Cold open

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A cold open (also called a teaser sequence) is a narrative technique used in television and film. It is the practice of jumping directly into a story at the beginning of the show before the title sequence or opening credits are shown. In North American television, this is often done on the theory that involving the audience in the plot as soon as possible will reduce the likelihood of their switching to a different channel during the opening commercial. A cold open may also be used to recap events from previous episodes or storylines that will be revisited during the current episode. The cold open technique is also used in film. In cinematic contexts, "cold opening" refers to the opening moments or scenes, though not necessarily to the full duration prior to the title card, which may appear well after the start.

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