Ransom Riggs
Introductions Necessary: the Best TV Show Intros
by Ransom Riggs - August 15, 2008 - 10:38 AM

The term “golden age of television” is thrown around a lot in reference to the shows of the 1950s (many of them done live), but in my humble opinion, we’re really in the golden age right now. Shows like Mad Men, The Wire and The Sopranos (which kind of started it all, intro-wise as well as show-wise) are proof that television is allowing itself to be smarter; shows like Lost that TV is allowing itself to tell more complicated, ambitious (even baffling) stories; shows like Arrested Development that TV can tell jokes not everyone in the audience will get. The best shows aren’t talking down to audiences anymore; they’ve stopped caring about catering to the lowest common denominator, and in doing so they’ve elevated the whole art form.

Maybe that sounds a little highfalootin’, but heck, even looking at the intros to these shows will tell you that we’re dealing with a new kind of animal. Sopranos fans with TIVOs: how many seasons did you find yourself watching the intro every week, even though you could skip through it? Here are some of our recent faves, and a few classics thrown in for good measure.

The Sopranos


Let’s start with the one that started it all: The Sopranos. The intro feels so loose and improvised, and slowly it dawns on you that’s it’s more than a travelogue, it’s a story: Tony’s going home. The song makes all the difference, and in keeping with the improvised nature of the intro’s visuals, it’s appropriate that creator David Chase simply heard the song on an LA indie radio station one day (KCRW), called the station to find out what the song was called, and licensed it.

Weeds

I’ve never seen an episode of Weeds (I’m told it’s great), but I think the intro speaks for itself: it sets the delicate, ironic tone of a show about a woman selling pot to raise her kids in a “perfect” suburban community — without showing any of the characters, without hitting us over the head. “Little Boxes” is a 1962 song by Malvina Reynolds, who was inspired to write it while driving through suburban Southern California. Cleverly, the show asked a number of other musicians to cover the song, and has used versions of “Little Boxes” by Elvis Costello, Death Cab for Cutie, Regina Spektor and others.

Six Feet Under

Another modern classic. Six Feet Under is a show with a really tricky tone: it’s a drama about a funeral home but it’s not unrelentingly morbid, and the song here reflects that. It’s quirky and hypnotic without being creepy. That every image in the intro is about death is actually pretty subtle (save the tagged toe): the hands coming apart cutting to the blue sky; any more heavy-handed and this would’ve felt like overkill; any lighter and it would’ve blown away in the breeze.

Mad Men

This intro doesn’t tell a story, like some do, but some of the themes of the show are here: the “protagonist” of the intro (Don Draper?) is literally inscrutable — he reflects no light — as befits a character harboring a dark secret; he lives in a world made of mix-n-match clipart; he’s in freefall, which can only end in disaster. (If you watched all of season one, you know what I’m talking about.) And I’m ready to put the music on endless repeat in my iPod.

Mystery!

How often does Edward Gorey animate an TV show intro — or anything, for that matter? So charming, so classic — perfect.

Carnivale

I didn’t love the show, but this intro blows me away. Do they give out Emmys for intros? They should.

Heatvision and Jack

This hilarious show starring Jack Black as an astronaut made “smartest man on Earth” by exposure to “inappropriate levels of sunlight” and his talking motorcycle/former roommate (voiced by Owen Wilson) is one of the funniest TV show concepts I’ve seen. Too bad it never got picked up — but the first episode, and its hilarious intro, will live on forever. It owes a clear debt to The Six Million Dollar Man and its ilk. (But let’s face it, I just like saying “ilk.”)

The Simpsons
You’ve all seen it so many times, posting it here would be redundant. At the same time, not mentioning it would be a sin.

The Twilight Zone

Nothing set the mood like the intro to the Twilight Zone. Even if the episode to follow was cheezy (as many were), the intro always gave me goosebumps.You may now argue with me in the comments.

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Comments (44)

  1. Weeds is the best intro next to Dexter. Little Boxes runs through my head everyday at lunch…I work in the Loop in Chicago, and let me tell you they are all made out of ticky tacky and they do all look just the same.

    Dexter is the best shot intro i have seen in years, so dark and almost gross, but its just a typical morning. genius!

    posted by Dayna on 8-15-2008 at 10:42 am

  2. For the Weeds entry, they’ve actually abandoned the Little Boxes intro. For spoilerish reasons, I won’t say why, but now the opening is basically just a title card that changes weekly and loosely ties into that week’s story.

    I don’t know if it was a rumor, but I think the covers started up because some band liked the show, liked the song, did a cover of it and sent it to the producers. They liked the cover, wanted to use it, but then wanted to take it to the next step by having all sorts of band covers

    posted by Kevin on 8-15-2008 at 10:45 am

  3. I think The Tudors deserves a shout out– I don’t actually subscribe to Showtime, but when I finally watched the DVD of the first season, I never skipped through an opening sequence, a rarity for me.

    There’s something about the combination of the music, the captions, and the actors that captures my attention every time.

    posted by Sarah on 8-15-2008 at 10:53 am

  4. Actually, the cover of the Little Houses song on Weeds was done because the producers didn’t know if they were going to be able to use the original version (because of copyright issues. They asked some bands to cover it. When they found out they could use the original they did, but eventually they collected enough to use for all of season two.

    posted by Anna on 8-15-2008 at 10:53 am

  5. When I was a kid my parents watched Mystery! every week on PBS. I never cared about the show (mainly because I was 6), but I remember I always stayed in the room long enough to watch that intro. It’s a fine childhood memory, which is only disturbing if you think about it.

    posted by SpaceMonkeyX on 8-15-2008 at 11:22 am

  6. I need to put my two cents in and say that one of my favorite intros is for Arrested Development. Sure it’s the same every time, but it gives you a nice overview of the situation without drowning you in information. I also like the song that’s playing.

    Speaking of songs in TV intros, I believe that award would fall on the U.S. version of The Office (I should really get around to watching the UK one).

    posted by Aaron on 8-15-2008 at 11:25 am

  7. Mad Men is SUCH an amazing show. I was only introduced to it a couple of weeks ago when AMC was showing a marathon of the first season as a lead up to the second season premier. Thankfully I happen to be flipping through channels (avoiding homework, as per usual) and caught the beginning of the 3rd episode. Needless to say I had a lot of work to catch up on the following day.

    posted by Jessica on 8-15-2008 at 11:42 am

  8. I’d like to nominate a couple of Adult Swim shows for great intros: Metalocalypse and The Venture Brothers.

    reCapcha: 75 Advices

    That could be a cool name for a show…

    posted by Anthony on 8-15-2008 at 11:44 am

  9. I know a lot of people hated it, but I especially loved the Season Three intro to Veronica Mars. It kind of reflected the dark change in the series.

    posted by Reese on 8-15-2008 at 11:50 am

  10. I always loved the intro to Millennium. Wonderful poignant music, great images, a building of suspense, and of course the yellow house. Unfortunately, by the third season, the intro was the best part of the show.

    posted by Blitzen on 8-15-2008 at 12:02 pm

  11. i have to agree with any given dexter vote. the whole intro is a brilliant metaphor for the whole show. and who doesn’t like violent eggs.

    posted by cary on 8-15-2008 at 12:10 pm

  12. wonderful post!!! And thank you so much for including Mystery. That intro always makes me so happy.

    posted by Mangesh on 8-15-2008 at 12:12 pm

  13. I still love the intro to Twin Peaks. In my opinion, Angelo Badalamenti’s composition is the best piece of music ever to be used as a tv show’s theme.

    posted by Cardinal_Fang on 8-15-2008 at 12:14 pm

  14. Great call on Mystery! Kudos. That show is a great childhood memory of mine.
    Aaron: I agree, the U.S. version of the Office has a fantastic intro- simple and to the point, the perfect music for the show. Sidenote: I highly recommend the British version as well; as different as the comedy is, the intros are even more so. You’ll see what I mean if you watch it. Both brilliant in their own way.

    I have to throw out two more 80′s show intros, mainly because I was obsessed with them as a kid- The Incredible Hulk (great music, and when they combine Banner’s face with the Hulk at the end, well I just thought that was the coolest thing ever when I was 9); and Miami Vice (sort of obvious I suppose, but again perfect music for that show.)

    Great list!

    posted by Z-rex on 8-15-2008 at 12:14 pm

  15. My parents, too, allowed me to stay up to watch the intro to “Mystery”. Then it was off to bed. They actually changed the animation slightly after Vincent Price passed away and was replaced by Diana Rigg as the host. The video here is the original Vincent Price-era animation.

    posted by Anne on 8-15-2008 at 12:22 pm

  16. All of these are awesome. I must say Carnivale is my favorite though. Partly because I absolutely love the show. (He said I could disagree in the comments section) And some of the shows I haven’t seen (Weeds, Mad Men) now seeing the intros makes me want to see them now.

    posted by Nathan on 8-15-2008 at 12:27 pm

  17. What about The Simpsons ?

    posted by Joe on 8-15-2008 at 12:51 pm

  18. You know a few that were missed? From the 70′s-Charlie’s Angels, Dragnet, and my personal favorite THE A-TEAM! I love Weeds and I think I’m going to start watching Mad Men-it’s seems interesting. What’s it about?

    posted by Missy on 8-15-2008 at 12:59 pm

  19. Gasp! I KNEW the Mystery! intro used to be different, but I could never remember how it went!

    posted by Zach on 8-15-2008 at 1:05 pm

  20. You missed one of my favorite intros, the one to “Kids in the Hall”

    posted by israphael on 8-15-2008 at 1:10 pm

  21. I also have to agree with any and all Dexter votes. That show is amazing and the intro is nothing short of spectacular. I also love the LOST intro, just because it is so plain and fits the show perfectly.

    posted by Mallory on 8-15-2008 at 1:35 pm

  22. I think the point of the Sopranos opening isn’t that Tony’s going home…it’s more of a family history: from the city to the inner suburbs to right next door to a doctor.

    You nailed Mad Men’s opening perfectly. Best show of the last couple years.

    I always thought the Weeds opening song was too obvious for an otherwise clever show. Knowing that Little Boxes was written in ’62 makes more sense.

    Dexter has become a fave, but we skip through the opening ‘cuz it’s just gross. I know, I know.

    posted by Southwest Florida Husky on 8-15-2008 at 2:23 pm

  23. What about “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”?

    Ditto on “Kids in The Hall”.

    And, I still enjoy all the classic “Twilight Zone” episodes; cheesy or not.

    posted by Nerak on 8-15-2008 at 2:30 pm

  24. I can’t believe Thundar The Barbarian didn’t make the list.

    posted by ShuggieLove on 8-15-2008 at 2:32 pm

  25. If you haven’t seen Mad Men, try to get caught up and start watching. It is one of the best television shows ever!

    I love how they tie the commercials for the show into the show – or actually, I guess it is vice versa.

    Great characters, great 60′s era sceneray and it is truly an escape to a different time.

    Awesome show!

    posted by Karen on 8-15-2008 at 2:56 pm

  26. Star Trek?

    posted by DW on 8-15-2008 at 4:29 pm

  27. Carnivale won an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design in 2004. When we watched the DVDs, I never wanted to skip the intro. There is an extensive explanation of the imagery on the Carnivale site. Makes it even more interesting!

    posted by Shasta on 8-15-2008 at 4:34 pm

  28. No love for the wire? especially the blind boys of alabama one…spectacular!

    posted by guysmiley on 8-15-2008 at 4:45 pm

  29. As with the Sopranos opener, I often watch the intro for HBO’s Deadwood over and over. Great music and images. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the same artists that did Carnivale also contributed.

    posted by Neal on 8-15-2008 at 4:52 pm

  30. I always loved Dead Like Me, Dexter And Eureka.

    posted by infraredhead on 8-15-2008 at 6:52 pm

  31. One intro that is often ignored and horribly, horribly underrated is Millennium, the younger, gorier, less popular spin off of the X-Files. That has one of the most hauntingly beautiful intros I’ve ever seen.

    posted by Beerin on 8-15-2008 at 8:39 pm

  32. Dexter has a brilliant intro. Just creepy enough to make you feel unhinged and fascinated at the same time. That shot of the steak…brilliant.

    I also love the X-Files intro. Because it was really just so *perfect* for the show.

    The Burn Notice intro/recap is adorable too. Really sets the tone of the show. Love it.

    posted by Anna on 8-16-2008 at 3:14 am

  33. I always really loved the opening for Cowboy Bebop. Tank! is a great song to open a show to. If you have ever heard the long version it is really an amazing jazz performance. I also really liked how Bebop would always tie the show into a musical genre and make that the backbone of the story.

    posted by gary on 8-16-2008 at 9:56 am

  34. And here I thought I was going to be all original and say that Dexter has one of the best intros in television save for The Twilight Zone. Well, it deserves to be said again.

    posted by Debbie on 8-16-2008 at 10:16 am

  35. Have fond memories of
    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century…
    Knight Rider…
    Salvage 1 and
    The Equalizer

    and, more recently, memorable openings for
    Farscape…
    Ghost Whisperer…
    Prison Break…
    The West Wing and
    Monk…

    posted by Simon on 8-16-2008 at 10:20 am

  36. I’ll throw in a vote to the intro to Nip/Tuck.

    A thing about the Sopranos intro…yes, Tony’s going home, but everyone who lives in North Jersey knows you don’t get out of the Lincoln Tunnel and take the turnpike to get to the Caldwells. Tony’s got other business to do before he goes home, which makes the intro even better for me.

    posted by Liz on 8-16-2008 at 10:36 am

  37. So many forgotten ones:

    Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, because I bet you can say/sing the opening almost word-for-word.

    As long as we’re doing Adult Swim, Cowboy Bebop has the coolest opening theme ever.

    And kudos to the persons who mentioned Star Trek and Twin Peaks.

    Others:
    The A-Team
    Hill Street Blues
    Rockford Files
    Jonny Quest
    ER
    Dragnet

    posted by Michael on 8-16-2008 at 10:00 pm

  38. My vote for best intro (with any of the various intro songs), as well as best adult cartoon, goes to Squidbillies.

    posted by El Tigre on 8-17-2008 at 1:35 am

  39. The Adventures of Pete and Pete
    2nd – Kids in the Hall
    Greatest American Hero
    2nd – A-Team
    Knight Rider

    And even better than the opening credit sequence to Six Feet Under were the bits right before where the death of the day happened, and the name of the person, their birthday and death day appeared on the screen in white. Always chilling and always interesting to see how the person would be knocked off that week.

    posted by JHop on 8-17-2008 at 11:51 am

  40. I’d like to shout out Arrested Development. That show’s intro always made me smile for some reason, just like the rest of the show. And the music going along with it fits perfectly.

    Monty Python deserves a spot too, I believe. As well as Batman: The Animated Series.

    posted by Mr.Death on 8-17-2008 at 9:33 pm

  41. I really like the intro for Bones, it touches a lot of different emotions with its techno/piano switching. I also love The Crystal Method.

    The House intro is probably my favorite of all time, however. The music and visuals really set the mood for the show.

    posted by YathKabaas on 8-18-2008 at 1:37 am

  42. HBO shows are already well-represented here, but I’d give a vote for “Deadwood,” which I thought had a great, tone-setting intro. Great music, and the image of the horse running into the town was just gorgeous.

    I absolutely agree about “Six Feet Under.” *Such* a great intro. The shot of the hands separating just gives me goosebumps every time.

    And “Mystery” — my parents watched it when I was a kid, and I always loved that intro. That was what turned me into an Edward Gorey fan.

    posted by Miranda on 8-20-2008 at 5:50 pm

  43. Buffy – that music just makes you want to get up and kick some ass.

    Angel – GORGEOUS music and pretty visuals.

    Babylon 5 – Each season’s intro was narrated by a different cast member and summarized the atmosphere and situation of the station and universe, which changes drastically over the course of the five seasons. Kinda hard to truly describe how cool the contrast is without spoiling anything, but it’s pretty awesome.

    posted by Celeste M. on 8-23-2008 at 9:26 pm

  44. Oh, I forgot to say though I want to love BSG’s intro (I adore the theme song), I have to look away from the screen for half of it because Ron Moore thought it was a good idea to insert extremely spoilery shots of THE EPISODE YOU ARE ABOUT TO WATCH into the opening sequence. NOT COOL, RDM.

    posted by Celeste M. on 8-23-2008 at 9:30 pm

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