How come scripted TV shows don't show their episodes titles onscreen? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 07-06-2013, 09:48 PM

How come some scripted TV series so not show titles of their episodes onscreen (at the beginning of the said episode or otherwise)? NCIS and its Los Angeles spinoff have done it. Are there any other examples of a scripted TV show that shows their episode titles onscreen?

mr awesome · 07-07-2013, 04:56 PM

Designing Women did, and I think Evening Shade did as well. Don't know about Hearts Afire, but it was the same producers.

Also, the final season of Get Smart had on-screen titles.

tv star collector · 07-07-2013, 05:22 PM

The Incredible Hulk, Bonanza and Star Trek are just a few shows that always had on-screen titles.

tlc38tlc38 · 07-07-2013, 05:32 PM

I like when shows do this. It was years before I even knew episodes had titles. It was because of "Designing Women" that I started noticing the titles.

I think most cartoons show them and so does "Baywatch", "Murder, She Wrote", "The Munsters", & "Matlock".

I'm not sure if "The Addams Family" does or not.

Mr. Television · 07-07-2013, 05:46 PM

Knot's Landing used to air their titles yet Dallas never did.

Harry the Hat · 07-07-2013, 05:59 PM

Little House of the Prairie did.

Now, even if the title doesn't appear on-screen during the airing of the show, it is usually included in the show's description on your cable system's TV listings. So if your curious, look there first.

andress_jade · 07-10-2013, 01:26 AM

If I remember correctly ER did. I also believe Touched by an Angel did too. I own Dr. Quinn on DVD and I do believe it did as well.

EmoJoe · 07-10-2013, 01:32 AM

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia does!

biffbronson · 07-10-2013, 03:25 AM

Bachelor Father
Perry Mason
The Dick Van Dyke Show (some seasons)

If I remember correctly, Rawhide and Wagon Train as well.

factsoflife · 07-22-2013, 06:26 PM

This was an extremely common practice throughout the 70's and 80's, and continued with some series in the 1990's, but seems to have fallen out of practice since the mid-90's.

I always enjoyed seeing episode titles on-screen and wish they would do it more today. It always helped me identify my favorite episodes.

Gertie1999 · 07-23-2013, 09:46 AM

I believe Quantum Leap did.

Cyrax · 07-23-2013, 02:09 PM

Dexter does this too.

D-Dey · 07-23-2013, 02:56 PM

That Girl did it for a couple of seasons. Sam & Cat does it now.

biffbronson · 07-23-2013, 04:54 PM

A few more with onscreen episode titles:

Superman (1950s series)
Batman (1966 series)
The Green Hornet

AB · 07-23-2013, 05:30 PM

I believe Wilfred on fx displays it's episode titles too. I wish all tv shows would do this.

07-06-2013, 09:48 PM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,976	How come scripted TV shows don't show their episodes titles onscreen? How come some scripted TV series so not show titles of their episodes onscreen (at the beginning of the said episode or otherwise)? NCIS and its Los Angeles spinoff have done it. Are there any other examples of a scripted TV show that shows their episode titles onscreen?
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07-07-2013, 05:22 PM	#3
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	The Incredible Hulk, Bonanza and Star Trek are just a few shows that always had on-screen titles.
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07-07-2013, 05:32 PM	#4
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I like when shows do this. It was years before I even knew episodes had titles. It was because of "Designing Women" that I started noticing the titles. I think most cartoons show them and so does "Baywatch", "Murder, She Wrote", "The Munsters", & "Matlock". I'm not sure if "The Addams Family" does or not.
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07-07-2013, 05:46 PM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	Knot's Landing used to air their titles yet Dallas never did.
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07-10-2013, 01:26 AM	#7
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	If I remember correctly ER did. I also believe Touched by an Angel did too. I own Dr. Quinn on DVD and I do believe it did as well.
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07-07-2013, 04:56 PM	#2
mr awesome Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2013 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 275	Designing Women did, and I think Evening Shade did as well. Don't know about Hearts Afire, but it was the same producers. Also, the final season of Get Smart had on-screen titles.

07-07-2013, 05:59 PM	#6
Harry the Hat Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 05, 2013 Posts: 14	Little House of the Prairie did. Now, even if the title doesn't appear on-screen during the airing of the show, it is usually included in the show's description on your cable system's TV listings. So if your curious, look there first.

07-10-2013, 01:32 AM	#8
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia does!
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07-10-2013, 03:25 AM	#9
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,403	Bachelor Father Perry Mason The Dick Van Dyke Show (some seasons) If I remember correctly, Rawhide and Wagon Train as well.
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07-22-2013, 06:26 PM	#10
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	This was an extremely common practice throughout the 70's and 80's, and continued with some series in the 1990's, but seems to have fallen out of practice since the mid-90's. I always enjoyed seeing episode titles on-screen and wish they would do it more today. It always helped me identify my favorite episodes.
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07-23-2013, 09:46 AM	#11
Gertie1999 Music and TV Lover Teen Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 17, 2012 Location: Somewhere In Neverland Posts: 121	I believe Quantum Leap did.
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07-23-2013, 02:09 PM	#12
Cyrax Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Posts: 221	Dexter does this too.

07-23-2013, 02:56 PM	#13
D-Dey Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 11, 2000 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 5,516	That Girl did it for a couple of seasons. Sam & Cat does it now.
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07-23-2013, 04:54 PM	#14
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,403	A few more with onscreen episode titles: Superman (1950s series) Batman (1966 series) The Green Hornet

07-23-2013, 05:30 PM	#15
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	I believe Wilfred on fx displays it's episode titles too. I wish all tv shows would do this.