I'm not keen on the current trend in TV where shows aren't having proper opening title sequences anymore. Lost was the first one I really noticed - just a rubbish noise with the word "Lost" turning on the screen a bit. But it seems to be becoming more widespread, even on UK programmes. Torchwood for example, has an opening title sequence that's about three seconds long. And the otherwise fantastic Heroes has one that's very much in the Lost vein.
Thinking about it, even 24 doesn't really have a proper title sequence. I guess that's more excusable though, since it all takes place in real-time, which doesn't normally have a two minute break for a song every hour or so.
I don't want shows to start this way. I want tunes. I want songs. I want the main cast members doing things (with optional cheesy smile shots) one by one, with their names and actor names on screen - how else will I ever know anyone's name. Without this, type of thing, Tom Cruise would never have learnt Katie Holmes' name, and he'd still be calling her "that pixie-like girl off of Dawson's Creek". That may have stymied their relationship.
But most importantly, I'm thinking of the kids. I spend approximately 95% of my time singing old tv theme tunes. I'm particularly keen on Mysterious Cities of Gold and The Littlest Hobo. If we are to leave a similar legacy for our own children, we need to act now to restore songs to opening titles. This is actually important.
Someone should start a petition that could be given to Tony Blairs. He could try and sort it out.
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3 comments:
Frasier was an early pioneer of the minimalist credits - although they also used to be able to fit in some unique twist each week, despite them only lasting about 5 seconds and being essentially a single almost-static picture.
I suspect the reduction in opening titles is directly related to the increasing reliance on advertising revenue - in a given 30-minute slot, less credits = more time for advertising. Obviously doesn't hold for Torchwood, though!
The new BBC Robin Hood series has no intro to speak of either.
Um... Robin Hood does have a proper title sequence, with a tune and everything!?
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