Tonight On...
September 19, 2023 4:53 PM Subscribe
I remember some TV shows back in the 80s had a pre-credits preview of that night's episode. Did any shows in the 90s continue to do that? Any shows in the 21st Century?
I watched a lot of TV in the 80s, not so much in the 90s, and very little after 1999. I caught a rerun of Cagney & Lacey awhile ago and was reminded that some 80s shows actually previewed their episodes before the opening credits. I can't think of any shows from the 90s that did that. And I have no idea if it still happens in the 21st Century.
I watched a lot of TV in the 80s, not so much in the 90s, and very little after 1999. I caught a rerun of Cagney & Lacey awhile ago and was reminded that some 80s shows actually previewed their episodes before the opening credits. I can't think of any shows from the 90s that did that. And I have no idea if it still happens in the 21st Century.
Best answer: The 2004 Battlestar Galactica revival always had a pre-credits staccato-edited montage of scenes from the upcoming episode, set to a percussion track. Not the same in that there was no dialog and it was more an impression rather than a preview, but I always averted my eyes during it anyway.
posted by ejs at 5:26 PM on September 19, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by ejs at 5:26 PM on September 19, 2023 [10 favorites]
Space: 1999 did this about 20 seconds into the opening credits, it's probably what inspired Battlestar.
Arrested Development famously had a "On the next episode..." montage at the end, which had nothing at all to do with the next episode's content.
posted by credulous at 5:41 PM on September 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
Arrested Development famously had a "On the next episode..." montage at the end, which had nothing at all to do with the next episode's content.
posted by credulous at 5:41 PM on September 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
Top Gear (UK), with Clarkson, Hammond, and May, would almost always have Clarkson delivering a technically accurate, but ultimately just there to be funny, summation of the episode during the intro. Something like: "Tonight, I wear a hat; Richard wears a hat; and James wears a hat."
I'm assuming that tradition has continued with the new presenters, but I'm not sure...
posted by boisterousBluebird at 5:43 PM on September 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm assuming that tradition has continued with the new presenters, but I'm not sure...
posted by boisterousBluebird at 5:43 PM on September 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
NCIS used to start each act with a single shot from the act to come. One of the other NCIS shows ”takes” a bunch of photos at the start of each act that are still frames from events occurring later in the episode.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:52 PM on September 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 5:52 PM on September 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
These days a lot of shows show you what's going to be on the next episode at the end of the current episode. It's annoying AF.
posted by dobbs at 6:06 PM on September 19, 2023
posted by dobbs at 6:06 PM on September 19, 2023
NCIS used to start each act with a single shot from the act to come. One of the other NCIS shows ”takes” a bunch of photos at the start of each act that are still frames from events occurring later in the episode.
Yes, I was about to say, this device that infinitewindow mentions came to mind! Apparently within the NCIS fandom it's known as the "foof" (from the sound effect that plays during it).
The other thing I thought of, also not an exact match, is that the opening titles for the 2000s UK teen show Skins were a montage of brief clips. The montage was mostly identical for an entire season, except that the very last bit would be episode-specific shots of the character or characters that were going to be focused on. Compare series 1 episode 1 "Tony" (video leads right off with the titles) to series 1 episode 4 "Chris" (there's a "previously on" segment at the start of the video, but the titles start at about 0:58 and you can catch the difference in the last few shots).
posted by sigmagalator at 6:11 PM on September 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yes, I was about to say, this device that infinitewindow mentions came to mind! Apparently within the NCIS fandom it's known as the "foof" (from the sound effect that plays during it).
The other thing I thought of, also not an exact match, is that the opening titles for the 2000s UK teen show Skins were a montage of brief clips. The montage was mostly identical for an entire season, except that the very last bit would be episode-specific shots of the character or characters that were going to be focused on. Compare series 1 episode 1 "Tony" (video leads right off with the titles) to series 1 episode 4 "Chris" (there's a "previously on" segment at the start of the video, but the titles start at about 0:58 and you can catch the difference in the last few shots).
posted by sigmagalator at 6:11 PM on September 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
I just watched the Australian show “ANZAC Girls,” which ran in 2014, and they did that for some episodes.
posted by FencingGal at 6:37 PM on September 19, 2023
posted by FencingGal at 6:37 PM on September 19, 2023
Best answer: Some reality shows do it; I think Survivor (I think I remember Jeff Probst saying "Tonight...on Survivor" but honestly I only half-watch; my wife is the Survivor fan).
posted by lhauser at 6:46 PM on September 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by lhauser at 6:46 PM on September 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Bachelor does this.
The Bachelor, and all related shows, not only do this, they do this before every single commercial break.
The Netflix Matt Groening series Disenchanted shows stylized illustrations of scenes from the episode you’re about to watch during the opening credits.
posted by ejs at 8:20 PM on September 19, 2023
The Bachelor, and all related shows, not only do this, they do this before every single commercial break.
The Netflix Matt Groening series Disenchanted shows stylized illustrations of scenes from the episode you’re about to watch during the opening credits.
posted by ejs at 8:20 PM on September 19, 2023
This definitely seems like more of a reality-show thing. Off the top of my head, Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs always started with a preview of the coming attractions.
The original Mission: Impossible show from the 60s did this, and the modern film series continues the tradition.
Going back to TV, I always liked how the 90s animated variety show KaBlam! started off with the cartoon hosts doing a little dance on top of a comic book page that contained panels of their own upcoming dialogue. I used to annoy my younger brother by sneaking a peek at the background and acting like I could predict whatever scene was about to happen.
posted by Rhaomi at 10:16 PM on September 19, 2023
The original Mission: Impossible show from the 60s did this, and the modern film series continues the tradition.
Going back to TV, I always liked how the 90s animated variety show KaBlam! started off with the cartoon hosts doing a little dance on top of a comic book page that contained panels of their own upcoming dialogue. I used to annoy my younger brother by sneaking a peek at the background and acting like I could predict whatever scene was about to happen.
posted by Rhaomi at 10:16 PM on September 19, 2023
I've also seen this in documentaries (can't remember if it's before or after titles, but the title sequences are often minimal anyway these days). You get clips of the most interesting/dramatic bits, some choice quotes from people being interviewed, etc. I hate it. Don't tell me what I'm about to watch, I want to watch it!
posted by fabius at 5:02 AM on September 20, 2023
posted by fabius at 5:02 AM on September 20, 2023
All the Korean shows do that.
posted by plant or animal at 5:32 AM on September 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by plant or animal at 5:32 AM on September 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Murder She Wrote did it into the 1990s.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:14 AM on September 20, 2023
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:14 AM on September 20, 2023
If I remember correctly the K-Drama The King's Affection (from 2021) did the "next episode preview at end of current episode" thing.
posted by Julnyes at 11:34 AM on September 20, 2023
posted by Julnyes at 11:34 AM on September 20, 2023
I just realized my answer does not apply at all - sorry!
posted by Julnyes at 12:49 PM on September 20, 2023
posted by Julnyes at 12:49 PM on September 20, 2023
Best answer: I've been watching a lot of shows on PBS Masterpiece, and OMG they do the episode preview All. The. Time. They also have a commercial for Viking Cruises and a trailer for a different PBS show... You can't fast-forward through them.
posted by CathyG at 9:10 PM on September 21, 2023
posted by CathyG at 9:10 PM on September 21, 2023
The excellent Justice League Unlimited cartoon from the early 2000's does this. Each credit sequence has a different set of scenes of the heroes featured in that week's episode.
Example featuring Captain Atom, Supergirl and Green Arrow. I believe that producer Bruce Timm confirmed on a commentary track that this was a direct homage to the 1970's Battlestar Galactica credit sequence.
posted by JDC8 at 9:41 AM on September 22, 2023
Example featuring Captain Atom, Supergirl and Green Arrow. I believe that producer Bruce Timm confirmed on a commentary track that this was a direct homage to the 1970's Battlestar Galactica credit sequence.
posted by JDC8 at 9:41 AM on September 22, 2023
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posted by brookeb at 5:19 PM on September 19, 2023 [2 favorites]