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Walking Toward the Camera

TheOldMole Mar 14 2009 09:01 AM

Why does every TV show on the air these days begin with the entire cast either walking toward the camera or standing and facing the camera?

cooby Mar 14 2009 04:54 PM

Oh, thank you old Mole! This is one of my beefs too. And the ads show them laughing their asses off at their own implied hilariousness (or worse, implied sexiness), but not any particular scenes from their show.

RealityChuck Mar 16 2009 07:35 AM

I've noticed that for several years. It must be in their contracts.

metirish Mar 16 2009 08:50 AM

This would have been perfect for the cranky old mole thread..... I agree with he beef though.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 16 2009 09:05 AM

Can we get some examples? Are you talking about the opening credits, like in <i>House</i>? Or those promos for <i>Desperate Housewives</i> where they're all wearing bright red dresses?

themetfairy Mar 16 2009 10:50 AM

Sex and the City

G-Fafif Mar 16 2009 11:19 AM

My cranky old man gripe in this realm is long-running shows should update their credit sequences over time as applicable. From 1999 through 2007, for example, Tony Soprano drove through a New Jersey where gas was forever under a dollar a gallon (though they did edit out the WTC in his rearview mirror after Season Three). Steve Carrell looks nothing in "The Office" like he did in the pilot, yet that's the Michael Scott we get every Thursday. Though tweaked slightly, the boys from "Entourage" are frozen in 2004 in their credit sequence. (And MFY fan Turtle can suck it.) Applause to those shows, which, in the tradition of "Mary Tyler Moore" and "South Park" (to name two series you automatically free-associate), that noticed their characters change their appearances over time and took appropriate credit sequence measures.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 16 2009 11:48 AM

The opening sequence to <i>Dexter</i> is so creepy that sometimes I imagine how it would be if they switched to a classic sitcom opening (think <i>Full House</i>, among others) where during the opening credits each actor turns from whatever they're doing and gives a big smile to the camera as their name is displayed on the screen. (They'd need to switch to a more jaunty theme song too, of course.)

soupcan Mar 16 2009 11:52 AM

Love Dexter.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 16 2009 11:53 AM

So do I, but wouldn't it be better if it was more like <I>Full House</I>? Okay, maybe not.

G-Fafif Mar 16 2009 11:54 AM

Dexter has the credit sequence I never want to fast-forward through.

DocTee Mar 16 2009 12:00 PM

Any NFL promo with Boomer, Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Cowher et al tossing a football around and laughing like fools when one drops it.

Number 6 Mar 16 2009 01:25 PM

="DocTee":t02g4e6t]Any NFL promo with Boomer, Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Cowher et al tossing a football around and laughing like fools when one drops it.[/quote:t02g4e6t] Every NFL halftime show these days has adopted the "watch 5 ex-jocks guffaw at their own lame jokes" model. I find it infuriating. Sadly, it seems like the MLB Network has adopted this model for their "Baseball Tonight" knock-off. This is too bad because they were pushing Baseball Tonight for my viewership, on the strength of their conspicuous lack of John Kruk. Well... I guess I never really watch Baseball Tonight, but hey, the MLB Network could've gotten me without all the guffawing. G-Fafif Mar 16 2009 02:49 PM Since half of what these ex-jocks do on those shows (football and baseball) is walk over to some fake field and show how the game should be played, why do they have to wear suits? So they can make a show of having taken off their jackets? Why not let them wear sweats and t-shirts? It's sports. I also think morning shows should be hosted by anchors in bathrobes or pajamas. Frayed Knot Mar 16 2009 03:56 PM ="Number 6":1ocsj29l] ="DocTee":1ocsj29l]Any NFL promo with Boomer, Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Cowher et al tossing a football around and laughing like fools when one drops it.[/quote:1ocsj29l] Every NFL halftime show these days has adopted the "watch 5 ex-jocks guffaw at their own lame jokes" model. I find it infuriating.[/quote:1ocsj29l] That seems like a long-standing TV tradition whether it's sports or not. The local news programs always did the smiling & laughing thing as if to convince you that you'll get more out of the program if they can just sell you on the idea that the staff really gets along. Plus it's even worse with the news programs since they go right from their giggling into reading a story where an entire family was wiped out in a fire. TheOldMole Mar 16 2009 06:36 PM Law and Order was probably the first one. But it's spread like a cancer. The credits for The Unit end with the four guys walking toward the cancer in suits, which they never wear on the show. Criminal Minds has them all facing the camera. Burn Notice has started doing it. Lots of others. cooby Mar 16 2009 07:09 PM ="DocTee"]Any NFL promo with Boomer, Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Cowher et al tossing a football around and laughing like fools when one drops it. Oh, me too, and they're not that funny when they're not butterfingers either ]Plus it's even worse with the news programs since they go right from their giggling into reading a story where an entire family was wiped out in a fire or vice versa MFS62 Mar 17 2009 08:33 AM ="TheOldMole"]Law and Order was probably the first one. I see 'ya and raise 'ya, Mole. I think it started with the Mod Squad. Later TheOldMole Mar 17 2009 11:23 AM Bonanza? G-Fafif Mar 17 2009 11:28 AM ="TheOldMole":2qvqobu9]Law and Order was probably the first one. But it's spread like a cancer.[/quote:2qvqobu9] Somewhere an oncologist is bemoaning, "This thing has spread like that unpleasant situation with the credits." MFS62 Mar 17 2009 11:39 AM ="TheOldMole":1rvjnlos]Bonanza?[/quote:1rvjnlos] Does facing the camera while on horseback count? (Yes, I know. Picky, picky, picky) Later