Jun 05 2009
The Best Modern TV Show Intros
There seems to be somewhat of an ideological war on this site sometimes, where Nattyb takes the position that the ’80s was the best decade ever and nothing can ever touch it. Amidst these claims, I find I have to take it upon myself to set the record straight, and say that current movies, games and television are just as good and more often better than anything that existed twenty plus years ago.
So this post is in response to his Best ’80s TV Intros post, which cites introless shows like Lost and 24 as prime examples why today’s TV has awful intros. But that’s not true, and there are in fact a number of shows with great intros. No, they don’t have that ’80s cheese factor Nattyb loves so much, but they’re quite cool in their own right.
1) Firefly
The intro is a perfect blend of space opera and western, just like the show is. And it was written by Joss Whedon.
2) The Sopranos
The drive through Jersey is one of the most iconic TV show intros ever, albeit not the most scenic.
3) Weeds
Over forty different artists have covered “Little Boxes” for the Weeds intro. Hit YouTube for the grand collection.
4) Mad Men
Not a whole lot of substance here, but a complete and utter overload of style.
5) The OC
I know people who literally tear up when they hear “California” play now. Those people are not me. Seriously.
6) Freaks and Geeks
Judd Apatow’s first wonder has a great intro featuring a moment that all high schoolers can relate to: the awkward school picture.
7) Smallville
Say what you will about the show, but Remy Zero’s “Save Me” and the subsequent video montage was a perfect fit for a young Superman.
8 ) Dexter
By far the most clever and creative show intro I’ve ever seen, shooting a morning routine like a brutal homicide.
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i really really think the intro for true blood should’ve been in that list
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxINMuOgAu8
such good imagery, and the song….. nearly a perfect mix
If these are in order, I’m thinking Dexter got shafted. I love that intro – although it does get boring when you’re watching several On Demand episodes in a row.
I’m going to have to disagree with the Dexter intro (only b/c I was quite disappointed with the actual show).
Here are my picks for slickest intros:
1) The Wire
2) Six Feet Under (although at over 90 seconds…a tad long)
3) Fringe (has grown on me)
4) Flight of the Conchords
What about the intro to “Are You Afraid Of The Dark?” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jitg-3xbmKU) It was short and simple but growing up as a kid it would scare the bejesus out of me everytime.
Personally, I think that Squidbillies has a better intro than all of these (except maybe Dexter).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C5F9uCifD4
The Sopranos intro is by far the best, no matter how many times I hear that song I still love it.
i think mad men’s intro deserves to actually be on the list. it is slick as shit, and the song by rjd2 is perfectly fitting.
i would also second a vote for the wire… sets the mood of the show fantastically.
and my darkhorse vote has to go to the now-defunct hbo show ‘john from cincinnati’ … exceptionally stylish, and set to one of the best intro songs ever… (joe strummer and the mescaleros – johnny appleseed).
these are all intros that i watch almost every time, regardless of how many times i’ve seen them.
I think the house season one intro had some of the coolest music ever, and a cool animation.
I am behind in the times, not having cable for three years due to economic circumstances, but have you tubed “Carnivale” and it is a great one, but my personal favorites are the haunting and managing to make a factory seem beautiful theme to “Twin Peaks” and the opening to Stephen King’s “Kingdom Hospital.”
Hey,
you forgot LOST.
It’s one of the most SIMPLE (The dude made it overnight on their home computer) and one of the most powerful openings.
It’s haunting, chilling with nothing but Drunken-fly view of a 4 letter word, with equally building up music,
It grips people everytime it’s On.
Sheer genius.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to stand out from the crowd and still be awesome.
— I am not even a lost fan.
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU EVER GOT INTO THE SHOW BUT ONE OF THE COOLEST INTROS EVER WAS FOR CARNIVALE. PLUS I CAN’T BELIEVE FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS DIDN’T MAKE IT ONTO THIS LIST. IT’S TOTALLY AWESOME. KUDOS FOR LISTING FIREFLY #1 THOUGH.
i wouldnt call geeks and freaks modern, at least compared to the other shows on the list, its 10 years old
Once you hear the intro theme song to The Big Bang Theory, it will never leave your head.
Wow, applause for this one. All the first things that came to mind when I read the title of this list made it on here.
I showed the Dexter intro to a friend. The imagery, juxtaposition, visual allusions to murder done with everyday things, and the somewhat “Hipster Mafia”-ish Italian tinged music that sounds light and cheery while having that deep sinister bass undertone gave him nightmares. He didn’t eat traditional breakfast foods for a month.