Derek van Dam raises temperatures. Must be a small thermometer

Gerhard · #1 1st July 2008, 20:50

Apparently Derek van Dam is having to fight off hordes of female fans. Just how they manage to squeeze through the telly screen is beyond me.

And if I have to see that ad where the dear boy unsuspectingly munches down on a mopani worm one more time, I'll switch over to CNN, I swear.

Personally I think DvD is a tad too slick and glib. He twangs his way through our pollysyllabic place names with such speed one gets the aural equivalent of whiplash.

Besides, I'm sure he's got a bald spot. The black cameraman should teach him about Nugget.

rory · #2 1st July 2008, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerhard

Personally I think DvD is a tad too slick and glib. He twangs his way through our pollysyllabic place names with such speed one gets the aural equivalent of whiplash.

Shush, you.

I think he's scrumptious. Every time he presents the weather I end up having my very own 'high pressure system'.

PS: Did you see his online nick? "dvdplaya". Hah. Stalker, me? Nooooit.

Alexino · #3 2nd July 2008, 09:43

Ive always been facinated with the American accent, dont know why.

Anyway he seems cool, trying his best to fit in with our accent, just listen to how he pronounced Cape Town.

six · #4 2nd July 2008, 10:01

Errmmm. Who exactly is this guy? Jean-Claude Van Dam's brother?

Gerhard · #5 5th July 2008, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by six

Errmmm. Who exactly is this guy? Jean-Claude Van Dam's brother?

Isn't Jean-Claude Dutch?

And yes, there's plenty of unemployed South Africans. Why import someone who looks like he's been imported, 'aw shucks' grin and all, from the American Bible Belt.

P.S. What really annoys me is he'll mention the weather in Springbok, but not Johannesburg, leaving viewers to strain their eyes to catch a glimpse of the chart around his manly shoulder.

Doesn't he know Joeys is the centre of civilisation in South Africa?

Citanul · #6 7th July 2008, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerhard

Isn't Jean-Claude Dutch?

Belgian I think.

Quote:

Why import someone who looks like he's been imported, 'aw shucks' grin and all, from the American Bible Belt.

Because he's qualified for the job?

To answer Six's question - Derek van Dam is the new weatherman on e.tv. Tashi did an interview with him here.

Alexino · #7 7th July 2008, 10:54

Quote:

P.S. What really annoys me is he'll mention the weather in Springbok, but not Johannesburg, leaving viewers to strain their eyes to catch a glimpse of the chart around his manly shoulder.

Doesn't he know Joeys is the centre of civilisation in South Africa? - Gerhard

LOL you joking right?

The purpose of the weather report is to report on weather throughout South Africa, i.e. it means that you report on different stations throughout the country, some days Jozis some days Graaf Reinet some days Mthatha.

rory · #8 7th July 2008, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citanul

Because he's qualified for the job?

...and because he can do skills-transfer to South Africans?
...and because, according to his blog, he's completely in love with Africa and its people?
...and because great countries welcome immigrants?
...and because it's a good thing to import TV people from the land that does TV unbelievably well?

Gerhard · #9 23rd July 2008, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexino

LOL you joking right?

The purpose of the weather report is to report on weather throughout South Africa, i.e. it means that you report on different stations throughout the country, some days Jozis some days Graaf Reinet some days Mthatha.

Huh? The weather should be consistent, highlighting the forecast for the major urban centres in all the regions.

Gerhard · #10 23rd July 2008, 08:14

Look, DD is a big culture shock to us okes used to the 'Freek Robinson' style of reporting, where the weather is delivered with all the reverence of a Biblical sermon.

Admittedly I first viewed DD's antics with a jaundiced eye, but his obvious enthusiasm (and totally charming pronunciation of 'Worcester', for example) have endeared him to me.

Plus, is it my imagination, or has he covered up his bald spot? And what's with the kuif that seems to be migrating to the other side of his head like a storm front?

Kidding ...

DD is certainly far more professional than some of the weather anchors on Sky News.

Lizardking · #11 23rd July 2008, 13:10

I have noticed that eTV weather is different to SABC weather... I wonder why ? Surely they get it from the same place?

batchick · #12 23rd July 2008, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizardking

I have noticed that eTV weather is different to SABC weather... I wonder why ? Surely they get it from the same place?

They get the raw data from the same place as SABC, but then they use different models to forecast. The data they get only tells them what the weather has been and shows the incoming weather on satellite imagery (the clouds and moisture stuff), the cunning weatherologists then have to make sense of what it means for each place.
E-TV are trying to use new models and analysis to get better weather forecasting than has been coming from the South African Weather Centre.

Sorry, hubby's a climatologist, so have heard a lot about this. Word on the street is that the ETV stuff is pretty awesome.

Lizardking · #13 23rd July 2008, 13:44

We found over a period of a week that SABC's weather was more accurate.

batchick · #14 23rd July 2008, 13:53

Interesting. Maybe being based in cape town, DVD doesn't care that much about gauteng's weather?

Lizardking · #15 23rd July 2008, 13:59

Thats silly... its the only place that really matters

All CT is wind and rain... not that hard

batchick · #16 23rd July 2008, 14:11

yeah, and Joburg's either dry enough to give you a nosebleed or thunderstorms in the early afternoon. Durban's muggy with rain. Bloem - dunno, cold at night?
This weather things easy.

I remember once, when i think they still used overheads on maps, some operator was clearly drunk and put the wrong acetates on the wrong maps.

Lizardking · #17 23rd July 2008, 14:16

Oh and SABC2 has a very cute weather presenter on in the Morning... worth getting up for if you know what I mean *wink

batchick · #18 23rd July 2008, 14:27

I wake up to my own weather presenter every morning. I win.

Onkez · #19 24th July 2008, 01:14

All I know is that e-tv's display of the weather on the bigscreen KICKS ASS!So cool and with DVD's accent,it moves across smoothly.The SABC used to have a detailed account of the weather like e-news does,what happened to that?The have the same sponsor right,no?

Luke · #20 24th July 2008, 01:31

Love Derek - thoroughly professional. Yet to catch one "Uh" or "Um" - it's a straight, unbroken monologue of unparalleled smoothness and consistency. He looks like he knows what he's talking about, which - being a meteorologist - he does. Unlike certain SABC weatherboys who merely attended an unemployed actors' casting queue to get the job.

He's clearly also made a massive effort to learn pronunciations of place names - it's one thing getting them right if your accent is American, but try getting anyone other than a Dutchman or German to pronounce Graaff-Reinet. He gives it a bloody good stab, and more importantly it's evident he's practiced it.

The accent pronouncing South African place names is actually quite refreshing - not often you hear Americans working their way around Piet Retief or Polokwane.

Now if he could bring the local weather talent up to his level, we may actually have a decent weatherperson or two when Dvd's gig is up.

Finally - what's most bizarre about him is the fact that he's created a hype. It's not like we ever spend much time discussing weather anchors, yet here we all are huddled under our umbrellas, gossiping away.

It's pissing outside. I'm going in.

Alexino · #21 24th July 2008, 07:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizardking

Oh and SABC2 has a very cute weather presenter on in the Morning... worth getting up for if you know what I mean *wink

Yeah Im posting up something on her just after this. Her name is Laura Clancy or thereabouts. I just find her bumbling around and enthusiasm so nunu

Lizardking · #22 24th July 2008, 08:20

Damn right Alex... I missed her this morning now my entire day is fracked.

Gerhard · #23 27th July 2008, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

Finally - what's most bizarre about him is the fact that he's created a hype. It's not like we ever spend much time discussing weather anchors ...

So he's a professional weather guy who comes across as a Hollywood divination expert? Bet he doesn't get an academic's salary ... Pity we can't see him in the field, in khaki shorts, inspecting wind socks or something.

Luke · #24 27th July 2008, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerhard

So he's a professional weather guy who comes across as a Hollywood divination expert? Bet he doesn't get an academic's salary ... Pity we can't see him in the field, in khaki shorts, inspecting wind socks or something.

Cloud9 · #25 27th July 2008, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerhard

So he's a professional weather guy who comes across as a Hollywood divination expert? Bet he doesn't get an academic's salary ... Pity we can't see him in the field, in khaki shorts, inspecting wind socks or something.

Add a fedora and leather jacket and we have something. Why has Hollywood never made a movie about a dashing meteorologist anyway? If anyone can make it as the Indiana Jones of weathermen, it's old Derek.