Anyone got concrete info on when they changed the graphics? I was expecting to see them switch from graphics/music v1.0 to 2.0 for S5, but apparently it didn't happen until later.

Are we going to see second incarnation and re-done music in S6? Also, how long did that version last? From 1994 - 1997 until the end of the NBC run?

Next, was it the same new graphics/music for all of the 1997-99 CBS run?

Sorry, I'm really a geek with this stuff.

I believe the show got a huge makeover in season 6. Seasons 1-5 were very similar in terms of the opening. Though I believe they changed the shots shown during the "solved" montage, for example.

It got another makeover some time in 1996 or 1997, but I'm not sure. I have the whole series on tape and am transferring slowly to digital. When I get there, I'll post an update.

I believe the show got a huge makeover in season 6. Seasons 1-5 were very similar in terms of the opening. Though I believe they changed the shots shown during the "solved" montage, for example.

It got another makeover some time in 1996 or 1997, but I'm not sure. I have the whole series on tape and am transferring slowly to digital. When I get there, I'll post an update.

Those are my memories as well. Seasons 1-5 were the classic. For season 6, they slightly altered the theme song and graphics. Nothing major but not as good as before. The case types were now introduced in a side scroll manner as opposed to the centered zoom up style. Then there was a MAJOR downgrade when the show moved to CBS and they got rid of the theme song. That was unfortunate.

Then there was a MAJOR downgrade when the show moved to CBS and they got rid of the theme song. That was unfortunate.

^^^ This x 100! I couldn't agree more.

There essentially are three big theme/credit overhauls during the NBC years:

1987-1993 (Specials-Season 5)
1993-1995 (Season 6-Season 7)
1995-1997 (Season 8-Season 9)

As for the CBS and Lifetime seasons. I think Lifetime just had the one. On Lifetime, the CBS years got edited down but I can't remember if the theme and graphics matched Season 8 and 9. It's possible they did. Of course Virginia Madsen's name had to be added to Season 10 (when it aired on CBS).

Then there was a MAJOR downgrade when the show moved to CBS and they got rid of the theme song. That was unfortunate.

I actually hated both the 1995 remix of the original theme and the CBS theme. The remixed version was never anywhere near as scary as the original in my opinion. It kind of sounded like a parody of scary movie/TV background music, if that makes sense. The CBS theme was just...no.

I also thought all the graphics from season 8 onward were to busy. Sometimes less is more.