TMP Television Edition: Opening Title Sequence: Wandering through the Shelves hosts a weekly movie challenge in which you choose 3-5 movies based on that Thursday’s theme and explain why you chose those movies. Today’s theme is Television Edition: Opening Title Sequence, so here are my choices.
STRANGER THINGS (2016-)
It’s one of the only TV intros I don’t skip past when given the option. I absolutely adore the 80s synth music and the credits’ simplicity as they merge to create the show title. I remember the first time I sat down to watch Stranger Things, and the opening credits started…. I was hooked.
BOB’S BURGERS (2011-)
Bob’s Burgers is one of my favorite shows, and I always have to watch the opening credits as each episode is different, ala The Simpsons with the chalkboard… except instead of a chalkboard, there is always a new store to the right of the Belcher’s with an amusing store name, and there is always a new exterminator van that pulls up. What I love is that during the actual show, anytime it shows the diner from the front, the building to the right is always vacant with a For Rent sign in the window (save for an episode where it was turned into a temporary Halloween store!)
THE X-FILES (1993-2018)
Is there anything more iconic than the opening music to The X-Files? I know the titles eventually changed in time, once David Duchovny left the show, but I absolutely adore the original opening sequence to the show. The only thing that ever changed was the rare occasion during a special episode or finale when The Truth Is Out There would be replaced by a new slogan.
I can’t tell you the thrill I had when I watched the revival series, and they used the original beginning all these years later. My kids had never seen an episode of The X-Files before, but when I started my rewatch last October, they all recognized the music from various videos they’ve seen on YouTube! Even if you don’t watch this show, chances are, you still know the opening title music.
Other Favorites: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brooklyn 99, WandaVision, House, True Blood, True Detective, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Kat Impossible
March 25, 2021I love your picks! Stranger Things truly is immediately recognisable despite its simplicity, which made it an immediate classic. I totally forgot it on my list!
I also like a lot of your additional picks like B99 or Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – I had to sing along every. single. time.
Sara
March 25, 2021Thanks! I remember binge-watching Kimmy Schmidt and I never wanted to skip the intro. The song was so catchy! “Females are strong as hell!”
Joel
March 25, 2021I’ve heard of all three but the only one I’ve seen even a single episode of is X-Files. Even that show I only watched a few scattered ones, back when the show was on regularly it was on the wrong night for me so I didn’t pick up the habit.
The Bob’s Burgers intro is fun.
My second and third are pretty iconic ones as is the first though perhaps not to the same degree.
Bewitched (1964-1972)-Clever animation of the lead couple-witch Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) and human Darrin (first Dick York, later Dick Sargent) plus troublesome mother-in-law Endora (Agnes Moorehead) represented by a cloud of black smoke set to zippy music that hints at the magical theme of the show all in under 40 seconds!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p2Q7vs4bQk
Gilligan’s Island (1964-1967)-Imagine a small boat, a storm-tossed sea, a spinning captain’s wheel and a lonely isle then sing along!
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three-hour tour,
a three-hour tour. The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.
The ship’s aground on the shore of this
uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
The millionaire and his wife,
the movie star,
the professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan’s Isle!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGahnlFEqY
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)-Over the background of a tic-tac-toe board filled with the faces of the cast all mobile and smiling at each other we hear:
“Here’s the story
Of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up three very lovely girls
All of them had hair of gold
Like their mother
The youngest one in curls
It’s the story
Of a man named Brady
Who was busy with three boys of his own
They were four men
Living all together
Yet they were all alone
‘Til the one day when the lady met this fellow
And they knew that it was much more than a hunch
That this group must somehow form a family
That’s the way we all became the Brady bunch
The Brady bunch, the Brady bunch
That’s the way we became the Brady bunch.”
And then Alice pops into the middle square!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZhhUdc_Vt0
Sara
March 25, 2021Bob’s Burgers is such a fun show. It’s my go-to show for ultimate comfort.
You chose 3 iconic openings! Now I have the Bewitched theme song in my head.
Sonia
March 26, 2021I love Stranger Things’ theme song but I always skip the sequence 😅
Sara
March 27, 2021I just love listening to the music!
Katy
March 26, 2021Nice picks! This week’s theme is really reminding me of all the things I didn’t pick. Stranger Things intro is so short yet distinct and memorable. And, I didn’t even have to play the video to start humming The X-Files theme. So good!
Sara
March 27, 2021Yes, I think I love the ST opening more for the music than anything else! It’s so good.
I remember reading that Mark Snow was having trouble coming up with a theme song for The X-Files and he accidentally knocked into the keyboard, which created the opening keys and he instantly loved it.
Birgit
March 29, 2021Glad the X-Files is represented because it is such a great show. I have never seen Stranger Things nor Bob’s Burgers but I like the fact that the intro always changes
Sara
March 30, 2021I love The X-Files. Going through a rewatch right now.
Wandering through the Shelves
April 1, 2021The Stranger Things one is more like just a title card rather than an opening sequence. Riverdale has an almost similar one, retro neon lights. A lot of shorter half hour series do just title cards because they don’t really have the time for a lengthy opening sequence, but some one hour series like Stranger Things and Riverdale have also been going for the tile card route. While it looks good and all…seems a bit lazy and not really pushing creatively.
X-Files – the song is just eerie and some of the imagery are too.
Sara
April 2, 2021I think my love of ST’s opening comes from the music itself. But I love the retro feel of it too.