There are so many good choices. Some opening credits are strong on music, some on information, some on atmosphere. I think this one does a great job of setting the story and you can't beat the music for me.
Runner -up would be the opening credits to Mary Tyler Moore.
What do you like?
I really like the opening credits to The Sopranos.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch serious television drama but the one I remember most is the opening credits to YES MINISTER. I like the way the characters behind the actors are drawn to a fine background score. And at the cost of sounding absolutely hackneyed, FRIENDS. The "I'll Be There For You" theme song by THE REMBRANDTS just refuses to go away. You've got to hand it to the sitcom for its universal appeal. It has some clever humour and one-liners.
ReplyDeleteRescue Me - the Von Bondies.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
I always liked the opening credits and music to TAXI. Bob James' "Angela" is a haunting tune.
ReplyDeleteHum, I don't guess I often watch opening credits to anything. I always did like the opening to Star Trek, with the narration of "its five year mission." Oh, as a kid I used to watch the opening of Gunsmoke and draw against Matt Dillon!
ReplyDeleteTHE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and THE WILD WILD WEST. I'm showing my age here, aren't I?
ReplyDeleteOverall, for music and tone I think I'd go with Hill Street Blues.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
No doubt about it for me. I have to go with the L.A. cop show, Southland. I just think it's outstanding in everyway.
ReplyDelete2nd place and one that wouldn't leave my head for a long time is Mad Men.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI loved THE WILD WILD WEST animated opening. Forgot about that. The later season of LOST IN SPACE with that chaotic whirling dervish-like theme song and the animation was cool, too.
ReplyDeleteIf you're talking about the entire opening sequence (music, images and concept) then I pick:
Dexter
Game of Thrones
1970s TV had a lot of catchy theme songs (remember how many were released as singles, sold as 45s, and played on the radio?), but the credit sequences themselves were nothing like what we have today.
Jackie likes The Greatest American Hero. She used the song in her class at the time.
ReplyDeleteMike Post did the music, as he did for Hill Street, Rockford Files, L.A. Law, Law & Order and so many others.
Jeff M.
Miami Vice - Jan Hammer. It defined the 80's and made Miami come back.
ReplyDeleteHawaii Five-O.
Get Smart.
St. Elsewhere.
And of course there is an aragument to be made that the Cheers theme song made a dud into a hit show.
Jeff M.
The music themes from Peter Gunn, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible and Bonanza have become iconic. Mannix, Cannon, and Ironside also had good opening credits that set the right mood for the "tough detective" genre.
ReplyDeleteBut the opening credits sequence that made the strongest impression on me was Xena-Warrior Princess. :)
I can't remember the credits, but I always liked the opening music for MAD ABOUT YOU. Just a charming little ditty.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to beat HAWAII 5-0, though.
Mad About You is now in my head. Peter Gunn was really iconic, wasn't it? Mike Post was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember the GAH. Have to go check.
Funny how many of these I can remember both visually and aurally as you mention them. Maybe I need my memory lasered to make room.
Frasier--with the Seattle skyline--and the "cold" opening of Law & Order where the body is discovered before that iconic theme music begins.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the one you featured, Patti. Give me RAWHIDE or THE REBEL. PERRY MASON or ROUTE 66. THE WONDER YEARS or THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT.
ReplyDeleteI like the DEADWOOD opening a lot. Also HELL ON WHEELS.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to FAWLTY TOWERS, the episode where the hotel's sign was changed to read "Farty Owls."
ReplyDeleteCHINA BEACH is a strong contender here, too.
ReplyDeleteTRUE DETECTIVE did a fine job among the most recent.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS:
PERRY MASON (the original)
THE OUTER LIMITS (original)
ANGEL (electric guitar and cello theme helped)
SERIAL EXPERIMENTS; LAIN
When I saw this question on the iPad, I turned the big computer back on to give my answer--Peter Gunn. Maybe that dates me, but I still remember Manchini's (sp?) music.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHard to beat it!
ReplyDeleteHard to beat it!
ReplyDeleteHard to beat it!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. FAWLTY TOWERS. So sedate, totally at odds to what was in store.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6TVj0feC4
BLACKADDER had some good ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzCJegFK2Ec
From Sweden, the utterly fab mid 1970s children's series about the famous veterinarian Dr. Krall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owczXb_tmag
Sick little rats, horses and rabbits
are helped by a certain dr. Krall
Toads with a cold may get medicine for small animals
and good advice from Rolf
I guess something's lost in translation...
I don't know if he pronounced it properly as "Mancheenee," but it was spelled "Mancini"...
ReplyDeleteThere certainly were enough good jazz/jazz-pop themes, ranging from JOHNNY STACCATO and MR. BROADWAY through BARNEY MILLER and THE BOB NEWHART SHOW of the 1970s, and onto MAD ABOUT YOU indeed.
More from mid 1970s Sweden:
ReplyDeleteKALLES KLÄTTERTRÄD (appr. CHARLIE'S CLIMBING TREE).
Kalle likes to hang around in his tree, dreaming about Emma - who unfortunatley is only imaginary. Kalle's granddad likes to sit under tree and read the newspaper. Well, there's more to the series than that, but that's the intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzIXLV6efk8
ReplyDeleteBlack: his gloves of finest mole / Black: his codpiece made of metal /
His horse is blacker than a vole / His pot is blacker than his kettle /
Black Adder, Black Adder, with many a cunning plan /
Black Adder, Black Adder, you horrid little man.
Great stuff.
Jeff M.
Even without looking I'd go with the same -- Sopranos.
ReplyDeleteTrue Detective's opener is like James Bond in Hell. . .