TRUE BLOOD has my favorite opening sequence at the moment. It perfectly captures what's coming afterward. Music, graphics, etc. What one do you like? Or did you like?-- Or do none of them do it for you?
I'd have to agree that "True Blood" has the best current opening, but my all time favorite was the opening of Alan Ball's previous series, "Six Feet Under". Another one I like, even though I don't like the show itself, is the "Nip/Tuck" opening.
Hum, you know it's never occurred to me really to watch one. At least not since Star Trek. I usually use the intro time for shows to grab a snack and a drink and a last bathroom break.
you know, I think I misunderstood the question with my first reply, go ahead and delete that one for me. You are talking intros for TV shows right? the Opening credits?
Barbara-this happens to me periodically. I wonder why? Yes, Six Feet was great too. I did watch Nip/Tuck but can't remember the opening. Also can't remember John. I think I only saw it twice. DEXter is the brilliant. It scares the hell of of me every time. How about Seinfeld. No opening at all. Yeah, Eric, opening for TV shows. But your topics sounds cool too. SOPRANOS was just great too. I think it set the standard for much of it. ANd HILL STREET TOO
If you're talking intros, the ONLY one for me is M*A*S*H. "Suicide is Painless"(no lyrics please) makes a nice overlay of the opening credits while the background scenes tells even an idiot what the show's about.
Some of my favorites that come to mind run to IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW, RHODA and PHYLLIS, NIGHT GALLERY and the original OUTER LIMITS, and the '70s and '80s big band charts employed by THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, LOU GRANT (also love the progress of a daily paper), and CAGNEY AND LACEY. Likewise THE PRISONER, and both the UK and US openings for its prequel, SECRET AGENT.
One television reviewer noted that TRUE BLOOD's opening sequence did a better job in its compass than the series as a whole does in its, which I tend to agree with...a rather more extreme version of the same sort of thing was true of the Japanese anime series SERIAL EXPERIMENTS: LAIN, which, set to the British band Boa's song "Duvet" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0N5YblvT1c&feature=related --this is Boa's video, not the opening, which is visible here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_3Eu22xKnk), gets across rather well the concept of the series (an alienated girl is, through no fault of her own and against her will, is forced to become a sort of god) in a way the plodding narrative doesn't. (Boa vocalist Jasmine Rodgers also much more pleasant to watch than the series or its opening.)
Music is crucial, isn't it? In SAVING GRACE, all we have is a road with a tornado coming and the music. Yet it perfectly captures the show. RHODA or Bob Newhart capture all the characters and the sequence of events. I think a single image can say as much for me now, but maybe not then.
THE VENTURE BROTHERS, among its other charms, has a remarkably good score by J. G. Thirwell which draws on the best of the likes Lalo Schifrin's relevant work and the various Quinn Martin production themes.
While even excellent music and not-bad selection of images helped much for the excellent FRANK'S PLACE...the images unfortunately gave the impression of an earnest period-piece, and not a sly comedy.
Which? Both? FRANK'S PLACE was the good to brilliant followup to WKRP IN CINCINNATI from Hugh Wilson and Tim Reid. CBS treated it about as shabbily as they had WKRP.
FRANK'S PLACE used Louis Armstrong's "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" as its theme...which led to its "rediscovery" by the general public.
Patricia Abbott is the author of more than 125 stories that have appeared online, in print journals and in various anthologies. She is the author of two print novels CONCRETE ANGEL (2015) and SHOT IN DETROIT (2016)(Polis Books). CONCRETE ANGEL was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award in 2016. SHOT IN DETROIT was nominated for an Edgar Award and an Anthony Award in 2017. A collection of her stories I BRING SORROW AND OTHER STORIES OF TRANSGRESSION will appear in 2018.
She also authored two ebooks, MONKEY JUSTICE and HOME INVASION and co-edited DISCOUNT NOIR. She won a Derringer award for her story "My Hero." She lives outside Detroit.
Patricia (Patti) Abbott
SHOT IN DETROIT
Edgar Nominee 2017, Anthony nominee 2017
CONCRETE ANGEL
Polis Books, 2015-nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards
19 comments:
Patti, Goggle isn't allowing me in on the sequence.
I'd have to agree that "True Blood" has the best current opening, but my all time favorite was the opening of Alan Ball's previous series, "Six Feet Under". Another one I like, even though I don't like the show itself, is the "Nip/Tuck" opening.
Hum, you know it's never occurred to me really to watch one. At least not since Star Trek. I usually use the intro time for shows to grab a snack and a drink and a last bathroom break.
Discontinued. But I always loved the opening credits to John From Cincinnati:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrWZlh7DnBE
I've always been a fan of Dexter's opening sequence, which goes a really good job of making a completely innocuous morning routine look sinister.
you know, I think I misunderstood the question with my first reply, go ahead and delete that one for me. You are talking intros for TV shows right? the Opening credits?
THE SOPRANOS was a classic, maybe the best ever. THE WIRE a close second for me. HILL STREET BLUES and CHEERS also come to mind.
Barbara-this happens to me periodically. I wonder why?
Yes, Six Feet was great too. I did watch Nip/Tuck but can't remember the opening. Also can't remember John. I think I only saw it twice.
DEXter is the brilliant. It scares the hell of of me every time.
How about Seinfeld. No opening at all.
Yeah, Eric, opening for TV shows. But your topics sounds cool too.
SOPRANOS was just great too. I think it set the standard for much of it. ANd HILL STREET TOO
Mad Men and Dexter are my favorite openings.
If you're talking intros, the ONLY one for me is M*A*S*H. "Suicide is Painless"(no lyrics please) makes a nice overlay of the opening credits while the background scenes tells even an idiot what the show's about.
The credits sequence to 'Mad Men' is really good, simultaniously recalling Hitchcock and very contemporary.
Like others, I like 'The Wire's opening credits too (and 'Homicide's)
and 'Damages' has a good credits sequence, really informs you of how cold and brutal the show can be.
Some of my favorites that come to mind run to IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW, RHODA and PHYLLIS, NIGHT GALLERY and the original OUTER LIMITS, and the '70s and '80s big band charts employed by THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, LOU GRANT (also love the progress of a daily paper), and CAGNEY AND LACEY. Likewise THE PRISONER, and both the UK and US openings for its prequel, SECRET AGENT.
One television reviewer noted that TRUE BLOOD's opening sequence did a better job in its compass than the series as a whole does in its, which I tend to agree with...a rather more extreme version of the same sort of thing was true of the Japanese anime series SERIAL EXPERIMENTS: LAIN, which, set to the British band Boa's song "Duvet" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0N5YblvT1c&feature=related --this is Boa's video, not the opening, which is visible here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_3Eu22xKnk), gets across rather well the concept of the series (an alienated girl is, through no fault of her own and against her will, is forced to become a sort of god) in a way the plodding narrative doesn't. (Boa vocalist Jasmine Rodgers also much more pleasant to watch than the series or its opening.)
Music is crucial, isn't it? In SAVING GRACE, all we have is a road with a tornado coming and the music. Yet it perfectly captures the show.
RHODA or Bob Newhart capture all the characters and the sequence of events. I think a single image can say as much for me now, but maybe not then.
THE VENTURE BROTHERS, among its other charms, has a remarkably good score by J. G. Thirwell which draws on the best of the likes Lalo Schifrin's relevant work and the various Quinn Martin production themes.
While even excellent music and not-bad selection of images helped much for the excellent FRANK'S PLACE...the images unfortunately gave the impression of an earnest period-piece, and not a sly comedy.
Todd-New one for me.
Which? Both? FRANK'S PLACE was the good to brilliant followup to WKRP IN CINCINNATI from Hugh Wilson and Tim Reid. CBS treated it about as shabbily as they had WKRP.
FRANK'S PLACE used Louis Armstrong's "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" as its theme...which led to its "rediscovery" by the general public.
Oh, I remember Frank's Place. Loved it.
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