Sitcoms were particularly adept at this. Think about it. Who couldn't still break off a barroom rendition of The Beverly Hillbillies? Or Green Acres? The Brady Bunch? The Jeffersons? Gilligan's Island? Everything we needed to set up the story was right there in the first minute. While not adhering as strictly to formula, dramas also used the opening moments to give you what you needed. Who didn't know exactly what to expect after getting revved up by the opening of Hawaii Five O? Or Magnum PI? Or Classic Star Trek? Or even a more obscure show, like The Wild, Wild West?
Nowadays, the playing field has changed somewhat. There are more commercials and less time for 1-2 minutes of catchy theme music to play each week. There's the pressure to "hook" potential channel flippers, so the "cold open" has gathered steam as a marketing tool and storytelling device to capture your attention right off the bat. Full credits aren't actually contained within the "theme song" and many shows just show them on a crawl during the first act.
So before we get to the actual list, a few caveats.
- I'm only including current shows. So we won't be seeing the iconic images of Tony Soprano and the fabulous strains of "Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun." Or the first season of dearly departed Veronica Mars. Or Firefly. Or the late (lamented?) John From Cincinnati. Or the pitch perfect Buffy the Vampire Slayer opening.
- I'm only considering shows I watch with some regularity (i.e. "good" shows. That use a script). So I don't care if Beethoven and Prince collaborated on the opening credits of America's Next Top Model with Orson Welles and Martin Scorcese, you won't be seeing that here.
- The list also includes shows with actual "credit sequences." So while I love Lost's moody spinning logo and strange music, and The Closer's blues line interspersed with the opening of act one, those are not necessarily a credit sequence.
Got it?
Okay, here we go.
1. Battlestar Galactica
It's all right there. The set up. The premise. Gorgeous imagery. Emotion, drama, conflict -- all perfectly set to the music. Plus, the unusual tactic of split second images from the episode to follow.
2. Dexter
Beautiful. Disturbing images of seemingly innocuous everyday activities, highlighted by frequent splashes of blood and underscored by a whimsical to the point of creepy theme. What better way to kick off a show about a "good guy" moonlighting as a serial killer?
3. Monk
Randy Newman's sprightly ditty is one for the ages, perfectly capturing the essence of Adrian Monk.
4. Mad Men
The score here is terrific and the imagery even better. Evocative of the classic work by Saul Bass, the falling adman sets up the personal, professional and existential conflict of primary character Don Draper.
5. Rescue Me
Set to a driving uptempo rave by the Von Bondies, Rescue Me's credits also give you everything you need to know aurally and visually right away. The "smoking" player credits are a great touch.
6. Bones
This is from season 2, which improved on season 1 by synchronizing the actor names with their appearance onscreen. The music, by The Crystal Method, rhythmically suggests the creepy nature of the cases while the jittery visuals remind viewers of Se7en and set the tone of the show while never losing the focus on the two primary characters.
7. CSI
It's been around a while, and been "exported" thematically to sister shows New York and Miami, but the original is still the best. Combining the high energy music of The Who and lyrically on point in the search for the criminal, CSI is a great blend of song and image that sets up the "scientific" nature of the crime lab without sacrificing any of the drama.
8. Psych
Another perfect marriage of lyrical storytelling that suggests the premise while conveying the fun and farcical nature of the show, all in 20 seconds.
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