhKRhk49iqQ

bonzer1again · 30-01-2010 3:21pm

Great Suggestion for a thread.....

A few possible contenders are
True Blood

Taxi

Battlestar Galactica (Classic series)

and my personal favourite
The Six Million Dollar man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HofoK_QQxGc&feature=related

lord lucan · 30-01-2010 3:36pm

The intro set the scene,dark an sinister with a brilliant yet brooding theme tune.

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 30-01-2010 3:41pm

For me, it's gotta be this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZrdVfoRSiA

The Black Oil · 30-01-2010 3:54pm

Good call with Band of Brothers.

John Adams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6DPeCXV5bI

mike65 · 30-01-2010 3:56pm

Classic Quinn Martin intro, funky synclavier type vibe and brass, whats not to like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F0wlfmxKdU

Hank_Jones · 30-01-2010 4:11pm

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this one yet.

For shame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiDoBYu-S04

The Black Oil · 30-01-2010 4:20pm

Forgot about NYPD Blue. Can't seem to find the normal one, this is extended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME9B5hmiesw

AnonoBoy · 30-01-2010 4:33pm

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this one yet.

For shame.

Someone already did. They just didn't embed it

Personally I love The Wire intros with the first season still being my favourite.

missingtime · 30-01-2010 6:35pm

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Someone already did. They just didn't embed it

Personally I love The Wire intros with the first season still being my favourite.

Prefer season four myself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QE1VEsXSmc

The X-Files - poor quality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdmtY0vux30

True Blood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wet5OM7RR8Q

me_right_one · 30-01-2010 6:45pm

Goodfellas.

I love the way they're basked in red light at the back of the car before they open the boot, it just looks as if bloody things are about to happen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2RofOEAEU

Doctor Zaius · 30-01-2010 6:50pm

OP, was Batman beyond not called batman of the Future over here. It was a great cartoon and very underrated.

Anyway, there are a lot of good opening titles as already mentioned. The Wire, Dexter and Mad Men are up there for me. just thought I'd link this.
The Simpsons version of the Mad Men intro for those that haven't seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcmM7Jh2Y3k

Zimovane · 30-01-2010 6:52pm

The Wire season 2 with Tom Waits on vocals.

opr · 30-01-2010 7:08pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIfuaUTH9Y4

K4t · 30-01-2010 7:47pm

OZ intro is quite chilling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7w49aAaweA

Pushtrak · 30-01-2010 8:27pm

Other notable ones have already been mentioned. Babylon 5 has some great ones. Season 3 and 4 in particular. Wasn't that impressed by season 5 opening to be honest though.

Mr E · 30-01-2010 8:41pm

The Hoff, a talking car and one of the best theme tunes ever...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94UDaYcUg68

AnonoBoy · 30-01-2010 9:06pm

me_right_one wrote: »

Goodfellas.

I love the way they're basked in red light at the back of the car before they open the boot, it just looks as if bloody things are about to happen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2RofOEAEU

Great intro alright but it's for a movie and we're talking TV here.

bonerm · 30-01-2010 9:11pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l3a7lsEgFM

Terrible show, great intro.

RobertFoster · 30-01-2010 9:19pm

#I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation...# *air guitars*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IopHL3auzNQ

deman · 30-01-2010 9:37pm

Gotta agree that Dallas and The Six Million Dollar Man are the 2 of the best as far as I'm concerned... but there are a few others that are classics.

Hawaii Five Oh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepyGm9Me6w

Tarzan (1960s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDL9pnpXXOU

Star Trek (OS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI

Bonanza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjdRgBAY278

There seems to be a pattern here.... all old series. Maybe they just don't make them like they used to.

The Express · 31-01-2010 12:45pm

Shameless - series 6.

"Tickets this way for the Chatsworth Express; come and watch pikeys makin' a mess of the lives they've been given my 'im upstairs....

also...

The Word - Channel 4 - 1993 titles.

RoundyMooney · 31-01-2010 12:56pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvMj5LuT5hk

bonerm · 31-01-2010 1:20pm

deman wrote: »

There seems to be a pattern here.... all old series. Maybe they just don't make them like they used to.

Nah the reason imho is that shows back then were so bad that an exciting title sequence often could completely steal the limelight entirely. That is why we remember them so well. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if I heard that some old shows actually spent more time concentrating on getting a great title sequence than they did on trying to make a good show!

Even tho it left me with plenty of happy times and fond memories I still don't subscribe to the notion that TV was better 20-30 years ago than it is now. Not even close.

SlickRic · 31-01-2010 1:38pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpRD_il9s8

/thread.

LFCFan · 31-01-2010 1:50pm

Modern series for me would be True Blood, Dexter, The Wire, Rescue Me
Old Series would be The A Team, Knight Rider, The Fall Guy, McGyver

magma69 · 31-01-2010 1:50pm

This one always makes me smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRPg2slFEQc

James74 · 31-01-2010 2:08pm

Used to love this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ZUSQQdoS4

...and...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJnPS0QuTvY

Bog · 31-01-2010 2:13pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc46Gk-6qrA

This used to really scare me as a kid. But I did like the dancers for some reason.

dambarude · 31-01-2010 2:19pm

Purely for the nostalgia!

Crann na Beatha · 31-01-2010 2:27pm

This post has been deleted.

dambarude · 31-01-2010 2:29pm

Iolar wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtN7UyYNGZU

That too. I prefer the Johto one though.

InKonspikuou2 · 31-01-2010 4:31pm

Deadwood

John Adams

Homicide life on the streets

Cops (Yeah the footage changed a lot but the music fits it perfectly)

mobius42 · 31-01-2010 4:52pm

The Prisoner had a pretty epic intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eUKogPF7s

Conor108 · 31-01-2010 6:19pm

I liked Capricas one yesterday

Lost has had some great intros though

Doctor Zaius · 31-01-2010 7:00pm

there's a voice, keeps on calling me........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINxfouNQFw

(The Littlest Hobo) Mainly the song that makes this.

(Can't seem to get the hang of this youtube embed thing at all)

lord lucan · 31-01-2010 7:47pm

Bog wrote: »

This used to really scare me as a kid. But I did like the dancers for some reason.

Lol. Same here,the music is very eerie! The 'naked' dancer was deadly,i was always sent out to get the coal when it started though.:(

lord lucan · 31-01-2010 7:48pm

Doctor Zaius wrote: »

there's a voice, keeps on calling me........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINxfouNQFw

(The Littlest Hobo) Mainly the song that makes this.

(Can't seem to get the hang of this youtube embed thing at all)

Here ya go.