TV Theme Megapoll Round 5A: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" vs. "The Jeffersons"

[TroutMan]

On to the Sweet Sixteen! I'm going to repost the nomination comments from Round 2 for each theme since you all have forgotten them by now.

Theme from The Dick Van Dyke Show
CBS (1961-66)
Earle Hagen

(Rolling Stone #81) Big band was the dominant sound of theme songs in the Fifties and early Sixties. Others like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners were paired with a static image. This theme (one of several Earle Hagen compositions on the list) has to accompany the main character in action, most memorably the whimsical xylophone riff — Hagen described it as “that little fillip” — that comes when Dick Van Dyke’s Rob Petrie trips over the ottoman. It’s a versatile riff, too, as it works just as well in the alternate version used at times in later seasons where Rob nimbly sidesteps the ottoman and stays on his feet. All around, an expert match of sound and visuals. (Also? Years later, Van Dyke would say that Morey Amsterdam wrote lyrics for it.)

"Movin’ On Up" from The Jeffersons
CBS (1975-85)
Composer: Jeff Barry, Ja’net DuBois
Artist: Ja’net DuBois

(Rolling Stone #1) Of course the greatest TV theme song of them all would come from the greatest decade by far for TV theme songs. “Movin’ On Up,” co-written by Jeff Barry and Good Times co-star Ja’net DuBois, and belted out with passion and glory by DuBois, does everything you want from a theme song. It tells you what the show is about: Its lyrics touch on the specific move that George and Louise Jefferson have made from a working-class Queens neighborhood to a deluxe apartment in the sky of Manhattan, but also on broader ideas of Black striving and the American dream. It sets the exact mood for the episode that follows, with its raucous tone cueing up the bickering between George, Weezie, Florence, and their neighbors. And most important of all, the song is so exciting — a rat-a-tat gospel number designed to get viewers out of their seats like they’re leaping up from a church pew — that it becomes as much an enticement to tune in as the show itself. Admit it: You’re chair-dancing a little just thinking about it, aren’t you?

[JackieLikesVariety]

I don't like the DVD theme from the first season nearly as much as the one for the rest of the seasons.

did we talk about this?

[TroutMan]

I understand What Exit's confusion about the love for Rockford Files. I feel that same confusion about the love for Dick Van Dyke.

[Rat Diva]

I share TroutMan's confusion, especially up against Ja'Net DuBois' incredible pipes.

[Rebo]

I am on the fence about this one! I adore the DVD show. The theme evokes nostalgia in me, since I watched the reruns after school doing my homework. But so does Movin' On Up! I watched all the Norman Lear shows. I was the perfect demographic. I turned 16 in 1975.

I cheated and peeked at the poll. I voted for The Dick Van Dyke Show to tie it up 8-8.

[JackieLikesVariety]

the suspense continues!!!

[Pogo]

I just checked; I've voted for the opposition of The Dick Van Dyke Show theme in every round, not so so much because I dislike TDVDS theme but because I liked the others.

Even so, I think my appreciation for TDVDS theme rises if we consider the much more common one that is referred to in the Rolling Stone quote, the one with “that little fillip”. It is available on the YT and I am linking this one because it shows Dick Van Dyke hits the ottoman. Theme starts ~13 seconds, the flip is at ~21 seconds.



(This musical version was used in the third round match-up but from a season where Dick avoided the ottoman.)

[JackieLikesVariety]

that is the one I was voting for, not the one from the first season.

[Kat]

Originally Posted by Rebo

I cheated and peeked at the poll. I voted for The Dick Van Dyke Show to tie it up 8-8.

[Borborygmi]

The Dick Van Dyke Show theme is clearly the Beaker of this megapoll. For the record I just re-tied it with a vote for "Movin' On Up".

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Borborygmi

The Dick Van Dyke Show theme is clearly the Beaker of this megapoll. For the record I just re-tied it with a vote for "Movin' On Up".

Beaker from The Muppets?

I was going to say DVD is maybe going to be the Grilled Cheese (YUM) of this megapoll. because it's currently leading!

[Borborygmi]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

Beaker from The Muppets?

I was going to say DVD is maybe going to be the Grilled Cheese (YUM) of this megapoll. because it's currently leading!

Confirming that, yes, I meant Beaker from the Muppets. In the Greatest Muppet megapoll Beaker managed to make it all the way to the semifinals with a streak that included victories over Rowlf, Bert, and Oscar the Grouch. I like Beaker as much as the next guy but that was insane and those responsible should feel ashamed.

Wow, upon reviewing this for accuracy I see that the Muppetational! megapoll was all the way back in 2012... that doesn't seem possible.

But, back to the present: what hero will use their turn at bat to break this tie in favor of "Movin' On Up"? I don't know, but obviously this person will be of superior taste and intellect, and presumably also very good-looking.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Borborygmi

Wow, upon reviewing this for accuracy I see that the Muppetational! megapoll was all the way back in 2012... that doesn't seem possible.

we should re-do it, then, it's been so long we are all different people. well, not all but a lot.
OR that would be too much trouble and I should just go back and read the old one.
meanwhile, back in the theme megapoll:
OMG it's a tie score again! could it BE any more suspenseful?

[TroutMan]

You all have about 3 hours to break the tie and save us from the mockery of future megapollers wondering what the hell we were thinking.

[TroutMan]

And I'm not going to name names, but some of you currently voting for DVD have also expressed appreciation for theme songs with lyrics that describe the show. Yet you are voting for something whose most memorable part is a "whimsical xylophone riff", and against this:

Well we're movin' on up, to the east side
To a deluxe apartment in the sky
Movin on up
To the east side
We finally got a piece of the pie.

Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by TroutMan

You all have about 3 hours to break the tie and save us from the mockery of future megapollers wondering what the hell we were thinking.

I wonder how you will break this tie since you are so clearly not on Team Dick. or perhaps there is a better way to phrase that...

what can I tell you? the DVD theme starts up and I feel like this:



sometimes it's not about words!

[TroutMan]

The megapoll admin is always fair and unbiased. You shalt not question the integrity of the admin, or I have no idea what horrible things will happen to the poll.

[Kat]

The MegaPoll Monster is always above reproach.

[JackieLikesVariety]

you are voting for something whose most memorable part is a "whimsical xylophone riff"

am not and it is not!



the most memorable part of it is the Tout Ensemble! the sexy saxophones are just a part of it.

[Clueless rodent note: Sorry, Jackie, I hit "edit" instead of "quote" (AGAIN) and mangled your post, but I think I managed to fix it ]

[Rat Diva]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

Tout Ensemble

I first read that as "Trout Ensemble" so either I need more coffee or our megapoll monster is using some kind of on me.

[JackieLikesVariety]

[Kat]

Originally Posted by Rat Diva

I first read that as "Trout Ensemble" so either I need more coffee or our megapoll monster is using some kind of on me.

Probably both!

[TroutMan]

The Trout Ensemble, the popular name for the Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, by Franz Schubert.

[Borborygmi]

Let me be the first to congratulate "Movin' On Up" for winning this hard-fought contest and advancing to Round 6. It certainly was nip and tuck there for a while but I'm confident that the experience gained from having to battle it out here will only serve it well in the final rounds. [/manifesting]

[TroutMan]

We're continuing with the loser prize as the tiebreaker. I was tempted to reverse the criteria and pick against @What Exit?, who was the only person on the winning side in all seven matchups. But rules are rules.

In this round, there was one person with more losing votes (4) than winning votes (3). Congrats to @Rebo for either blazing your own trail or being consistently wrong, depending on how you want to look at it.

Sadly, Rebo's vote in this matchup was a capricious one based on peeking at the current score, and not on any valid criteria. So we are now doomed to ignominy as the megapollers who advanced Dick Van Dyke to the final eight. May god have mercy on our souls.

[Dr. Winston O'Boogie]

Originally Posted by TroutMan

May god have mercy on our souls.

Procede.

[Rebo]

I won something! Yay! I think...

[Rock]

Capricious with no valid criteria is the only way I have ever voted in megapolls.

Edit: Peeking has been involved also.

[JackieLikesVariety]

[Kat]

*puts Rebo on The List*