How To Get In The Live Audience For Your Favourite TV Shows

[@michaelwaddington1356]

Best intro that I never skipped is for the Piecemaker series. Brings absolutly no context to the show but just has all the main cast doing a mad dance to some Scandinavian Glam Rock

[@thebagelsproductions]

That sounds amazing, frankly. I think that I might watch the show just for the credits.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@thebagelsproductions I wasn't overly interested in the series or the character and wasn't planning on watching it. Then someone pointed out the credit scene, it persuaded me to watch the show and it was worth it IMO. The credits are bonkers but it works.

[@michaelwaddington1356]

Yeah shows really good compared to a lot of the other DC stuff. I forgot to mention they do the whole ridiculous dance whilst keeping very serious stoney expressions on their faces which makes it even funnier. I'd definitely give it a watch

[@Elwaves2925]

@@michaelwaddington1356 Definitely. Playing it totally straight is what makes it work IMO. It's also a very catchy song by Wigwam.

[@michaelwaddington1356]

@Elwaves2925 oh yeah love the song, found it and added it to my playlists straight after hearing it. Was sure it was an 80's classic I'd never heard before but turns out it was from about ten years ago

[@chrismoorcroft334]

My unmissable opening is The Prisoner, showing how No.6 arrived in the village, and great music

[@schpleeb]

We want *informationnnn*

[@BobMcDonald-c4h]

Best opening theme/credits: The Wire. Different version of the same theme each season (all great), plus cool quote from the episode at the end of the opening credits

[@josephfoulger9628]

Love how the images change too, but keep a few core elements

[@billswifejo]

I love the rolling marble sequence in Elementary and never skip that.

[@Ballacks101]

Good shout. Miss that program.

[@philanderson5138]

The only show I've seen is a recording of the radio show "I'm Sorry I haven't a clue" - two episodes at Newcastle. It was one of the best evenings ever- laughed more than any other show - all the in-jokes, introducing the presenters, silly but so well structured and it relies on the audience reactions.

[@macsmiffy2197]

We had Just a minute in our town. Same response. Loved it.

[@Ballacks101]

The irony of a discussion about using the title skip button that is followed by an advert that everyone wants a skip button for. Fast forward works 😂

[@annettebanham4205]

Absolutely must include Unforgotten in the best opening credits. Haunting music and clues that unfold as the series progresses..class.

[@janeboyce9453]

Totally agree, that’s one of mine.

[@NinaGray-eq9on]

True Detective, series one, credit sequence is fantastic. The visuals are stunning.

[@dibbler5]

It feels like a proper part of the show.

[@wayneyb1978]

I was in the audience for the first episode of Celebrity Wrestling on ITV (anyone remember that!?) and they spent hours filming crowd shots of celebrating and chanting to use throughout the season. Due to continuity we were not allowed to leave the auditorium for the loo without a chaperone to make sure we came straight back. I also had tickets for QI but when we got there it was queued around the block and the vast majority had already been told they were unlikely to get in. We never made it. I did get in for The IT Crowd, and that was great fun - lots of interaction and even got to meet the actors when out in the smoking area!!!

[@mother2bach]

Opening titles to Slow Horses because of Mick Jaggers’ phenomenal theme song. The character montage is nicely done too. I actually find myself wishing the opening was longer so I could hear more of the song.

[@mickeypye2593]

only found it recently. Not normally a fan of Mick's voice but this works and such a show

[@johnwellingtonwells7639]

A bit old school but Hill Street blues and The Professionals, I loved and still do love the way it the picture is cut to the music; even the computer tape drive moves in time to the track. Hill Street blues music is just perfect and the grey and tatty look of the picture just suits the electric piano. I could go on.

[@DrCalamityJan]

Midsomer Murders theme. Done on a theramin. Amazing.

[@manolisk33]

Wow, Marina mentioned literally ALL of the openings that crossed my mind upon hearing the question: Game of Thrones, What we do in the Shadows, Dexter and Simpsons.

[@Elwaves2925]

I definitely didn't skip GOT but did for the Simpsons back when I watched it but stopped before the coach gag. I never skip Firefly, Twin Peaks, Doctor Who or The Professionals.

[@DrJosepi]

@@Elwaves2925 I hadn't thought of Doctor Who. It really hypes you up for the episode.

[@COLINHILLSWIMS]

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Netflix series, my children and I love watching the whole intro, such a catchy sound. 'Look away...."

[@icarusandtherabbit]

I lived in London in 2007. I went to see heaps of shows being filmed at South Bank. The Graham Norton show, Russel Brand Ponderland and … with great regret Outtake TV with Anne Robinson. She wasn’t there and we just sat in a room and watched the video as they captured the audience reaction. I remember seeing tickets to the IT crowd being available, not knowing what it was I didn’t get them. Yep I saw Outtake TV instead of the IT Crowd. Damn!! Also Top Gear had a 7 year wait. See you next Tuesday .

[@trudimclaren4301]

Absolutely agree with the grooms music at a wedding! I used to be a function manager at a very popular wedding location in NZ (Larnach Castle - tiny compared to real UK castles though), and when I met with the couple to discuss their needs, I always recommended the groom and groomsmen have something to walk in to - and it can also be a bit light-hearted, which relieves tension for them! I think the best wedding entrance music I ever saw though, was one where the newlyweds had hired our bagpiper to pipe them into the ballroom, and at the last minute they found he could play the Empire music from Star Wars and insisted on that - most brilliant entrance I've ever seen! ❤😂😂😂

[@billkingston4402]

Thunderbirds, great opening and great music

[@maxine2798]

It’s on my list at 5 4 3 2 1 positions

[@sianwarwick633]

My take on studio audience free tickets: going to the Paris theatre on Regent Street for radio shows was fun. Film screening rooms for critics was fun, too. HIGNFY was prolonged dullness, the editing is definitely needed. Father Ted, as a sitcom, use the warm-up comedian to tape the laughs, which are dubbed in as laugh-track for the show - which you couldn't see because 2 cameras plus an overhead camera. Tried tickets for Graham Norton - no way was that happening. I saw a good Craig Ferguson show at Riverside studios, but with overdubbed musicians - bad.

[@trudimclaren4301]

I never skip the intro to Yellowjackets - such a brilliant song and creepy graphics that just perfectly match the feel of the show. And also never skip hignify opening credits - so much going on, there's always something I missed previously

[@ticketyboo2456]

I always watch the Crown intro. Stirring music and beautiful optics.

[@Elwaves2925]

I always listened to GOT and The Detectorists. I fast forwarded the Simpsons (back when I watched) but pressed play before the coach gag. Others are Twin Peaks, Firefly, Doctor Who and The Professionals.

[@alanhill6974]

Yes, finally someone said Doctor Who!!

[@sianwarwick633]

Happy to say I have never watched, and will never watch Thrones.

[@astronomenov99]

Tom Scott does a great appreciation of the opening title sequence of 'It'll Be Alright on the Night'. and just in case links get deleted, I'll link to it on a subsequent reply to myself.

[@astronomenov99]

Tom Scott does a great appreciation of the opening title sequence of 'It'll Be Alright on the Night'. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4apZZScrbKjh80si=6ah1UoSJcznpBw8L

[@josephfoulger9628]

Where reply

[@astronomenov99]

@@josephfoulger9628 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4apZZScrbKjh80si=Awv4yy-26PMNGpYC

[@astronomenov99]

@@josephfoulger9628 just search for : 'Tom Scott The Greatest Title Sequence I've Ever Seen"

[@TheWhisperCorner]

Dan Chesney Hawks is such a brilliant joke for people in their 40s.

[@stevebills5716]

Ah so happy to get the call out for Thunderbirds! No mention of any Gerry Anderson on the theme tunes, but #1 on the opening credits. I agree wholeheartedly 🙂

[@thechrisgoor]

The BBC's studio has a real backdrop but it also has virtual elements, to make the space look bigger. The cameras can pan to look at things which aren't there.

[@cemerson]

Best opening credits - Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Which is the same as my answer to best theme tune.

[@nelsondias9989]

No Mention of True Blood? I know it has fallen out of favour recently but the credit sequence was stunning

[@johnking5174]

The Irish talk show The Late Late Show used to have one of the longest waiting lists for the audience. When it was hosted by it's first and best host Gay Byrne from 1962 to 1999, the waiting list was two years. Especially from 1962 to 1995 when they were in a small studio with just 120 audience seats. Their current studio since 1995 now has 200 - 250 audience seats and still a huge waiting list.

[@Fraudpod]

Minder has an absolutely belting opening credits! Also, absolutely love the opening to Sorry! A lot more than I enjoyed the show itself

[@Mike-ro8oh]

Big fan of the Severance opening credits

[@ChrisH78]

Going through a re-watch of the first season to prep for the upcoming 2nd and I seriously hope they don't drop the ball. Such a great show

[@janeboyce9453]

My 3 would be Unforgotten, welcome to Wrexham and ( an oldie) Jonathan Creek!

[@TheSuzberry]

My absolute FAVORITE opening credit sequence is “Queens of Mystery” on Acorn. Delightful and I watch it for every episode of every season.

[@andreathompson7896]

I like the opening title sequences where they have already started showing the program and characters are walking around while the title music plays .eg. Open all hours, last of the summer wine.

[@bradj0nezy29]

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name 😊

[@siohmy]

Went to see HIGNFY myself probably around the same time as Richard. Was very lucky to see one of Douglas Adams last appearances. Just a really fun hour and a half or so. Plus TV studios are generally very intimate so you are really close to the “action”. Went a couple of times to see WWTBAM as well (Tarrant era). Watching that live is tense. Can go on a bit as contestants do not have a time limit to answer questions but saw someone bag £250k.

[@thebuffmeister89]

I’ve been going to Hard Quiz audience for years and during Covid we had empty seats all around each group once it was on again and it was harder work cheering loud enough for sure.

[@MrOllie616]

The greatest intro/credits scene must be The Naked Gun surely...

[@MitGibs]

Opening credits, done well, really set the mood for what you're about to watch. I'll always watch the first one at least, and usually the last episode just to tease out the anticipation of the grand finale. There was a programme on Radio 4 a little while ago where a composer (I think it was Nicholas Britell, not 100%) who has done a a number of shows was talking about their work, and they did discuss the "skip" button. Since hearing that, I've always felt guilty if I skip.

[@Elwaves2925]

Yes, I'll always check out at least one opening credit scene, it's often the second episode if a standalone pilot was made first. It can definitely help set the mood and for me, the best one for that was Twin Peaks.

[@dazzlercazzler]

Loving all the intros. Takes me back, BUT what about Outros????? The best ever has to be the original Incredible Hulk series.....It used to me me cry as he walked off down the road, and the music .....well...😢

[@TonyP_Yes-its-Me]

I had voice master Peter Serafinowicz, voice of Darth Maul, do a comical answerphone message for me, in the voice of his character Brian Butterfield. I removed it, when someone left a message to tell me their father had passed away, and it seemed rather crass and inappropriate. "Hullo! Please leave a message on this Brian Butterfield 'Butterphone'."

[@HowNoNow]

Black Sails is the best music and visuals I've seen. Binged on 2 seasons and (mostly) never skipped

[@philipellis7039]

Opening sequences (if I’ve remembered correctly): the first two seasons of Mr Mercedes as they would alter the opening sequence slightly each time.

[@encroute]

I used to love watching Drop The Dead Donkey, Men Behaving Badly, Red Dwarf & HIGNFY. Great evenings out!

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

When i was young long long time ago Richard Green was the lead actor in the black and white TV show Robin Hood, the opening sequence started with Robin firing his bow and arrow and the camera followed it's trajectory across the sky, I was told that if I watched closely i would see a modern telegraph pole appear in shot, I never saw it is there still people alive who heard that story or was I the only fool to be duped.

[@straitJacketFashion]

Best opening, Postman Pat (the original).

[@clarekelso7841]

Elementary - brilliant opening visually and musically

[@TheSarkyGamer]

Hard choices for openings of shows I'd never miss, but probably those with the best theme tunes. Probably "Brooklyn 99", "Taskmaster" and "Father Ted" because of the style of all of them.

[@chrisredditch]

Best Opening Credits?? OK:- Top Cat The Flintstones and, the best, The Hair Bear Bunch

[@TheJamesRedwood]

3:00 And what comes up on the supermarket checkout.

[@deezyhope675]

I’m a librarian and I always introduce the talent at our author events 😁

[@larrynelson4909]

In Burbank they used to pay homeless people $10.00/ hr to fill out the audience and Tubi the streaming service was the first to do the intro skip

[@DoubleD20s]

Further to the opening credits discussion, I've long thought this podcast's theme always sounds like it'll break into the Coronation Street tune after the first few bars. It's a combination of the brass instrumentation and the slow tempo. Anyway, I'm off to watch the rest of the video now.

[@hayley4253]

Always loved the intro to Dexter

[@scatton61]

Top three opening sequences number one thunderbirds,. Number two taboo with Tom Hardy. Number 3 silent witness

[@mickeypye2593]

I'd have given an edge to Stingray over the TBs and had a bigger soft spot for Fireball XL5

[@Iilolian]

The 'warm-up guy'... Alexi Sayle's BEST character is Bobby Chariot, the warm-up guy for his own series. Hoowwwww ya DIDDLIN'? Sod ya, then!

[@Behindthebackdrop]

Dad's Army is still an epic title sequence.

[@mickeypye2593]

Loved it. I provided the security on "We're Doomed !!!" the dad's army BBC film shot in Norn Iron. Got woken early by night shift to say the PSNI were circling the location but we're actually on a raid for bomb making equipment lol... Every days an adventure 😁👌🤪😉

[@thomasscottwilliams6672]

Mine is daredevil, game of thrones, Dexter and Hannibal, so artistic and great music

[@danieljfrancis]

I was once at a pilot in Elstree, about a decade ago, for a Carol Vorderman-hosted and Grant Bovey-produced pilot that was basically a Deal or No Deal clone. It was crap, and didn't get commissioned. Plus it was clear they were actors as contestants - and one of them went on to do a couple of comedy shows! The best part was it being filmed on The George Lucas Stage! We went to this in exchange for being bumped up the list for Piers Morgan's Life Stories. Sadly, the one of those we got to see was Ian Botham. He wasn't good value, and we were sat next to his family who were all a bit grumpy. Morgan was good value for the crowd, despite drinking Red Bull after Red Bull since he'd been working in America and just flown in...

[@ChrisH78]

Top 3 intro I never skip; 1. One Punch Man, 2. Succession, 3. GoT

[@BennHaze]

A recent great one is Severance. Also morning show one is a fun new one too

[@DrCalamityJan]

In terms of audiences for House of Games, I feel like the absence of audience is part of the appeal of the show. When you do House of Games Night, the ambiance is less appealing. And that is absolutely counterintuitive.

[@LiveSportThom]

Taskmaster audience, one of the most fun evenings you can have, gladiators audience, dullest day of my life, left after 7 hours as it was still nowhere near finished

[@andrewmontague9682]

Season one of House was good but mostly because Teardrop is a banger of a song.

[@themoon9442]

1. Hawaii 5-O (original series) 2. Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! 3. The Monkees There has never been any competition for the #1 slot since 1971..

[@giociampa]

I've been in the audience for many a show and it has always been fun (even with all the queuing that it entails)... though for one show in particular the crew started to recognise me as I turned up so many times to recordings (they made me sit at the back where I couldn't be seen - not that I minded).

[@lukesmith5018]

White Lotus has a brilliant opening that I would never skip

[@dmontes133]

You two are the best!

[@AndreaTSangster]

Series of Unfortunate Events Monk "I could be wrong now... BUT I DONT THINK SO!"

[@MarkAJAgi]

There was one episode of The Simpsons when they had to change their name to Tompsons. (Police protection) The opening credits was edited with Tompsons replacing Simpsons in the song and text.

[@dmontes133]

I don’t skip, Star Trek, I even speak with Captain Kirk. Big Bang Theory, I sing, “We built the pyramids”, What We Do In The Shadows, The Simpsons, the old Mission Impossible, Are You Being Served, everything I fast forward thru.

[@simonblake1434]

Echo Richard's thoughts on Bergerac - great theme tune too !

[@karenpeirson417]

The Good Fight, The Good Fight, The Good Fight! Feel like I can go out and fight the patriarchy each day!

[@hindolbittern]

I confirm that going to see Would I Lie To You is a fantastic evening out. I am a huge fan and, back when Twitter was great, spoke to the producers by DM and offered to send some pork pies down to say thanks for making me laugh so much (I own a pork pie business). They said “Why don’t you bring them down and watch a show?”. Everyone was very kind and we were asked if we’d like to come to the green room afterwards for a drink. It was the best part of a couple of hours filming and side-splittingly funny. Some of the funniest bits were clearly going to be unpublishable. And all of it was great, there weren’t long pauses in filming for technical stuff, which I’d expected. There were about 500 people in the audience, which amazed me. Thanks to our pork pie credentials (!) we were fast tracked, but otherwise there would have been quite a lot of queuing. Afterwards (again thanks to the pork pies!) we met two of my comedy heroes in the green room, Ed Byrne and Miles Jupp, and I re-met Heston Blumenthal who I knew slightly through work. I didn’t get up the nerve to chat to Rob, David and Lee though, who were sitting in a bit of a huddle. Such a good night! I’d highly recommend applying for tickets, even without the green room bonus . (NB - I also sent pies by Twitter arrangement to Pointless, back in the day, to say thank you for the TV fun, but somehow my studio invitation must have been lost in the post 😂😂)

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

Soprano's, i watched the title's every time.

[@walkingandadventures6114]

Miranda gone up hugely in my opinion, Thunderbirds fantastic intro..

[@JackFulton-uq7zj]

Best Intro - 'The Equalizer'

[@JG-hj4nx]

Best intro is thundercats original series

[@lyndonrobertson9664]

Peaky Blinders - red right hand is a bit haunting.

[@daviebananas1735]

Best intro is Fireman Sam.

[@alanhill6974]

Doctor Who for me - any of the opening sequences :-)

[@ramruma6330]

The Apprentice intro has to be skipped because they often include spoilers in the form of clips from future episodes which tells you who will not be fired this week. One year they even included clips from the final. Marina is right about Thunderbirds.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

Opening Sequences/Theme Tunes: - The Crystal Maze - Catchphrase in the 1990s - The Simpsons

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

hat tip to 1990s Gladiators too

[@MattyMonk]

Is it Thursday already?😂

[@simonmeadows7961]

For best TV intros: - The X Files - Have I Got News For You - Desperate Housewives

[@EeshanMalhotra]

Never skipped the opening credits for: Bojack Horseman, Succession, Dark

[@michaelrobson3460]

19 mins. Comedians introducing themselves. Its because its just them and the roadie, on tour? My favourite of all time, tho , is that Ronnie Barker is the Judge, in the intro for "Porridge"

[@michaelrobson3460]

Due to my pc breaking, the tuner in my tv breaking and my dvd deciding it would only play genuine dvds , i watched the dvd box sets of Rumpole of the Bailey and Mash, over Christmas. Either programmes theme tune make me twitch, involuntarily. I believe dvd players have the same function as Netflix, now. Im giving points to the first person who replies "suicide is painless" Who wrote the lyrics.And how much more money did they get paid, than Robert Altman, for directing the movie. Go.

[@jemmacurran1715]

Michael Altman, his son! Not sure about the money bit, but must be in the tens of millions with its use on the TV show

[@michaelrobson3460]

@@jemmacurran1715 Robert Altman was paid $120,000 for the movie.Michael earned - pleasingly - $1.2 million for the lyrics

[@f35500]

I stoped going to tv shows when we got there hr early,train tickets etc early, massive que , qued 2 hrs told not getting in but let slipped they where sending 3x no tickets! No comps to any other shows treated quite abrupt so was quite pissed off!

[@tobyk8125]

What's a "que"? How do you pronounce it? "Kwuh"?

[@arunm7810]

15.20 I find it hard to believe that someone as dialled in to the entertainment scene as Richard is would be unaware that there are many successful podcasts who have done a number of live shows at large venues, so was this a subtle dig ('the end of culture')?

[@michaelrobson3460]

Anything Dan Chesney hawks is the one and only gag that made me laugh out loud, today

[@KristineMaitland]

Unfortunately I could not find it on KZbin but I adored Zen starring Rufus Sewell- the English opening is totally sophisticated, very much like the original Thomas Crown Affair. The kid in me adored Battle of the Planets. Hoyt Curtain's orchestration of the score is to die. Seeing the 'hood while hearing the theme of Chico and the Man is a delight. And for you fellow Canadians out there, who could skip the opening to King of Kensington? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJLGpKWahdysmtksi=ajoEs4SIWmNo5pnU

[@ekolekol4389]

BoJack Horseman has the best opening titles, it gradually changed to reflect the storyline/character development

[@element4element4]

I used to like the Westworld opening credit.

[@benthomas1885]

SWAT on Netflix, not a good show but the theme and credits are proper Steven j Connell or Aaron Spelling stuff.

[@jamesbmcauley]

I like the idea that there is a kid somewhere watching this podcast who will go on to write for, and then compete on House of Games.

[@tobyk8125]

Mysterious Cities of Gold!

[@Robalogot]

Interesting fact, Michael Buffer (boxing) and Bruce Buffer (ring announcer of UFC) are half brothers who didn't know they were related until well in their adult life.

[@vapeymcvape5000]

Everyone knows that.

[@tobyk8125]

@@vapeymcvape5000 I didn't

[@Earbrass1]

Stewart Lee described Game of Thrones as "Peter Stringfellow's Lord of the Rings". Harsh but fair.

[@russellrichardson554]

You want a unique UNMADE golf movie? I give you 'The Perfect Lie' by Michael O'Rourke - I read the script a number of years ago, and it's a warm, funny, gentle rom-com with a dash of real world melancholy. Michael (a friend) has done many things in his life as a writer, director and film activist, based in Perth, Western Australia... most notably he was the lead writer for many years of the show 'Neighbours'. Someone should take a look...

[@julierichardson800]

Justified only skipped if son was asleep as it always woke him up!