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3.10.2020

Pioneering Comedian Johnny Yune Dies at 84

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Comedian Johnny Yune Dies at 84
Pioneering Korean American comedian Johnny Yune, who performed standup on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1970s and 80s nearly three dozen times, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 84. His Hollywood credits included the feature film They Call Me Bruce (which he co-wrote and starred in), the sequel They Still Call Me Bruce, and the title role in the NBC pilot Sergeant T.K. Yu.

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A Coronavirus Piñata Doesn't Sound So Bad. Oh, Wait.
Spotted in Mexico, taking bad taste to new heights: the coronavirus piñata! The mustache really sells it.

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What It Means To Wear A Face Mask In America
"Face masks, to Asians, used to feel like a necessary nuisance, but also a small act of civic duty, public responsibility, and kindness to our neighbor. They are a signal that society is stronger when we consider the vulnerabilities of the strangers who surround us. But now, and here, they feel like a scarlet letter, a sudden swerve in meaning that's been forced upon us. Without a cure or a vaccine, this kind of prejudice is its own type of disease. The stigma itself, rampant and quickly spreading, is dangerous all on its own."

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Asian Enough
From the Los Angeles Times, "Asian Enough" is a podcast about being Asian American -- the joys, the complications and everything else in between. In each episode, hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong of The Times invite celebrity guests to share their personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms. The first and second episodes will premiere on March 17, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.

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Dragon Hoops Trailer
Here's the trailer for Gene Luen Yang's new graphic novel Dragon Hoops, a nonfiction work that follows the varsity basketball team at Bishop O'Dowd -- the high school where Gene teaches -- and their phenomenal winning season in pursuit of the state championship. The book hits shelves on March 17.