History Main / PromotionToOpeningTitles

* For the fourth season of ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'', Magenta and Periwinkle were added to the opening sequence starting with Season 4.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' replaced original alien Ghostfreak (who was really sentient and [[spoiler:escaped the Omnitrix to become Season 3's BigBad]]) with Cannonbolt, an alien ben obtained in the second season.

* For the fourth season of ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'', Magenta and Periwinkle were added to the opening sequence.

* In the second season of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'', Hot Dog Water was added to the theme song to replace the absent Daphne.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' replaced original alien Ghostfreak (who turned out to be sentient and [[spoiler:escaped the Omnitrix to become Season 3's BigBad]]) with Cannonbolt, an alien discovered in the second season.

* On ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'', Libby is eventually in the title lineup at the end of the opening credits.

* Creator/DeForestKelley as Bones on ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', promoted to the opening credits at the beginning of the second season. The second season also added Creator/GeneRoddenberry's "created by" credit to the opening titles.
** This instance was the only promotion to opening titles ''within one series'' in ''Star Trek'' history until the second season of ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' promoted Creator/WilsonCruz as Hugh Culber. (Creator/ColmMeaney, a {{Recurrer}} on TNG, left that show for a regular role on [=DS9=].) All other additions to the opening titles were of characters introduced out of the blue. Andrew Robinson, who played Garak on [=DS9=], was offered the chance to be added to the show's opening titles, but declined.

** Jennifer Aspen (Daphne) was a guest star in Season 4 but billed as a regular for the last two seasons.

** Creator/CallanMcAuliffe (Alden) and Creator/CooperAndrews (Jerry) in Season 11.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' adds both Sasha and Marcy to the opening starting with season 2.

** In Seasons 6 and 7, Creator/JimWlcek and Creator/MarcoSanchez are given main roles in the show as, respectively, Trent Malloy and Dallas detective Carlos Sandoval before moving on to their own series, the short-lived ''Series/SonsOfThunder''.

* Creator/JudsonMills and Creator/NiaPeeples (Gage and Sydney) in Season 8 of ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger''.

* ''Series/CobraKai'': Creator/JacobBertrand (Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz), Gianni [=DeCenzo=] (Demitri Alexopolous) and Creator/MartinKove (John Kreese) in Season 2; Creator/PeytonRList (Tory Nichols) and Vanessa Rubio (Carmen Diaz) in Season 4.

* A lot of this is clear on ''Series/{{JAG}}''-- Creator/PatrickLabyorteaux (Bud Roberts) and Creator/JohnMJackson (Admiral Chegwidden) were merely guest and recurring characters in the first season respectively before jumping to the main cast in the second year. The final season also saw this with Scott Lawrence (Sturgis Turner) and Creator/ZoeMcClellan (Jennifer Coates). Creator/CatherineBell, however, appeared as one character in the first season, then joined the main cast as another character in the second.

* ''Series/TheOC''

* The US version of ''Series/{{The Office|US}}'' has two variants: characters who are promoted to the opening title sequence (Creator/EdHelms in mid-Season 6 and Creator/JamesSpader in Season 8), and characters who are promoted to the main cast listed after the credits [[note]]Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Creator/AngelaKinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creator/MeloraHardin and Creator/DavidDenman in mid-Season 2, Creator/MindyKaling and Paul Lieberstein in Season 3 and Ed Helms in late Season 3, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson in Season 4, Creator/EllieKemper in Season 6, Zach Woods in Season 7 and Amy Ryan in early Season 7, Creator/CatherineTate in mid-Season 8, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy in Season 9. Whew.[[/note]].

* ''Series/OneTreeHill'': Creator/BarbaraAlynLind was promoted to regular in season two, Creator/LeeNorris in season three, Creator/DanneelAckles and Creator/AntwonTanner in season four, Lisa Goldstein in season six, Creator/AustinNichols in seven, and Creator/StephenColletti, Jackson Brundage, Creator/ShantelVanSanten, Robert Buckley, and Jana Kramer in season eight.

* ''Series/RoyalPains'': As of the fourth episode of season four, both Brooke D'Orsay (Paige) and Campbell Scott (Boris) have been upgraded to the opening credits, replacing Jill Flint ([[TheDanza Jill]] Casey), who was PutOnABus in the previous episode.

** Similarly ComicBook/LoisLane (Creator/EricaDurance) was only ever listed as Special Guest Star when she first appeared in season 4 but got promoted the following season; oddly enough she appeared in the same number of episodes as a guest character as she did as a main, 13 episodes, due to restrictions made by DC.

* During the course of ''Series/ThirdWatch'''s run, Creator/AmyCarlson, Creator/ChrisBauer, Creator/TiaTexada, Creator/NiaLong, Creator/BonnieDennison and Creator/CaraBeuno were promoted to the opening titles.

* ''Series/{{Velvet}}: Despite being a main character from early season 1, Asier Gómez Etxeandía (playing in house designer Raul de la Riva) didn't get promoted to opening titles until season 3.

** Ryan Hansen (who played Dick Casablancas) started as a non-speaking extra in the second episode and was bumped up to the opening credits by the Season 2 premiere, as was Kyle Gallner (who played his brother Cassidy Casablancas, aka Beaver) who appeared in the last three episodes of season 1. [[spoiler: Note that the latter may not count, as the character of Beaver was introduced specifically to be the Big Bad of season 2, and thus was always intended for regular status.]]

* Creator/JanelMoloney and Stockard Channing on ''Series/TheWestWing'', both appearing as regular guest stars in the first season. Moloney joined the main cast in the second season, Channing in the third.
** Joshua Malina as Will Bailey, first appeared as a guest character in a few episodes in Season 4 before a speedy Promotion To Opening Titles.
** Also happened to Jimmy Smits and Creator/AlanAlda as Presidential candidates Matt Santos and Arnold Vinick later in the show, in Season 6. Smits appeared in the opening credits in his first episode; Alda was a Special Guest Star in his first, and in the credits from his second onward.

** Season Three promotes Jim True-Frost, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi and JD Williams, who also were [[FakeGuestStar pretty much regulars already]], and promotes Corey Parker Robinson after a season-long absence, as well as legitimate guest star Creator/RobertWisdom. Then there was Michael K. Williams, who memorably guest-starred during the first and second seasons, and who is now credited as a regular from this point on with the expansion of Omar's role.

* After having the exact same opening titles for 8 seasons (aside from adding Robert Patrick in season 8), ''Series/TheXFiles'' updated them for the 9th season, since the original titles looked outdated due to cast changes, cast aging, and new developments in the MythArc. This was when Assistant Director Walter Skinner, who was introduced back in the latter half of the 1st season, finally got clips and an actor credit in the opening titles, but only in episodes where he actually appear. Creator/AnnabethGish as Monica Reyes was also added after a few appearances as a recurring character the previous season.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Creator/ElizabethBanks (Betty Brant) and Ted Raimi (Ted Hoffman) were part of the film series since the very beginning, but their names aren't included in the opening billboards until ''Film/SpiderMan3''.

* ''Series/TwentyFour'' has done this for numerous recurring characters with each successive season. It happened with Creator/XanderBerkeley (George Mason), Penny Johnson Jerald (Sherry Palmer), and Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida) for season 2; Creator/ReikoAylesworth (Michelle Dessler) for season 3; Creator/LanaParrilla (Sarah Gavin) and Roger Cross (Curtis Manning) midway through season 4; Creator/MaryLynnRajskub (Chloe O'Brian), Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida) (again), Creator/GregoryItzin (Charles Logan), James Morrison (Bill Buchanan), and Louis Lombardi (Edgar Stiles) for season 5; D.B. Woodside (Wayne Palmer), Creator/JayneAtkinson (Karen Hayes), Carlo Rota (Morris O'Brian), and Creator/EricBalfour (Milo Pressman) for season 6; and Creator/BobGunton (Ethan Kannin) for season 7.

** Karina Lombard (Alana) in Season Three, having been a recurring cast member in Season Two.

* ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''
** ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' promoted three of its recurring cast members to regulars for its second season: Creator/EmilyBettRickards (Felicity Smoak), Creator/ManuBennett (Slade Wilson) and Creator/ColtonHaynes (Roy Harper). Season three has Creator/JohnBarrowman (Malcolm) promoted to regular status after being recurring in the first two seasons. Season five upgrades Echo Kellum (Curtis Holt) to a regular cast member after he had a recurring role in season four. In Season 6, Rick Gonzalez (Rene Ramirez) and Creator/JulianaHarkavy (Dinah Drake) are promoted to the cast after spending Season 5 as recurring cast members, while Creator/KatieCassidy gets brought back to the main cast as [[spoiler:an alternate Earth]] Laurel Lance after being demoted to a guest star in the previous season. Season 7 brings Colton Haynes back to the main cast after he left late into season 3, additionally promoting Creator/KirkAcevedo (Ricardo Diaz) to series regular status. Season 8 promotes Ben Lewis (William Clayton), Creator/KatherineMcNamara (Mia Smoak) and Joseph David-Jones (Connor Hawke).
** ''Series/TheFlash2014'': For the fifth season, Danielle Nicolet (Cecile Horton) and Hartley Sawyer (Ralph Dibny) were both added to the show's regular cast after previously making recurring appearances in the show. Creator/JessicaParkerKennedy (Nora [[spoiler:West-Allen]]) who was introduced in a guest appearance for [[LastEpisodeNewCharacter the season finale]], is also now included in the show's regular cast.

** BCreator/BrianKrause (Leo Wyatt) was promoted in season 2 having been a recurring character in season 1, and Creator/DrewFuller (Chris Halliwell) was promoted for season 6 having been a guest star in the final two episodes of season 5. As with all other regulars on the show, they are still only in the opening credits for episodes they actually appear in.

* Jim Rash (Dean Pelton) has been promoted as of Season 3 of Series/{{Community}}.

* ''Series/CovertAffairs'': Creator/PeterGallagher, Creator/SendhilRamamurthy, and Creatir/AnneDudek all appeared as main characters throughout season 1, but were only added to the opening credits in season 2, forcing a revision and expansion of the animations.

** Creator/KirstenVangsness (Garcia) was promoted at the beginning of Season 2, having previously been bumped up to "Also Starring" in the back nine of Season 1. This likely to fill the void of departing cast member Creator/LolaGlaudini, who left in the sixth episode of the season. A better example would be Creator/RachelNichols in Season 6, who was a guest star for two episodes before being promoted to fill the void left by AJ Cook (who left in Episode 2), and the soon-to-depart Creator/PagetBrewster (who left in Episode 18).

** Aisha Tyler (portraying Tara Lewis) was a recurring actor in season 11 (though [[FakeGuestStar she appears in all but a handful of episodes]]), before being upgraded to series regular at the start of the following season.
* Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Louise Lombard, and now Creator/WallaceLangham on ''Series/{{CSI}}''. Wheee!

** Shenae Grimes (Darcy Edwards) was promoted in season 6.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': From season 2 and onwards, every actor added to the credits has previously been a recurring guest star in at least one season, with the exception of Creator/LiamCunningham (Davos Seaworth), Creator/StephenDillane (Stannis Baratheon), Creator/CariceVanHouten (Melisandre), and Creator/NatalieDormer (Margaery Tyrell). John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Creator/JamesCosmo (Jeor Mormont), Creator/JeromeFlynn (Bronn), Creator/ConlethHill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister) were promoted for season 2. Creator/PeterDinklage (Tyrion Lannister) was ''sort of'' promoted. Peter Dinklage has always been in the opening ("... and Peter Dinklage"), but as of Season 2, he's billed first, as opposed to Creator/SeanBean, who was demoted to head on a spike at the end of the first season. Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Stark), Creator/RoseLeslie (Ygritte), and Creator/JoeDempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Creator/KristoferHivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Creator/HannahMurray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4. Creator/MichielHuisman (Daario Naharis), Creator/NathalieEmmanuel (Missandei), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon), Creator/IndiraVarma (Ellaria Sand), Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'ghar), and Creator/MichaelMcElhatton (Roose Bolton) are promoted in Season 5. Creator/JonathanPryce (High Sparrow) is promoted in Season 6. Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) is promoted in Season 8.

* ''Series/OneTreeHill'': Creator/BarbaraAlynLind was promoted to regular in season two, Creator/LeeNorris in season three, Creator/DanneelAckles and CReator/AntwonTanner in season four, Lisa Goldstein in season six, Creator/AustinNichols in seven, and Creator/StephenColletti, Jackson Brundage, Creator/ShantelVanSanten, Robert Buckley, and Jana Kramer in season eight.
* ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' has had a massive cast from the very start, and they get promoted by the boatload at the start of each new season. Season 2 added Danielle Brooks (Taystee), Uzo Adoba (Suzanne/"Crazy Eyes"), Creator/NatashaLyonne (Nicky) and Taryn Manning (Pennsatucky) to the opening credits. Season 3 added Selenis Levya (Gloria), Adrienne C. Moore (Black Cindy), Dascha Polanco (Daya), Nick Sandow (Caputo), Yael Stone (Morello) and Creator/SamiraWiley (Poussey), as well as re-adding Creator/LauraPrepon (who dropped from regular to guest star in season 2) and promoting her to the "And" spot. Season 4 added Jackie Cruz (Flaca), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Aleida), and Lea [=DiLaria=] (Big Boo). Season 5 added Jessica Pimentel (Maria). Season 6 added Laura Gomez (Blanca), Matt Peters (Luschek) and Dale Soules (Frieda). Season 7 added Alysia Reiner (Fig).

** Similarly Comicbook/LoisLane (Creator/EricaDurance) was only ever listed as Special Guest Star when she first appeared in season 4 but got promoted the following season; oddly enough she appeared in the same number of episodes as a guest character as she did as a main, 13 episodes, due to restrictions made by DC.

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'':

* After being unlocked, hidden characters in the original ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and its sequels appear in the opening.
** Specifically, the four unlockable characters are originally silhouettes in the first ''Smash'' game, and in ''Brawl'', unlocked characters are added to the line of characters standing over a cliff near the end of the opening (though [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Marth]] and [[VideoGame/EarthBound Ness]] make appearances in VideoGame/TheSubspaceEmissary movie clips, and the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Green Hill Zone]] stage makes an appearance in the opening).

** ''Melee'' only has one opening that doesn't change. Ganondorf, Pichu, and Jigglypuff are the only ones to show up (Ganondorf pokes his arm in during the ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' segment to help form the Triforce, while Pichu and Jigglypuff leap in front of the other Pokémon during the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' segment).

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' replaced original alien Ghostfreak (who turned out to be sentient and [[spoiler:escaped the Omnitrix to become Season 3's BigBad]]) with Cannonbolt, an alien discovered in the second season.

* ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' has had a massive cast from the very start, and they get promoted by the boatload at the start of each new season. Season 2 added Danielle Brooks (Taystee), Uzo Adoba (Suzanne/"Crazy Eyes"), Creator/NatashaLyonne (Nicky) and Taryn Manning (Pennsatucky) to the opening credits. Season 3 added Selenis Levya (Gloria), Adrienne C. Moore (Black Cindy), Dascha Polanco (Daya), Nick Sandow (Caputo), Yael Stone (Morello) and Creator/SamiraWiley (Poussey), as well as re-adding Creator/LauraPrepon (who dropped from regular to guest star in season 2) and promoting her to the "And" spot. Season 4 will add Jackie Cruz (Flaca) and Lea [=DiLaria=] (Big Boo).

* ''Series/StrangerThings'': Creator/JoeKeery (Steve Harrington) started out as a recurring character but starting in Season 2 joined the main opening title due to his character getting more screen time and CharacterDevelopment.

* ''Series/StrangerThings'': Joe Keery (Steve Harrington) started out as a recurring character but starting in Season 2 joined the main opening title due to his character getting more screen time and CharacterDevelopment.

** Michael Raymond-James, who plays Neal [[spoiler: (aka adult Baelfire),]] was promoted to series regular for season 3, while Meghan was DemotedToExtra as she got cast as the lead female character in ''{{Series/Intelligence2014}}''.
** Michael Soccha from the spin-off was introduced in Season 4 and listed as part of the main cast.
** And for Season 5, Soccha was dropped from the main titles and Creator/SeanMaguire (Robin Hood) and [[spoiler: Creator/RebeccaMader (Zelena)]] were promoted.

* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': Max Perlich and Toni Lewis were added after playing FakeGuestStar recurring characters for a while, as was Creator/ZeljkoIvanek, albeit only for the reunion movie. Jon Seda and Peter Gerety were promoted after, respectively, one and two guest appearances.

* Martin Landau (Rollin Hand) in season 2 of ''Series/MissionImpossible'', after being a "special guest star" in nearly every episode of season 1.

Compare AscendedExtra, FakeGuestStar and RecastAsARegular. Contrast with AbsenteeActor, for times when an actor's name appears in the credits even though they're not in the show.

* ''Series/{{Succession}}'' added Arian Moayed (Stewy Hosseini), J. Smith Cameron (Gerri Kellman) and Dagmara Domińczyk (Karolina) —all playing Waystar-Royco bosses and all recurring characters in the previous season — to the main titles in Season Two.

** Starting in season 4, they added ''more'' characters. The additions are far more noticeable, and mostly of the (in some cases, rather delayed) ContinuityNod variety. The Mane Six are joined by a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters small crowd of side characters]], Celestia is now accompanied by her sister Luna, and [[HeelFaceTurn Discord]] can be seen inside Fluttershy's cottage.