What is your preferred format for opening sequences and credits?

I personally like short opening sequences, like in Seinfeld and Frasier. But sometimes a good long opening sequence (such as in Cheers) can be enjoyable - if only for nostalgic reasons.

Even though I love watching bloopers, I hate when shows play them during the credits. I think they ruin the impact of the show you just watched. I don't want to be reminded of the actors behind the characters so soon.

My favorite credits are from Frasier. They air a silent comedy bit while the theme song plays and the end credits roll. They're simply brilliant.

I like long credits

I like long, opening credits that shows each actor/actress doing something from a particular scene in the show and then displays their name on the screen.

Originally posted by Small Wonderian
I like long, opening credits that shows each actor/actress doing something from a particular scene in the show and then displays their name on the screen. :yeahthat

Originally posted by Small Wonderian
I like long, opening credits that shows each actor/actress doing something from a particular scene in the show and then displays their name on the screen.

same

I'm not too big a fan of picture montages for opening sequences, which is why I like Cheers opening sequence. It was unique...plus it has a good theme song. Same goes for The Dick Van Dyke Show opening with the ottoman. Very clever! I like the Mary Tyler Moore opening for 2 reasons. (Even tho it is a pic montage!) 1) Good theme song 2)The famous hat throw pic.

I like shows to have openings with footage shot just for the opening, such as Three's Company, and the earlier Laverne and Shirley openings.

I loooove Growing Pains' opening with the baby pictures and stuff.

Originally posted by barwars
I dont like when the themesong just plays over clips, its cheap.

ditto

I like Roseanne- it's kitchen table sequence is so simple when you think about it- but it fit so well with the series. I could have done without the morphing faces, however.

I like when the theme song plays over a mixture of Clips and footage shot especially for the opening- IE- THE FACTS OF LIFE, FAMILY MATTERS< ETC...

I always hated the end of the Fraser credits, i wanted to be able to hear the comedy bit. i hated the end themse song it was annoying.

Originally posted by barwars
I like opening credits that either either short and sweet (Frasier or Seinfeld)

Or long, but dont show anything from the show.

For example.... Cheers, Good Times, the first season of Growing Pains, All in the Family (somewhat, I dont care about them at the piano), and for some seasons -- The Jeffersons.

I def. don't like credits that are like 20 seconds, I say 45 seconds to 60 seconds at least. I consider credits part of the episodes :D

I like opening credits where the cast have to film it, I don't like when they only show clips of episodes

I don't care for this new thing of listing the actors names over the actual episode and having a 30 second bit that lists the name of the show.

One set of credits I liked was One Day at A Time's credits from about 1978-82 where they had painted portraits of the actors that would morph into videotaped shots of the actors wearing the same clothes as their painted replicas. I liked Roseanne's morphing credits in years 8 and 9 for the same reason.

While watching syndicated reruns I like to see how the credits of shows change from one season to another.

I liked Mission:Impossible's credits a lot since each episode's credits included clips from that specific episode which was very unique. You got a tease of what was coming up right in the credits themselves, plus the music was very cool. The clips played behind a dynamite fuse that went across the screen 6-8 times then the word MISSION would type out on the screen like it was being typed on a typewriter and then still shots of the regulars would appear within one of the letters. The first and last regular would always appear within the letter O in MISSION, then the camera would zoom out to the word MISSION again, IMPOSSIBLE would be stamped against it and the music would crescendo and peak very explosively. Very well done.

Originally posted by barwars
I would rather have a longer episode than longer themesong.

me too, but I like theme songs that aren't just a few seconds either. :)

I prefer Short and Sweet Teaser scene , the theme tune - I prefer The stars to be credited over the opening credits (Friends) , then depending , a Tag scene with credits over , or if its a Season Finale or whatever , The logo with End Music playing and the end credits running.

I love really long opening credits. I like it when it shows the cast doing somthing and then the look at the camera. And Jesse Frederick singing it. He rocks.

My three favorite shows have great examples:

Full House:
http://retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/138-full-house/912/#intro

Family Matters:
http://retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/210-family-matters/587/#intro

Step by Step:
http://retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/556-step-by-step/326/#intro

I like long, opening credits that shows each actor/actress doing something from a particular scene in the show and then displays their name on the screen.

I simply could not agree more.