The opening titles of a television show are almost an art form these days. The best ones need to give viewers a flavour of the show, perhaps illustrate its premise, and often list the starring actors… in under a minute! Well, usually...
Opening Titles can be intellectual and artistic, or brash and exciting. But they must all do one thing: stop people changing the channel. Oh, and they had better be damned entertaining, because some of these minute marvels will be watched repeatedly for years to come… then nitpicked on blogs!
With all that in mind, I present to you… my personal Top 20 TV Opening Titles. As with all lists, this is subjective opinion. I'm sure you'll be annoyed I left some classics off the list, but all I can say is that my Top 20 are all opening sequences that either: make me want to watch the show or leave me marveling at their craftsmanship.
Let's begin:
20. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
Duration: 0:32.
The show usually started with a cold open, before a character would kick-off the title by saying "It's…" as a cue. Created by Terry Gilliam, the opening titles began with four flowers sprouting the show's title (spoken by John Cleese), before Gilliam's imagination went haywire with the progressively zany mini-adventure of a human with the body of a chicken. They climaxes with the chicken-man being crushed by the iconic Python foot.
It's silly, madcap and imaginative, quite unlike anything else, and brilliantly sets the tone for the episode to come. The use of John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell" as its soundtrack was an inspired choice and the song has become synonymous with the Python brand ever since. I'm not sure how Sousa would feel about that, though!
19. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Duration: 0:40.
The original black-and-white series would always open with a deadly serious narration by creator Rod Sterling, saying: "There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space… and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition… and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call… the twilight zone."
During Sterling's captivating words, the viewer would travel through strange clouds and glimpse weird landscapes, before reaching the starry sky to read the title. Nicely understated and creepy, it's been parodied countless times, but never bettered. Vintage stuff.
18. Space: 1999 (1975-1978)
Duration: 1:08.
Gerry Anderson's live-action sci-fi series begins with a fanfare by Barry Gray, focusing on stars Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, before wowing viewers with the moon base model and title. A spaceship freefalls into an explosion, kicking in some twangy 70s music, mixed with clips and special-effects from the series, as credits are overlaid. It even, near-subliminally, gives you the exact date the show takes place.
17. Dangermouse (1981-1992)
Duration: 0:23.
Cosgrove Hall's greatest creation, Dangermouse, has an opening credits sequence that brilliantly conveys the show's adventuring spirit, silly premise and bonkers humour. It's a 23-second dalliance of danger before the main event, all trussed up in that eminently catchy theme tune.
16. The Prisoner (1967-1968)
Duration: 2:15.
This classic series had very memorable titles that essentially gave you the entire back-story to the show, with Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) travelling to work, arguing with his boss and heading home. Unbeknownst to him, he's been listed as "resigned" by a faceless corporate system, followed home and gassed… leading into the episode.
While the opening titles are the one element of every episode the average viewer could understand, they are a little protracted and don't reveal anything of the actual show's eccentricity and intelligence. You'd be forgiven for thinking you were about to watch a regular spy adventure. In that respect, they're misleading. But, they're also an iconic touchstone.
15. Prison Break (2005-present)
Duration: 0:30.
A God's eye view takes us over Fox River State Penitentiary, as angelic voices sing us into the gradually pulsating theme tune. Along the way, we're shown the main characters in grimy blue hues, mixed with intriguing motifs like a tattoo and origami swan. Eventually, the pace quickens with some moments of escape and violence, before we pull away from our hero (imprisoned Michael Scofield) and mix to that curious tattoo and swan again…
The show's titles are quite understated and smart, giving you a mix of the expected tropes of a prison-based drama, but with injections of something more original in the tattoo/swan. It doesn't outstay its welcome and makes for a pleasant poke into the episode. They altered them to reflect story changes after season 1, but the original ones remain the best.
14. The Avengers (1961-1969)
Duration: 1:06.
A classy, artistic beginning, focusing on two wine glasses as a shadowy figures walks past in the background. It's John Steed (Patrick MacNee) with the missing wine bottle… just as its cork is shot off by another mysterious figure. It's Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and the pair arrive together to pour their drinks.
Interestingly, this scene itself is only an appetizer, as The Avengers theme only begins once a still shot of an umbrella with wine glasses is shown, and the two characters playfully flirt with each other, mixing to silhouettes and credits in a big font. A touch of English class, soaked in 60s-sheen. It may be a little silly viewed through modern eyes, but it remains a fine example of 60s-era technique.
13. Life On Mars (2006-2007)
Duration: 1:00.
Beginning with a reprise of the first episode's car crash that sends Sam Tyler (John Simm) from 2006 to 1973, it also makes use of the voice-over tradition to explain the premise: "My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident and I woke up in 1973. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now maybe if I can work out the reason… I can get home."
From there, some 70s-style multiple squares becomes the series' signature opening title design, displaying the show's title and some clips from various episodes. The main actors are listed as the multi-squares flash around, zoom in/out and nicely evoke a mix of '06 sass and '73 grit.
12. Doctor Who (2005-present)
Duration: 0:40.
The opening "electro-scream" is enough to have you bolted upright, and that's before the show's iconic theme tune really kicks in, given a musical flourish for the 00s by Murray Gold. It's a traditional Doctor Who title sequence, again using the hypnotic "time tunnel", but now with a TARDIS itself spinning around inside. The lead actors are listed and the sense of impending peril brilliantly builds, culminating in the show/episode titles.
Exciting, simple and it never outstays its welcome. It also helps that it comes after a cold opening, so often acts as a rallying call for The Doctor to swoop in and solve whatever problem the teaser gave its viewers. Terrific.
11. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
Duration: 2:00.
Of all the Star Trek opening sequences, I think Deep Space Nine's is the most artistic, thoughtful and beautiful. It begins on an ominous foot, tracking an ice-blue comet as it heads towards the eponymous station. The music builds and finally explodes into grandeur as the show title appears. From there, we're treated to some breathtaking visual-effects of DS9 itself, shown from multiple angles, mixed with credits, and ending with the visual explosion of the series' wormhole in space.
It's a feast of visual effects, neatly tempered by the orchestral score and sense of wonder and joy. The only flaw is its somewhat languid pace, which undoubtedly prompted fast-forwarding. But it's a little treat to watch every now and then.
Part 2, #10-#1 is right here.
