Taiwan television shows want to make more money.

[PigBloodCake]

In fact you can be deported for canvassing for politicians if you are a foreigner.

Really? Do you have a link to this rule?

This is the first I've heard.

[sulavaca]

I your integrity. If I was prettier I'm sure I'd turn down many chances to be a buffoon as well. I have been on TV twice here, and the most shocking thing I learned is that those sound effects are pumped live into the studio, not edited in after the fact, fucking annoying, and the questions they asked, so Goddamn demeaning...Not worth the shit money I was paid.

I did it once, and I wouldn't go back. I mistakingly thought that it might do my modeling career some good, but quickly realized, that just like modeling, it only requires that you sell absolutely anything, even when you don't agree with the product.
I was on a Jacky Wu show which required the usual panel of dumb arse looking foreigners. The show was talking about "Which country's people are most in need of plastic surgery?". Exactly! How's that for deep and meaningful?!

Jacky joked to the very dark brown guy sitting next to me "If you were any blacker, anyone seeing you would die of fright!"
At which point I responded "If you took your hat off and were any shorter, then anyone would have a hard job finding you!" Childish, I know, and I regret the comment, but I was frustrated the whole time we were filming as I didn't know what we were even filming before hand. Anyway, my comments were edited out, and Jacky remained the star of the show.
The saddest thing was that no one laughed at any "jokes" which he made through the whole course of filming. We were asked to stay behind for ten minutes and shoot "laughter" shots. These were edited into the final show which was broadcast.

Yes, a LOT of Taiwanese T.V. is shit! [In my opinion!]

Some one mentioned the "Canadian". Were you talking about Chris Downs?

One of my favorite T.V. shows in Taiwan, and this isn't really crediting her in the full sense, is the Sissy Show. Sissy is about the only one I know who provides news content from outside of the island, and then offers some opinionated breakdown of the subject.
I quite like her show in all. She doesn't claim to be "news". I don't treat her as "the news". But she is practically the only provider of any exterior news on the island. She does some homework and has some interesting things to say. Opinion pieces mostly, but I like that, much like myself at times, she plays devils advocate and challenges many public opinions.

[mike029]

Yes, that's the Canadian guy.

The show was talking about "Which country's people are most in need of plastic surgery?". Exactly! How's that for deep and meaningful?!

I would have answered "Taiwan, if it were a real country" just to piss them off.


So...apparently I did an *ehrrm* acceptable job on 大學生了沒 because I got a phone call yesterday from someone over there. Here's the gist of the conversation:

Guy: Hi, Mike, I'm (i forget his name) from 大學生了沒, we are looking for foreigners that are involved in relationships to come on the show. Do you have a girlfriend?
Mike: ...I'm gay. (figured it was the easiest way to refuse this)
Guy: Really? I don't think you look gay...hold on. (starts chattering to someone for...approval?)
Guy: Ok then, can you bring your boyfriend on the show?
Mike: I don't have a boyfriend.
Guy: WHY NOT? You are so handsome and your Chinese is so good, you should go find a Taiwanese boyfriend.
Mike: I don't really like Taiwanese guys...
Guy: Oh...well that's too bad, I hope you can find a boyfriend soon ok bye!

At least this is one good sign that they are open enough to let gay couples on their stupid show.

[headhonchoII]

There are quite a few foreigners that make a living from being entertainers as they are known here
There is chris downs aka shakali who is married to a local tv host, he hosts shows for kids on Hakka tv.

Then there is the ex dancer from Belarus or one of the stans that is a bit of a tai mei in disguise.

There is Janet I and Janet II, the producers loved Janet so much they hired her twice.

Then there is the Turkish dude who hosts the travel show, he has no qualms about jumping around like a monkey when required. Beats ice cream juggling I guess.

[finley]

There is Janet I and Janet II, the producers loved Janet so much they hired her twice.

Is it the same Janet, or did they clone her in a vat? Can I get one?

And whatever happened to Gao Wei Li (高偉立)? The American(?) rat boy who starred in those ultra-low-budget DVD Mandarin lessons that every Chinese school uses? You know the guy I mean. He's a star. With that 'tache and that smirk, he always managed to make every clip look like the beginning of a bad 70's porn movie.

[mike029]

There is Janet I and Janet II, the producers loved Janet so much they hired her twice.

Is it the same Janet, or did they clone her in a vat? Can I get one?

One Janet is more than enough.

[tommy525]

noni is the only one i liked to watch.

[tsukinodeynatsu]

Mike: Gays are kind of cool here. This ain't Kansas. They might've let you go if you said you weren't interested at all, but now you've told them you're gay I'm sure they'll be calling you every five minutes Oh God, and you said you're single. I'm imagining an entire episode of 大學生了沒 with gay students and you're the prize/model/product that needs commenting on. A 20 year old here would find that hilarious and 'very educational'

I quite like 康熙來了, it's one of the few woman-male host teams where the woman actually talks. And she's clever, too. I don't watch much else apart from some of those stupid dramas... they can be addicting!

[shengou]

Mike: Gays are kind of cool here. This ain't Kansas.

I wouldn't say they're cool. But, when I lived in America, I was a bit biased toward gays. I didn't hate them. I was annoyed though. I think it's the constant politicizing of the issue in America. It's unbelievably annoying to hear about it all the time. I also don't like the act a lot of gays put on, but then again, I don't like that attitude in straight girls either. Sassy anything makes me rage.

Moving here I've realized, I couldn't care less if someone's gay or not. My girlfriend has one friend who is gay and several coworkers who are the "male" lesbians, (I don't know what to call them). 99% of the time, I completely forget they're gay and lesbian. I think it's because they're not constantly talking about how gay they are or how proud they are that they're gay. They just act like it's normal and no one else bats an eyelash. This is definitely one area in which America needs to emulate Taiwan.

Taiwan, good job Dave Man.

[mike029]

One of the Janet clones is going to give a talk this coming Tuesday at Mingchuan! I couldn't be more thrilled as now I have the opportunity to punch her in the face.

I kind of want to go just to see her struggle at saying anymore more than "hao bang!" in Mandarin.

EDIT: I asked a classmate, and it turns out she will be presenting in English... The excuse is that as students we need to be exposed to more English in real world settings. Trying to cover Janet's ass is all they're doing...