Dave Spector is just wrong, dudes..

[tonikoro]

Long have I sat in front of the tube here in this great land, and watched this fool on tv. And while I know not why I hate him so, Is Dave Spector not the Faggy'est token gaijin that this country could come up with on a host of variety shows that could grant us a foreign commentory?

I think part of my resentment is born from those jackass suits he wairs, but the icing on the cake is the blonde highlights in the hair.

WTF?

Please tell me I am not alone on this topic?

[Steve Bildermann]

You do realize that he deliberately bleaches his hair, wears blue contacts, dresses garishly and has had several surgeries on his nose, ears and other features to make him look more Gaijinlike to enhance his TV appeal.

[tonikoro]

No, actually I was not aware of it. Though, now that you mention it, I'm not very surprised now to hear it. Which is funny, because if I saw a guy looking the way he does (like something of a visual pun) back home in Los Angeles, I'd just have to laugh.. But here, it just reaches a climax of FG dorkyness..

[kotatsuneko]

well, he has a job that earns him plenty of money, earns quite a bit from tv I imagine [tho have heard that jtv doesnt pay domestic staff well, hence even the biggest talents being on several shows a day] drives new sports cars and plays up the gaijin god image

to any FG crashing out after a day in office/eikaiwa hell, he's sending out on message:

hes a CUNT.

Thane is way >

[FG Lurker]

well, he has a job that earns him plenty of money, earns quite a bit from tv I imagine [tho have heard that jtv doesnt pay domestic staff well, hence even the biggest talents being on several shows a day] drives new sports cars and plays up the gaijin god image

to any FG crashing out after a day in office/eikaiwa hell, he's sending out on message:

hes a CUNT.

He has had to sell his soul to get where he is. It's pathetic and I pity him. I don't know what he earns, but it can't be enough to become what he is now.

Thane is way >

I'm not sure what this means...?

Until the karakuri funniest English changes I thought Thane was okay -- not fake like Spector. The new karakuri funniest English is damn embarrassing shit though.

[tonikoro]

Thane I can at least tollerate,
at least he looks like a normal gaijin with normal clothes, and not like a fast eddie pussy-wo-get type with neo-Sunny Crockett fashion.

[L S]

well, he has a job that earns him plenty of money, earns quite a bit from tv I imagine [tho have heard that jtv doesnt pay domestic staff well, hence even the biggest talents being on several shows a day] drives new sports cars and plays up the gaijin god image

He's just a hollowed out TV caricature of a bubble-era gaijin from around 1990 or before. He's milking it to the very end because that is what he has become.

Japan is a seductress and if you here stay a long time its easy to get trapped in a very narrow existence. He's just a very public example of that. I pity him too, but wonder if he is truly unhappy with his life or not.

[omae mona]

He's just a hollowed out TV caricature of a bubble-era gaijin from around 1990 or before. He's milking it to the very end because that is what he has become.

Japan is a seductress and if you here stay a long time its easy to get trapped in a very narrow existence. He's just a very public example of that. I pity him too, but wonder if he is truly unhappy with his life or not.

I agree with what everybody's saying. But, maybe with the exception of those in the fine arts, I wonder how many of us haven't sold out our souls for work. After talking to some friends who do eikaiwa, I think they might claim they've had to sell out as much as, if not more than, the TV guys. Maybe the TV gaijin are just more skilled sell-outs than the rest of us Dave Spector is a little bit of a know-it-all, but is what he does on TV is so awful, other than the hair thing? Don't forget TV is TV, and these tarentos are putting on a show. Those guys are a lot more like normal human beings when they're not working (though Dave Spector's hair doesn't go away, unfortunately). I have a hunch they are not unhappy at all.

[Steve Bildermann]

I sold out but nobody noticed!

Now when I want to buy back nobody wants a mad, bad fucked gaijin as a customer.

Can't win, can't break even , can't quit the game. I'm fucked but hey I'm not alone, I have you guys

[kamome]

FG Link from January 2003: "Curious now about the real Dave Spector"

[FG Lurker]

I agree with what everybody's saying. But, maybe with the exception of those in the fine arts, I wonder how many of us haven't sold out our souls for work.

To a certain extent everyone sells their souls for work. Your job becomes part of you -- anything you do for many hours/day 5days/week will.

Personally I do much the same work in Japan as I would in Canada. I just have to do a big chunk in Japanese here which I wouldn't have to deal with at home. But sure, a certain part of me has become "the company". Most of the time I enjoy what I do though and don't mind the time at work.

Dave Spector is a little bit of a know-it-all, but is what he does on TV is so awful, other than the hair thing? Don't forget TV is TV, and these tarentos are putting on a show. Those guys are a lot more like normal human beings when they're not working (though Dave Spector's hair doesn't go away, unfortunately).

I think Spector takes it too far. Even a lot of Japanese I have spoken to about him think he is "too gaijin". For me the contacts and the hair are way too much, and his on-air persona is annoying. I find his voice grating too. (It's not like I hate every gaijin tarento...He's the only one who affects me strongly like this.)

I have a hunch they are not unhappy at all.

I suppose if he's making 20mil/year or more for acting like a monkey then he's not going to care about his image otherwise... I have no idea if he makes that kind of cash though. [Edit: Looks like he does... Somewhere around 50mil/year. Yep, I guess for that cash I'd end up acting like a trained monkey too. Everyone has their price... ]

[Kurofune]

I knew about the hair color and contacts, but I didn't know he went as far as surgery. Not that I'm surprised.

I can't say that I wouldn't cross a line or two for that kind of money, but what gets me about Specter is that he could've taken the first few years' salary and retire or reinvent himself either here or in the US. He seems to be in it for more than the money.

[Marvin Feltcher]

I am an unabshed fan of Dave Spector. The guy's Japanese is outstanding and he often has something interesting to say in both Japanese and English.
So what if he goes under the knife to look gaijin? I'm sure we all know how easily we lose our novelty value, but he depends on it for a living and it has kept him in a cut-throat business for 20 years.
Mind you, I rarely watch the telly, so barely ever see him on it.
But he's a good guy.

[Ketou]

I find it interesting how people readily attack someone for being willing to lose their so called 'identity'. This identity is no different from the Japanese concept of we are Japanese. I am gaijin.
I personally don't like Dave Spector so much, but not because he has sold his soul. He hasn't. He has just changed the exterior to milk as money out of those who are willing to pay him for acting like their idea of a gaijin. I don't think there is a single Japanese variety actor who hasn't done the same thing. TV is like that. Create an image and act it out to make a living.

[tonikoro]

Okay, stepping back for a sec and besides spoofing the guy, I will credit him with one thing. Coming here and long-terming for as long as he has, and communicating as well as he does- yes, I'll give him kuddos for that. He came at a time when maybe it was a good time to get into what he does and milk it to the fullest (more power to him). I just think the guy has become too much of a caricature, and to add a bit dated. Why should we prosist to fit a japanese perception of what a north american or gaijin is? We should be influencing them to a point that works counter to sterotypes. I don't give a shit how much money these people would pay me, I'd never by into the BS.

[torasan]

Chotto mate, everyone, I know Dave Spector and he's a very nice guy. you got it all wrong. Back in my tora-san days when I was in way over my head, Dave took some time to help me get through my problems, and I am ever grateful to him for it. He's just like you and me, get over it, he's one of us, a good guy, tops in my book.

Look, what you see on TV is an act. he's shoy biz, same in any country. execept there are many (any) Jnese who go to Uk or LA and become media stars there, nor are they many any Chinese Vietnamese Thai who go to UK or LA and become media stars. But Dave came to Japan, learned the language, married a local, and his life is here. It's his job. TV is his job. And writing and producing.

Get over it. Everyone who disses him is jealous envious scared, damn, he's just a Chicago kid who got lucky in Japan and he's a pro on TV here. So what if he woulda been nobody back home, we all woulda been nobody back home, we are all nobody here.

But Dave got some lucky breaks, had great talent for TV, is engaging, quick witted, funny and the execs here love him.

And don't forget, behind every great man, there is a cunning woman. !!! His wife is the real star of their production, she made Dave the star he is today. They are just a couple like a couple anywhere. In business. It's their life. Get over it.

Dave Spector rocks, in my book.

SUGGESTION: stop dissing people and open up to possibilities that could be yours someday too. Dave is Dave. You are you. Enjoy the enjoy.

Oh, I said that already.

[tonikoro]

Besides me ranting and carrying on, sure, I can buy the fact that he is a normal guy. A nice guy, like us? -Yeah sure I don't have a problem there (I'm serious about this). I think more than him, who I really have no problem with to vindicate disliking him, is more Japan's perception and mentality at which they see or find a market use of Foreigners. How we are projected in media, or a packaged mass idea of how a foreigner should be. If Dave Spector is just a guy making use of his talent by doing what he does for the benefit of "showbiz", fine. More good than harm, it's cool to see any of my countrymen in Japanese media. So in regard to playing devil's advocate to what I've said about him, yes perhaps I'm being harsh. But the ploys for appearance sake, like hair and eye, or cosmetic surgury, again are parts of the media game I don't buy into. It's all just too damn Hoaky.

[FG Lurker]

Chotto mate, everyone, I know Dave Spector and he's a very nice guy. you got it all wrong.

[...]

Get over it. Everyone who disses him is jealous envious scared,

I have no problem accepting that Dave could be a good guy in "real life". I just find his TV persona annoying as fuck, and I know many Japanese who agree.

I'm not jealous of his money either. I'm not at the same level yet, but I'm working towards it.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Maybe these monkeys should "LOOK THE PART" and "ACT THE PART" instead of adding a novelty factor to programs, because that seems to be only reason they get the job. They don't care because they're in the cash. What they do adds a bad shadow on everyone else, reinforces the stereotype that gaijin are here for entertainment only.

What is it with male TV gaijin and freakin earrings? ON NEWS PROGRAMS! You wouldn't see it anywhere else.

None of these monkeys expect to be treated seriously, so why should we?

[L S]

Get over it. Everyone who disses him is jealous envious scared, damn, he's just a Chicago kid who got lucky in Japan and he's a pro on TV here. So what if he woulda been nobody back home, we all woulda been nobody back home, we are all nobody here.

I think a lot of us are not dissing him personally, we all got to do what we gotta do, but its the TV pesonality he plays that is unappealing as another FG here. The bubble era gaijin stereotype caricature he played 15 years before has not evolved much in that time. That is not his fault, most likely, but an issue of what TV show prodcuers let him be and do. It is a reflection of how stunted Japan TV is. It sucks for the most part in my opinion. Just a bunch of low budget variety shows with the same personalities on every single one of them.

BTW....My college roomate went to high school with Chad Rowen (aka Akebono) in Hawaii. He told me he would have been a total local boy beach bum if he had not found sumo in Japan. Fate or karma....no matter...good for him....and good for Dave if he is happy.

[torasan]

Glad you all saw and understood my point.

Yes, the issue is not Dave, he is just fulfilling his karma, and more power to him. The issue is the absolute crap of JTV. Yes to that. But again, that's what the locals want, so that's what they get.

And if as you say, some local J people say Dave is not so good, then why, pray tell, why, tell me, has he remained on TV for over 15 years or so. If he wasn't selling the commericals that sell the shows, then they would take him off. They haven't. Ergo: he's just what the medium requires.

He is not a gaijin. He is a Chicago boy doing his thang in Tokyo. Welcome to the Global Village.

And money? What's money go to do with it? Nothing.

As for his eye job, nose job, eyeliner, hair color, it's just part of the job. Get over it.

All show biz people have to put up with this shite, the world over. Yes, it's silly. But Dave didn't invent it. More power to him. He deserves all the sucess he got. But again, credit his wife, she is the brains behind the entire operation. Classy lady!

[L S]

The issue is the absolute crap of JTV. Yes to that. But again, that's what the locals want, so that's what they get.

I don't agree that that is what J-people want. It is what they "get" and what is "accepted" as is a lot of other bullshit here. The TV industry is not particularly competitive and collusion is likely going on just as it does in other industries here (i.e. construction) where gov't and mafia are invovled. The result is low-budget crap. Look at the Livedoor crap to see how afraid they all are of new blood stirring things up and taking away the easy money. ...OK, my rant is over...

[torasan]

TV in every country sucks bigtime. It is merely a medium to sell ads. Don't take it so seriously.

Better yet, stop watching. I did. Years ago.

[FG Lurker]

Yes, the issue is not Dave, he is just fulfilling his karma, and more power to him. The issue is the absolute crap of JTV. Yes to that. But again, that's what the locals want, so that's what they get.

No, that is what they get fed by the TV stations. It's not like there is a lot of competition creating selection...

And if as you say, some local J people say Dave is not so good, then why, pray tell, why, tell me, has he remained on TV for over 15 years or so. If he wasn't selling the commericals that sell the shows, then they would take him off. They haven't. Ergo: he's just what the medium requires.

I disagree. He gives his employers what they want. With the complete lack of meaningful competition in the market here giving the stations what they want is key, no?

He is not a gaijin. He is a Chicago boy doing his thang in Tokyo. Welcome to the Global Village.

I skipped Chicago when I drove all over the States for 2.5 months... If his TV persona is representative of a real Chicago native then I'm glad I didn't waste my time in the windy city.

And money? What's money go to do with it? Nothing.

In a previous post you said anyone who disses Dave is jealous of him. I can see how you might think that, but let's have a look at what a non-showbiz gaijin might be jealous of:

1. The attention and fame that Dave gets.
Bzzzzzt. We're gaijin in Japan. Speaking from personal experience I get more than enough attention as it is. I certainly would not want even more by being on TV.

2. All the J-pussy he might be getting.
Bzzzzzt. When I was hunting for that I never had a problem getting it. As with #1, gaijin in Japan.

3. His looks.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzt. No thanks!

4. His money/earning potential.
This is the only point I could see a non-showbiz gaijin being jealous of, and that is why I brought it up in my previous post.


In the gaijin talent world I can see it being a whole different thing. Gaijin talent who say they hate Spector's TV persona might be jealous of his fame & the attention he gets...

[Mulboyne]

With the complete lack of meaningful competition in the market here giving the stations what they want is key, no?

The state of competition in the media market is not strongly correlated with quality or innovatative programming. Some of the best television was created in Britain with two public channels and one commercial broadcaster - Channel 4 only began in 1982. Japanese television has actually been extremely good at producing television on low budgets. It is striking that, as the number of channels has exploded across the globe, many production companies are facing the same challenges to create low-cost programming and are coming up with the same solutions as Japan.
Take reality television. Big Brother, Survivor etc were wildly popular franchises but anyone watching Japanese TV would have seen countless hours of ordinary people filmed around the clock or set challenges. Dempa Shonen is a famous recent example but all the channels have tucked such segments into their schedules for years.
As the reality shows began running out of juice in the West, they began to spice up the format by choosing contestants from celebrity "D" lists. Since viewers already had formed some idea of who these people were, it was easier to engage with the programmes. This is exactly the principle behind the preponderance of TV tarento in Japan.
"Pop Idol" and it's numerous counterparts around the world are nationwide competitions to find new singing talent. Japan has been making these for decades and actually has a better track record in generating recording sales from the winners. Asayan was a recent example and, famously, Morning Musume was formed from the losers of one of these competitions.
I remember first arriving in Japan and being told that I would be amazed by the number of golf and cooking programmes on television. If anyone thinks that it is still anomalous then they haven't noticed the explosion of such shows on US and European channels. In their desperate need for programming, Western media groups began to invest in sports franchises in order to get some leverage on broadcating rights. The Yomiuri group established the Giants for much the same reason.
What Japanese TV has been poor at is generating revenue from their ideas and protecting their formats. There has been a distinct lack of ambition in Japanese media but that is changing, Japan's music market is second only to the US but it is only recently that companies have begun to explore overseas markets, in particular, Asia. Sport has also been a domestic concern but the internationalization - and decline - of sumo, the exodus of baseball players to the US and the increased interest in the fortunes of the nation's football team are changing that focus.
Horie's attack on Fuji TV, whether he is successful or not, will also act as a catalyst for change but I don't expect a golden age of programming to be the result.

[torasan]

Mulboyne, great analysis.
Very positive way to look at things.

[Mennon]

I often wonder why JTV is so poor. But then I realise that these dudes have to fill 24 hours a day every day of locally produced shows. In Australia, they only have to fill about 4 hours a day, by law for gods sake, and if they didn't the whole thing would be American. Obviously JTV ran out of ideas decades ago, and at the moment they rely on people of little talent (Dave Spector is just one of these) to fill in the hours. But every now and then a gem will come along that you will never see anywhere else in the world. But most of it is shite. I'm just waiting for Japanese big brother.

[Mike Oxlong]

"Pop Idol" and it's numerous counterparts around the world are nationwide competitions to find new singing talent...famously, Morning Musume was formed from the losers of one of these competitions.

THAT I can believe!

[dimwit]

Horie's attack on Fuji TV, whether he is successful or not, will also act as a catalyst for change but I don't expect a golden age of programming to be the result.

If he can resurrrect 'Gilgamesh Night' I'll be a happy camper. :P

[torasan]

Horie's attack on Fuji TV, whether he is successful or not, will also act as a catalyst for change but I don't expect a golden age of programming to be the result.

If he can resurrrect 'Gilgamesh Night' I'll be a happy camper. :P

Gilgamesh Into the Naito is on late night TV now in Taiwan, I heard from friends there, reruns from the entire run of the show.