After all the flak I got from the God Squad a previous time I wrote about him, I hesitate to bring you an update on the work of Derek Van Dam.
Derek was the American who read the weather forecast on television in Michigan. He came on a ‘missionary’ trip to Swaziland and sent broadcasts back to United States television showing how helpless the Swazis were and how wonderful were the Americans.
Now, Derek is reading the weather forecast – rather badly it would seem – on the new South African news channel eNews.
Not only is he having trouble with pronouncing South African place names, it seems he is getting the eye from female viewers.
‘I must say, though, we have some pretty forward females out there who just won’t stop until they get what they want!’ he told thetimes.co.za.
The online newspaper reports, ‘Comments like “simply gorgeous”, “finally a reason to watch the news” and “local is lekker, but the new weather guy is mesmeri sing” abound.’
It seems Derek, aged 25, who was first attracted to Africa by the poverty and disease has wowed the women so much that he has been offered modelling contracts.
Station group news editor Patrick Conroy said Derek was also in demand by other companies who want him ‘to endorse their products’ or as a guest speaker.
The television station has made a virtue out of the fact that Derek can’t pronounce many place names in South Africa when he is broadcasting his weather forecast.
This hasn’t upset Derek one bit, ‘I would say 95% of South Africans have been overwhelmingly positive and fantastic,’ Derek told www.thetimes.co.za.
Derek might care to read some of the comments that have appeared about him on the blog accompanying the thetimes.co.za report for a reality check.
OK God Squad over to you……
See also
DEREK COMES TO AFRICA
DEREK GOES TO AFRICA 1
DEREK GOES TO AFRICA 2
DEREK GOES TO AFRICA 3
DEREK GOES TO AFRICA 4
You know, you sure have quite a bit to say for an angry old man. If you want a reality check, why don't you care to ask some of my co-workers the countless hours/days/weeks/months this has taken us to create. I strive every day to make a quality weather presentation that is easily understood by our viewers. If I mis-pronounce a city (that most South African's have difficulty with themselves anyway), I work twice as hard to make it better the next day. What do you have against me? Have I offended you? Just so you know, because last time I checked you weren't at the interview with The Times...my words happened to be mis-construed a bit. In fact, on the audio recording, you can clearly hear the edits. You be the judge for yourself. But in the meantime, leave the harsh comments out of your blog. You really aren't making any progress.
ReplyDeleteDerek Van Dam