Very funny story from a Jeffersons fan - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 09-13-2011, 08:38 PM

A fan posted this on another board - I found the story so cute that I wanted to share it:

My personal Jeffersons story...

In the Spring of 1989, a friend and I took a rather whirlwind vacation through Europe. On our own, no tour guide, just a Eurail pass each. One day we were standing in a very long line at a train station in Vienna. There was construction or some sort of mechanical work going on nearby that involved a machine making a rhythmic noise. It reminded me of the clapping from the Jeffersons theme song. We were pretty tired and punchy from all the different time changes and cuisines and currency changes in the past week, so I guess that was my excuse for starting to sing (I thought quietly), "Fish don't fry in the kitchen, beans don't burn on the grill..." My friend laughed and added the "took a whole lot of tryin'" line and we giggled and stopped. Suddenly several other people in line grouped around us and started shouting "Ja! Ja! Moving on up!" in broken English. They clapped and smiled at us and said "Again! More!" so we hesitantly started from the beginning..."Well we're moving on up, to the East Side..." And pretty soon a small crowd had encircled us and was clapping in time. And believe me, I'm not Ja'net Dubois when it comes to singing. Nevertheless, these total strangers, who barely spoke English, were providing background vocals, echoing the "moving on ups" during the chorus.

A very strange, surreal experience. But truly a "behold, the power of the American sitcom" moment.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....=3059003&st=30

Retro4Life · 09-13-2011, 11:08 PM

Television, the universal language...neat story.

catlover79 · 09-13-2011, 11:45 PM

If ever there's a "universal" theme song, one that EVERYBODY knows, "Movin' On Up" has to be in the Top 3.

NathanBarley · 09-14-2011, 04:34 AM

Yeah you're right there. Hmm I wonder what the other two would be then? That is a really amusing story though. I'd love to know where exactly that was. As if it was in Eastern Europe in 1989, there can't really be too many places that would have had American television, and it would have been difficult to travel at that time too.

catlover79 · 09-14-2011, 12:52 PM

How about the Law & Order theme or The Brady Bunch theme? Maybe Gilligan's Island?

Marvo301 · 09-14-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

How about the Law & Order theme or The Brady Bunch theme? Maybe Gilligan's Island?

How about "I Love Lucy"?

Schmoopie · 09-15-2011, 02:05 AM

That's a hilarious story!

Big3sCompanyFan · 09-17-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

A fan posted this on another board - I found the story so cute that I wanted to share it:

My personal Jeffersons story...

In the Spring of 1989, a friend and I took a rather whirlwind vacation through Europe. On our own, no tour guide, just a Eurail pass each. One day we were standing in a very long line at a train station in Vienna. There was construction or some sort of mechanical work going on nearby that involved a machine making a rhythmic noise. It reminded me of the clapping from the Jeffersons theme song. We were pretty tired and punchy from all the different time changes and cuisines and currency changes in the past week, so I guess that was my excuse for starting to sing (I thought quietly), "Fish don't fry in the kitchen, beans don't burn on the grill..." My friend laughed and added the "took a whole lot of tryin'" line and we giggled and stopped. Suddenly several other people in line grouped around us and started shouting "Ja! Ja! Moving on up!" in broken English. They clapped and smiled at us and said "Again! More!" so we hesitantly started from the beginning..."Well we're moving on up, to the East Side..." And pretty soon a small crowd had encircled us and was clapping in time. And believe me, I'm not Ja'net Dubois when it comes to singing. Nevertheless, these total strangers, who barely spoke English, were providing background vocals, echoing the "moving on ups" during the chorus.

A very strange, surreal experience. But truly a "behold, the power of the American sitcom" moment.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....=3059003&st=30

WOW! Who would've thought they Jeffersons would be popular in Austria! Amazing story!

catlover79 · 09-17-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

WOW! Who would've thought they Jeffersons would be popular in Austria! Amazing story!

I know there are quite a few American sitcoms that are popular overseas, but I didn't think The Jeffersons was one of them. Shows what I know.

Big3sCompanyFan · 09-17-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I know there are quite a few American sitcoms that are popular overseas, but I didn't think The Jeffersons was one of them. Shows what I know.

Was the theme song and show ever dubbed in German? That would be hilarious to hear!

catlover79 · 09-17-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

Was the theme song and show ever dubbed in German? That would be hilarious to hear!

That I'd like to hear.

09-13-2011, 08:38 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Very funny story from a Jeffersons fan A fan posted this on another board - I found the story so cute that I wanted to share it: My personal Jeffersons story... In the Spring of 1989, a friend and I took a rather whirlwind vacation through Europe. On our own, no tour guide, just a Eurail pass each. One day we were standing in a very long line at a train station in Vienna. There was construction or some sort of mechanical work going on nearby that involved a machine making a rhythmic noise. It reminded me of the clapping from the Jeffersons theme song. We were pretty tired and punchy from all the different time changes and cuisines and currency changes in the past week, so I guess that was my excuse for starting to sing (I thought quietly), "Fish don't fry in the kitchen, beans don't burn on the grill..." My friend laughed and added the "took a whole lot of tryin'" line and we giggled and stopped. Suddenly several other people in line grouped around us and started shouting "Ja! Ja! Moving on up!" in broken English. They clapped and smiled at us and said "Again! More!" so we hesitantly started from the beginning..."Well we're moving on up, to the East Side..." And pretty soon a small crowd had encircled us and was clapping in time. And believe me, I'm not Ja'net Dubois when it comes to singing. Nevertheless, these total strangers, who barely spoke English, were providing background vocals, echoing the "moving on ups" during the chorus. A very strange, surreal experience. But truly a "behold, the power of the American sitcom" moment. http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....=3059003&st=30
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-13-2011, 11:08 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Television, the universal language...neat story.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

09-15-2011, 02:05 AM	#7
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That's a hilarious story!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

09-13-2011, 11:45 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	If ever there's a "universal" theme song, one that EVERYBODY knows, "Movin' On Up" has to be in the Top 3.

09-14-2011, 04:34 AM	#4
NathanBarley Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 01, 2011 Posts: 15	Yeah you're right there. Hmm I wonder what the other two would be then? That is a really amusing story though. I'd love to know where exactly that was. As if it was in Eastern Europe in 1989, there can't really be too many places that would have had American television, and it would have been difficult to travel at that time too.

09-14-2011, 12:52 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	How about the Law & Order theme or The Brady Bunch theme? Maybe Gilligan's Island?