Ever loved a TV show but hated its intro? Or thought your favorite show had the perfect opening sequence? 
It’s hard to put the proverbial finger on exactly what makes a show and intro mesh, for the art of creating great TV intros is anything but a known science. A good intro can turn casual viewers into fans, creating higher ratings that keep good shows on the air, but what effect does a bad intro have?
I decided to rank twenty shows based on their intros alone: ten I loved and ten I didn’t, each with a quick quip to lighten the load. Most of the shows I list are or once were critically acclaimed and award winning, which says a lot about the shows with terrible openers: despite their feeble attempts at an opening sequence, they were able to succeed and live fruitfully. On the other end of the spectrum, some TV shows have intros that sync up so well with the style of the show that they have become synonymous with each other. Let’s take a look at the good and the ugly:
The Good
10. Breaking Bad
It’s five seconds long, smoky, and obscurely placed over its superb show logo. This should really be the standard for all show intros.
9. Rescue Me
The Von Bondies “C’mon C’mon.” The only reason I know that is because of its association with this great show. Kicking down walls, rescuing kids and battling fires. Now that’s Rock N’ Roll!
Quirky and never got in its own way. The show ran on a great cast of characters, so introducing them in the intro definitely added a great amount of value.
7. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
A comedic symphony superimposed over a tour of Philadelphia monuments. No other show has been able to laugh at itself and embrace an entire city like this one.
6. Dead Like Me
The Grim Reaper donning a 9-5 and partaking in daily earthly activities is funny, but sad. That’s a great way to describe the show. Dexter and Dead Like Me were Showtime’s greatest creations. Didn’t live a long life but its body of work is priceless.
5. Seinfeld
Each intro was different and funnier than the next. Having the great Jerry Seinfeld performing stand up to lay the groundwork before each episode is epic. The show about nothing did this with great affect. Long live Festivus!
4. Psych
Having a made-for-TV show intro song is cool. You know what’s even cooler? The show creator Steve Franks penning and performing the opening theme song. The Friendly Indians, “I Know You Know,” is original and catchy. It even changes depending on the holiday seasons.
Slow, boring and depressing: Al Bundy ends it while sitting on the couch, one hand tucked in the seam of his pants. I can’t imagine this show starting any differently.
If the game of football decided it needed a soundtrack, this is it. I dare call it rock symphonies, explored and created by the band Explosions in the Sky. The intro perfectly captures what it means to be involved in the game of football.
Joe Cocker’s “With a Little Help From My Friends” was a perfect match for this amazing show. It has been close to 18 years since the last episode aired, but whenever I listened to or watched the intro, I (a) knew what the show was about and (b) recalled fond memories growing up. One became synonymous to the other. Sadly, because of music rights this show still has not been made available for purchase or syndication. I’m still waiting!
The Bad
10. King of the Hill
Loved the show, all thirteen seasons. Close call, but turns out the song is kinda annoying. The song isn’t catchy. Keep the opening sequence with the mute button engaged.
9. Dexter
Annoying from the start. The song doesn’t fit the motif. Dexter, himself, would call it a crime and go after it under the cover of the night.
Though I like the opening shots, the song never quite fits. I still consider this my favorite sitcom.
The first 10 seconds are perfect, but way to go on spoiler alert once the drums start playing. For such a good show this is an amateur move.
The song never screamed 1970’s youths-in-revolt. The in-car karaoke session is priceless, though. Changing the song to Cream’s “White Room” would have helped.
5. Nip/Tuck
For having such a great soundtrack, the intro falls flat. Famed plastic surgeons Troy/McNamara would have trouble giving it a face-lift.
4. The Shield
Easily the best cop drama ever to be created. Even with the gritty street feel of the show, the mumblings of Spanish over laden screams were enough to make this list.
3. The Wire
Its intro from season to season changed, for the worse. It made it hard to keep watching the show intently. One of the many reasons I stopped doing just that.
2. The Sopranos
This could have easily made the top spot. I regularly found myself fast-forwarding to avoid this pestering song. Love the tour of New Jersey, though.
1. CSI: NY
I love The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” as much as the next guy, but in no way is sitting at a desk in a lab coat examining trace evidence Rock N’ Roll. Same can be said of all shows CSI. The Who’s collection of songs are not a great fit.
After exploring the reasons why I ranked each show the way I did to determine which TV intros I loved and the ones I didn’t, I can say with confidence that choosing the show’s intro song is where the creation of a good intro should start. Avoiding one hit wonders and mainstream songs are key. Limiting the length of the intro to no more than twenty seconds helps those in TV show marathon-mode cope. Changing the intro sequence based on its holiday episodes adds great value, though it’s not always necessary. Kudos to the shows that feature a five second intro, nine out of ten times it’s a perfect move.
Feel strongly about ones I missed? Praise ones I included? Tell me what and why in the comments.
