"Stupid Facts about the Opening Credits"

You watched them religiously from week to week. You tested your friends who called themselves "true fans" by pointing at a clip and demanding they tell you which episode it came from. This was especially tricky in Season Three as the clips were rearranged, yanked, and substituted for several times.

Season Three

Michael and Hope with Janey crawling ("thirtysomething")
Nancy reading to kids ("separation")
Elliot pouring milk ("politics")
Ellyn collapsing in chair ("no promises")
Gary and Melissa in bed ("but not for me")
Nancy and Elliot kissing ("nancy's mom")
Hope touching Michael's hair ("love and sex")
Janey with toys in doorway ("the mike van dyke show"--thanks to Molly O'Brien for spotting this)
Michael dunking basketball ("success")
Nancy, Hope, and Ellyn staring ("trust me"--thanks to Chris Ryerson for spotting this)
Melissa in limo ("success")
Michael seen through doorway ("first day/last day")
Nancy and Elliot sitting up ("nancy's first date")
Hope closing Michael in closet ("deliverance")
Michael hugging Melissa ("payment due")
Gary trying to kiss Susannah ("politics")
Hope and Michael in bed ("we'll meet again")
Ellyn in mirror ("payment due")
Hope crying with Michael ("new job")
Elliot kissing Nancy's hand ("courting nancy")
Gary staring at Susannah at dinner ("about last night")
Melissa looking at photos of Michael ("i'll be home for christmas")
Nancy looking at Elliot ("nancy's mom")
Michael kissing Hope while Janey reads on couch ("legacy")

They then re-did the opener to include Patricia Kalember and a few alterations in order and appearance occurred:

The following clips were removed:

Hope closing Michael in closet ("deliverance")
Ellyn in mirror ("payment due")
Elliot kissing Nancy's hand ("courting nancy")

They then rearranged again and took out the clip of Hope, Ellyn, and Nancy staring, replacing it with a clip of Hope at a dinner table, staring ("love and sex")

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