Catchy Opening Attention Getter

Mon., April 10, 2000

Theresa Carpine Ferris

Perhaps the best television shows on air today are the ones with the best opening credits. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite sitcom openings:

Probably my favorite opening is “The Drew Carey Show.” Music and dancing has always been important to this series, highlighting dance numbers several times a season. As the show has evolved, so has the opening. The first season featured Carey himself singing “Moon Over Parma.”

The second season had “Five O’Clock World” as its theme, with Drew and the gang dancing along. The current opening has The Presidents of the United States of America singing “Cleveland Rocks,” which is appropriate since the show is set in Cleveland. All of the music on this show was so great, an album was made. It’s not the same, however, without seeing the antics that accompanied the music on the TV series.

The music behind a sitcom should accent the type of show it is. Goofy shows like “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Norm” have equally goofy songs that are upbeat and simple, songs that tell what the show is about. “I’ll Be There For You” on Friends and “In the Street” on “That ‘70s Show” are OK, but only if what is happening on-screen matches the tone.

Another great opening is on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which has also evolved. The most recent, and by far funniest, opening is “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, which you might not appreciate for a sitcom opening, but its use is comedic genius for a “Die Hard” parody.

Looking at this list made me realize that the openings are very important to television. If they didn’t capture our attention, we’d just change the channel.

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