Shows That Frequently Changed Opening Title Sequences

[torcan]

It almost seems like a lost art today, but one thing I loved when I was a kid were the opening title sequences that appeared at (or near) the beginning of each show, introducing the show and its stars, and in most cases, as catchy theme song to go with it. It was with great anticipation each fall tuning it to find out what, if any, changes has been made to the openings heralding the new season. Some shows changed openings somewhat each season, while others had pretty well the same opening sequence for the whole run.

I realize this project may be too taunting a task because I might be bigger than I think, but in reading the “Inconsistent opening titles in syndication” thread, it got me thinking about past shows and the changes they made. I thought it might be fun to run a list of as many as we can think of and the changes that were made to the openings each season. I didn’t see any other thread with this info, so if you want to contribute please feel free. If the thread doesn’t go anywhere, that’s OK too.

I’m more interested in how a series was originally presented on the network. Any changes or corrections are welcome:


Here’s what I came up with (off the top of my head), which is a good list to start with:



BEWITCHED
Season 1 (black & white) – the soft opening music most are familiar with against the cartoon sky
Season 2 (black & white) – a more bouncy version of the music against the same background
Season 3 (color) – new music again (except for the first two episodes) against a newly drawn skyline; kitchen not as detailed as it was in b&w
Season 4 – same as 3
Season 5 – same as 3 and 4, except when Kodak sponsored; the “twitch” sound-effects were not present
Season 6 – new opening music and a new cartoon Darrin (for Dick Sargent); same skyline but cartoon witch flies over a different part of the buildings; no announcer except on Oscar Mayer sponsored shows
Season 7 – announcer is added permanently (“Elizabeth Montgomery in….Bewitched”)
Season 8 – different announcer, no more sponsors; this is the opening used in syndication for most Sargent shows


THAT GIRL
Season 1 – soft piece of music with shots of Ann walking in New York
Seasons 2-4 – different opening shots (starts with train, then shots of New York) and music
Season 5 – same as 2-4 except lyrics added to theme


GILLIGAN’S ISLAND
Season 1 (black & white) – opening excludes Professor and Mary Ann
Season 2 (color) – new opening titles and different group singing; includes Prof and Mary Ann
Season 3 – same music but opening credits are over a diff shot of the boat and Prof and Mary Ann are reversed


HOGAN’S HEROES
Changed slightly every year; usually one of the 7 main characters had a different shot and the rest remained the same


I DREAM OF JEANNIE
Season 1 (black & white) – soft waltzy kind of theme
Seasons 2 -3 (color) – different visuals and the more familiar theme
Seasons 4-5 – same visuals and tune, but slightly more uptempo version of the theme


SWITCH
Season 1 & 3 – “rock” version of theme
Season 2 – first few episodes switched to a completely diff jazzy sounding theme over same visuals; switched back to the more familiar season 1 theme after a few episodes


GREEN ACRES
Pretty well the same opening titles through the whole run, but towards season 4 or 5, a slightly different version was used that started with the closeup of the barn, and the credited actors came after


ADDAMS FAMILY
Season 1 – credits didn’t feature Jackie Coogan or Blossom Rock
Season 2 – same visuals and theme, but featuring Jackie and Blossom


ALL IN THE FAMILY
Season 1 – seemingly performed live
Seasons 2-5 – different version of the song, probably performed without an audience; same city visuals
Seasons 6-8 – new recording in front of a different piano
Season 9 – new recording again, this time featuring Danielle Brisbois


M*A*S*H
Seasons 1-3 – credits include Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson
Season 4 – credits include Mike Farrell and Harry Morgan
Season 5 – Jamie Farr and William Christopher added; closing note eliminated from the music
Season 6 – David Ogden Steirs added; William’s name made same size as the rest
Seasons 7 – 11 – different opening shot of the helicopters; slightly diff version of the tune


ANDY GRIFFITH
Seasons 1-5 (black & white) – shot of Andy and Opie fishing
Seasons 6-8 (color) – same sequence re-done for color


FAMILY AFFAIR
Season 1 – an announcer was heard announcing all the actors names
Seasons 2 – 5 – not sure if an announcer was there for every season; seem to vaguely remember one from watching the series as a child


BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
Seasons 1 -3 (black & white) – opening incorporated sponsor after the main credits were over, such as Kellogg’s
Season 4 (color) – new opening shot for color; not sure if sponsors were still incorporated; at some point a shorter opening was used elimating Jed shooting at the oil; probably towards the end of the run


DICK VAN DYKE
Season 1 – shots of photos and photo albums introducing the actors
Seasons 2-5 – different (more familiar) version of the theme; usually Rob trips over the audoman, but sometimes he steos around it
Season 3 – as far as I know this was only used for a few episodes in season 3; he steps around the audoman but trips over the carpet
Daytime Reruns on CBS – titled “The Dick Van Dyke DaytimeShow”


COSBY SHOW
Changed opening and themes just about every season


CHEERS
Seasons 1-5 – featuring Shelley Long’s name
Seasons 6-11 – featuring Kristie Alley
Other than that, were there any other changes?


FLINTSTONES
Seasons 1 & 2 (black & white) – instrumental version of the theme , called “Rise and Shine”
Seasons 3-6 (color) – different visuals and the more familiar “Meet the Flintstones” theme


GET SMART
Seasons 1 & 2 – Max drives a red car
Seasons 3 & 4 – Max drives a blue car and building he enters is different
Season 5 – Max drives a gold car; opening visuals are different and theme is updated


HAPPY DAYS
Seasons 1 & 2 – “Rock Around the Clock” theme song
Seasons 3 – 5 – “Happy Days” is opening theme, Fonzie’s billing is much higher
Season 6 – Scott Baio added as Chachie
Season 7 – Henry Winkler receives top billing as Ron Howard and Donny Most leave the series
Season 8 – several new characters added
Season 11 – Linda Purl added as Fonzie’s girl friend


HELLO LARRY
Season 1 – opening creadits include Donna Wilkes
Season 2 – opening includes Krista Errickson and Meadowlark Lemon


LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE
Season 1 – version of the theme recorded by the Cowsills
Seasons 2-5 – same visuals but more familiar version of the song


MARY TYLER MOORE
Season 1 – “Love is All Around” but first verse is used
Seasons 2-3 – slightly different visuals but more familiar second version is used
Seasons 4-7 – new visuals but same version of the theme


MY THREE SONS
Seasons 1 -5 (black & white) – Tim Consadine as Mike
Seasons 6-11 (color) – Barry Livingston added as Tim left series
Season 12 – Don Grady deleted(?)


BRADY BUNCH
Different visuals and music every year, except season 5 re-used season 3’s version of the song


PARTRIDGE FAMILY
Season 1 – “When We’re Singing”
Season 2, 3 – “C’mon Get Happy”; Brian Forster added
Season 4 – cartoon drawings of Danny Bonaduce and David Cassidy re-done


PETTICOAT JUNCTION
Seasons 1 & 2 (black & white)
Season 3 (color)
Season 6 – June Lockhart added


WKRP IN CINCINNATI
Season 1 – starts with audio of diff radio stations; this part cut mid-way through season
Season 2 – same as last half of season 1
Season 3 & 4 – diff visuals and all actors now receive opening credits


WELCOME BACK KOTTER
Season 1 & 2 –
Season 3 – Melanie Haller added as Angie half way through season
Season 4 – some new visuals; Stephen Shortridge added; John Travolta billed as “special guest star”


BOB NEWHART SHOW
Seasons 1-3 - shots of Bob getting on the train and downtown Chicago in the rain
Seasons 4-6 - re-done more uptempo version of the theme with DVE effects



JEFFERSONS

MANNIX

CANNON

--did any of those shows change at all?


Anyway, this is a good place to start. Feel free to add if the mood strikes!

[zypherix]

Cheers:
Season 1: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Nicholas Colasanto and George Wendt credited
Season 2: John Ratzenberger added to opening credits
Season 4: Woody Harrelson replaces Nicholas Colasanto, George Wendt referred to as "and George Wendt"
Season 5: Kelsey Grammer added to opening credits
Seasons 6-9: Kirstie Alley replaces Shelley Long, new picture for Ted Danson
Seasons 10-11 Bebe Neuwirth added to opening credits in episodes she appeared in

[bmasters9]

Dallas:
Nos. 1-7: Skyline shot goes from right to left, Texas Stadium shot goes diagonally right to left
Nos. 8-14: Skyline shot zooms in, Texas Stadium shot zooms straight down (for 13 and 14 and the reunions, the characters flashed in about every 1.5 seconds, IINM, over the skyline shot and pass-by of one of the buildings)

Knots Landing:
Nos. 1-2: Shots of the beach and the area around KL, and then a zoom-in on the cul-de-sac, wherein the players were shown within that cul-de-sac
Nos. 3-8: The classic "scrolling-panels"
Nos. 9-10: The splotch sequence, made by Sandy Dvore (also of Y&R)
No. 11: The sandcastles (split in the middle by scenes from the previous show)
Nos. 12-14: 90s update of the "scrolling-panels" from Castle-Bryant-Johnsen

[andress_jade]

There weren't any real significant changes with the opening of Frasier. The differences were that the name Frasier appeared a different color each season and there was always different animation in each one. The final episode had a rainbow streak across the screen over the title.

Frasier final episode

[treky]

in GET SMART the opening changed slightly. It would start by showing quick shots of the white house, Lincoln memorial, etc. then they'd show Max in a gold car pulling up to the front of a building (which was actually a building in Los Angeles) getting out, etc., the credits were in a different font and the theme was different (same theme but played differently)

[zypherix]

Newhart had one longer and one shorter intro. The Shorter intro was used in most episodes and shortened the clips used in the longer one. The intro changed in season 2 when Julia Duffy replaced Jennifer Holmes and in season 3 onwards when Peter Scolari replaced Steven Kampmann.

[Torgo]

The opening credits for Leave It To Beaver changed each season.

[mr awesome]

NewsRadio
Pilot had a short 5 sec intro with an similar, yet notably different arrangement of the opening theme and a slightly different logo.

Season 1-3: Normal intro

Season 4 added cast shots set in the streets, that would vary. Once or twice the action from the cold open would carry through the opening credits w/ cast names and theme music. An example of this was when Matthew was standing in the background on 'The Today Show.' 'Pure Evil' had a short 5 sec stinger open, which was used often during the back half of season 4.

Season 5 had the short 5 sec stinger open, but the theme arrangement was slightly different, this intro was pasted on all the episodes when NR entered off-network syndication

Special intro for Season 3's 'Space' which had space-themed images, and season 4's finale 'Sinking Ship' which was Titanic-inspired, with music and visuals.



3rd Rock From the Sun
Seasons 1-4, 6 Regular theme music
Season 5 had a big-band/swing arrangement of the theme. This only lasted one season, and the original theme returned for the sixth and final season.

[Furienna]

"Sister, sister" pretty much had three different opening sequences during the show's run.

1: White background.
2: Yellow background.
3: Black background.

Sequence 1 and sequence 2 had a nice theme song, but I always hated the one, that they used in sequence 3, even though it was supposed to be so hip and cool.

I've also noticed that other sitcoms from the 90s shortened their theme songs after a few years had passed. "Full House", "Family Matters" and "Step by step" all did that.

[Jude The Obscure]

The Lucy Show had a different variation of the theme song and went through different styles of openings for all six seasons.

Season 1 --Cartoon Lucy and Viv nail the box letter logo to a wall while the theme is a gentle, yet bouncy tune.
Season 2-- Another logo change as Big White Letters over a Blue Background get covered with visual panels featuring Lucy from previous and currently already produced episodes. Vivian Vance is reduced to one panel at the end. The theme is a more lively version of season 1's music.
Season 3--A panel of Lucy getting ready to clash cymbals zooms forward. When she clashes the cymbals, a new logo appears with the word Lucy is fancy script. The music changes tempo and style with each scene used from previous episodes, with the familiar Lucy Show theme getting a small section when Vivian Vance is credited (the only time she gets an actual screen title credit in the series)--when she is not in that week's episode...her credit is removed and the music is replaced with another tempo piece. The ending has Lucy fading off in a heart--a nod to "I Love Lucy".
Season 4--the beginning of the most familiar opening to fans...the kaleidoscope Lucy credits with a fully orchestrated Lucy Show theme music being used. Gale Gordon gets a vocal credit, but again, when he is not in that week's episode, the credit is removed.
Season 5--another new opening and variation on the theme--most people refer to this as "Lucy in the Box". After using it on one or two episodes, Lucy demands it to be removed and a quickly redone version of Season 4's visuals and music is slapped on. On the Season 5 DVD release, this opening is restored to the first 10 episodes as it was originally conceived. Whether it would have been used for the full season, who knows? Some CBS Daytime prints have the Lucy in the Box theme music set to the kaleidoscope credits.
Season 6--a more subtle variation of the Season 4 theme music is produced and used on the kaleidoscope opening with Lucy in a different outfit for the heart fade out. On the Season 6 DVD release, some episodes still use the Season 4 music.

[marriedaniac]

Are there any shows that did not change its opening AT ALL during its entire run? I can only think of one right now -- The Nanny.

[Furienna]

"Fresh Prince" too!

[megamanj2004]

Cheers:
For the 1st few seasons, the theme tune itself sounded slightly different too. For the earlier seasons, there was no backup chorus, echo sound in the singing as opposed to the later seasons.

FAMILY TIES:
Season 1 - the family shots were flashing stills, interspersed with shots from the younger days. Plus, up until the last few episodes of S1 (where the more familiar variation of the theme came along and was sung by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams), the theme was sung by Dennis Tufalo and Mindy Sterling, plus Michael Gross's hair was slightly different and he lacked his facial hair. And the FT title logo is much larger than it was in later seasons and only appeared towards the end of the intro. And the cast members name fonts are larger than in subsequent seasons.

Seasons 2-3 - aka The Family Painting intro w/ new various scenes. Also the intro now reads "Starring Meredith Baxter Birney" and the cast members name fonts are smaller. Also the FT title logo is significant smaller than in S1 and Michael Gross debuts his beard this season.

Season 4 - aka The Family Portrait into Version 1. Same scenes as Seasons 2-3 but with newer scenes featuring baby Andrew. And Andrew in the big family portrait itself is a baby here.

Seasons 5-7 - aka The Family Portrait intro Version 2. Same as Season 4 but newer scenes featuring Andrew as a kid now and Brian Bonsall gets added to the opening credits.

[megamanj2004]

As for The Flintstones:
The "Rise and Shine" theme was also used for the 1st several episodes of S3 as well before it had to be jettisoned for the more familiar "Meet the Flintstones" song due to Warner Bros. threats to Hanna-Barbera over its objection of "Rise and Shine" being too similar to "This Is It" from The Bugs Bunny Show.

Plus for most of S3's version of "Meet the Flintstones" the bird alarm sound was different than the sound used in subsequent episodes after S3.

But towards the very tail end of S3 and for the very early portions of S4, an additional new scene of Pebbles in her room was added.

For S4 until the series' end, a new shot of the Rubbles and Bam-Bam were added to the intro credits.

[megamanj2004]

HUNTER - every season.

But on the Complete DVD set, they replaced the original S2 intro, which had a shot of Hunter and McCall drawing guns at each other in the bathtub with the lights on, Hunter walking into the ladies' bathroom, the slightly revised theme tune from S1 and a different shot of Hunter saying "Works for me."