Cheers Award - Opening Sequence

The Cheers Award for Best Opening Sequence/Theme
2010: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011: Community (NBC)
2012: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2013: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2014: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2015: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2016: The Leftovers (HBO)
2017: Westworld (HBO)

2018 Results

6. The Carmichael Show (NBC) 10 points
2nd by Loose, Jack

5. The Ranch (Netflix) 10 points
1st by Loose, Jack, T-time

4. Ballers (HBO) 14 points
1st by Tyson, Tippy

3. Bachelor in Paradise (ABC) 14 points
1st by Bonz

2. Westworld (HBO) 21 points
2nd by Brady, Marsh, Cecil

1. Game of Thrones (HBO) 24 points
1st by Larry, Jaydon, Lenny, Rizzo

Winners' Breakdown
1st: Larry, Jaydon, Lenny, Rizzo
2nd: Brady, Cecil, Tippy
3rd: T-time, Marsh
5th: Loose, Bonz
No Votes: Jack, Tyson

Cheers Award - Opening Sequence

The Cheers Award for Best Opening Sequence/Theme
2010: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011: Community (NBC)
2012: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2013: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2014: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2015: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2016: The Leftovers (HBO)

2017 Results

10. Trial & Error (NBC) 2 points
4th by Tippy

9. The Carmichael Show (NBC) 9 points
2nd by Marsh

8. The Ranch (Netflix) 9 points
1st by T-time

7. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon) 11 points
3rd by Jack

6. Bachelor in Paradise (ABC) 12 points
2nd by Larry

5. Ballers (HBO) 16 points
1st by Larry, Tyson, Tippy

4. Big Little Lies (HBO) 20 points
1st by Jack, Loose, Bonz

3. Narcos (Netflix) 21 points
1st by Marsh

2. Stranger Things (Netflix) 23 points
2nd by Jaydon, Brady, Lenny, Cecil

1. Westworld (HBO) 41 points
1st by Jaydon, Brady, Lenny, Cecil, Rizzo

This marks Westworld's first win at the Poolies.  The first year series gives HBO a victory in the best opening sequence category for the sixth year in a row.

Winners' Breakdown
1st: Jaydon, Brady, Lenny, Cecil, Rizzo
2nd: T-time, Tyson, Tippy
3rd: Loose, Larry
4th: Marsh
5th: Jack
No Votes: Bonz

Cheers Award - Opening Sequence

The Cheers Award for Best Opening Sequence/Theme
2010: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011: Community (NBC)
2012: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2013: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2014: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2015: Game of Thrones (HBO)

2016 Results

10. The Goldbergs (ABC) 3 points
4th by Jack

9. Transparent (Amazon) 3 points
3rd by Jaydon

8. Bachelor in Paradise (ABC) 9 points
1st by Marsh

7. Outlander (Starz) 9 points
1st by Jaydon

6. The Ranch (Netflix) 11 points
2nd by Tippy

5. Narcos (Netflix) 14 points
1st by Jack, Cecil, Rizzo

4. The Carmichael Show (NBC) 18 points
2nd by Marsh

3. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon) 21 points
1st by Larry

2. Game of Thrones (HBO) 26 points
1st by Tyson, Brady, Lenny, Tippy

1. The Leftovers (HBO) 27 points
1st by Loose, T-time

This is the first win for The Leftovers in this category and its first win overall, snapping Game of Thrones' streak of four straight victories for best opening sequence.  

Winner's Breakdown
1st: Loose, T-time
2nd: Larry, Jaydon, Brady, Lenny
3rd: Tyson, Tippy
4th: Marsh
5th: Jack
No Vote: Jaydon, Bonz, Cecil, Rizzo

Cheers Award - Opening Sequence

The Cheers Award for Best Opening Sequence/Theme
2010: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011: Community (NBC)
2012: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2013: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2014: Game of Thrones (HBO)

2015 Results

10. Transparent (Amazon) 3 points
4th by Jaydon

9. The Mindy Project (FOX) 4 points
3rd by Jack

8. The Goldbergs (ABC) 7 points
2nd by Jack

7. Black Sails (Starz) 9 points
2nd by Marsh

6. Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
2nd by Tippy, Lenny

5. About a Boy (NBC) 13 points
1st by Jack

4. Justified (FX) 14 points
2nd by Larry, Jaydon, Tyson, Cecil, Brady

3. The Newsroom (HBO) 16 points
1st by Marsh

2. Outlander (Starz) 17 points
1st by Loose, T-time, Jaydon

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Game of Thrones (HBO) 28 points
1st by Larry, Mags, Tyson, Cecil, Rizzo, Tippy, Brady, Lenny

This is the fourth straight win for Game of Thrones in the category and ninth win overall at the Poolies for the HBO series.

Winner's Breakdown
1st: Larry, Mags, Tyson, Cecil, Rizzo, Tippy, Brady, Lenny
3rd: Marsh
4th: T-time
5th: Jack
No Vote: Loose, Jaydon, Bonz

Cheers Award - Opening/Theme

Named For: Cheers (NBC) 1982-93
Awarded To: Best opening credits/theme song
2010: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011: Community (NBC)
2012: Game of Thrones (HBO)
2013: Game of Thrones (HBO)

Here are this year's honorees...

9th. Bob's Burgers (FOX) 0 points

8th. The Crazy Ones (CBS) 2 points
5th by Jack; 5th by me

7th. Suburgatory (ABC) 3 points
2nd by Lenny

6th. Hello Ladies (HBO) 7 points
1st by Bonz; 4th by me

5th. Treme (HBO) 9 points
2nd by Jaydon; 3rd by me

4th. Justified (FX) 10 points
1st by Lenny

3rd. About a Boy (NBC) 10 points
2nd by Jack; 2nd by me

2nd. The Goldbergs (ABC) 14 points
1st by Jack; 1st by me

and the Poolie goes to...

1st. Game of Thrones (HBO) 17 points
1st by Lar, Jaydon, Mags, Ty, Cecil, Rizzo, Braids

This is the third straight win for Game of Thrones in this category.

Cheers Award - Best Theme

Named For: Cheers (NBC) 1982-93
Awarded To: Best opening credits/theme song
2010 Winner: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011 Winner: Community (NBC)
2012 Winner: Game of Thrones (HBO)

Watch this year's honorees in the video below...



10th. Treme (HBO) 7 points
3rd by T-time; 4th by me

9th. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) 8 points
3rd by Rizzo, Tyson, Larry

8th. Hell on Wheels (AMC) 8 points
3rd by Cecil; 3rd by me

7th. New Girl (FOX) 10 points
3rd by Bonz

6th. Ben and Kate (FOX) 11 points
1st by Jack; 1st by me

5th. Suburgatory (ABC) 12 points
2nd by T-time, Jack; 2nd by me

4th. Community (NBC) 20 points
1st by Bonz, Lenny

3rd. The Newsroom (HBO) 20 points
1st by Mags; 5th by me

2nd. Justified (FX) 30 points
1st by Cecil, Rizzo, Braids

and the Poolie goes to...

1st. Game of Thrones (HBO) 31 points
1st by T-time, Larry, Jaydon, Tyson, Matt

The Cheers Award- Best Theme

Named For: Cheers (NBC) 1982-93
Awarded To: Best opening credits/theme song
2010 Winner: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
2011 Winner: Community (NBC)

10. New Girl (FOX) 4 points
2nd by Bonz

9. Treme (HBO) 6 points
2nd by T-time, 5th by Me

8. Suburgatory (ABC) 6 points
2nd by Jack, 4th by Me

7. Fringe (FOX) 7 points
3rd by Jack

6. iCarly (Nick) 8 points
1st by Jack

5. Sons of Anarchy (FX) 10 points
1st by Cecil

4. Justified (FX) 11 points
2nd by Cecil

3. Community (NBC) 14 points
1st by Bonz, 2nd by Me

2. How to Make it in America (HBO) 18 points
1st by Mags, Rizzo, and Tyson, 3rd by Me

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Game of Thrones (HBO) 24 points
1st by Jaydon, T-time, and Larry, 1st by Me

This is Game of Thrones' second nomination and first win for best opening sequence and theme song.  The series was also nominated last season for The Sopranos Award.  Here to talk about its fantastic intro is Poolie voter Jaydon.

________________________

The great intros feel like the essence of the shows they precede. The Game of Thrones intro is a marriage of an epic, propulsive and eminently hummable theme with a sprawling, dynamic visual journey through the world of Westeros. In each season the show expands into new territory. As we are introduced to new locations like Harrenhal or Qarth, they are added to the intro’s world map. The passage through the geographical scope of the lands culminates in the Game of Thrones title card which combines the sigils of the four dominant houses (Lannister’s Lion, Baratheon’s Stag, Stark’s Direwolf, Targaryen’s Dragon) that compete for power. The visuals locate all the factions in play and give us a sense of how much is at stake. The theme fits perfectly with the medieval fantasy context and primes us for complex political maneuvering, sexposition and bursts of inventive violence. You can tell which intros are the best pretty easily. The best ones you rarely skip. This one gets the full play through almost every time.

by Jonathan Stuart

The Cheers Award- Opening Credits/Theme

Named For: Cheers (NBC) 1982-93
Awarded To: Best opening credits/theme song
2010 Winner: Sons of Anarchy (FX)

Place. Show (Network) Points (My Vote)

10. Parenthood (NBC) 1 point

9. Saturday Night Live (NBC) 3 points

8. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) 6 points

7. Sons of Anarchy (FX) 6 points

6. Terriers (FX) 7 points (4th)

5. Treme (HBO) 12 points (1st)

4. Game of Thrones (HBO) 14 points (5th)

3. Jonas (Disney) 15 points (3rd)

2. Friday Night Lights (The 101/NBC) 18 points

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Community (NBC) 19 points (2nd)

This is Community's second Poolie nomination for the Cheers Award, and first win for best opening credits/theme song.  The series has also been nominated for the Seinfeld Award in each of its first two seasons.

It's strange that after winning this award last year, Sons of Anarchy can only muster up a seventh place showing this time around.  The opening credits didn't change people, but I guess the quality of the season hurt its chances.  Community's opening theme has been great since its premiere last September, but in the second season it took things to a new level.  There were a number of special opening, including the Dungeons and Dragons, Christmas, and Western themed episodes.  Fantastic stuff.

The Cheers Award- Best Opening/Theme

Named For: Cheers (NBC) 1982-93
Awarded To: Best opening credits/theme song from June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: no award

Place. Show (Network) Points (My Vote)

10. Parenthood (NBC) 2 points

9. Bored to Death (HBO) 4 points

8. Jonas (Disney Channel) 9 points (5th)

7. Hannah Montana (Disney Channel) 11 points (3rd)

6. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) 12 points

5. Treme (HBO) 13 points (2nd)

4. Saturday Night Live (NBC) 14 points

3. How to Make it in America (HBO) 22 points (1st)

Runner-Up
2. Community (NBC) 23 points

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Sons of Anarchy (FX) 23 points (4th)

Here with his thoughts on the Sons of Anarchy theme song/opening credits is Poolie voter, T-time...

Curtis Stigers has been singing jazz since the seventies. You know him best, though I doubt you know him at all, for his tune from the soundtrack for The Bodyguard. As such, he was an unlikely choice to pen a theme song for a series about an outlaw biker gang. The lounge singer channeled Ronnie Van Zandt and cooked up a southern rock tune that meshes perfectly with the accompanying images of bikes and guns. Stigers lends his own voice to the sequence and lets us know how the crow, and presumably the Sons as well, flies: a perfect line.

by Tim Forcella