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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 27 2008, 8:50 PM EDT | BobFish | 16 words added, 20 words deleted, 1 widget added, 1 widget deleted |
| Jun 21 2008, 9:12 PM EDT | MichalkaManiac | 6 words added, 1 word deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Compiled by Daniel DeCosta, James Fabiano, James Stanley Barr and Jeffrey Gray
Logo captures by Shadeed A. Kelly and others
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom
Video captures courtesy by JohnnyL80
Background: When Paramount Pictures purchased Desilu Productions, it renamed the TV producer company as Paramount Television in 1967 to continue producing TV shows. From 2006, it merged with CBS Corporation, renaming this division as CBS Paramount Television.
1st Logo
(December 1967-September 1968)
Nicknames: "Rising Circle", "Dark Mountain", "Changing Paramount Text"
Logo: On a blue background, we see a black mountain and the words "A Gulf+Western Company" in white. Suddenly, a white filled-in circle border rises up behind the mountain. The "Paramount" name, which is written in its majestic script font and appears in black, pops in while 22 white stars appear around the border, starting in the middle and going downward. The word "Paramount" immediately changes into "Paramount Television" in the same typeface. Below the logo are two subtitles, both in white: "Copyright © MCMLXVIII by Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved" in a more standard type, and "Paramount Pictures Corporation" in the Paramount logo font.
VariantVariants: One of 6 visual variants were used. For 2/3 of its existence, a small pre-1968 Paramount logo bug appeared alongside the copyright information, while the rest of the 1968 mid season had just the text. Variants 3 and 4 had the standard format as the first two, with the addition of the Norway Corporation, as credited on Star Trek. For variants 5 and 6, the logo appears with the copyright, but without the Gulf+Western byline. This was featured on Mission: Impossible and Mannix respectively.
FX/Cheesy Factor: The "sunrise" effect, the stars, and "Paramount" changing into "Paramount Television" looks very choppy.
MusicMusic/Sounds: All the themes from the Desilu "Merging Circles" logo, but one of them used in this is somewhat newer.
Availability: Very rare as this was extremely short lived; can be seen on early 1968 episodes of Mission: Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network and on videocassettes of Star Trek episodes aired during that time period. The last 13 episodes of The Lucy Show also had this logo, but both this and the Viacom "V of Doom", which appeared after the logo in syndication, have been edited over with the current Paramount logo by now.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; the fanfare might get to some.
2nd Logo
(September 1968-September 1969)
Nicknames: "Split Rectangle #1", "Yellow Split Rectangle"
Logo: Against a yellow background is a blue rectangle which is split into two sections; the left and the larger contains the words:
Besides the last line, all are in a blocky font. "PARAMOUNT" has the largest typeface, and the other two lines are progressively smaller. On the smaller right side of the rectangle is a Paramount logo with a blue border and white mountain. The picture zooms up to the logo, which kind of looks like a blue and white version of the "Rising Circle" ("A Gulf+Western Company" and copyright message appears at the bottom of the white mountain) except the word "Television" is not present. Also, the copyright appears when the pic zooms up.
Variants:
FX: The zoom-in.
Cheesy Factor: The zoom in is rough.
MusicMusic/Sounds: A majestic 7-note horn fanfare.
Availability: Rare. Seen on Mission: Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network. Otherwise you'll see a newer logo.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; zoom-in plus fanfare may equal some scares. But was probably worse when the music got more fast-paced to go with the zooming in the next logo.
3rd Logo
(September 1969-1975)
Nicknames: "Split Rectangle #2", "Red Split Rectangle"
Music Nickname: "Closet Killer"
Logo: Same appearance as the 2nd logo except the background is red, the larger rectangle is blue, the Paramount mountain and the stars around it mountain are blue, and the smaller rectangle is white (the mountain is cut off at the bottom in this version). The zoom on the square is still intact.
Variants:
FX: Zoom in.
Cheesy Factor: See the 2nd logo.
MusicMusic/Sounds: There were two themes for this logo. The first is an 8-note horn-driven jingle written by Dominic Frontiere, best known as the "Closet Killer."Killer". The other is a faster version of what will later be known as the "Blue Mountain" music by Lalo Schifrin and Robert Drasnin. Frontiere had two versions but Schifrin/Drasnin had three.
MusicMusic/Sound Variants:
Availability: Currently seen on Mission Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network, but the rest has been replaced with either the next or the current logo. owever, it's still saved on the Happy Days seasons 1 and 2 DVD box sets, and The Brady Bunch DVD box sets.
Scare Factor: Medium to high for the early variants, and medium for the later variants; this logo is generally well liked, but the fast music and scary mountain drawing may get on some nerves. Also, many can't stand the Lalo Schifrin jingle combined with the zoom in, although it's even scarier with the Dominic Frontiere music. However, the scare factor for the still variant is none, because it's totally BORING.
4th Logo (1975-1987)
Nicknames: "Early 80s Mountain", "Blue Mountain", "Killer Mountain", "Blue Mountain of Doom"
Logo: Practically the same mountain design as before, but more defined this time. On a sky blue background, we see a near-circle made by 22 white stars. The near-circle contains a navy blue backdrop and a flat mountain in another shade of blue with the word "Paramount" in white above it. Below the mountain are the words:
A
Gulf+Western
Company
The word "Television" comes from the right and slides in below "Paramount". Same alignment as the first logo.
Variants:
FX: The word "Television" sliding in like a piece of construction paper (a la South Park).
Cheesy Factor: The "Television" sliding in looks REALLY choppy and amateurish, like a piece of construction paper!
MusicMusic/Sounds: A slower version of the Lalo Schifrin jingle first heard with Split 2. There were many variations throughout the '70s and '80s. There is also one completely different theme composed by Jerry Goldsmith used in 1977.
MusicMusic/Sound VariationsVariants: SEVERAL music variations on this logo. This is going to get complicated, so let's explain this simply.
Availability: Pretty much rare nowadays, but can still be found on several shows. Paramount (Viacom) is starting to update this logo with their newest logo, and even syndie reruns of Cheers (once known as the best source of the logo) have been replace with the current logo. The 1985 version was seen on MacGyver's first and second season reruns on TV Land. Was also seen on 1981-1987 episodes of Solid Gold as well. The logo has recently made a surprising revival on reruns of Happy Days on WGN America.
Scare Factor: High. Many cannot stand the music or hate the way "Television" slides in. This logo was also seen after many of those scary "In Association With" screens to make this logo a NIGHTMARE.
5th Logo
(1987-2002)
Nicknames: "CGI Mountain", "Mountain of Monotony", "Majestic Mountain", "90s Mountain"
Logo: We see a still picture of the 1954 computer generated mountain, which is redone in a shiny blue color with canyon-style scenery, a lake and a light blue/red/yellow gradient sky. "Paramount," in white and in its familiar script logo font, is seen on the mountain's peak, with 22 silver stars encircling the mountain.
Bylines: On the bottom, the following bylines were used:
Variants:
FX: Depending on the logo variant:
MusicMusic/Sounds: Composed by Richard J. Krizman, the Star Wars-esque fanfare is a re-orchestrated version of the last six notes to Paramount Pictures' 1987 theatrical fanfare. There are two arrangements of the theme. Many of these logos are plastered on to old shows with no music.
MusicMusic/Sound variantsVariants: As what was mentioned, this logo used the blue mountain themes.
Availability: Common. The Gulf+Western variation was once found on later Family Ties eps, and 1987-89 Cheers eps on syndication, but the 1995-2001 logo usually plasters over now. On current series (syndie and network) the '02 logo shows up. The 1995 logo is also currently used to plaster Viacom logos (hence the appearance on The Andy Griffith Show). The 1992 variant appears on Wings on TV Land. The1989 logo, with the gold Paramount Communications byline, officially ended in 1995 and was used on The New Price is Right hosted by The Young and the Restless' Doug Davidson.
Scare Factor: Low; the fanfare might unnerve some, but you'll probably be annoyed by seeing this so many times.
6th Logo
(February 2002-May 28, 2006)
Nicknames: "CGI Mountain II", "Ultra Majestic Mountain", "2000s Mountain"
Logo: An almost still picture of a computer generated mountain sits above a majestic sunrise-like background and surrounded by clouds and a round border of 22 stars. By the top of the mountain is the Paramount script logo, which is now in a silver color with a golden border. On the bottom in the Viacom byline in its corporate typeface.
Variants:
FX: Only the clouds moving westward in the background, except on Blind Justice with the end animation from the movie logo.
MusicMusic/Sounds: Same as the last logo. Sometimes it's redone.
MusicMusic/Sound VariationsVariants: Some shows like One on One would have a shorter version of the theme in 2002.
Availability: Common, appears on reruns of several shows, such as Girlfriends and The Parkers on BET J, Frasier on Lifetime, One on One on The N and shows on local stations (that hasn't been plastered by the CBS Television Distribution logo on local stations). The 90th Anniversary variation is uncommon and can be seen on 2002 episodes of One on One on The N and Frasier on Lifetime. It also appeared on several syndicated shows such as Entertainment Tonight and Dr. Phil.
Scare Factor: None. This last logo is most majestic, beautiful, and very quiet.
Logo captures by Shadeed A. Kelly and others
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom
Video captures courtesy by JohnnyL80
Background: When Paramount Pictures purchased Desilu Productions, it renamed the TV producer company as Paramount Television in 1967 to continue producing TV shows. From 2006, it merged with CBS Corporation, renaming this division as CBS Paramount Television.
1st Logo
(December 1967-September 1968)
Nicknames: "Rising Circle", "Dark Mountain", "Changing Paramount Text"
Logo: On a blue background, we see a black mountain and the words "A Gulf+Western Company" in white. Suddenly, a white filled-in circle border rises up behind the mountain. The "Paramount" name, which is written in its majestic script font and appears in black, pops in while 22 white stars appear around the border, starting in the middle and going downward. The word "Paramount" immediately changes into "Paramount Television" in the same typeface. Below the logo are two subtitles, both in white: "Copyright © MCMLXVIII by Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved" in a more standard type, and "Paramount Pictures Corporation" in the Paramount logo font.
VariantVariants: One of 6 visual variants were used. For 2/3 of its existence, a small pre-1968 Paramount logo bug appeared alongside the copyright information, while the rest of the 1968 mid season had just the text. Variants 3 and 4 had the standard format as the first two, with the addition of the Norway Corporation, as credited on Star Trek. For variants 5 and 6, the logo appears with the copyright, but without the Gulf+Western byline. This was featured on Mission: Impossible and Mannix respectively.
FX/Cheesy Factor: The "sunrise" effect, the stars, and "Paramount" changing into "Paramount Television" looks very choppy.
MusicMusic/Sounds: All the themes from the Desilu "Merging Circles" logo, but one of them used in this is somewhat newer.
Availability: Very rare as this was extremely short lived; can be seen on early 1968 episodes of Mission: Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network and on videocassettes of Star Trek episodes aired during that time period. The last 13 episodes of The Lucy Show also had this logo, but both this and the Viacom "V of Doom", which appeared after the logo in syndication, have been edited over with the current Paramount logo by now.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; the fanfare might get to some.
2nd Logo
(September 1968-September 1969)
Nicknames: "Split Rectangle #1", "Yellow Split Rectangle"
Logo: Against a yellow background is a blue rectangle which is split into two sections; the left and the larger contains the words:
PARAMOUNT
TELEVISION
A DIVISION OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION
TELEVISION
A DIVISION OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION
Besides the last line, all are in a blocky font. "PARAMOUNT" has the largest typeface, and the other two lines are progressively smaller. On the smaller right side of the rectangle is a Paramount logo with a blue border and white mountain. The picture zooms up to the logo, which kind of looks like a blue and white version of the "Rising Circle" ("A Gulf+Western Company" and copyright message appears at the bottom of the white mountain) except the word "Television" is not present. Also, the copyright appears when the pic zooms up.
Variants:
- There was a variation seen on Here's Lucy in which the mountain has no bylines or copyrights.
- Around September-November, the word "Corporation" is missing on the rectangle on some shows.
- Star Trek has the special variant with Norway Corporation credited.
- On Mission: Impossible and Mannix, this logo appears with the copyright only. This will linger on through the first 2 months of M:I's 4th season and Mannix's 3rd season, as the first 4 episodes didn't feature the copyright on the ending theme just yet.
FX: The zoom-in.
Cheesy Factor: The zoom in is rough.
MusicMusic/Sounds: A majestic 7-note horn fanfare.
Availability: Rare. Seen on Mission: Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network. Otherwise you'll see a newer logo.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; zoom-in plus fanfare may equal some scares. But was probably worse when the music got more fast-paced to go with the zooming in the next logo.
3rd Logo
(September 1969-1975)
Nicknames: "Split Rectangle #2", "Red Split Rectangle"
Music Nickname: "Closet Killer"
Logo: Same appearance as the 2nd logo except the background is red, the larger rectangle is blue, the Paramount mountain and the stars around it mountain are blue, and the smaller rectangle is white (the mountain is cut off at the bottom in this version). The zoom on the square is still intact.
Variants:
- Sometimes, the larger rectangle is lavender-colored.
- A version exists with the Paramount copyright. This was seen between 1969-1971.
- On Mission: Impossible and Mannix, this logo appears with the copyright only.
- A static "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" version exists on reruns of The Brady Kids.
FX: Zoom in.
Cheesy Factor: See the 2nd logo.
MusicMusic/Sounds: There were two themes for this logo. The first is an 8-note horn-driven jingle written by Dominic Frontiere, best known as the "Closet Killer."Killer". The other is a faster version of what will later be known as the "Blue Mountain" music by Lalo Schifrin and Robert Drasnin. Frontiere had two versions but Schifrin/Drasnin had three.
MusicMusic/Sound Variants:
- The Dominic Frontiere jingle is sometimes faster. Notes 4-7 are louder. This applied to most of the 1969 Fall season.
- Was later switched in late 1970 to an 8-note sped-up horn fanfare composed by Schifrin. Known only as the "Color ID", Lalo Schifrin's jingle was slowed down in 1972, and again in 1974. This sig will eventually be redone for the upcoming "Blue Mountain" logo.
- In some cases, it used the closing theme of the show.
Availability: Currently seen on Mission Impossible on AmericanLife Television Network, but the rest has been replaced with either the next or the current logo. owever, it's still saved on the Happy Days seasons 1 and 2 DVD box sets, and The Brady Bunch DVD box sets.
Scare Factor: Medium to high for the early variants, and medium for the later variants; this logo is generally well liked, but the fast music and scary mountain drawing may get on some nerves. Also, many can't stand the Lalo Schifrin jingle combined with the zoom in, although it's even scarier with the Dominic Frontiere music. However, the scare factor for the still variant is none, because it's totally BORING.
4th Logo
Nicknames: "Early 80s Mountain", "Blue Mountain", "Killer Mountain", "Blue Mountain of Doom"
Logo: Practically the same mountain design as before, but more defined this time. On a sky blue background, we see a near-circle made by 22 white stars. The near-circle contains a navy blue backdrop and a flat mountain in another shade of blue with the word "Paramount" in white above it. Below the mountain are the words:
Gulf+Western
Company
The word "Television" comes from the right and slides in below "Paramount". Same alignment as the first logo.
Variants:
- The 1982 variation of this logo on some shows have the mountain drawn in such a way that the word "Television" overlaps the tip.
- Toward the end of the run of The Brady Brides on Fox Family in 1999, a still shot of this logo was shown before the compressed credits (a la the "CGI Mountain" logo).
- In the final 2 seasons of this logo, Paramount uses some video trickery. Instead of letting the film clip roll as usual, what they do is show the still of the logo with just Paramount showing. Then they allow "Television" to slide on in, and the it reverts back to a still image. This can be seen on the first two seasons of MacGyver.
- Exists as having a filmed and a videotaped version.
FX: The word "Television" sliding in like a piece of construction paper (a la South Park).
Cheesy Factor: The "Television" sliding in looks REALLY choppy and amateurish, like a piece of construction paper!
MusicMusic/Sounds: A slower version of the Lalo Schifrin jingle first heard with Split 2. There were many variations throughout the '70s and '80s. There is also one completely different theme composed by Jerry Goldsmith used in 1977.
MusicMusic/Sound VariationsVariants: SEVERAL music variations on this logo. This is going to get complicated, so let's explain this simply.
- 1975-1976: Marching band rendition of the Lalo Schifrin jingle.
- 1976-1977: An 8-note horn fanfare composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
- 1977-1978: Redone version of Jerry Goldsmith's jingle, sounding a little slower and more majestic.
- 1978-1979: Slowed down version of the Schifrin jingle re-arranged by Richard Markowitz.
- 1979-1985: The infamous medium tempo version with a xylophone in the background re-arranged by Peter Matz
- 1980-1983: Slower, xylophone driven version re-arranged by Matz.
- 1981: A rare version of the 1979 variation in which the xylophone has been made more apparent. Has only been spotted on the Happy Days episode "Baby, It's Cold Inside".
- 1981-1984: Another medium tempo version (most common on Family Ties) which ends in a harp flourish. There has been other variations of this theme, mainly above done by Matz.
- 1982-1987: Two bombastic horn-driven versions used. Xylophone accompanied on the first horn-driven version. The 2nd most infamous. Re-arranged by Fred Mollin.
- 1985-1987: The reverbed version, as heard on S1 and 2 of MacGyver. Re-arranged by Otis Connor.
- This logo is used with the 1972 "Split Rectangle #2" music on all season 1 and season 2 episodes of Happy Days on WGN America.
Availability: Pretty much rare nowadays, but can still be found on several shows. Paramount (Viacom) is starting to update this logo with their newest logo, and even syndie reruns of Cheers (once known as the best source of the logo) have been replace with the current logo. The 1985 version was seen on MacGyver's first and second season reruns on TV Land. Was also seen on 1981-1987 episodes of Solid Gold as well. The logo has recently made a surprising revival on reruns of Happy Days on WGN America.
Scare Factor: High. Many cannot stand the music or hate the way "Television" slides in. This logo was also seen after many of those scary "In Association With" screens to make this logo a NIGHTMARE.
5th Logo
(1987-2002)
Nicknames: "CGI Mountain", "Mountain of Monotony", "Majestic Mountain", "90s Mountain"
Logo: We see a still picture of the 1954 computer generated mountain, which is redone in a shiny blue color with canyon-style scenery, a lake and a light blue/red/yellow gradient sky. "Paramount," in white and in its familiar script logo font, is seen on the mountain's peak, with 22 silver stars encircling the mountain.
Bylines: On the bottom, the following bylines were used:
- 1987-1989: "A Gulf+Western Company" (looks the same as it did in the previous logo, font and alignment)
- 1989-1995: "A Paramount Communications Company" with a line above the byline. From 1989-1995, the byline was in gold. From 1992-1995, the byline was in white.
- 1995-2002: "A Viacom Company" (in the \/|/\CO/\/\ "Wigga-Wigga" font), with a line above the byline
Variants:
- An early variant of this logo with a "75th Anniversary" disclaimer appeared on early 1987 episodes of Entertainment Tonight.
- On some shows such as Taxi on TNN, the logo [with a Paramount Communications byline] was plastered over the Blue Mountain's music and Bosom Buddies on TBS, the logo [with a Gulf+Western byline] was plastered over the Blue Mountain's music, too. This also happened when Fox (now ABC) Family showed episodes of Mork & Mindy and The Brady Brides a few years back, but used the Viacom mountain. If you haven't seen already, this run of The Brady Brides also had another unique occurrence.
- When Nicktoons were syndicated to some local stations around 1994, the current logo was seen, but like Taxi, had the old music.
- In 1995, when the logo is shown closer, it's from Paramount Network Television. However, if it's farther away, it's from Paramount Domestic Television.
- There is a grayscaled variation seen on black & white reruns such as on The Andy Griffith Show.
FX: Depending on the logo variant:
- 1987-1992: None.
- 1992-1995: Only clouds moving westward in the background.
- 1995-2002 (Network and domestic television): Same as first two.
MusicMusic/Sounds: Composed by Richard J. Krizman, the Star Wars-esque fanfare is a re-orchestrated version of the last six notes to Paramount Pictures' 1987 theatrical fanfare. There are two arrangements of the theme. Many of these logos are plastered on to old shows with no music.
MusicMusic/Sound variantsVariants: As what was mentioned, this logo used the blue mountain themes.
- 1987 logo with 1980 theme.
- 1989 logo with white byline with the 1970 and 1978 themes
- 1995 domestic logo with 1978, 1979, and 1980 themes.
Availability: Common. The Gulf+Western variation was once found on later Family Ties eps, and 1987-89 Cheers eps on syndication, but the 1995-2001 logo usually plasters over now. On current series (syndie and network) the '02 logo shows up. The 1995 logo is also currently used to plaster Viacom logos (hence the appearance on The Andy Griffith Show). The 1992 variant appears on Wings on TV Land. The1989 logo, with the gold Paramount Communications byline, officially ended in 1995 and was used on The New Price is Right hosted by The Young and the Restless' Doug Davidson.
Scare Factor: Low; the fanfare might unnerve some, but you'll probably be annoyed by seeing this so many times.
6th Logo
(February 2002-May 28, 2006)
Nicknames: "CGI Mountain II", "Ultra Majestic Mountain", "2000s Mountain"
Logo: An almost still picture of a computer generated mountain sits above a majestic sunrise-like background and surrounded by clouds and a round border of 22 stars. By the top of the mountain is the Paramount script logo, which is now in a silver color with a golden border. On the bottom in the Viacom byline in its corporate typeface.
Variants:
- The 90th Anniversary version appeared from February 2002 through December of that year.
- The version on Enterprise is in letterboxed format.
- When the logo is shown closer, it's from Paramount Network Television. However, if it's farther away, it's from Paramount Domestic Television.
- There was a still shot of the domestic version.
- There is also a silent version of this logo.
- On the short lived drama Blind Justice, it shows the end of the movie logo.
FX: Only the clouds moving westward in the background, except on Blind Justice with the end animation from the movie logo.
MusicMusic/Sounds: Same as the last logo. Sometimes it's redone.
MusicMusic/Sound VariationsVariants: Some shows like One on One would have a shorter version of the theme in 2002.
- The last notes of the 1987 theme.
- Another shorter version has the last note cut off short.
Availability: Common, appears on reruns of several shows, such as Girlfriends and The Parkers on BET J, Frasier on Lifetime, One on One on The N and shows on local stations (that hasn't been plastered by the CBS Television Distribution logo on local stations). The 90th Anniversary variation is uncommon and can be seen on 2002 episodes of One on One on The N and Frasier on Lifetime. It also appeared on several syndicated shows such as Entertainment Tonight and Dr. Phil.
Scare Factor: None. This last logo is most majestic, beautiful, and very quiet.
