MovieChat Forums > Taxi (1978) Discussion > The opening titles

The opening titles

posted 9 years ago by urgeking
17 replies | jump to latest

On the channel where I watch this show (guess where?), it's preceded by "Mary Tyler Moore" and "The Bob Newhart Show". Several of the producers and creators from those two series went on to make "Taxi". But coming after the stylish, obviously well-financed opening-titles sequence of "MTM" and of "TBNS", the opening of "Taxi" looks awfully slapdash and low-budget (and is very short), as if they'd had to throw something together at the last minute. (And, sadly, the Bob James theme music seems limp and uninspired compared with a lot of his mid-1970s recorded work.)

To me it comes across as cheap and generic and doesn't suggest to a new viewer that, "Hey, we've invested a lot of pride and talent in this show and you should check it out." Surely, after years of success with "MTM" and "TBNS", those producers/creators must have had a decent budget to work with. It just seems like a series as good as "Taxi" deserved an opening that had a little more flair.

[–] cbhardison 8 years ago

To me, I always thought the "rough" look of the opening credits was to match the garage and similar lifestyle of a cabbie. I always liked this opening much better than the other 2, personally.

[–] urgeking 8 years ago

Well, if that was the intent, they certainly succeeded!

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

But see this wasn't going to be perky spunky Mary Richards or suburban commuting upper middle class professional couples problems etc,
this was seedy, inner city, usually late night, working class, wish they were somewhere else stories....

Ephemeron.

[–] cbhardison 8 years ago

^^^^^Exactly; this series showed the darker side of city life. A bright, cheery opening would be a paradox to this.

[–] urgeking 8 years ago

I wasn't expecting bright and cheery, but, as I OP'd, the opening comes across to me as a low-budget rush job without a lot of thought invested in it... plus it's "blink and you'll miss it" short. As if they're saying to us, not, "Check out our great new show-- we're so into it!" but "Eh, here's some new show, check it out if you want, whatever, anyway here's the commercial break BYE."

Not that this is really so important when all is said and done, since 'Taxi' did end up pretty successful ratings-wise, didn't it? I was merely making an aesthetic judgment.

[–] elitist 8 years ago

While visually the opening is pretty basic, the theme music is just perfect - downbeat, wistful.

[–] stflaw-33767 8 years ago

I agree completely. I think the theme music is perfect for the show, and has always been among my favorites. Here's a bit of trivia - Tony Danza was driving the cab in the opening credits.

[–] kaydie-fee 8 years ago

They are the most relaxing opening titles ever

[–] urgeking 8 years ago

That's true, for better or worse.

[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

Yeah, I always get a warm, cozy feeling of being at home.

For me it's a perfect blend of music and visuals.

[–] shango7200 8 years ago

I agree with the original poster.
MTM productions had slam-bang openings-- this one feels cheap. The theme is "cozy" as one person said--but it sure ain't "funny".
WKRP had a crappy theme /opening as well.( BUT we LOVE the WKRP end theme !)

"In every dimension , there's another YOU!"

[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

I haven't watched WKRP in a few years now.
I can still remember and sing the opening song all these years later.
As for the closing one? It's anyone's guess what those lyrics are.

Let me know if I'm on your ignore list.
Thanx!

[–] pazuzu9 (384) a month ago

"WKRP had a crappy theme /opening as well.( BUT we LOVE the WKRP end theme !)"

That's kooky talk. The intro theme is great and feels similar to Taxi (except it has lyrics). The end theme is incomprehensible.

[–] daughterofolaf 8 years ago

How strange, I always LOVED the opening credits to this show--both the visual aspect and the music. This is one of my all time favorite themes from any show!

"Your petty vengeance fetish will have to do withOUT Mr. Groin!"

[–] stanleyhetz 8 years ago

On the channel where I watch this show (guess where?), it's preceded by "Mary Tyler Moore" and "The Bob Newhart Show". Several of the producers and creators from those two series went on to make "Taxi". But coming after the stylish, obviously well-financed opening-titles sequence of "MTM" and of "TBNS", the opening of "Taxi" looks awfully slapdash and low-budget (and is very short), as if they'd had to throw something together at the last minute. (And, sadly, the Bob James theme music seems limp and uninspired compared with a lot of his mid-1970s recorded work.)

To me it comes across as cheap and generic and doesn't suggest to a new viewer that, "Hey, we've invested a lot of pride and talent in this show and you should check it out." Surely, after years of success with "MTM" and "TBNS", those producers/creators must have had a decent budget to work with. It just seems like a series as good as "Taxi" deserved an opening that had a little more flair.



[–] urgeking 8 years ago

Sorry, but I'm not fluent in Emojian, or perhaps I should say GIFish...

[–] stevewyzard (1583) 7 years ago

Put me down with the posters who love Bob James's opening theme. It perfectly captures the poignancy and wistfulness of not only the show, but the entire dreary decade. For those who are wondering, the name of the song is "Angela", and it appears on James's 1978 album Touchdown.