TV shows shouldn’t have musical intros lasting more than 10 seconds
Get on with the show. I don’t desire to listen to a song I’ve heard a million times or a mediocre score trying approach too challenging to sound “epic”. I came to watch a show. And I understand I’m not alone because all m the streaming services have a skip button! Ffs
Upvoters12
158 Comments
This is a concept meant for weekly release shows on TV and is basically "hey guys in the room, get settled in now the show's about to start!" Streaming services have a skip button because when you're marathoning, that intro over and over again is very literally just a waste ...
The West Wing’s intro is literally the best of all time. Newsroom is a close second.
The only TV show where I will accept an intro longer than 10 seconds: 
There's a few select shows where I refuse to skip the intro and even fewer where I'll rearrange someone's faces if they skip it on purpose near me. Shows like golden girls or MASH have earned the right for full length intros
TV shows from my childhood I remember the theme songs more than the actual shows.
The Greatest American Hero is better remembered for its theme song than the actual show.
“Show me that smile …” “Whatever happened to the …” “But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and …” “Standing taaaaaalllll …” Yeah 😀 me too
"Woke up this morning, got myself a gun"
I am in the EXACT opposite boat, more shows should have theme songs. It's a great way to get in the mood for the show and help the viewer if they are just channel surfing or whatever get a feel for the show quickly
I never skip intros. It's part of the show, it's there for a reason.
I die a little inside every time I hear the IASIP and The Office US abridged intros.
Exactly, I absolutely love intros and outros, I full-heartedly disagree with the OP. I genuinely don’t think TV shows would be the same without it. Whenever I watch a new show and it’s missing either an intro and or outro song I’m always disappointed about it. If this post w...
Have you even SEEN Ducktales?
WOOHOO!
Yeah, that's on my list of intros that I never skip. Up there with Gravity Falls and Owl House
Or Chip And Dale? Or Goof Troop?
A lot of shows take pride in identifying those that are starring in the upcoming show. It can also work as a hook so that you immediately have a connection to the show when hearing the tune. Simpsons, GOT, The Office, Transforners, I and others could name hundreds more
Shows like the Simpsons and the office, with variable openings, also use them to stretch an episode to fill the time slot.
Its cool, but it doesn’t need to be super long. 10-15 seconds should be enough to be iconic without being annoying.
A lot of people take pride in their ability to gobble cocks. Doesn't mean I want to watch it.
This seems like a completely nonsensical opinion to have. There is a skip feature on virtually all streaming services, so those who want it can watch it, and those who don't, don't. So what is the issue? You may also just be watching the wrong shows because there are openings...
Yeah, but then they have to stop looking at their phone to hit the skip button.
The Simpsons, Futurama, South Park, Friends, Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Total Drama Island, and Chainsaw Man would like a word
And so many good old shows... Gilligan's Island, Cheers, The Brady Bunch, Beverly Hillbillies... So iconic! I also love the Massive Attack song from House.
Attack on Titan oh my god, the intros are MASTERPIECES
Total Drama having shorter and shorter openings sucked ass.
We would never have the night rider theme with that attitude.
mad disagree. singing along to the intro music gets me into the headspace to focus on that specific show.
Tell me you have a super short attention span without… BORED NOW!!
Depends on the show.
Aaron Sorkin just called. He'd like a word.
Game of Thrones had the best intro because it actually gave you some idea what locations we'd be seeing in the episode.
Agreed, it provides a tonne of geographical context
Consider the following: BWAHDADADADADA BADA DA... I wanna be.. the very best. like no one ever was BUM BUM BUM!
I'm gonna assume OP is not an anime fan because most of those are bangers.
Get on with what...? If you have the ability to skip, show's (should) have the freedom to make even longer intros... Why would they care what you think? Repetition on bothers people who binge things anyway.
To each their own. I’d rather cool and well made openings over a blip of 10 seconds. Openings are what get me to want to watch something. A short noting of an intro tends to set my mood lower. Helps that I don’t tend to marathon runs of shows.
Counter point: twin peaks Should be illegal to skip
Sometimes I like the intro music so much that I look forward to it. Succession and White Lotus in particular.
Peacemaker for me
 There was a golden age though.
ok cinema sins
Attack on Titan. That's all I have to say about that.
Anime in general is a different beast. Japan just puts more effort and emphasis on it than we do in the west.
Except for peacemaker
I really enjoy sitcom theme songs, almost never skip, many times sing along. But I feel theme songs in serious shows seem unnecessary. I wouldn't say theme songs should be removed though, just use the skip-intro where you don't want it.
Serious show theme songs can work. I watch the theme every time in The Wire.
This is really rough when it comes to anime. 24 min industry standard episode length. 2.5 minutes of intro. 5 minutes of post credits.
Peacemaker though?
No! Intros are great! Often, they're the most artistically creative part of a show. They establish the tone for the episode going forwards and build you up for what's to come. It's like John Cena's theme playing as he walks out.
I like the theme song to Severance, it's super trippy and I would never skip.
The best intro ever lasted over 10 minutes. Too Many Cooks!
I once had to stop myself from headbanging to the Buffy theme tune (as is tradition in our house) because I had whiplash from a car accident. It felt so wrong that I never wish to experience watching it without the full intro + headbang again. It improves the entire experience.
Someone’s never seen the original dragon ball
WOKE UP THIS MORNINN GOT SOME GABAGOOL
WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNIN GOT MORE GABAGOOL
You’re prob correct in most cases. But really good TV shows benefit from a great opening. The music and images get you into that world and into the right headspace. Driving thru north Jersey with Tony Soprano, traversing the map in GOT, knowing you’re stepping into a bar...
The atmosphere in the twin peaks opening, the shots of the black lodge in the return
If I’m watching it live on tv in real time, sure, play the long intro. If I’m streaming it, and the previous thing I watched was the same show? Show me the 10s syndicated version
Twin Peaks…. Is peak
"So no one told you that was gonna be this way..."
I like a longer intro to start a season and the rest just the kind of abridged overlay over the start of the actual episode I never want to watch the whole damn intro every episode
Skipping the Sopranos theme song is a crime in my house
Intros for every episodes is an outdated concept now that almost every show is streamed. Let the first episode of the season have its intro and the following episodes don’t have the intro. Otherwise go the Invincible route where a character says the title of the show with a qu...
Lost had the best intro, over in seconds, doesn't stick in your head. From has the worst. A slow motion song that sticks in your head for days.
I love a TV show intro and have never once used the "Skip intro" button
I agree, if the intro is longer than ten seconds I’m skipping it, unless they do something different each time like The Simpsons or The Eric Andre Show.
Mr Robot did title cards so well. There was never a dedicated intro. HIMYM has a very short intro and works quite well
Omfg, has anyone watched The His Dark Materials series??? The instrumental intro is amazing and my friends and I had the best time using it as a dance break when we binge watched it together! Also, The Detectorists theme song is like a legitimately good song and really gets y...
Have to upvote for the His Dark Materials mention. That song was in my top ten on Spotify for years and was the first thing I thought of when seeing this post.
I maintain that a big contributing reason for the failure of Stargate: Universe is that it didn’t have an excellent intro with a new riff on the theme.
I watch the opening of the tv show on the first episode of the binge and (mainly for anime) I watch the credits on the last episode of the binge
I have my own annoyances with tv. Long sex scenes and babies crying. Unneeded. And that stupid thing where they’re using a flashlight and it goes right into the screen.
Youtube videos should have even less of a intro.
True detective. Enough said.
You just need the right intro music. I for one never skip the Succession intro, but if I’m on a binge, I’ll think about skipping TBBT or Ted Lasso. It’s all preference, but the skip button exists for a reason
“Give me some rope…” Banger.
I just rewatched all of game of thrones. I didn’t skip the intro even once. But I could have. 🤷🏻♂️
I’m rewatching the sopranos and, as iconic as the intro is, it is FAR too long. But as others have pointed out, it’s different when you’re watching on a streaming service as compared to weekly releases.
Not a big fan of anime, I'm guessing
The best is when the show intro is short but you can look up the full version with additional verses online.
https://youtu.be/QrGrOK8oZG8?si=1ysP612o6rjdhMbA Too Many Cooks
I think there is definitely room for a musical number at the start of a great show. It's a shame I never got to see more of this classic https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGrOK8oZG8
Actually I've always told myself they don't need to be any longer than 5 seconds. But 10 is better than nothing. Some are just way too long. And sometimes you can't skip it. Personally I prefer like cool looking name of the show with some visual affects for 5 seconds and done ...
Tim and Eric! Awesome Show!
Hmmm I love the Twin Peaks Intro though.... [Intro here ](https://youtu.be/yFMaEIHIrGw?is=b0fZpyZ0aJbt_wuV)
Strongly agree. Tv show intros are annoying and watching them over and over is crazy.
Show me that smile again
People really complain about anything, huh?
I completely disagree, the intros are one of my favorite features of shows and I never skip them.
Norsemen and Umbrella Academy understood the assignment.
100% agree
I can give you many examples of how you are wrong. Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Friends. Pokemon. Just the first three that pop into my head. All iconic theme tunes, beloved by fans.
I"ll raise you one, YouTube videos should not have intros.
Phineas and Ferb's theme is unskippable.
Don’t watch it then.
I binged One Piece a while back. 30 minute episodes on TV 15-17 minute episodes if you skip the intro/recap/credits/commercials. Literally half of the showtime is stuff I dont want to see.
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If that was an unpopular opinion, the skip intro button wouldn't exist on most streaming services.
[skip intro]
Gravity Falls, Looney Toons, Scooby-Doo, and many other series want to know your location
Music sets the tone. Creates the mood. Jelly to the peanut butter. Just because you can’t last 10 seconds doesn’t mean anyone else should have to suffer.
OP is going to stumble upon anime one day and have an aneurysm.
My first instance of feeling the same was actually last night. Usually I like watching them through at least once to get the feel, but DTF St. Louis has the most obnoxious one I’ve seen in a while. Essentially the same line repeated over and over for way too long. Even when yo...
Nope, we need more theme songs.
I agree it should be at least 90 seconds
For broadcast and cable TV having a shorter intro just means they are going to insert another ad.
Peacemaker needs your location.
Sounds like someone who never watched peacemaker season one.
11 Minute TV show intro https://youtu.be/QrGrOK8oZG8?si=wgFNkD_3dYStBEBD
Except Dexter. Not really about the music so much as the visual though.
Well, “Family Guy” has that whole production number with costumes and dancing on stairs, a Busby Berkeley kinda thing. I figure if they put that much work into it….
I love the south park intro tho
Sorry, but I couldn't even watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia if they cut the intro.
Lady Godiva was a freedom rider ... [10 min later] ... then there's Maude ... [10 min later] ... Right on, Maude!
Every TV show before 2010: 😠
100% agree, the good place is one of my favorite shows for many reasons but one of them is the 2 second intro.
Try watching FROM, phenomenal show although it has a 3 minute intro every damn episode, coming to find out the intro shows many hints for the upcoming season
No Gravity falls intro??? How dare you
I don't know about you, but my television gives me an option as to whether I want to skip the intro or not. It has been very convenient ever since we moved on to streaming services in '22. However, the musical intros gives tv shows their own special charm. Take the musical in...
I love intros in TV shows. As some of the other comments mentioned, a good intro instantly sets up the mood for the series. I only really skip intros if I’m binging multiple episodes in a row, otherwise I always sit through the entire thing.
No one will know your name.
Clearly don’t watch Game of Thrones or Stargate
The only shows that I won’t skip the intro for are Dexter, The Owl House and Gravity Falls.
I will never skip the OG Hawaii Five-O intro
You live in a world of impatience. I absolutely adore the music intro for The Expanse. I really don't get this comment. Use tbe fast forward button ffs. Or use the 'Skip Intro' button. Geez
*stares especially heinous*
BOOOOOOOOOO!!! I want theme songs back!
Aren’t musical intros more less a thing of the past?
Ya idk i never skip the big mouth intro that shit is a bop
100% agree with this. The blacklist has the best intro to a show in my opinion. 8 seconds. Enough to show the title of the show and then get the hell on with it.
The Quantum Leap intro seemed to go on forever
 Can't tell me the Survivor intro isn't extremely iconic
Nah, American shows should have intros like anime intros. I want original songs with lyrics and abunch of cool imagery. Even when binging i never skip intros unless its total ass.
Counter opinion, TV shows need to make better musical intros. There are some shows that, if you're not watching the intro, you're not watching the show. Cowboy Bebop, and Peacemaker come to mind.
Ok the peacemaker intros are absolute gold but I don’t want to watch them every time during a binge watch. The first episode let it have its intro but the following episodes shouldn’t ever have intros on streaming services.
The skip button is there, so what's the problem?
What the hell? You know that someone writes those tunes and then they need musicians to play the tune, plus studio time, producers, microphone manufacturers and on and on. Those people also have families they need to feed and you want to put all these people out of work just ...
How about we keep paying them, and they just don't? They get paid, and don't have to work. We get a better experience. Literally everyone wins.
You would be very bad as a shark on shark tank. You'd give everyone an investment no matter how shit their product is, because they have a family.
This is how every industry evolves. There used to be an extra job in the construction process called Drafting. Hundreds of draftsmen would be crammed into a room and they would draw all the blueprints. There used to be a job in production for every step of the production lin...
honestly, shows shouldnt bother with intros at all. whats the point of it? just eats up valuable time.
Some of these comments are wild. Y’all know it’s called UNPOPULAR opinion for a reason right?.
I think we feel it’s an uninformed opinion. Maybe you’ve never seen the Streets of San Francisco or Magnum PI for the best intros to a TV show…?