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Best & Worst Title Sequences

post #1 of 128
1/28/05 at 1:31pm
Thread Starter 
Here's my lists:

Best

Law & Order- The music is perfect and matches the feel of the show. So does the visuals.

Northern Exposure- The moose walks around to odd Caribbean-Canadianesque music. Quirkiness.

St. Elsewhere- The synthesized music and hospital visuals were good without being cheesy, which is hard with synthesizers.

Worst

Full House- That song bothered the hell out of me! Hated it!

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation- The sequence compared to its spinoffs is low-key and cheesy. I mean, can they do something better than that tacky name font?

21 Jump Street- 'Nuff said.

Second Time Around- Has anyone seen the show? It's title sequence looks like it was made using PowerPoint and PhotoShop.
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post #2 of 128
1/29/05 at 10:54pm
Best

CSI: NY - Its the better than the original CSI and Miami.

JAG: - I can't explain why I like it... I just do.

Star Trek: Enterprise - I may be alone on this but I think its really cool considering its showing our exploratory achievements of the last century, the music fits too.

Smallville - You get a real good feel what the show is about by watching this.

Worst

The Apprentice - Hate the theme song and not interesting in watching the "Don" walking.

NCIS - I like the show but dislike the intro the same reason BenjaminX doesn't like the orignal CSI's intro.

Lost - I wish they could have done something more to it.

Angel - Compared the the Buffy intro this one is boring. Buffy's is full of energy.... Angel is the kind where you can fall asleep watching it.
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post #3 of 128
1/29/05 at 11:44pm
Haven't watched it recently, but in the earlier seasons I enjoyed That 70's Show - The station wagon sequence was always fun and got me in the mood for the show.

Other recent shows include:

CSI: Miami - I like the bold color sequences in this one. CSI: NY is pretty good also. Both are better than the sequences on the original Vegas Show.

Las Vegas - Very flashy with a solid song. (Too bad about the DVD release of Season 1 and the credits. )

Older shows whose credits stood out for me include:

Kung Fu - I always like the retrospective nature of the shots in the credits. The fact that it is one of my top 10 favorite alltime shows probably doesn't hurt.

Star Trek: Voyager - Even though the show was pretty bad, always liked the credits.

Babylon 5 - I liked the fact that each season had different credits that reflected the show's major story arc.

Worst. Eh, probably too many to count.

- Walter.
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post #4 of 128
1/30/05 at 3:06am
The best title sequence I've ever seen: Carnivàle. It's just incredible.

And the worst one...um...I don't dislike any credits of the shows I'm watching, so right now I can't think of anything.
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post #5 of 128
1/30/05 at 7:15am
I agree with Alex: Carnivale is the best right now.

On the flip side, I like the very simple idea of the title sequences giving some background. Some in the past:

All in the Family basically showing us where Archie and Edith lived and who they were, all the while they sing the theme.

Mary Tyler Moore with the concluding freeze frame of the hat toss.

Bob Newhart and his commute—many in Chicago tried to figure out the exact locations.

The Sopranos is a direct descendent of this—plus it has just an incredible theme.
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post #6 of 128
1/30/05 at 8:54am
Well my list has come from years of watching tv and cartoons, so bear with me.

Best

Twlight Zone : What I got to say...it's a classic. Plus that music sets up the creepy tone the show has.

Gargoyles : Great theme song that sets up the show with the dramtic music with powerful scenes from the pilot movie while Goliath's narration brings you up to speed on the plot.

ER : Powerful music playing while scenes of the doctor saving lifes play. Note that I only really seen the first two season, so I don't know if this rings true anymore.

Batman the Animated Series : Great music while a simple bank robbery happen sets up the tone of the show.

Worst

Goliath Chronolocials : Compare to the classic theme song of the first two seasons of Gargoyles...this blows. Plus the cheesy CGI scenes of the buildings with bad looking pictures fo the villains on the CGI...bah!

Tail Spin : Don't get me wrong, I like the show, but that theme song is so annoying that I can't bear to listen to the theme without the mute button handy. Acually...this is a case for a lot of Disney Afternoon shows.
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post #7 of 128
1/30/05 at 9:17am
I love the simple intro to 24. Especially in 5.1 surround.

An older show that had a great title sequence was Quantum Leap. Well, at least until they redid the theme music in Season 5.

And on that subject, am I the only one prefers the old Alias theme to the newer remixed version?
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post #8 of 128
1/30/05 at 9:23am
I think the reason why Lost has such a short (non) title sequence is because they want to use every second for the story. More power to them for that.

My favorite (maybe not the best) title sequence is for Millennium. The music and the images just nails the tone of the show perfectly.
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post #9 of 128
1/30/05 at 9:30am
Among current shows, I have to give another vote to Carnivale Just an awesome sequence.
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post #10 of 128
1/30/05 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 
Carnivale's title sequence is pure brilliance. I didn't list it as one of the best because it's in a class on it's own.

But here are two more title sequences I love:

The West Wing- It screams elegance and hubris and elitism and I love it!

Hill Street Blues- It's too good to describe.
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post #11 of 128
1/30/05 at 9:39am
I say Firefly had the best intro.


At first, I hated it. But after being trapped by a blizzard I watched all (but two) episodes in a single day, I grew to love it (and the show!)
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post #12 of 128
1/30/05 at 10:00am
Another vote to Carnivale. Just brilliant. The music is amazing too.

Other good choices are Star Trek: Enterprise (the sequence tells a kind of clever story "from there to here") and Dead Like Me (very, very funny and original).

Twin Peaks' intro was/is extremely beautiful, but that's at least partially because it got one of the best theme songs written for a tv-show.
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post #13 of 128
1/30/05 at 10:14am
Quote:
And on that subject, am I the only one prefers the old Alias theme to the newer remixed version?
Not only that, and not that looking at Jennifer Garner in all her different outfits isn't nice, but I prefer the black and while credits. The credits are still there in the new title sequence, but honestly, who looks at them now?
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post #14 of 128
1/30/05 at 11:10am
Thread Starter 
I agree. Alias's new version sucks. It's one of those what were they thinking? situations. It's like what if Law & Order changed it's title seqence to Sam Waterston dancing to Eurodance music; it's not good.
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post #15 of 128
1/30/05 at 12:59pm
How could you not like Tail Spins' intro (Spin It!).... Disney's animation tv series from the late 80s to early 90s were pretty good. Duck Tales, Goof Troop and Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers were catchy although I don't remember Darkwing Duck's intro.
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post #16 of 128
1/30/05 at 1:07pm
Best:
The season one "Everwood" credits
Scrubs
Smallville
Joan of Arcadia
Seasone one "Malcolm" credits
The Simpsons
Futurama
Firefly

And "Arrested" has grown on me.
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post #17 of 128
1/30/05 at 1:48pm
Maybe it's just the song, but I'd have to put Cheers up there at the top.
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post #18 of 128
1/30/05 at 2:17pm
The original intro to Perfect Strangers was really good.

~T
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post #19 of 128
1/30/05 at 2:21pm
Thread Starter 
Here's one more favorite title sequence:

Without a Trace- The music and the visuals are so thoughtfully mixed together so perfectly and wonderfully, it's literally heartpounding.
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post #20 of 128
1/30/05 at 3:59pm
The best opening title sequences:
Twin Peaks (*My personal favorite)
Buffy
Angel
Carnivale
Arrested Development
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post #21 of 128
1/30/05 at 4:57pm
The Carnivale sequence

That's from the production company's website, www.a52.com.

My favorites are Cowboy Bebop and The Sopranos.
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post #22 of 128
1/30/05 at 5:38pm
Quote:
I agree. Alias's new version sucks. It's one of those what were they thinking? situations. It's like what if Law & Order changed it's title seqence to Sam Waterston dancing to Eurodance music; it's not good.
Okay, I think you're going way too far. I'm guessing the new title sequence was created to try to bring in more viewers, even though it only runs for 30 seconds. Comparing Jennifer Garner and Sam Waterston...ick.
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post #23 of 128
1/30/05 at 7:21pm
Best:
Wings
Boomtown
Taxi
The Waltons
King of the Hill
American Dreams
The Simpsons
Cheers
WKRP in Cincinnati
Newhart
Bob Newhart Show
Arthur
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post #24 of 128
1/30/05 at 7:40pm
Nip - Tuck has a very interesting opening.

I like Rescue Me's opening...but I like the song, so...

Same goes for the original Battlestar Galactica, not anything special as far as openings go but I loved the music.

The Twilight Zone(1985) - The visuals were highly compelling and abstract for the 80's and the title music from The Grateful Dead was pretty damn bizarre & interesting. A standout among title sequences from that time....and even today.
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post #25 of 128
1/30/05 at 8:06pm
I really like the Six Feet Under and Nip/Tuck openings. Those to me are by far the most clever. I also enjoy Smallvilles opening.
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post #26 of 128
1/30/05 at 8:35pm
I agree with Kenneth Cummings on three of them,

The Twilight Zone
Gargoyles(AWESOME music)
Batman TAS(this set the tone for the show..really dark, cartoon noir)

I'd like to add a couple..

Miracles(ABC 2003..pretty powerful music and some chilling scenes to give you a feel for the show)
Veritas The Quest(similar to gargoyles, loved the music)
Tru Calling(pretty cool song by Full Blown Rose)

On the bubble: Karen Sisco(thought it was kinda cool), X-files(solid intro), Smallville(thought it was okay), Carnivale(thought it was awesome the first time and then after that it was just..ok)
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post #27 of 128
1/31/05 at 5:42am
I also have to throw a vote in for The Venture Brothers on Adult Swim. Awesome intro.
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post #28 of 128
1/31/05 at 7:16am
Best:

Arrested Development - it's a recap and title sequence all in one.

Enterprise - I like the song, I think it's the only Diane Warren song I can stand. But the visuals are cool.

Quantum Leap - Even though it was longer than it needed to be, it was still cool.

Scrubs - Short and simple and good music.

Worst:

American Idol - Darn I hate the music, it annoys me.
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post #29 of 128
1/31/05 at 10:02am
Oops, I forgot Tales from the Darkside. :b
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post #30 of 128
1/31/05 at 10:36am
BEST:

Enterprise -- I'm surprised so many people in here actually like it. I think it's very good and I love the song. It's not Jerry Goldsmith, but it's not supposed to be.

The West Wing -- Beautiful, elegant.

The Sopranos -- Love that song.

Smallville -- Great Song! Good graphics

Battlestar Galactica (original) -- Great Theme

WORST:

American Idol -- Hate that song

New Battlestar Galactica -- I HATE the music . . . that is no theme at all. If you can't hum it, it's not a theme, and the music doesn't identify the show at all. If you're in another room and the theme of a show comes on, you want to be able to say, 'Oh, my show is on!" Never gonna happen with the Battlestar Galactica theme. But I really like the show.
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