Explanations at the start of TV shows

[phantom_power]

The cylons were created by man. They evolved. They rebelled. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

[Bad Ambassador]

The cylons were created by man. They evolved. They rebelled. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

No, they don't.

Apparently the Amy Pond intros were for the US market. One wonders the level of its impact, because that was the point the series really took off over there.

The first series of Space: 1999 also had a sort-of recap, with flash edits of shots from the pilot combined with the date SEPTEMBER 13TH 1999.

[Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth]

Count Duckula

[Sebastian Cobb]

To be fair to Star Trek their explanatory opening followed by a decent composition was much better than that wet power ballad they did for Enterprise.

[Wet Blanket]

Wasn't this largely down to syndication in American Shows? Like they'd produce shits loads that could be farted onto random channels in random order, and to make sure they could standalone, the premise was baked in. That's also why there were so few serial shows of any great length.

Sounds about right. It's probably faded away from drama series as they've become more sophisticated, but it lives on in those US reality and travel series you get on Quest or wherever. 'My names Jo Bucktooth and me and my pal travel the US searching for rare sealions... we're the LION TAMERS'

[Spiteface]

The classic one for me is He-Man and the Masters of the Universe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeA7a0uS3A

I like how they serve people expecting the narration in the 2002 reboot, as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbRwj1Kj3xk


New Adventures of He-Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7CxVXRzRtM

(Is this non-canon now Kevin Smith is doing that Netflix series?)

[studpuppet]

"Bagpuss, oh Bagpuss, oh fat furry cat-puss" - three (count them) whole minutes at the start of each programme.

[A Hat Like That]

IT IS THE 31ST CENTURY. Ulysses killed the giant Cyclops and saved the children, including his son Telemachus. But the Gods of Olympus are ANGRY, and threaten a TERRIBLE REVENGE.

"MORTALS! You dare to defy the gods?! I sentence you to wander among unknown stars. Until you find the Kingdom of Hades, your bodies will stay as lifeless as stone!"

"Ulysses, the way back to Earth has been wiped from my memory."

"Father! Oh, Father!"

"You are alive, my son!"

loved that as a kid, missed the last episode.

this is also true for Mysterious Cities of Gold.

[Sin Agog]

To be fair to Star Trek their explanatory opening followed by a decent composition was much better than that wet power ballad they did for Enterprise.

Honestly, the worst, wettest song ever recorded.  With the worst, wettest lyrics.

[gilbertharding]

"Bagpuss, oh Bagpuss, oh fat furry cat-puss" - three (count them) whole minutes at the start of each programme.

"This is a box, a musical box..." at the start of Camberwick Green.

The classic of the genre was all the guff at the start of Hart to Hart (When they met... it was MOIDAH) - although I'm sure they used to introduce the dog (Freeway) every week, watching reruns recently suggests I imagined that.

[Thomas]

Each episode of Clangers had a slightly different opening narration. Gentle cosmic musings. Lovely stuff.

[Hobo With A Shit Pun]

The Prisoner

Not only does it have the indirect thematic synopsis in the dialogue with Number Two, but the visual montage does a lovely set up of the plot. (Plus there's the whole "Who is Number One?" "You are, Number Six." hiding in plain sight.")

Space Dandy's "Space Dandy: he's a dandy guy in space" may not be necessary, as explanations go, but is welcome.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes

[notjosh]

Okay, but what TV shows don't have explanations when you would like them to?

Los Angeles. A city of greed and corruption where, for the rich and famous, committing homicide is an occupational hazard. But when the most devilishly clever of killers seek to conceal their crimes, who can make them pay? Only one man. Behind his shabby raincoat and unkempt hair lies the greatest detective mind of a generation. His name?

CO-LUM-BO

Berrr ber ber berrrr berrrrr ber-ber-ber-ber berr berrrrr.....

[George White]

He was a cop and good at his job...

I remember watching this late at night on ITV during my first year at uni. Featuring the characters of Reno Raines, Bobby Sixkiller and Donald "Dutch" Dixon. Happy days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_Tk3Ep8oU

I only watched it when Lamas left. And that kid who played Bart Simpson took on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN7NBdW3raM

[Cerys]

Ivor the Engine!

[jobotic]

Each episode of Clangers had a slightly different opening narration. Gentle cosmic musings. Lovely stuff.

They were. I wish i could remember some of them, I have the Clangers album.

The new version has these too and it's Michael Palin narrating they're also rather lovely.

[grainger]

Babylon 5
Farscape[nb]Although they played games with the audience by setting up expectations that then got twisted at the end of Season 1.[/nb]
Star Trek
Star Trek: TNG

DS9 and Voyager were the cool kids in the ST franchise - they didn't bother[nb]Voyager isn't cool.[/nb]. Enterprise went for a visual version of a voiceover[nb]It also had the naffest theme tune imaginable, Faith of the Har-ee-yart.[/nb].

[grainger]

To be fair to Star Trek their explanatory opening followed by a decent composition was much better than that wet power ballad they did for Enterprise.

Beaten to it!

[JesusAndYourBush]

The classic of the genre was all the guff at the start of Hart to Hart (When they met... it was MOIDAH) - although I'm sure they used to introduce the dog (Freeway) every week, watching reruns recently suggests I imagined that.

Ah, has Freeway been Mandela'd?  As a kid we'd sometimes do a gravelly voice and impersonate the intro and it always ended with "By the way, my name's Max, and this is my dog Freeway."

[petril]

To be fair to Star Trek their explanatory opening followed by a decent composition was much better than that wet power ballad they did for Enterprise.

the opening titles not being Star Trekky enough was what put me right off the whole thing

[beanheadmcginty]

the opening titles not being Star Trekky enough was what put me right off the whole thing

I'm in total agreement. I've watched TOS and TNG in their entirety twice over, watched most of DS9, dabbled in Voyager (hated Janeway's voice so much I couldn't commit) but when Enterprise arrived I didn't make it through the opening titles. Never seen any of it despite loving Quantum Leap.

[Phil_A]

The Quantum Leap Variations:

Original Season 1 slightly clunky Scott Bakula narration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBcQpqEEzLA

Season 2, Bakula kicked in favour of standard gravelly voiceover guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2G5EidVzgk

Midway through Season 2 gravelly voiceover guy is replaced by Deborah "Voice Of Ziggy" Pratt with weird stereo panning effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfyKMurm_co

Finally, the all-time classic Season 3 MONO DEBS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjK9GJMBpt0

[Catalogue Trousers]

'Now? Well, let's just say I've transferred to another precinct...'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGeiP9rqt5w

[studpuppet]

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him; we have the technology..."

[Dex Sawash]

Not at beginning but always liked the little cutscene on Ultraman every time Hayata turns into Ultraman

"Using his beta capsule, hayata becomes Ultraman" or something quite like that.

edit- the 1960s one, not seen anything else

[Alberon]

"In the not too distant future - next Sunday AD..."

[kalowski]

"here's Beadle!"

flawless

"Beadle has died, we need someone to take his place on Chain Letters."

"Here's Barrymore!"
"Here's O'Connor!"
"Here's Davro!" "That kinda works..."
"Here's Bobby!" "He's hired.'

[NoSleep]

Milton The Monster https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2nll9n