Coolest TV intro of all time?

[Sledge Hammer!]

While surfing Youtube in a desultory fashion I came across a few collections of intros to television shows that I had all but forgotten. Elaborate contemporary TV intros are becoming increasingly nonexistent now that the greedy major networks are trying to squeeze out as much commercial airtime as they possibly can.

Most of you who are at least as old as I am should remember a late 80's show called The Equalizer. I always felt it's intro was the coolest and even still not outdated by today's standards. I defy anyone to think of a better example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1NiNKwueE

[Verno]

Fucking MacGyver bitches. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxEq7dy3-Ok) On accounta him kicking everyone's asses. Speaking of which, I know say that MacGyver could kick Chuck Norris', Jack Bauer's, and Charles Bronson's asses.

[aaron burr]

Fucking MacGyver bitches. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxEq7dy3-Ok) On accounta him kicking everyone's asses. Speaking of which, I know say that MacGyver could kick Chuck Norris', Jack Bauer's, and Charles Bronson's asses.

u interested in the FULL unopened Macgyver seasons 6 & 7? lemme know...I gots 'em eBayed but if someone is actually a fan...


ANYWAY - the COOLEST TV show intro has to Baretta: Sammy Davis Jr. Theme song with Robert ('Our Gang', 'coolest child actor heroin addict') Blake in action?! oh it's sweeeet!
sweeet baby...

[Hole In Face]

Here are some of my favorites

MacGyver (as mentioned above)
Good Times
The Jeffersons
Knight Rider
G.I. JOE
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Star Trek The Next Generation

[the deta]

I am a Big fan of that new opening to Sunday Night Football with Pink. :rock:

[PeggyLove]

^

That was bitchin'

[aaron burr]

Here are some of my favorites

MacGyver (as mentioned above)
Good Times
The Jeffersons
Knight Rider
G.I. JOE
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Star Trek The Next Generation


Oh i forgot ATHF...i get that damn intro stuck in my head...(though what are the lryics for Meatwad's intro?)

ALSO: A Team, Dragnet, and Fat Albert - ("nahh nahh nahh gonna have a good time...hey hey hey...") - with that bouncing bass-line...

speaking of bouncing bass lines - check out the bass pumping on The Price Is Right...seriously...


and Dr Who of course...that's a Moog and a Theremin being used there...isn't it??

[Industrial Trackfooter]

Maybe I push this one too much, but I immediately thought of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPaXZ5ow_q8).

[Walter_Bellhaven]

Sledge was good, but what about Get Smart.

[Franks n Beans]

Wow that eq intro really stirred some memories! That was a pretty cool show.
What the hell hapened to Edward Woodward anyway?

[Hole In Face]

How could I forget this one....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K02cobaixys

[Jdiggity Dee]

Wow that eq intro really stirred some memories! That was a pretty cool show.
What the hell hapened to Edward Woodward anyway?


I'm happy to see on Imdb that the old codger is still alive and working.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940919/

[Belasco]

Wow that eq intro really stirred some memories! That was a pretty cool show.
What the hell hapened to Edward Woodward anyway?

He went to investigate some weird cult out on an island - never heard from him again. But, it was one helluva barbeque.

[Taco Teo]

OMG Sledge. That was always one of my favorite shows. My dad and I would always watch it together. I loved Edward Woodward and that cool Jaq he drove!!

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Is it just me, or did every sequence in that opener give you the impression that a woman was about to be raped... I never saw the show, so I wouldn't know if that was the whole point or not. If that is in fact the case then good lord, I bet HIF just loved that show!

[Hole In Face]

:tipofthecap:
Is it just me, or did every sequence in that opener give you the impression that a woman was about to be raped... I never saw the show, so I wouldn't know if that was the whole point or not. If that is in fact the case then good lord, I bet HIF just loved that show!


I used to watch the reruns on A&E all the time. :tipofthecap:

[The Dude]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMjmyv1rNJ8

"In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. They promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team."

Now THAT'S an intro!

BTW, I'm waiting for the forthcoming A-Team remake, starring Chris Tucker as B.A.

[Franks n Beans]

A-Team was fucking great! "I love it when a plan comes together" :thumbsup:

I always loved that Cylon drop in during the intro.

[nate]

Greatest American Hero! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgN8-o_QN5I)
Buck Rogers! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2I470eM5oc) (okay, I thought of that because South Park recently parodied it)
Hawaii Five-O, BITCHES! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgWe3diNgjc)

[Verno]

In a similar spirit of Hawaii Five-O, Miami Vice's intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpdcD5eJz3M) was smooth with a little help from Jan Hammer.

[nate]

Totally forgot to post Airwolf! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd5-_j3twrk)

[Walter_Bellhaven]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMjmyv1rNJ8

"In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. They promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team."

Now THAT'S an intro!

BTW, I'm waiting for the forthcoming A-Team remake, starring Chris Tucker as B.A.

Chris Tucker as B.A, Ha thats funny, More like Terry Crews as B.A.

[meatinyourmouth]

Doctor Who, of course. I'll take you all the way back to 1963 with this little beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpxLRHa2Efs

Then there's Police Squad. Anyone besides me remember this show? Possibly one of the funniest TV shows ever made. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4hZmKj-CiM

Here's a little clip from this forgotten classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8PZFQz-qmo&mode=related&search=

[Pull Out Method]

Then there's Police Squad. Anyone besides me remember this show? Possibly one of the funniest TV shows ever made. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4hZmKj-CiM


Bought the entire series (6 episodes) for my dad for Christmas for 15 bucks at Wal-Mart. Great show.

[Walter_Bellhaven]

Doctor Who, of course. I'll take you all the way back to 1963 with this little beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpxLRHa2Efs

Then there's Police Squad. Anyone besides me remember this show? Possibly one of the funniest TV shows ever made. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4hZmKj-CiM

Here's a little clip from this forgotten classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8PZFQz-qmo&mode=related&search=

Are you kidding, Police Squad was one of the best tv shows ever. Sgt Frank Drebbin Detective Lieutenant Police Squad. I wish they had made a lot more episodes of it, that and Sledge Hammer.

[meatinyourmouth]

Sledgehammer was awesome, but I always thought they should have gotten the Peter Gabriel song as the theme.

[Don Berman]

My vote goes for The Six Million Dollar Man and Emergency.

[Spooner]

I ain't readin' every page, but it has to be either Rockford Files or Nanny & The Professor. :tipofthecap:

[dogbert7693]

I can't believe no one mentioned this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn4B_KQJUAs&mode=related&search=

[Industrial Trackfooter]

That Equalizer deal was good. I never watched the show, but the intro does kick ass. A few others (not me) mentioned Sledge Hammer. Here's the intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kygJbw-sZJw).

Also GI Joe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YjfGex5JHY).

[Spooner]

Stewart Copeland did that theme, Indy (Equalizer). :thumbsup:

[Spooner]

I can't believe no one mentioned this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn4B_KQJUAs&mode=related&search=

MASH & Taxi were the two most depressing themes of all time - dour & completely devoid of hope. :tipofthecap:

[Industrial Trackfooter]

:tipofthecap:

Speaking of composers, two Mike Post intros (in french).

Magnum P.I. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_VIPlG8Xtq8) (note to femgloids: I will dress up as a naval officer if you will allow me to give you snorkeling lessons)

Hardcastle & McCormick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hPWldQ4MrA)

[melon]

Monday Night Raw

[djb]

Some of the old themes I really liked as a kid were Barnaby Jones, Lost In Space, Mannix, Man From Uncle and even the theme from Captain Kangaroo. These were all in the 60's & 70's though and I'd have to think for a bit to come up with some more current ones.

[Industrial Trackfooter]

Must stop now (couldn't find Simon and Simon). But before I do,

The Fall Guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLchsezNSY).

[Boss]

Some of the old themes I really liked as a kid were Barnaby Jones, Lost In Space, Mannix, Man From Uncle and even the theme from Captain Kangaroo. These were all in the 60's & 70's though and I'd have to think for a bit to come up with some more current ones.

Holy hell...you are old...<like me as I remember all those too>

[Don Berman]

Billy, I think you should throw in Welcome Back Kotter as a depressing theme.

Mission Impossible is a great theme song even after Cruise's goat blow renditions and after the "almighty" Limp Bizkit hacked it.

[Mr. Irrelevant]

To me, Welcome Back Kotter, wasn't so much as depressing as it was... dirty. And mundain. I remember as a kid seeing the intro and thinking "Why would people wanna live like that?"

Of course, I've never lived in a BIG East Coast city so I can't really relate.

[Don Berman]

I agree, Savvy?. WBK wasn't funny. It reminded me of The Warriors.


Anyone remember 240 Robert?

[CommunistaCow]

Monday Night Raw

Along those lines Melon, I always thought Chris Jericho's old countdown intro and HHH's Motorhead intro were amongst the finest to ever grace pro wrestling.

[melon]

Along those lines Melon, I always thought Chris Jericho's old countdown intro and HHH's Motorhead intro were amongst the finest to ever grace pro wrestling.

Agreed. When Jericho made his WWF(e) debut, that was classic. But lets not talk about wrestling too much or The Jimmy will appear.:larry:

[CommunistaCow]

Agreed. When Jericho made his WWF(e) debut, that was classic. But lets not talk about wrestling too much or The Jimmy will appear.:larry:

True dat. Although, we can always start talking pre-WWE/F wrestling, and the dork wouldn't know what the hell we were talking about.

[mysticllama]

I really liked the intro/title sequence and music for Carnivale. Really gave you what you needed to know about the era of it, the fact that it was sort of mystical, and the music worked in both the 'good' and 'bad' guy's leitmotif's. :thumbsup:

[the deta]

Step by Step.

Gotta love the song (step by step , day by day, a fresh start over a different hand to play), and all the gags around the amusment park. Kid sneezing into the popcorn, people dropping ice creams, and then it finishes off with a nice shot of colusses the roller coaster superimposed on a beach.

:thumbsup:

[Franks n Beans]

Sopranos. This Sunday!

[The BYP]

Best TV intro ever!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA3FFT54Ehs) Or is it? :-k

[Sledge Hammer!]

The Fall Guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLchsezNSY).

Awesome Heather Thomas bikini shot. \\:D/

Actually The Simpsons intro is probably the best among the contemporaries, although I watch very little TV anymore so I would not be an authority.

[Heap]

Must stop now (couldn't find Simon and Simon). But before I do,

The Fall Guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLchsezNSY).

Fall Guy was great, it's also got that shot from the Silver Streak in the intro. Anyone remember the Auto Man theme?

[Boss]

Best TV intro ever!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA3FFT54Ehs) Or is it? :-k

WOW!!!! That brings back memories. Speaking of Sid and Marty Krofft shows, this one might give Witchie Poo some competition in the intro department.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYpyzCfLJU

[Spooner]

If we're talkin' '70s kids' shows, I'd have to throw the Banana Splits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbU5CzPi0zM) up there as tops (I mean, Lidsville's a pretty close second).

[Dean W.]

If we're talkin' '70s kids' shows, I'd have to throw the Banana Splits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbU5CzPi0zM) up there as tops (I mean, Lidsville's a pretty close second).

That brought back to mind another 70's kid show I vaguely remembered. The New Zoo Review. There was a real hot chick in that show that wore mini skirts & Go Go Boots. I found an out-take from it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idmbd2qnVv4

[CommunistaCow]

That brought back to mind another 70's kid show I vaguely remembered. The New Zoo Review. There was a real hot chick in that show that wore mini skirts & Go Go Boots. I found an out-take from it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idmbd2qnVv4

:shocked: :wtf:

[Don Berman]

What about Land of the Lost? Wierd show.

Here is a great one, Manimal! jk

[Spooner]

Speakin' of Syd & Marty, I've looked high and low for the SECOND theme song to "Sigmund & The Seamonsters" show. The lame "Friends, friends, friends..." one is the first theme; there was a totally different song used for last run (or two), and I'd be amazed if anyone can locate it. :tipofthecap:

[Franks n Beans]

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/sgn/ca/main_frame.htm

[the deta]

The old school Saget era America's Funniest Home Videos...

"We've got laughs from coast to coast, to make you smile... etc"

[Grandmaster B]

MIAMI VICE has gotta be the best.

As far as currently...

The Sopranos

[Spooner]

Shit, how did you cats forget S.W.A.T. (and I'm not gettin' any support on "Rockford Files"... you guys insane?! That was - without question - the phattest theme back when themes really meant somethin'.) :tipofthecap:

[mysticllama]

and I'm not gettin' any support on "Rockford Files"... you guys insane?!

Er - I didn't see that mentioned, and I was a little too young to remember it well (or too senile now to remember seeing it <-- probably the truth right there...).

I remember a phone ringing and some synth-type theme. I remember the Mike Hammer and Fantasy Island (god that show creeped me out when I was a kid) intros more vividly.

[Franks n Beans]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRX4mlFi06A

[mysticllama]

Hehe, yeah, my dad had a realllly loose idea of 'sundown' on Friday nights (after which time we weren't supposed to watch TV until sundown on Saturday) specifically so we could stretch it and watch the Dukes of Hazzard. =)

[Industrial Trackfooter]

(...I'm not gettin' any support on "Rockford Files"... you guys insane?! That was - without question - the phattest theme back when themes really meant somethin'.) :tipofthecap:
Yes, I meant to support you earlier on that; better late than never.

The Rockford Files (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_otlXlzr5w)

I'm pretty sure I've never seen a whole episode of this show, and yet to me James Garner is cool as hell, solely on the strength of that intro and that car. Also he reminds me of my dad.
I read somewhere that he (Garner) was TV-Cool, but not Movie-Hot, and thus never successfully made the transition.

[aaron burr]

Doctor WHo theme - and Baretta theme intros!!