Television, in whatever format it is consumed, may be the dominate medium of entertainment on the earth.  Having existed for roughly eighty years, it is a format that has continued to evolve with the times (to varying degrees of success, depending on who you ask).  But one of the hallmarks of television shows, what they all universally share (60 Minutes notwithstanding) is the opening sequence.

All TV shows have an opening segment, complete with musical theme as well as overall introduction to the premise and characters of the show.  TV show openings – much like their brethren, the movie trailer – are an art unto themselves, striking a balance between catching the viewer’s attention, educating the viewer on the story and characters in it, as well as simple brevity.

Assembled here are the ten best television openings of all time.

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