The opening credits always show a guest star, who never appears in the episode itself, including Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln.
Also, the announcer reads the episode's title differently than what's on the screen?
Typical weird stuff from the directors/writers. The show and films are full of these things that make you think 'what the hell?'. It's one of those things that I love so much about it, it makes so little sense.
This is known as a non sequitur, which Mad Magazine turned into an art form. Just randomly throw in a comment that has absolutely nothing with the topic. If you don't find this amusing, perhaps you should try something a bit more sophisticated, such as Small Wonder or Full House.
shareThey don't appear in the episode because they are killed during the opening credits!
shareBasically, it's an extended joke, based on the title sequences for police show of the 70s, especially the Quinn Martin productions (right down to the announcer).
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!
I am watching M Squad right now and probably just hit the second season because there is a new opening sequence for the show. The opening has Lee Marvin coming to a screeching hault in his car, getting out being shot at, then shooting back. It's just like the opening of Police Squad, even the music is almost exactly the same! They even took the plotinr form that episode. It's the same plot as the first episode of Police Squad. It's the same thing the creators did with Airplane. They took an old movie called Zero Hour and made a comedy out of it called Airplane. I love watching the Zero Hour to see how close they follow the plotline. It's wonderful.
shareThe opening credits always show a guest star, who never appears in the episode...