Chinese TV
I think it was the second week of September that I finally broke down and got cable TV - yes, basic service. I had been told that there was an English language channel and that there are a few other channels that sometimes run movies in my native tongue. Well, yes and no.
I learned that there are four different news programs, and one of those four can be seen on about 70 of the 90+ channels I get.
There are probably 5 or 6 different talent shows on the air, but they do have a few things in common which I learned just from channel surfing; they bring on 5 - 9 year olds for their cute factor, all the backup dancers for singers need to learn the concept of synchronicity and they seem to have one singer per show who sings in the very high pitched operetta style - ouch!
There are at least three different versions of Wipe-Out and what a bunch of un-athletic wusses these teenagers and young adults are. One semi-athletic person per show must be the official limit.
There is a Hollywood Squares type show, but it seems to be a lot more serious with the contestants talking for a couple of minutes - never stayed on the station long enough to see what happens.
I've seen Brad and Angelina spit fireballs at each other while she is driving a mini-van and he is in his boxers shooting at cars that are chasing them. I don't like her any better in Chinese than I did in English.
I've seen Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo and Ann Hathaway rattle off at each other in Chinese - some of the worst dubbing I have ever come across.
One channel ran Speed in English, well, sort of . . . they cut about 20 minutes out of the front end of the movie showed just about everything from the jump to the bus exploding . . . and ended it there! What, the bad guy gets away to pull another stunt? Maybe that is what they should have done originally . . . if Dennis Hopper had been in the cast they certainly would have come up with a better script for Speed 2.
Notice I didn't use the word station - virtually every channel is CCTV. And we think we have too much government interference.
They do have some interesting appearing Discovery Channel type shows, even a few from America. It would be nice if they were in English.
They sometimes run 1980s American shows; retrace the crime and capture of the criminal.
Their costume dramas look fascinating as does the footage they run from the 30s and 40s - only wish I could understand them.
I was just watching what I believe to be a regional presentation of singing and dancing in traditional costume, absolutely beautiful. The one thing that struck me as odd was the men wore tall straw hats with fur brim and ear muffs. Cognitive dissonance strikes again.
They also have:
Infomercials with oohing and aahing from the audience
Home shopping channels
and, of course, Soap Operas and even "period/costume" soap operas. It's funny how easy they are to spot even when you have no idea what they are saying.
One channel here runs Lamborghini commercials - I would be amazed if there are two in the entire country. Of course, so much for communism, where, in theory, if one person has something, everyone should have it.
I have now actually seen a commercial for snake oil. Starts with an older man with greying hair wearing a white coat talking sincerely into the camera. It then shows older folks with trouble walking, back pain, joint pain, etc, back to the doctor holding up a bottle of dark liquid with a little more sincere chatter. Back to the people who were suffering earlier, taking a brisk walk, touching their toes and flexing their arms.
I learned that there are four different news programs, and one of those four can be seen on about 70 of the 90+ channels I get.
There are probably 5 or 6 different talent shows on the air, but they do have a few things in common which I learned just from channel surfing; they bring on 5 - 9 year olds for their cute factor, all the backup dancers for singers need to learn the concept of synchronicity and they seem to have one singer per show who sings in the very high pitched operetta style - ouch!
There are at least three different versions of Wipe-Out and what a bunch of un-athletic wusses these teenagers and young adults are. One semi-athletic person per show must be the official limit.
There is a Hollywood Squares type show, but it seems to be a lot more serious with the contestants talking for a couple of minutes - never stayed on the station long enough to see what happens.
I've seen Brad and Angelina spit fireballs at each other while she is driving a mini-van and he is in his boxers shooting at cars that are chasing them. I don't like her any better in Chinese than I did in English.
I've seen Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo and Ann Hathaway rattle off at each other in Chinese - some of the worst dubbing I have ever come across.
One channel ran Speed in English, well, sort of . . . they cut about 20 minutes out of the front end of the movie showed just about everything from the jump to the bus exploding . . . and ended it there! What, the bad guy gets away to pull another stunt? Maybe that is what they should have done originally . . . if Dennis Hopper had been in the cast they certainly would have come up with a better script for Speed 2.
Notice I didn't use the word station - virtually every channel is CCTV. And we think we have too much government interference.
They do have some interesting appearing Discovery Channel type shows, even a few from America. It would be nice if they were in English.
They sometimes run 1980s American shows; retrace the crime and capture of the criminal.
Their costume dramas look fascinating as does the footage they run from the 30s and 40s - only wish I could understand them.
I was just watching what I believe to be a regional presentation of singing and dancing in traditional costume, absolutely beautiful. The one thing that struck me as odd was the men wore tall straw hats with fur brim and ear muffs. Cognitive dissonance strikes again.
They also have:
Infomercials with oohing and aahing from the audience
Home shopping channels
and, of course, Soap Operas and even "period/costume" soap operas. It's funny how easy they are to spot even when you have no idea what they are saying.
One channel here runs Lamborghini commercials - I would be amazed if there are two in the entire country. Of course, so much for communism, where, in theory, if one person has something, everyone should have it.
I have now actually seen a commercial for snake oil. Starts with an older man with greying hair wearing a white coat talking sincerely into the camera. It then shows older folks with trouble walking, back pain, joint pain, etc, back to the doctor holding up a bottle of dark liquid with a little more sincere chatter. Back to the people who were suffering earlier, taking a brisk walk, touching their toes and flexing their arms.