I’d say he, like lots of other entertainers, is the caboose. Once the train finds out he’s not uselful any more, he’ll be cut loose and end up stuck still on the tracks while the engine chugs on.
Chocolate is still around. I saw his picture in the paper a few weeks ago. He was promoting some “don’t be afraid of funeral parlots” event.
What’s a funeral parlot?
Is it a very quiet harlot parlor?
After Jeffu the mega-bestseller author, meet Jeffu … the Hollywood Superstar.
This morning’s United Daily News had a report which I can only describe as a piece of blatant self-promotion for our beloved Jeffu.
There’s no news content whatsoever, except that Jeffu announces to the world that yes, he is ready to take the island’s movie scene by storm, if local directors want a foreigner in a movie, he is willing to take up the offer … for a very reasonable fee, the headline reads.
Our Jeffu also rubs it in that he loves Taiwanese movies and that he is really concerned with the island’s movie scene.
Wow, isn’t that nice!
Taiwan has a movie scene? (Ha ha Fluffy, beat you to it!)
Porno movie scene yes.
I know jeff. He is a truly nice guy, if a bit misunderstood. I also have a copy of the book and have read parts of it. I think its interesting and legit., and based on personal experience. As for his English materials… yeah I wouldn’t bring it into a classroom per se, but what’s wrong with some interesting/fun ways for young people in Taiwan to learn some English? I know he actually enjoys writing the books (the material is all his own), and that he has definitely put some thought into what he’s created. If you ask him anything about English, he’ll talk your ear off. I don’t think it’s his way of making a quick buck, either, because I think you’d be surprised by how much he makes. Speaking from personal experience: public appearances, writing books, radio hosting (aside from certain long-term ICRT jocks), and tv are not very high-paying. Grossly overpaid work usually involves voice-overs. (Anyone want to correct me here?)
As for doing one’s own publicity–fat chance. I’ve seen Taiwan’s publicists/entertainment industry/make-up artists etc. up close and personal and it’s SCARY. Have you ever seen anyone put “nose shadow” on a foreigner?
I think it takes a certain personality type to be able to put up with Taiwan’s entertainment industry, and to (sort of) prostitute yourself for as long as Jeff has. I know I couldn’t hack it. He’s managed to stay in the game for much longer than Chocolate, who actually deserves three times as much criticism (I know Chocolate too, and don’t believe much he says…). And Jeff’s stood up for foreigners, and tried at times to cut back on the “monkey shows” that the Taiwanese love to watch. He speaks his mind more than most entertainers in Taiwan, it’s just too bad that people don’t hear/don’t understand/or it gets edited.
Hi Androo,
Welcome to Forumosa!
Is Jeff the one you introduced me to when I ran into you at Chili’s a couple weeks ago?
Lori
thanks for the informative post, androo. that is the most we’ve ever heard here about Jeff, and Choco. Now since u know him, can u dish, is he or isn’t he? It is NOt important, but we are all adults here, most of us, and we don’t care one way or the other which team he bats for, we just want to know. inquring minds want to know. what do YOU know about this issue?
What you said about JEFFU is very intersting and thanks for sharing, as they say in LA LA LAND. I think most of us here really do respect him and wish him well. But hey, the new haircut he has, lose it JEFFU! weird! looks like batman with out the bat!
[quote=“formosa”]thanks for the informative post, androo. that is the most we’ve ever heard here about Jeff, and Choco. Now since u know him, can u dish, is he or isn’t he? It is NOt important, but we are all adults here, most of us, and we don’t care one way or the other which team he bats for, we just want to know. inquring minds want to know. what do YOU know about this issue?
What you said about JEFFU is very intersting and thanks for sharing, as they say in LA LA LAND. I think most of us here really do respect him and wish him well. But hey, the new haircut he has, lose it JEFFU! weird! looks like batman with out the bat![/quote]
Formosa, does it really matter which team Jeff is batting for or what he’s doing in the dugout or whether he orders the hot dog or the pretzel while watching the game?
No. Ten thousand times no.
Lori–
He’s the one! And thanks for the welcome, L. I’d figured I’d be jeered as a cai niao.
Formosa–
In response to your very vital comments, the haircut really isn’t that bad… much better than the long hair he used to have when I first met him. I’m talking about the ultra-short cut, not the gel look on the ICRT web page.
Jeff–
If you are lurking, no I didn’t like the long hair. sorry. The gel wasn’t so bad…
vote: formosa LIKED the long hair. i thought that was best. just goes to show, different strokes for different folks.
thanks and welcome aboard androo! are you in the show biz thing too? sounds like it. radio or tv or print or model or ads. you can be our teacher here as we regular NORMAL ugly folks (well, i speak for myself) are curious what shoz biz is like here.
[quote=“androo”]Lori–
He’s the one! And thanks for the welcome, L. I’d figured I’d be jeered as a cai niao.
[/quote]
I would never jeer you, androo! You’re my favourite Taiwan broadcaster!
I see how you skirted the issue about Jeff, too.
Sorry, Jeff, if you are lurking. You seem like a really nice guy and all the English teachers on this site are all soooo jealous of you they can only make wild assumptions in order to massage their own egos.
Anyway, hope to bump into you (both) again some time! 
alien, i like how you said SKIRTED the issue. very punny!
ha ha ha…
As for skirting issues, if you really want to speculate about something, I think you should listen to Jeff’s show from 8-9pm (on Fridays or sometimes Thursdays). There is this sketchy (yet fabulous!) “Jacqueline” character who makes an appearance, answering questions about men, and threatening to spank people. It doesn’t get any campier than that.
hmmm.
books right?
i’ll start with my english series. i have never had any intention of writing anything even closely resembling a textbook. these poor kids have enough boring english instructional materials at school! though i did not come to taiwan to write, i was thrilled at the opportunity to do so, if anything so i didn’t have to keep answering those same damn questions on how i learned chinese, american culture, and how to learn english! READ THE BOOK! i was also tired of watching these kids trying to memorize 1000 words a day (as other books on the market suggest) and still not be able to speak english to a random (and often lost!) waiguoren. if i could share some experiences, inspire some people, and get them excited about learning english at the same time, then it would be worth it. and it ended up allowing me to pay my bills too! my second book–on american slang–was just for fun, and kids liked it. when i pitched my third book to my publisher, it was not an easy sell. i mean, who cares about american culture? i mean, everybody knows americans are JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES! no educational value? i disagree! you cannot become truly fluent in english without getting to understand cultural influences on it and its speakers (and i naturally chose to focus on american culture), nor will a student of english likely become excited about english without also learing about our culture (american, british, or otherwise…) no, we don’t have a countdown on christmas eve nor do we give money at funerals, and there is a reason why my mom freaks out when someone opens up an umbrella in the house! of course i could only cover the basics for the most part, and you may have your own version of things depending on where you grew up, but i think i got most of it right. (i also had a blast writing it!) so what is ‘educational’ to the guy who found all my books, well, not? if you had taken the time to read them (how you can denounce them without being able to read them is a little beyond me!), maybe you would have a different opinion… oh yeah-- i also wrote 2 books covering the basics of english grammar (and i know teachers who use them as a reference) and my last book covered phonics and listening comprehension. no educational value there of course!
that leads me to the whole factory/ghost writer/train thing. i have had writers help out with all my books, though there is no way in hell i would just attach my name to a random product. my material is completely my own. i majored in est asian studie at yale, speak fluent chinese, have studied several languages, and taught for several years, so the idea that i couldn’t come up with this stuff on my own is just silly (and i’m being nice here…) or can’t you see past the gel? but as fluent as i may be, my publisher prefers a more ‘local’ literary style, and thus the writer. so in a nutshell, i write some, and dictate the rest. and often change things back after they’re through with it! it’s a long process but it works for the most part, and i’m extremely proud of what i’ve accomplished. there are some things about the process i don’t like, and i often disagree with my publisher. but in the end, they’re the ones shelling out the money to print the thing, and they risk losing a lot if it doesn’t sell, so compromises must be made. and that often includes the title, cover, and promotion. if people read my books and get excited about learning english because of them–or even just have a good laugh–then i’m a happy camper! (oh yeah–just to let you know, the publishing market is horrible right now. so very few of us are in it for the money!)
as for my most recent effort–it is very legit. i also had a lot of fun with this one…again, i suggest you read it before you sentence me to life in exploitation. it’s all quite innocent, sensible, and i hope responsible. and at the very least, fun. it’s also given me an opportunity to go on tv and radio programs and discuss safer sex (did you know a recent survey revealed that 57% of taiwanese have never used condoms?), explain that not all foreigners are here for cheap sex (though i strongly suggest that when foreigners are interviewed by local media, they do not do it in a bar, then get plastered and brag about how easy it is to pick up the locals! because i’m the one called on to clean up the mess, and it’s getting old!), and other related issues i care about! and at the very least, there are obviously plenty of people who actually enjoy stories about love and relationships (many of which are about my friends, who all agreed to be included in the book), so what’s the big problem? ok, so maybe the english title is not to everyone’s liking (it wasn’t my choice either if you really want to know), but whatever happened to that ‘not judging a book by its cover’ thing? as far as my books and critiques go, for once i’d like to see at least one critique coming from somebody who actually read one of my books!
and my hair? that’s been a topic here since last year…wow…does that mean i’m famous now? :shock:
thanks to androo for the kind words, and for worrying i’d be upset about all this. i imagine the above will be ripped to shreds (because it wouldn’t be the internet without a few grumpy voices, now would it?), but life goes on. i won’t say i’ll continue to lurk around for fear i might inspire viciousness (for that you can check out the icrt stuff! yikes!), but i wish you all well regardless.
“if it ain’t good, change it. if you can’t change it, deal, or catch a plane.”
to formosa: what are you on a mission?
Thanks for your post, Jeff.
It’s best you don’t lurk around and instead join the action once in a while. You see, when one of our own writes a book, (Poagao, Almas John, etc) you won’t see threads speculating about ‘what tosspots’ they are, and instead there’ll be accolades.
Since title of your book does sound idiotic, I certainly would hope the content outlines:
‘there are other fish in the sea’,
‘respect yourself or nobody else will’, and
‘if you love something, set it free…’ philosophies as I believe it’s just the kind of book to appeal to the (dare I say) ‘psycho xiaojie’ crowd.
As for formosa on a mission… what an understatement…note the village idiot chop.
Oh, and Androo, who is this delightful camp Jacqueline character portrayed by and why is she into spanking? :?
I seen Jeff L. on a love connection show here in Taiwan once (
[quote=“Alien”]Thanks for your post, Jeff.
It’s best you don’t lurk around and instead join the action once in a while. You see, when one of our own writes a book, (Poagao, Almas John, etc) you won’t see threads speculating about ‘what tosspots’ they are, and instead there’ll be accolades. [/quote]
That’s not true. I took Almas John to task for that part in his book where he was admiring two elderly people “bobbing on their knees.”
[quote=“HakkaSonic”][quote=“Alien”]Thanks for your post, Jeff.
It’s best you don’t lurk around and instead join the action once in a while. You see, when one of our own writes a book, (Poagao, Almas John, etc) you won’t see threads speculating about ‘what tosspots’ they are, and instead there’ll be accolades. [/quote]
That’s not true. I took Almas John to task for that part in his book where he was admiring two elderly people “bobbing on their knees.”[/quote]
Maybe, but you never implied he was a tosser, did you?