TV Intros: Entertainment’s original love-hate relationship

Always there for you | The television opening title sequence is as old as the medium itself—older, in fact. It predates TV and even sound film, originating in the early 1900s with “title cards” that were placed at the beginning of silent films to signal, “Hi, yes, you there, the motion picture is starting now.” They’ve evolved alongside advancements in filmmaking technology and changing TV norms, from characters awkwardly smiling through the camera into our souls to zany animated sequences that have little to do with the show you’re about to watch. No matter the form or style, TV intros remain a key part of the viewing ritual—even if you’re now able to skip them with the press of a button, thanks to streaming. They serve as the buffer zone between our world and that of the series, guiding us—as Rod Serling famously said—into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. The show is about to begin. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( [Quartz Weekly Obsession] TV Intros August 11, 2021 Always there for you --------------------------------------------------------------- The television opening title sequence is as old as the medium itself—older, in fact. It predates TV and even sound film, originating in the early 1900s with “title cards” that were placed at the beginning of silent films to signal, “Hi, yes, you there, the motion picture is starting now.” They’ve evolved alongside advancements in filmmaking technology and changing TV norms, from characters awkwardly smiling through the camera into our souls to zany animated sequences that have little to do with the show you’re about to watch. No matter the form or style, TV intros remain a key part of the viewing ritual—even if you’re now able to skip them with the press of a button, thanks to streaming. They serve as the buffer zone between our world and that of the series, guiding us—as Rod Serling famously said—into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. The show is about to begin. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( Brief history [1900s:]( Filmmakers begin placing title cards at the beginning of films to credit the production company. [1930s:]( With the advent of sound film, opening movie titles start using more music and voiceovers. [1940s:]( Opening titles get a bit more creative, as filmmakers experiment with different kinds of fonts, colors, and graphics. [1950s:]( Television becomes popular, leading to even more elaborate opening titles sequences on TV and film. [1960s:]( As technology improves, TV opening titles [use more animation]( and other innovative techniques. TV shows find that the opening credits need to [establish the premise and setting](, as well as [introduce the casts]( to the audience. [1976:]( The Emmys add an award for best title design to reflect the evolution of the medium from an afterthought into an artform. [1980s:]( TV intros get really long and corny. [1990s:]( Opening titles for prestige cable dramas like The Sopranos start deviating wildly from the norm set by broadcast shows. [2000s:]( The backlash to the backlash. TV intros get short again in order to make more room for ads and to cater to our shrinking attention spans. [2010s:]( Long intros are back, in part thanks to streaming. Several opening titles production houses sprout up, to whom networks and streaming services outsource their intros. [2020s:]( WandaVision takes us on a trip through the history of opening titles sequences. Giphy Explain it like I’m 5! What’s the point? --------------------------------------------------------------- Back when television was far more episodic, and viewers could only watch a single episode each week, title sequences were a way of easing back into a show—reintroducing characters, setting the scene, or providing a small slice of backstory. The intro, and the commercial that usually followed, also granted some wiggle room to get a snack or settle in on the couch before the show began, since it was only available to watch at that very moment—unless of course you had mastered the art of programming the VCR. They also gave credit to actors, and special guest stars, back before you could IMDB a show on your phone. None of that is necessary in the age of streaming, multi-season story arcs, and search. While some critics argue that title sequences are [just a waste of time]( now, especially when binge watching, they also inspire intense fandom, including [many](, [many]( [best of lists](. And arguably, beyond being a fun way for directors to show off, or to [drop hints to viewers](, what TV intros excel at now is helping us transition between the constant barrage of information we encounter and the sweet escape of our favorite shows, a moment that reminds us to unplug. They welcome us to another world and invite us to fully engage with it—whether or not we can put our phones down long enough to do so is up to us. take me down this 🐰 hole! A taxonomy of titles --------------------------------------------------------------- Over the years, a number of TV intro categories have emerged. While not all intros you’ll see today fit neatly into one of these boxes, you’ll find that a lot do. Here is how [TV Tropes](, a database of common TV and movie cliches, describes some of the more popular types of intro sequence: 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 [Introductory Credits:]( Each cast member is introduced one by one, their names appearing alongside them, most common in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s ([The Monkees](, [Full House]() 🥚🐥 [Evolving Credits:]( The intro is updated over the course of a show’s run to reflect changes in cast, setting, plot, or style ([The Wire](, [The West Wing]() 🎉 [Cast Party:]( Characters on the show are inexplicably all together doing something random, often filmed separate from the show itself ([Friends](, [Beverly Hills, 90210]() 💤 [Title-Only:]( The intro is literally just the title ([Mr. Robot](, [Lost]() 🎨 [Artistic Titles:]( The intro is cool and artsy, often made up of animation or graphics ([Mad Men](, [True Detective]() Quotable “There’s this treasure chest of cool shit, and we get to just pillage that for great poetic imagery. That’s the most thrilling part of my job.” —Patrick Clair, director of many title sequences, including Westworld, True Detective, Daredevil, The Man in the High Castle, and The Night Manager, in an [interview with Quartz]( Reuters/Mario Anzuoni Pop quiz Which HBO show has NEVER won an Emmy for best opening title design? Game of ThronesWestworldSix Feet UnderTrue Detective Correct. Westworld was nominated three times, but never won. Incorrect. If your inbox doesn’t support this quiz, find the solution at bottom of email. Giphy Superlatives Best theme music: [Succession]( Cheesiest theme song: [Perfect Strangers]( Catchiest theme song: Tie: [The Addams Family](, [The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]( The one with the fountain and the couch and the clapping: [Friends]( Best “POW!” bubbles: [Batman]( (1966) Most stylish animation: [Batman: The Animated Series]( (1992) Best use of Joe Cocker: [The Wonder Years]( Best bassline: [Barney Miller]( Best evolving opening credits: [The Wire]( Best narration: [The Twilight Zone]( Most nostalgia-inducing: [Friday Night Lights]( Most deceptively peaceful: [Twin Peaks]( Best intro that’s just a number: [24]( Best intro to a non-existent show: [Too Many Cooks]( Heritage Award for greatest intro of all time: [The Simpsons]( Fun fact! Lost co-creator and pilot director J.J. Abrams initially created what would become the mystery show’s iconic 15-second intro himself on his laptop [as a placeholder]( to show the network. They ended up deciding to use it, even though ABC had already spent thousands of dollars commissioning more professionally done opening title sequences. The ominous simplicity of Abrams’ “goof” intro fit the series better. Game of Thrones Watch this! Making the Game of Thrones intro --------------------------------------------------------------- The ending of HBO’s Game of Thrones may have been divisive, but we’ll always have the sweeping journey through Westeros that serves as the show’s opening title sequences. The video above gives a great sense for just how much work goes into an elaborate TV intro like this one. We’ve come a long way from [The Honeymooners](. Giphy Poll How often do you watch the opening titles to a TV show? [Click here to vote]( Always! They are part of the experience.Never. Just get me to the show.I’ll watch them once, then skip/ignore them every time after that. 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