Except it was the theme for the movie first

Best: X-files, Game of Thrones

It's kinda cheap picking an intro tha uses a classic tune like Wonder Years since it gives them an edge but I have to mention Men of a Certain Age. Brilliantly crafted around the Beach Boys tune.

Wow, thanks for the link on that.

The CSIs succeed in their use though, especially the original series.

True. It's kinda hard to fuck up an intro using such great tunes.

Roswell
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/566XcEoPJs4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Smallville
The OC
One Tree Hill
Dead Zone (the earlier seasons)
Alias
Buffy and Angel

I haven't come across any bad ones yet

Nothing beats the original Hawaii Five-O with the awesome zoom-in and Jack Lord head turn.


Worst: The godawful Boardwalk Empire opening titles. Someone must have been partaking in a little too much bathtub gin while creating that thing.

Always loved "Hill Street Blues"...

Nice that is such a great intro, totally forgot about it.

I think Alf epitomizes the worst of the 80's style of sitcom intro; the fake laughing, cued responses to their actor title card, smooth jazz filled with sax and e-piano.

http://youtu.be/uIQPlHmjNl8

Speaking of the 80's sitcom intro, there's this channel on youtube that has remade intros for shows like Alf, Designing Women, Dynasty, Night Court, and Duck Tales that are pretty great: http://www.youtube.com/user/FatalFarm

Yeah, that's a good one. More than the music, I love the montage of shots showing the characters at various ages. Compulsively watchable every time.

Glad someone posted The Equalizer clip. I thought about nominating it for the music alone, but the opening perfectly encapsulates the mood & theme of the show. I'm moving it to the top of my list.

Also, don't know how many have mentioned Miami Vice. It deserves a mention solely for the perfect synchronizing of the pounding drums with the bouncing bazongas. It's kind of dated now & the credits have been parodied to death & don't have the impact they once did, but back in the day Jan Hammer's throbbing score really set the atmosphere for the show. The visuals, with the colorful costumes, grayhound races, etc., all captured the Miami scene really well. Of course, the music was maybe the highlight of the show.

I like:

Smallville (I still watch the opening credits, or I did till the series ended)
ER (killed me when they dropped the theme music)
Cowboy Bebop (blind bought a disc just after hearing the theme)
Firefly
Cheers

I'll name one show that has both.

Highlander: The Series

The first season opening was great and fit the show perfectly. Granted the music was Queen's from the movies, but the visuals worked great.

The later seasons with the Jim Byrnes voiceover were just horrible. It droned on seemingly forever. Not to mention the 'we never interfere' line coming from someone who interferes in almost every episode.

This was the greatest intro in the world when I was 8:

Interesting to note, that show's theme was done by Tangerine Dream.

It reminds me of this intro:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQb1ZD9W8_c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQb1ZD9W8_c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

One of the better 80's cartoon intros IMO:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A1c1G24GWDg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A1c1G24GWDg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Best = Space 1999

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8WZW4groJro" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

D

This is all I can think of from the last 10+ years.

Best:

Smallville
Friday Night Lights
24 (short and sweet)
Hawaii Five-O (new and old)
Criminal Minds
Southland (hyponotic Portuguese song with crime scene photos)
Game of Thrones
House

Worst:

Anything that uses just a title card (pretty much everything on ABC)
Covert Affairs (I like the show, but the opening sequence sucks)
White Collar (2nd version that was just nixed)

It seems for most people (myself included), it's really a question of nostalgia and how the theme songs remind you of the anticipation of watching your favorite show.

But the 60's do seem to have some memorable TV theme songs, I listed Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, even though neither of those rank as my favorite comedies.


I don't understand the hate for Covert Affairs. It's title sequence is OK, but not that bad.

However that new White Collar title sequence is beyond bad.

That hasn't aged a bit

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Oz4lmnMisFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

My favorites:

Firefly
Lie to Me
Chicago Code
Jack of All Trades

All canceled before their prime.

And lets not forget, Gilligan's Island and Get Smart.

The best opening ever is clearly for The Prisoner.


I AM NOT A NUMBER, I AM A FREE MAN!

Next I'd have to pick Star Trek Voyager. Such a maligned show, but we can all agree the fully-orchestracted opening kicks ass. Best ST opening ever.


And for worst... sadly... Star Trek Enterprise (2nd Version, I'm actually alright with the slower version for the first 2 seasons)


Oh and for those of you that wanted to talk anime OPs earlier in the thread. Here's the bonus best opening ever for anime:

... and for fun...

A few I like, especially the first two:

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F4cyauCH_gg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7BLgdTQV-hs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4dhpSp3sG20" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/znVBqSI4ghQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It seems cheesy now, but Unsolved Mysteries scared the bejeezus out of this kid and the theme was a major part of that.

Not necessarily the best, but VERY effective.

Really liked several from the 60's:
Best - Mission:Impossible; Hawaii Five-O, the film cut in time to the music; Wild Wild West; The Prisoner; Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Worst - White Collar (the one just dumped); Enterprise.

Doug