Top Gear
2002–BBC TwoDocumentary
Twenty-one seconds of engine noise and a rock riff — a motoring programme that opens like a trailer for itself.
Top Gear rebuilt its titles: two distinct opening sequences are catalogued here across seasons 1 and 23, running between 21 and 38 seconds.
It arrived on BBC Two in 2002, when Talking Heads, Yes, Prime Minister and Absolutely Fabulous were also on the network.
Only 139 of the 2,618 shows catalogued here changed their titles at all; Top Gear did so once.
All 2 opening title sequences
Season 1
21sThe revived series' opening.
Season 23
38sThe twenty-third series, 2016 — the first after the presenting team left, and rebuilt to say so.
More documentary opening titles from the 2000s
1 sequence
Dancing with the Stars
The American Strictly, which runs two seasons a year and rebuilds its titles for most of them.
- Season 10
2 sequences
Survivor
The competition format that rebuilt American primetime, and rebuilds its titles for every location.
- Season 1
- Season 50
1 sequence
Hell's Kitchen
Flames, a skull made of a chef's hat, and Gordon Ramsay shouting — the titles tell you exactly what the hour is.
- Season 1
1 sequenceRuPaul's Drag Race
Eighteen seconds that get remade every season — new logo treatment, new track, new set of queens.
- Season 1
1 sequenceAmerican Idol
The talent format that ran American primetime for a decade, opening on a spotlight and a logo that spins.
- Season 1
1 sequenceProject Runway
Designers given a day and a budget, and Heidi Klum telling one of them they are out.
- Seasons 1–4