Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
In this episode, we welcome back our best pals in podcasting, cultural critic/journalist/educator Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA, to re-connect, reset, and share what they've been watching/consuming/experiencing in pop culture and beyond. They discuss, among other things, Asians in the Regency romance of Bridgerton; the possibility of a brown James Bond in Riz Ahmed's offbeat comedy Bait; the audacity of multiple Asians cast members as health care workers on The Pitt; and how far pretty privilege can get you on The Traitors. Also: Jeff finally watched Pop Star Academy. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.
On Thursday, a San Francisco judge ordered probation for the man who was convicted in the 2021 death of an elderly man who became known as "Grandpa Vicha." 25-year-old Antoine Watson was sentenced to a total of eight years in the unprovoked attack and death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. Since Watson, who was 19 years old at the time of the attack, has already served five years in jail and earned additional credit for good behavior, Judge Linda Colfax suspended the remaining two years of his sentence and ordered him to be released on probation. Watson was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault for the violent attack, which was caught on camera and became a flashpoint in the "Stop Asian Hate" movement. Is this justice?
In the CNN Original series K-Everything, hosted and executive produced by Tony-award nominated actor, director, producer, and social advocate Daniel Dae Kim, is a cultural exploration of Korea's explosive global influence. Across four immersive episodes, Kim explores the forces behind Korea’s cultural rise, tracing how distinct traditions evolved into global phenomena. The series premieres May 9, and airs weekly on CNN.
Himesh Patel will star opposite Danielle Deadwyler in Ryan Coogler's reboot of The X-Files. According to the official logline, the series will follow "two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents" who "form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena." I love this pairing, and I can't wait to see how Coogler's take on this series.
Forge, a crime caper starring Kelly Marie Tran, will get a theatrical release in May. The film, directed by Jing Ai Ning, centers on Miami-based siblings Raymond and Coco Zhang, who run an art forgery ring and are recruited by a disgraced millionaire to create counterfeit masterpieces for his family's collection. Meanwhile, FBI Art Crimes agent Emily Lee investigates a string of forgeries in the area. The film also stars Andie Ju, Brandon Soo Hoo, Edmund Donovan, Eva De Dominici, T.R. Knight, Jack Falahee and Sonya Walger.
We've finally got some news about the next project from Daniels -- Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert -- the acclaimed directing duo behind the smash hit Everything Everywhere All at Once: the movie will star Ryan Gosling. And that's pretty much it. Other details are slim, but the untitled feature will reportedly start shooting this summer, and is set for release in 2027.
Putting out this call again. Help out some academic researchers who are some interesting work around Asian Americans and food. The study, administered by Dr. Oliver Wang (California State University Long Beach), Kelli Kimura (UC Irvine), and Sam Titus (UC Irvine), aims to explore intersections between food and identity, especially as it relates to the diverse community of Asian Americans. You can help this team out by completing an online survey.
Dreamworks Animation has released the first trailer for its upcoming animated feature Forgotten Island. Set in the 1990s, H.E.R and Liza Soberano voice Jo and Raissa, two best friends who are about to go their separate ways. As they celebrate their last night together, the pair stumble on a magical portal -- a gateway to stories they've heard about growing up, places in Filipino folklore where shapeshifters, demons, witches and monsters exist -- and their friendship is put to the test as they seek to find their way back home.
An adult animated series based on the hit comic book series Monstress is in development at Amazon MGM Studios from Steven Maeda, a co-creator and former showrunner on Netflix's One Piece. Set in an Asian-inspired fantasy world, Monstress tells the story of a young woman with a literal monster living inside of her. On a quest to understand her past and avenge her mother's murder, she's joined by a colorful ensemble including a talking cat and a hybrid fox/human girl as they’re thrown into a war between human and otherworldly forces.
Hong Kong filmmaker Herman Yau has been attached to direct The Cinematographer, a biographical feature on the life of pioneering Chinese American cinematographer James Wong Howe. Winner of two Academy Awards, Wong is considered one of the most influential cinematographers in film history, with credits that included The Rose Tattoo (1955), Hud (1963), Algiers (1938), Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), Kings Row (1942), The North Star (1943), Air Force (1943), The Old Man and the Sea (1958), Seconds (1966) and Funny Lady (1975).
RU-FI-O! Hook fans, you're gonna want this Bangarang skateboard deck from Patti Lapel, featuring everybody's favorite Lost Boy, the one and only Rufio, as portrayed by Dante Basco. Only 30 made!
An attack at a subway station in Brooklyn is being investigated as a possible hate crime. A reportedly approached a 20-year-old woman March 17 at the 9th Avenue subway station and made Islamophobic statements before grabbing her and throwing her to the ground. He then grabbed the victim's phone and threw it to the ground. Authorities are asking for the public's help identifying the suspect.
In Canada, a man has been charged with second-degree murder in the deadly shooting of a Sikh man on a highway south of Edmonton. 18-year-old Jimmy Gassner has been charged in the killing of Birinder Singh, an international student from India, who was fatally shot on March 14. Community members are calling on police to investigate it as a potential hate crime.
School hiring processes play a crucial role in determining the racial demographics of the American teacher workforce -- including by putting non-white teaching candidates at an apparent disadvantage -- according to a study released in February. In dozens of school organizations around the country, Asian American applicants to teaching jobs were significantly less likely than those of other groups to advance at each stage of the hiring process.
Hell yes. Check out the brutal trailer for The Furious, the latest from action choreographer-turned-director Kenji Tanigaki. Starring Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, and Yang Enyou, the movie follows an unlikely duo on a rampage of revenge after their loved ones are kidnapped by traffickers. Martial arts madness ensues. Say no more. I'm in.
I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. After dominating charts, screens and playlists worldwide, Kpop Demon Hunters is taking on the Happy Meal. Starting March 31, Netflix and McDonald's are partnering up for two all-new meals for adults -- The HUNTR/X Meal and The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal -- and exclusive photocards that unlock first-access content for a limited time. Also: The Derpy McFlurry.
Haters! Stinky tofu is no longer on the menu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel, California after the city received complaints about the dish's aroma. But the family behind the restaurant is fighting to bring back the popular Taiwanese street food, prized for its distinct, potent stench.
Most Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders believe the Trump administration has done more harm than good on the issue of immigration and border security in his second term so far, according to a new survey from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Johnny Itliong, son of the late labor leader Larry Itliong, says he has spent decades trying to speak out about Cesar Chavez's alleged misconduct -- long before revelations that Chavez was allegedly sexually assaulting women and minors came to light. But Johnny Itliong says he was told to keep quiet.
"China is not a new concept. So what does it feel like for your culture to become a trend? From North America to Australia, those from the Chinese diaspora who I spoke to all used the same word to describe Chinamaxxing: jarring – though with varying levels of indignation.
In his new comedy series Bait, Riz Ahmed stars as a struggling British Pakistani actor named Shah who lands an audition to be the next James Bond. Ahmed talks to Fresh Air about what James Bond represents in Bait, playing with a multiplicity of genres in the series, and working with the one and only Patrick Stewart, who has the weirdest voice role ever.
Attention, Los Angeles theater-goers! Before it was a TV show, it was a play. The award-winning play Kim's Convenience comes to Los Angeles, presented by Center Theatre Group. This award-winning comedy drama, which inspired the Netflix hit, is a hilarious, feel-good story about a Korean family-run corner store. Mr. Kim works hard to support his wife and children with his Toronto convenience store. As he evaluates his future, he faces both a changing neighborhood landscape and the gap between his values and those of his Canadian-born children. Playwright Ins Choi, who will also star in the production as the titular character, calls Kim’s Convenience his "love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who call Canada their home." The play March 21 to April 19 at the Ahmanson Theater. For tickets and more info, go here.
Help out some academic researchers who are some interesting work around Asian Americans and food. The study, administered by Dr. Oliver Wang (California State University Long Beach), Kelli Kimura (UC Irvine), and Sam Titus (UC Irvine), aims to explore intersections between food and identity, especially as it relates to the diverse community of Asian Americans. You can help them out by completing an online survey.
Last year, American Born Chinese writer Gene Luen Yang started writing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics for IDW, becoming the first Asian American writer to pen a flagship title for the 40-year franchise. He says he sees the turtles -- and their bi-cultural identity -- as quintessentially Asian American.
Toymaker Mattel has two potential ideas for upcoming Kpop Demon Hunters dolls, and they're asking fans to vote on which one they'll make available for pre-sale later this year. Choose between the Demon Jinu doll and a Sleeping Bag Mira doll. Styled in the likeness from Saja Boys' performance of "You Idol," the Demon Jin Doll comes with a robe, hanbok, pants, hat, shoes and other accessories. The Sleeping Bag Mira doll, sporting the her iconic look from the character's introduction, includes a sleeping bag with drawstring toggle, spiked hair cuffs, earrings, and bodysuit. See videos of the figure prototypes and cast your vote here.
The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook is a feature-length documentary that follows the Auntie Sewing Squad founded by Kristina Wong, a collective of mostly BIPOC women volunteers who came together on social media with a mission: to protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19. This national network of hundreds of Aunties, Uncles, and non-binary volunteers turned their living rooms into "sweatshops," where they sewed and donated cloth facemasks to counter the US government's failure to provide protective gear for its people. They are currently in the homestretch to complete the film, and are asking for crowdfunding assistance. Your contribution would support editing, sound design, color correction, and other aspects of postproduction before they get the documentary out into the world. For more information, go here.
I think we all saw this one coming. Netflix is reportedly in talks to produce a global concert series based on the hit animated film Kpop Demon Hunters. Will we get to see the Huntr/x gals perform their Oscar-winning anthem "Golden"? Maybe Saja Boys singing some "Soda Pop"? Will we actually get to see the likes of Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna on stage? Or something more virtual (there is mention of holograms)? Nothing's solid yet, but according to Bloomberg, Netflix is currently negotiating with concert promoters to stage an arena concert tour in venues that hold 10,000 to 20,0000 fans.
Sheng Wang returns for his second Netflix stand-up special, Sheng Wang: Purple, directed by Ali Wong. In this special filmed at the Warner Theater in Washington DC, Sheng delves into what it means to be a grown-up and explores ordinary life moments: sharing prized berries with your friends' kids, cooking with shallots, braving the ghosts in your house, finding joy in nature and much more. Sheng Wang: Purple hits Netflix on April 7.
The feature-length documentary BTS: The Return chronicles the long-awaited return of pop royalty, BTS. From acclaimed director Bao Nguyen, the film offers unprecedented access, following the seven membes of BTS as they come back together after completing South Korea's compulsory military service to begin a reunion set to be etched in pop culture history, while reflecting on the journey that transformed seven Korean members into global icons. BTS: The Return premieres March 27 on Netflix.
The glossy Hong Kong high society-set limited series The Season, describe as a "rich-people-behaving-badly" thriller, will premiere on Hulu in June. The official logline reads: "Set against the opulence and striking contrasts of Hong Kong, The Season follows a privileged group of friends gathering for a summer of sun-drenched luxury as boating season begins. What starts as a glamorous escape soon spirals into a web of deception, power struggles, and life-altering consequences." The series stars Jessie Mei Li, Toby Stephens, Karena Lam, Chris Pang, Celina Jade, Justin Chien, and Yvonne Chapman.
Los Angeles film fans! Enter for your chance to win a festival pass to the 2026 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The Festival Pass includes ten (10) complimentary film screening tickets, additional discounts, advanced ticketing, a festival badge, and gift bag. For details, go here.
