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Most TV show openings serve a simple, functional purpose: a theme song plays, the title is shown, and the credits for the main cast and crew roll. However, once in a while, you get an intro that does so much more than merely kick off the show. Here are ten unforgettable TV intros that stand out from the crowd. This is, of course, a highly subjective list, so feel free to share your own favorite intros in the comments (and don’t forget to drop in a YouTube link if you can!).
10. Spongebob Squarepants
Ah, the iconic intro that drives parents worldwide to the brink of madness. With its pirate-like lead vocalist and the eerie chorus of children wailing in unison, this theme song feels like it was engineered by scientists as a sonic experiment in mass irritation.
Despite all that, I can’t help but love the song. Sometimes, I almost find myself shouting 'Spongebob Squarepants!' right alongside the chorus of enthusiastic kids. Almost. There’s something irresistibly charming about the song, which sets the tone for the show. It’s sweet, infectious, and downright cheerful—just like the lovable sea sponge himself.
9. Cheers
The intro to the sitcom Cheers is visually pretty standard. An outdoor view of the bar transitions into a series of illustrations depicting turn-of-the-century Boston. The images that show the Gilded Age bar scene drift across the screen alongside the opening credits.
What truly elevates this opening, though, is the unforgettable theme song. Once you've heard it, it sticks with you. I remember hearing it as a kid when my parents watched the show. I'd rush in from the next room the moment the theme began and watch the credits roll. Afterward, I’d head back to playing with my blocks. I couldn’t care less about the show itself (I even thought it was set in the past and the images on screen were of the actual cast), but I absolutely adored that theme song. That’s a testament to how remarkable the Cheers theme really is.
8. Mystery Science Theater 3000
Alright, I’ll admit this is a somewhat nostalgic choice for me. After all, MST3K is my all-time favorite show. (Shout out to all Misties around the globe!) Still, the opening is genius. Much like the intro of Gilligan's Island, the 'MST3K Love Theme' lays out the basic premise of the show and introduces the characters through both standard exposition and a Robot Roll-Call.
Like many other shows, MST3K went through several transformations over the years, and the theme song evolved with it. In total, the theme has had six different versions, starting from the show's first season on KTMA public access and continuing through to its final season on the SciFi Channel. Despite these updates, the core of the theme remained mostly the same over the years.
7. Tom Goes to the Mayor
This eccentric show from Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block features one of the oddest opening sequences in TV history. It follows Tom Peters, a newcomer to Jefferton, who goes to the town’s mayor with various project proposals, all of which end in failure. The opening sequence is a commercial for the town, with the slogan 'Jefferton Alive!' displayed front and center.
And that’s all it is—no title, no credits, just a thirty-second ad for a fictional town. In a behind-the-scenes feature on the first season DVD, the editors discuss their struggles with cutting the episode down to 11 minutes when one of them comments, 'Maybe it's because we made a 30-second title sequence without any titles.'
6. Planet Earth
When it comes to nature documentaries, Planet Earth stands in a league of its own. Filmed over five years by hundreds of filmmakers around the world, this collaboration between BBC and Discovery Channel is truly breathtaking. Each episode is filled with captivating content and stunning visuals.
For the opening, the producers seem to have chosen to overwhelm the viewer’s senses— in the best way possible. They selected the most jaw-dropping moments from the series and paired them with a truly magnificent score. The result is nothing less than awe-inspiring.
5. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
If any TV intro perfectly captures the essence of the show it introduces, it’s the opening of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Just before the titles roll, a weary man, who finds himself in a variety of bizarre situations, can only manage to exclaim, 'It’s!' Michael Palin, who played the 'It’s Man,' explained, 'This was a character who, perhaps many years ago, had been a presenter, capable of saying entire sentences. But he’d fallen on hard times, now reduced to just gasping the first word.'
After the 'It’s Man' segment, the opening credit animation would play, set to John Philip Sousa’s Liberty Bell March. Though an unusual choice, the song was selected for several reasons, primarily because it was in the public domain and thus free to use. Yet, it turned out to be a perfect fit for the show, and now, it’s more commonly associated with Monty Python than with Sousa himself.
4. Lost
By all logic, Lost shouldn’t work. The show seems to focus on one central event: escaping the island. However, rather than falling into the trap that many other shows with a similar premise (looking at you, Prison Break) have fallen into, the creators managed to make a series that transcends the apparent ultimate goal. They made the audience care about the entire world they created, not just the island.
Likewise, the opening sequence shouldn’t work either. It’s nothing more than the show’s title floating across the screen to the sound of a single note playing in the background. Yes, you read that correctly. The theme song of Lost consists of just one note. And somehow, it works. Composed by J.J. Abrams, the show’s creator, the Lost Main Title Theme is the perfect accompaniment to the show’s atmosphere. In its minimalist brilliance, that single note manages to evoke the mystery and unease that define the series.
3. Simpsons
Could any list of the best TV openings be complete without The Simpsons? The iconic gag of Bart endlessly writing lines on a blackboard is different in every episode. (Some of his lines have included 'Pork is not a verb' and 'A burp in a jar is not a science project'). As all the family members rush home, we’re introduced to the Simpson family and a host of the show’s countless supporting characters. The whole sequence builds up to the show’s famous couch gag, an ever-evolving version of the family sitting down to watch TV.
Beyond the clever animation, one of the standout features of this opening is the theme. The instantly recognizable orchestral piece came to life after Matt Groening gave Danny Elfman a cassette tape filled with songs he thought resembled the theme he wanted. Among the songs on the tape were the theme from 'The Jetsons,' selections from Nino Rota’s 'Juliet of the Spirits,' a Remington electric shaver jingle by Frank Zappa, easy-listening tracks by Juan García Esquivel, and a record designed to teach parrots how to talk. This composition blends influences from all these diverse intros.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia. Further sources: IMDB, the Internet Movie Database
2. Dexter
The Showtime series Dexter arguably has the most inventive opening in television history. The theme and credits are paired with a montage of the show’s central character, Dexter Morgan, as he goes about his morning routine. We watch him shave, have breakfast, floss, and carry out the everyday tasks that prepare him for the day ahead.
Dexter's brilliance lies in the fact that he is a serial killer. Everything he does takes on a sinister twist. Tying his shoes mirrors the act of strangulation. Putting on his shirt evokes the imagery of suffocation. And his method of slicing into a Blood Orange will undoubtedly change the way you view Vitamin C forever.
1. The Twilight Zone
Possibly the most iconic theme song ever created, Marius Constant’s peculiar, rhythmic composition has been repeatedly imitated as the infamous 'DOODOOdoodooDOODOOdoodoo' by many trying to capture the essence of mystery. Accompanied by swirling, surreal imagery, this theme unmistakably conjures a sense of suspense that lingers long after.
What truly elevates the opening credits of The Twilight Zone is the voice-over by its Producer, Writer, and Host, Rod Serling. His precise delivery and eerily enigmatic narration blend perfectly with the theme and visuals. The combination of all three elements creates an experience that is both profoundly impressive and unsettling.
