No kidding. Everyone was in top form. Although, they kind of spoiled the fact that Cameron, Foreman, and Chase are coming back in the opening credits, don't you think?
Yeah, but shows always do that. It certainly defeats the purpose of having a drama, but they ALWAYS do it - like people are blind or don't read or something.
This may sound odd, but I think it's a legal issue. If the actors have contracts as regulars, I believe the law requires that their names be listed in the credits whether they show up in an episode or not.
Yes, but this happens with guest appearances and minor characters, too. There have been several instances over the years of "big surprises" in a show being ruined by the fact that the actor's name shows up in the opening credits. Biggest recent example: when Walt (or a vision thereof) returned to Lost... it wasn't a surprise when he showed up, because the credits told us 45 minutes earlier that he was going to be around somewhere.
It's just stupid. A show doesn't NEED to give credits at the beginning of the episode, because the full credits are listed at the end. The credits are just there at the beginning of movies and TV shows because of the continually growing egotism of the actors involved. Some of them demand it, so it has become standard practice... but it doesn't have to be. There are no legal requirements involved, it all has to do with contractual agreements - which could be removed, if some of the agencies and individuals involved just stopped demanding it.