Openings to Shows
 

Graded and arranged with no real regard for order.

The Wire - I usually listen to each season's opening twice, for the first and last episode. The song's ok, and the images are specific enough to hint at what's to come while retaining enough vagueness in order to avoid spoiling anything. A fun game is watching the last episode and trying to remember which images go to which scene. (http://www.hscripts.com/freeimages/i...-clipart41.gif)

Dexter - Really effective the first time you watch it, and then steadily drops in watchability on each subsequent viewing since the surprise is gone and the music is just stilted without the unpredicability. Still, that first time is pretty good. (Grade: B(e Sharp))

Entourage - Seriously, fuck you Entourage opening song, I want to watch my escapism, not listen to you caterwaul for two minutes of my 25 minute show. (But honestly, two flying fucks for whoever thought that opening even made sense.)

No Heroics - I have to give credit for showing how dull the heroes lives are in the space of a few moments each, but I always kind of wished that they made a different Couch Gag for each character every episode. If you're only going to give us six episodes a 'series' load em up you damned lazy Britons. (***+1/2*)

Big Love - Great song and a scenario that's just abstract enough to work while still getting the point across. (9.5)

The Office - Bah-nuhhh, nanana nah, bum bum bunanana, bah-nuhhh, nanana nah [guitar riffage]bowna nowna nuh[/guitar riffage]. (tuhlingle duhlingle dum dah)

Real Chance of Love - No link because it's honestly ridiculous and I wouldn't want to foist something on NPF before you guys had the chance to properly inoculate yourself. Trust me, just like the show, it is balls deep in insanity.

Avatar - I truly believe that any show with an unusual premise/unique world needs to make a pilot, get greenlit, and then immediately hire the people responsible for the Avatar opening. If you sat an Avatar-newbie in front of that opening, within 49 seconds they've learned the basics of the world, the main thrust of the story, and have been properly introduced to the main character, his foibles, and his weighty obligations. It's easy on the eyes, short enough to watch during multi-episode marathons...it's probably the best opening on television.

Life On Mars - Really does a good job portraying the 70's style TV and the under lying masculinity of the show.

Firefly - The music is pretty and relates to the main protaginist quite well.

Da na na na! Da naa naaa! - Pretty self explanatory really.

Edit: I've also enjoyed the opening to QI very much, couldn't single it out on it's own so feel free just to watch the first 20 seconds.

..I also can't believe I missed this one out too.

I agree with Firefly.

Battlestar Galactica http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FsqZCIAao0

4400 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb-u-wMsubQ

Sorry I don't know how to link the other way.

Carnivàle - Original, haunting, insightful.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Angel

Stargate SG-1

Stargate Atlantis

EDIT; Farscape

Prison Break

These are easily my favourite versions of each of these shows.

Oh and I second the mentions of Life on Mars, The 4400 and Firefly above.

EDIT; I would also add the Dead Zone to this list, but I can't find the right opening on youtube. It's really awesome though.

Toradora Upbeat, fun, and poppy, just like the show, while also showing a bit of the character's personalities.

I almost forgot one; Dark Angel

You guys fail at being nerds for not putting up the Doctor Who theme.

That theme is actually pretty good, considering it is a seiyu song.

I like the later opening of Death Note since it is so ironically juxtaposed with the actual show which is not action heavy in the least, with most episodes being dialogue and suspense driven. The second ending on the other hand seemed to have something to do with the actual show's theme (Light's non-conformity).

I'm partial to Paranoia Agent's opening, myself. It's creepy.