History Main / PromotionToOpeningTitles

* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': In season two, Meghan Ory (Ruby/Red) and Emilie de Ravin (Belle) were both promoted to series regulars. Eion Bailey (August) and Raphael Sbarge (Archie/Jiminy Cricket) were DemotedToExtra.

** 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''

* ''Series/{{Charmed}}'': Brian Krause (Leo Wyatt) was promoted in season 2 having been a recurring character in season 1, and Drew Fuller (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.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Six recurring characters in Season 1 got promoted for Season 2: John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Lord Commander Jeor Mormont), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister). Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Maegyr), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), and Joe Dempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4. Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon), Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand), Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'ghar), Michael[= McElhatton=] (Roose Bolton) and Diana Rigg (Olenna Tyrell) are promoted in Season 5.

* Similarly, Toby Huss got promoted to "Starring" on ''KingOfTheHill'' once Kahn became a regular character. However, Lauren Tom, who voiced both Connie and Minh, never made it.

** Inversion averted: JossWhedon wanted Jesse to be in the opening credits to the first episode, despite being killed off in the same (or second, if it's split into a two-parter). They didn't have the money to do two versions of opening credits.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Six recurring characters in Season 1 got promoted for Season 2: John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Lord Commander Jeor Mormont), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister). Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Maegyr), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), and Joe Dempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4. Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon), [[spoiler:Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand), Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'ghar), Michael[= McElhatton=] (Roose Bolton) and Diana Rigg (Olenna Tyrell)]] are promoted in Season 5.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Six recurring characters in Season 1 got promoted for Season 2: John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Lord Commander Jeor Mormont), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister). Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Maegyr), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), and Joe Dempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4. Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) are promoted in Season 5.
* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Kevin Chapman was always a series regular, but his character, Detective Fusco, is finally included in the opening titles during the last few episodes of season one.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Six recurring characters in Season 1 got promoted for Season 2: John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Lord Commander Jeor Mormont), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister). Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Maegyr), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), and Joe Dempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4. Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), and Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) are promted in Season 5.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Six recurring characters in Season 1 got promoted for Season 2: John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Lord Commander Jeor Mormont), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), Creator/SibelKekilli (Shae), and Creator/CharlesDance (Tywin Lannister). Creator/OonaChaplin (Talisa Maegyr), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), and Joe Dempsie (Gendry) are promoted in season 3. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Creator/GwendolineChristie (Brienne of Tarth), Creator/IwanRheon (Ramsay Snow), and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are promoted in Season 4.

* ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'' has done this for numerous recurring characters with each successive season. It happened with Xander Berkley, Penny Johnson Jerald, and Carlos Bernard for season 2; Reiko Aylesworth for season 3; Lana Parrilla and Roger Cross midway through season 4; Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carlos Bernard (again), Gregory Itzin, James Morrison, and Louis Lombardi for season 5; D.B. Woodside, Jayne Atkinson, Carlo Rota, and Eric Balfour for season 6; and Bob Gunton for season 7.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' had no cast listing in the opening credits during its initial run, but upon its revival in 2005 the actors playing the Doctor and his companion were listed. The 2007 series marks the first time a 'secondary' companion has made the titles.
** John Barrowman (Jack Harkness) and Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith) were ignored for their adventures in the first two seasons, but Barrowman was promoted for his three-episode reappearance in Series 3. Once that precedent was set, Freema Agyeman has been given her due in both ''Series/DoctorWho'' and ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' credits (with [[AndStarring the extra-special "And"]], no less).
** In 2008, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" had a total of six actors credited during the title sequence, forcing the names to rush past noticeably faster than normal. This is the first time Elisabeth Sladen's name appears in the opening credits. Some recurring characters are credited as starring after the opening titles, the first and only time secondary characters has been credited this way instead of the end credits. [[spoiler: Penelope Wilton and Adoja Andoh]]'s are credited for "The Stolen Earth" and [[spoiler: Noel Clarke, Camille Coudri and Adoja Andoh]] for "Journey's End". Eve Myles and Gareth David-Lloyd from ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' are also credited in both episodes.
** And speaking of ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', the writers [[PlayingWithATrope played with]] this one in the season 2 episode "Adam". The plot involved a MonsterOfTheWeek who inserted himself into the team's memories to seem as if he had been with them for years. Shots of him interacting with other characters were spliced into the usual title footage to add a bit of MindScrew to the viewers' experience.
** Kai Owens was promoted to the opening credits for ''Torchwood'': ''Children of Earth''
** Bernard Cribbins and JohnSimm got this treatment for "The End of Time". The latter is the first time in the revival that a villain has shown up in the opening credits, [[spoiler: albeit one who gets upstaged by Rassilon and ends up helping the Doctor.]]

** Kai Owens was promoted to the opening credits for ''Torchwood'': ''Children of Earth''

** Jack and Mickey were ignored for their adventures in the first two seasons, but Jack was promoted for his three-episode reappearance in Series 3. Once that precedent was set, Freema Agyeman has been given her due in both series' credits (with [[AndStarring the extra-special "And"]], no less).
** In 2008, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" had a total of six actors (compared to the usual two) credited during the title sequence, forcing the names to rush past noticeably faster than normal. This is the first time Elisabeth Sladen's name appears in the opening credits. You can also see recurring characters [[spoiler: Penelope Wilton and Adoja Andoh]]'s names appear after opening titles as a kind of AndStarring in "The Stolen Earth" and [[spoiler: Noel Clarke, Camille Coudri and Adoja Andoh]] in "Journey's End". The appearance of secondary roles are only seen in the end credits apart from this circumstance. Eve Myles and Gareth David-Lloyd from ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' are also credited.

** In 2008, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" had a total of six actors (compared to the usual two) credited during the title sequence, forcing the names to rush past noticeably faster than normal. This is the first time [[Elisabeth Sladen]]'s name appears in the opening credits. You can also see recurring characters [[spoiler: Penelope Wilton and Adoja Andoh]]'s names appear after opening titles as a kind of AndStarring in "The Stolen Earth" and [[spoiler: Noel Clarke, Camille Coudri and Adoja Andoh]] in "Journey's End". The appearance of secondary roles are only seen in the end credits apart from this circumstance. Eve Myles and Gareth David-Lloyd from ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' are also credited.

** In 2008, "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" had a total of six actors (compared to the usual two) credited during the title sequence, forcing the names to rush past noticeably faster than normal. You can also see [[spoiler: Gareth David Lloyd and Eve Myles from ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' and Tommy Knight from ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'']]'s names appear after opening titles as a kind of AndStarring. The appearance of secondary roles are only seen in the end credits apart from this circumstance.

* ''Series/{{ER}}'''s revolving door of doctors generally allowed one or two promotions per season, especially in the later seasons. Promotions included Gloria Reuben, Laura Innes, Maria Bello, Paul McCrane, Maura Tierney, Sharif Atkins, Mekhi Pfifer, John Stamos and David Lyons. A few that were notably ''not'' promoted included Laura Ceron and Deezer D, who appeared in more episodes than anyone except Noah Wyle and Laura Innes, as well as Abraham Benrubi, Yvette Freeman, Ellen Crawford, John Aylward, Leland Orser, etc.

** And a rotating regular position in the cast was open to whoever was the winner of the Rory LoveTriangle that year, either Jared Padelicki, Milo Ventimiglia or Matt Czury.

* ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy'': Jimmy Smits (Nero) has been announced to be this in Season 6. Prior to that, Ryan Hurst (Opie), William Lucking (Piney), and Theo Rossi (Juice) were this in Season 2, and Creator/DaytonCallie (Unser) was this in Season 3.

* ''Series/{{ER}}'''s revolving door of doctors generally allowed one or two promotions per season, especially in the later seasons. A few that were notably ''not'' promoted included Laura Ceron as Chuny and Deezer D as Malik.

* Although ''TheSimpsons'' has no cast list in its title sequence, Creator/HankAzaria was eventually moved from the "also starring" part of the closing credits to the main cast.
* Similarly MauriceLaMarche in ''{{Futurama}}'', although series regulars Lauren Tom, Phil La Marr and Dave Herman were not promoted until TheMovie.

** Season Four adds Chad L. Coleman, Jamie Hector and Glynn Turman, who had first appeared during the third season, [[FakeGuestStar having quite a bit of screen time]]. Oddly enough, Juanito [=McCullum=], Maestro Harrell, Tristan Wilds and Jermaine Crawford, the true leads of this season, were [[FakeGuestStar billed as guest stars]] for its entire run.

** Season Four adds Chad L. Coleman, Jamie Hector and Glynn Turman, who had first appeared during the third season, [[FakeGuestStar having quite a bit of screen time]]. Oddly enough, Juanito McCullum, Maestro Harrell, Tristan Wilds and Jermaine Crawford, the true leads of this season, were [[FakeGuestStar billed as guest stars]] for its entire run.

* In season two of ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', Kate Walsh was originally listed as a special guest star but was later added to the opening titles as it became clear that her character would be staying in Seattle. (Which, of course, she didn't...but she [[PrivatePractice got her own spin-off]]...

* Though ''Manga{{Gintama}}'' usually averts this, changing theme songs twice a season, the fourth season's second opening eventually replaces the shot of Jiraiya with a shot of the Ketsuno clan.

* Many recurring characters on ''{{Jimmy Two-Shoes}}'' began appearing in the second season opening, including [[DrillSergeantNasty Molotov]], [[CrazyAwesome Saffi]] (though she does have a blink-and-you'll-miss-it apperance in the first), [[RichBitch Jez]], and a few {{Recurring Extra}}s.

** Again with Green Arrow a recurring guest character in season 6 and 7 that became a main titles character in season 8.

* Buy More employees during season two of ''{{Chuck}}''.

** And finally General Beckman, after having been in every single episode for a ''long'' time. She's stuffed in alongside ThoseTwoGuys from the Buy More, where she really doesn't fit.

* Sean Murray (Tim [=McGee=]) Cote de Pablo (Ziva David), Lauren Holly (Director Jenny Shepard), and most recently Rocky Carroll (Leon Vance) of ''Series/{{NCIS}}''.

* A lot of this is clear on ''Series/{{JAG}}'' - Patrick Labyorteaux (Bud Roberts) and John M. Jackson (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 Zoe [=McClellan=] (Jennifer Coates). Catherine Bell, however, appeared as one character in the first season, then joined the main cast as another character in the second.
* The second season of ''HerculestheLegendaryJourneys'' promoted Michael Hurst from guest star to co-star.
* ''Series/IronChef'' Italian Masahiko Kobe was eventually put into the opening title sequence.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' introduced Castiel in Season 4 and he was such a popular character that for the first time since the show started, a recurring character got promoted to regular status. Misha Collins (who plays Castiel) was originally contracted to appear in only 6 episodes in Season 4. He officially became a regular in Season 5. This is even more astonishing when you consider the fact that the accumulated screentime he got in Season 4 amounted to less than 3 episodes.
** And then after being demoted in Season 7, he was promoted BACK to regular two seasons later.
** After spending five seasons as a recurring character, Creator/MarkSheppard (who plays Crowley) was promoted to regular for the 10th season.
* The final season of ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'' included [[spoiler:Monica Horan (Amy)]] in the opening credits. [[spoiler:After marrying Robert, she appeared in almost every episode.]]
* The US version of ''Series/{{The Office|US}}'' has two variants: characters who are promoted to the opening title sequence (Ed Helms in mid-Season 6 and James Spader in Season 8), and characters who are promoted to the main cast listed after the credits [[note]] Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Melora Hardin and David Denman in mid-Season 2, Mindy Kaling and Paul Lieberstein in Season 3 and Ed Helms in late Season 3, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson in Season 4, Ellie Kemper in Season 6, Zach Woods in Season 7 and Amy Ryan in early Season 7, Catherine Tate in mid-Season 8, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy in Season 9. Whew.[[/note]].

* ''TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' had an interesting variant: for the first nine episodes, the opening title had [[ThreeAmigo Peter, Gwen, Harry]] and [[DaChief J. Jonah Jameson]]; after that, [[AntiVillain Harry]] was PutOnABus, and in the next episode [[FunPersonified Mary Jane]], who has just transferred to Midtown High, takes his place. After that each episode includes Peter, plus a rotating list of recurring characters chosen for their importance in that particular episode.