Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) I have Bell TV - which includes a few channels that pour out the vast back catalogue of old TV shows, like sludge coming out of an old pipe. Of course, when it comes to nostalgia my sludge is your gold. The addition of the new Comedy Gold channel set me off on a 15 minute tour of the schedule looking for old shows I could record on my Personal Video Recorder. I found a show that I used to love as a youth, but that I loved ONLY for the opening. That was Hawaii Five O, which I understand has been redone now.and which I haven't yet seen. But it can't have the same energy of the opening sequence of the original show. It starts with the show title zooming in from underneath a massive curling wave, as drums pound ... getting louder until a suite of horns gets us started. The sequence that follows is almost out of time, with cuts happening so quickly that they seem like they come from a music video from 10 or 20 years in the future. The shot of the lead (the iconic McGarrett - Jack Lord) is done as a zoom that seems to start from miles away, and finally captures our hero on the top floor balcony of an apartment building. The other actors are caught running, then freeze-framed. (Zulu as Kono ! Kam Fong as Chin Ho !) I taped the show, watched the opening 3 times, then deleted it. God bless the digital age. This, I submit, is the best TV opening there is. Of course it's arguable, which is why I posted it here. It also strikes me that there are lots of bad shows with great openings, but I can't think of a great show with a bad opening. All in the Family ? Great show, great opening. Bob Newhart ? Twilight Zone ? Law and Order ? All great openings. Edited October 16, 2010 by Michael Hardner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Gee how far back do we go? What about the opening for some of the western of the '60's like the Rifleman, Bonanza, Have gun will travel, Maverick, The Flintstones, Mickey Mouse Club- the original, 77 Sunset Strip, Ben Casey, The Patty Duke Show, Walt Disney, and the list goes on. There was a guy out of Cleveland, Ohio, on channel 8 11PM every Friday night back in the '60's and he hosted B horror movies. His show would open with him blowing something up with a firecracker, had saying like"Turn Blue" Would put himself on the movie screen with a monster and he stand there and tell the thing off! People around the Great Lakes area would sent him things to blow up on his show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Gee how far back do we go? What about the opening for some of the western of the '60's like the Rifleman, Bonanza, Have gun will travel, Maverick, The Flintstones, Mickey Mouse Club- the original, 77 Sunset Strip, Ben Casey, The Patty Duke Show, Walt Disney, and the list goes on. There was a guy out of Cleveland, Ohio, on channel 8 11PM every Friday night back in the '60's and he hosted B horror movies. His show would open with him blowing something up with a firecracker, had saying like"Turn Blue" Would put himself on the movie screen with a monster and he stand there and tell the thing off! People around the Great Lakes area would sent him things to blow up on his show. Some of those are before my time, but Patty Duke was a great one and the Flintstones too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANADIEN Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Some of those are before my time, but Patty Duke was a great one and the Flintstones too... Hwaii 5-0 had the greatest opening... The new one is not as good, but they retained the spirit of the original one. The Flinstones... a classic Law and order... elegant in its simplicity Bonanza... the music Star Trek Voyager... made me dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Out of curiosity - I went to TV Guide's List of best shows ever and took the top 10, eliminating news and variety shows: 1. Seinfeld (NBC) 2. I Love Lucy (CBS) 3. The Honeymooners (CBS) 4. All in the Family (CBS) 5. The Sopranos (HBO) 6. The Simpsons (Fox) 7. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) 8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) 9. The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) 10. Hill Street Blues (NBC) Seinfeld is the anomaly, but it always was different - a minimalist show with a minimalist albeit great theme song - just a simple bass riff with some horns. Every other show on that list has a boffo opening bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) ....This, I submit, is the best TV opening there is. Of course it's arguable, which is why I posted it here. It also strikes me that there are lots of bad shows with great openings, but I can't think of a great show with a bad opening. Then argue we shall...as the best "opening" goes to CBS' Mission Impossible, because of Lalo Shifrin's music and changing peek at the current episode's scenes. I'm with Topaz on the longer time horizon trouncing contemporary offerings, as Peter Gunn would also be on the list. Compare the MI opening to Hawaii Five-O's: Edited October 16, 2010 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 I didn't watch that show - I'm not sure why. Maybe I was too young. But I still like the 5-0 opener better. One reason is that the MI clips look like they were culled from shows. Still, that's also a great opening. Other good openings: - original Happy Days beginning - Wait Til Your Father Gets Home - My World and Welcome To It - Perry Mason and that excellent theme song - another one I would watch for the opening - Green Acres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 And Mr. Ed, of course of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 I'll give you maximum credit for a fun topic...let's see how your list compares to a dedicated blog on the matter. Top 40 best TV show songs / themes: http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2008/11/the-20-best-tv-theme-songs-of-all-time.html I am also very partial to ITV's (UK) very classy opening for The Avengers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0YOlU3SMgs&feature=related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeyhands Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Ummmmmm....... Bay Watch anyone??? Not for the music of course... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 That top 40 list was for songs only, yet still overlaps with many of the choices submitted here. Makes you wonder if the opening is possibly the key factor in getting a show started towards success - the invitation to the uninitiated viewer. Or maybe the talent that made the shows great also made the openings great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) That top 40 list was for songs only, yet still overlaps with many of the choices submitted here.... I submit that the "song" (theme music and/or lyrics) is critical to such success because it functions like the "hook" in a pop music tune. The sound of the opening (and closing) credits signaled and beckoned the viewers attention. This one was particularly effective: As was this...remember (if old enough)...these animated shows aired in prime time. Edited October 16, 2010 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANADIEN Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 What most of the show openings that have been mentioned have in coomon is the musicévisual combo. One exception... Law and Order... No music at the start, no stunning visual, just a short text. and yet, it is one of the best openings in recent years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Do any of you babyboomers remember the Beatles cartoons? It was on Saturday morning, I think it was the mid 60's, it was on only about a year. One of the opening songs was Yellow Submarine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Dont forget about 'The Trouble With Tracy" and of course "Check it Out" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogOnPorch Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 (edited) early... late... Very first... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ-eZoXgL1Y Edited October 19, 2010 by DogOnPorch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Squid Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Hill Street Blues... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtWjhN86WLU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
political sun Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) Mod Squad ,,,, again great brass horns The Prisoner...was great too,,,and it had brass horns too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvc84J_F2E alot of those old tv show themes had great horn sections in the mix. As a kid i can recall the animal show themes that i liked Flipper littlest hobo Edited October 20, 2010 by political sun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 I submit that the "song" (theme music and/or lyrics) is critical to such success because it functions like the "hook" in a pop music tune. The sound of the opening (and closing) credits signaled and beckoned the viewers attention. You are so right! I think the Flintstones theme is a prime example. You know where you're at as soon as you hear "Yabba-Dabba Doo!" Some others... "Get ready for action!" I have this on a sci-fi compilation CD. I've never even seen this show, but this song has me stoked about the next half hour! It makes me want to grab some bongos and play along. I always loved the King of the Hill intro. The music was energetic and instantly recognizable, and the sequence introduces the premise and the characters. The Simpsons opening sequence is the same, and moreso. I always feel cheated if I catch an episode in syndication and they've trimmed the intro to squeeze in more ads. The full intro shows off the whole town of Springfield, and most of the many characters that inhabit it. And needless to say... -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 If I may... -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyly Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hawaii 5-0 was great the new is okay too my fav CHEERS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyminded Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 Lots of good ones here. "The Twilight Zone" was pretty awesome. The opening to "Six Feet Under" was fantastic, even though I was not particularly a fan of the show itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted October 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 And my NEW favourite: MAD MEN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyminded Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 And my NEW favourite: MAD MEN. Mad Men is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fellowtraveller Posted October 25, 2010 Report Share Posted October 25, 2010 Dexter has an excellent opener for current shows. The best in recent years was the first few seasons of Weeds. The theme song was the same in each epsiode, but it was done by a different artist for every episode. They also have the same titles but with different graphics to this day. 1. Seinfeld (NBC)2. I Love Lucy (CBS) 3. The Honeymooners (CBS) 4. All in the Family (CBS) 5. The Sopranos (HBO) 6. The Simpsons (Fox) 7. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) 8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) 9. The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) 10. Hill Street Blues (NBC) Any Top Ten list that does not have The Wire at first or second is a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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