First look at Kelly Marie Tran as a Star Wars action figure

Leaked photos reveal latest line of 'Last Jedi' toys.



Like we've said before, one of our obsessive preoccupations from now until the release of The Last Jedi will be any and all info and prom material pertaining to Rose Tico, one of the major new characters introduced in the new Star Wars movie, played by Kelly Marie Tran. And for action figure geeks like myself, this is a big one.

Thanks to Instagram user "swrogue507," the internet just got an early look at some toys from Episode VIII, reportedly found at a department store in Panama. These appear to be the first wave of Last Jedi 3.75-inch action figures from Hasbro, and may have accidentally hit the shelf about a month early at this particular store.

And so, we've got a look at the Hasbro 3.75" Rose figure:

How to Ruin a Bon Jovi Concert

"You don't belong in this country."



One of the hard truths about being Asian in America is regularly being made to feel like we don't belong in our own country. In Ohio, a Columbus woman went to a Bon Jovi concert to celebrate her birthday. Toward the end of the show, another concertgoer turned to her and said, "You don't belong in this country."

Karina Brown, an administrator at Columbus State Community College, attended the Bon Jovi show at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus on March 18. It was supposed to be a fun way to celebrate her 45th birthday. Instead, probably somewhere around "Livin' on a Prayer," she gets a reality check from a racist Bon Jovi fan.

But perhaps more alarming than the remark itself, was how several people she told about the incident tried to justify it, or told her she was exaggerating its impact. After one too many people tried to convince her what happened was "okay," she decided to report her story to Documenting Hate, an online database that aims to track and spread awareness of discrimination across the country.

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5 years ago a white supremacist killed six Sikhs. Today, Sikhs still don't feel safe. Five years since a white supremacist entered a Sikh gurdwara and went on a fatal shooting rampage, what's changed? For Sikhs, not much.

* * *
Mai Khanh Tran Has Been a Janitor, a Wall Street Hot Shot, and a Pediatrician. Next Up? Congresswoman. Mai Khanh Tran is a badass pediatrician who's beaten cancer twice. And now, seeing that millions are at risk of losing access to healthcare, she's running for Congress.

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He Fled Cambodia's Genocide. Now He's Fighting To Save His Ceramics Tradition In Lowell: Cambodian potter Yary Livan has spent his life struggling to preserve his country's ancient traditions and culture, as one of the only master ceramicists still at work after surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide in his homeland.

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My Dad Invented the Extra Value Meal Angela Dimayuga of Mission Chinese Food discovers that her father, a former manager at McDonald's, unwittingly changed the fast food landscape forever.

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Eggs, Rice, & Spam Recently, Noelle Marie Falcis made a bowl of eggs, rice, and spam -- and it brought back a lot of memories.

* * *
Jessica Chou Teaches Girls How to Fix Cars on Her YouTube Channel After college, Jessica Chou bought a car on Craigslist that needed a lot of repair. Tired of not knowing what to do, she decided to learn how to fix her car. Now, she shares her knowledge on YouTube.

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In Her Book Sour Heart, Jenny Zhang Arrives as a Chinese-American Voice We Haven't Heard Yet Jenny Zhang's debut fiction collection, Sour Heart, explores the narratives of the daughters of Chinese immigrants coming of age in New York circa the '90s.

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Inside Kero & Azure's Old-School, New-Blueprint, Trans-Pacific Vision Of Indie Rap How easy is it being an independent artist in 2017? Bay Area Korean American Indie rappers Kero and Azure weigh in.

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Things People Who Were Raised By An Asian Mom Can Relate To: Another fun one from BuzzFeed.

Angry Reader of the Week: Tanuj Chopra

"On the 101 halfway between LA and the Bay."


Photo Credit: Raafi Rivero
Greetings, internet friends. It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Tanuj Chopra, whose feature film Chee and T will be released on August 1.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 17: They Call Us Brian Yang and Evan Jackson Leong

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. 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.

This week, we welcome actor/producer Brian Yang and director Evan Jackson Leong, who talk about the hustle of independent filmmaking, that time they found themselves in the smack in the middle of "Linsanity" and making their latest project, the human smuggling crime drama Snakehead.

Hari Kondabolu explores 'The Problem With Apu'

Comedian's documentary confronts the controversial 'Simpsons' character.



Hari Kondabolu has strong feelings about Apu. That's Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the "Indian" cartoon character on the perennial animated series The Simpsons. The comedian has such strong feelings about Apu -- his 28-year "nemesis" -- he made a feature length documentary about the character, The Problem With Apu.

The Simpsons' Indian convenience store owner has been regularly criticized over the years as a racist, broadly offensive stereotype, and yet Apu, voiced by Hank Azaria, is arguably the most recognizable Indian character on American television -- much to the dismay and torment of South Asian folks everywhere.

Apu, as Hari puts it, sounds like "a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father."

In The Problem With Apu, Hari sets out to explore the impact of casual racism in The Simpsons and the negative effect that the Apu caricature has had on the Indian American community. And if you ask around, you'll find that a lot of brown folks also have some pretty strong feelings about Apu.

Here's the trailer, in which Hari interviews the likes of Kal Penn, Hasan Minhaj, Sheetal Sheth, Aparna Nancherla, Samrat Chakrabarti, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aasif Mandvi, Maulik Pancholy, Sakina Jaffrey and more.

Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #8

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

This week's episode has it all -- a long and complicated con, robot grudges, custom hockey jerseys, and creepy sleepovers! We also learn about our childhood hairstyles, including the fact that one of us had a child perm (but not as glorious as Jun Pyo's, obviously).

They didn't look like they wanted to shake his hand anyway.

Trump ignores two little Asian girls, but the white boys get a handshake.



Some keen-eyed news watchers caught this awkward, possibly racist moment just before Donald Trump delivered a statement on health care from the White House Blue Room on Monday, while joined by families who described themselves as "victims of Obamacare."

If you were watching closely, Trump preceded his remarks by going down the line to shake a little white boy's hand, then skipped the two little bewildered Asian girls like they're not standing directly in front of him, then reached out to shake the hands of two more little white boys. And everybody's smiling.

86-year-old Chinatown shopkeeper fights off armed intruder

Elderly store owner used a bamboo stick to beat back a knife-wielding assailant.



File under badass... In San Francisco, an 86-year-old Chinatown store owner successfully fought off an armed intruder, using a bamboo stick to beat back a man who tried to attack him with a knife.

SF Chinatown shopkeeper, 86, fends off intruder with bamboo stick

According to the San Francisco Police Department, 49-year-old Thomas Baker was creating a disturbance inside a Chinatown store on Sunday afternoon. When the shopkeeper tried to get him to leave, Baker responded by punching the elderly man repeatedly in the back of the head.

Then he noticed Baker had a knife in his hand.

40th Asian American International Film Festival

Presented by Asian CineVision, July 25 - August 5



New Yooooork! New York film fans, this one's for you. The 40th Asian American International Film Festival, presented by Asian CineVision, is going down this week! As the nation's first and longest running Asian-interest film festival, AAIFF40 will present 20 feature films and 63 short films representing 18 countries. Screenings will be held at Cinema Village East and Asia Society in Manhattan, July 26 - August 5.

Here's this year's AAIFF trailer:

Help director Evan Jackson Leong finish his passion project

'Snakehead' tells the story of Sister Tse, one of the notorious human smugglers in FBI history.



Here's a feature film project that could use your help.... Our friend, writer/director Evan Jackson Leong has been hard at work on his passion project Snakehead, an indie crime drama exploring the underworld of international human smuggling, starring Shuya Chang, Sung Kang and Jade Wu. Inspired by true events and based in New York City's Chinatown, Snakehead follows Sister Tse, a Chinese immigrant who rises to become one of the most sought after human smugglers in FBI history.

Here's a very cool-looking teaser trailer:

Michelle Yeoh looks damn good in the captain's chair

Watch the new trailer for 'Star Trek: Discovery.'



In case missed it, fellow Trekkies, here's the newest trailer for Star Trek: Discovery, straight outta San Diego Comic-Con. The latest foray into the final frontier takes place ten years before The Original Series, following the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new lifeforms. The new trailer includes several shots of Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou looking badass, doing badass stuff.

Take a look:

Another new look at Kelly Marie Tran in 'Star Wars'

New promotional image features Finn, Rey and Rose in 'The Last Jedi'



We're still more than four months out from the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, so we're basically pouncing on every little bit of information and promotional material that trickles out. So, behold! A new image of Finn, Rey and Rose that was released over the weekend at San Diego Comic-Con.

"Tommy deserves justice and closure."

Donate to the family of Tommy Le, who was killed by police while holding a pen.


Photo Credit: seattlepi.com
In Washington state, 20-year-old Tommy Le was shot and killed by King County Sheriff's deputies on June 13 -- the day before he was supposed to graduate from an alternative high school program. Officers were responding to a call about a man armed with what they thought was a knife. He turned out to be holding a pen.

'My baby is kind': Family tries to make sense of young man's killing by deputies in Burien

It's been over a month since the shooting, but Le's family and the local Vietnamese American community still don't have satisfactory answers about what transpired on the night he died. Last week, community members held a public forum to seek answers from the sheriff's office and other elected officials about Le's death.

Many in attendance at the forum questioned King County Sheriff John Urquhart on the details of shooting, pointing out inconsistencies in the deputies' account. Others urged for increased de-escalation training and accountability for police in cases of deadly force.

Urquhart said that the Sheriff's Office will ask the FBI to take over investigation of the shooting.

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A White Person Wrote 'Why Anyone Can Be Chinese,' And It's A Checklist In Privilege: A white scholar's recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal suggests he might need some lessons on his own privilege.

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A Case of Mistaken Identity Spurs Hateful Messages for a Sikh Professor: Campus Reform incorrectly identified Simran Jeet Singh, a Sikh professor of religion at Trinity U. in San Antonio, as the man in a photo raising both middle fingers in front of Trump Tower. It was his brother.

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Here's How NOT to Apologize After Being Racist on the Internet: "Look, I know that Asian beauty is so mysterious and exotic and special because people literally like to tell me that shit to my face as if I wasn't aware that I was Asian. But it is goddamn 2017 and y'all need to cut it out with this racist exoticism bullshit."

* * *
For Vietnamese Community, Tommy Le's Death Could Create a 'New Paradigm' of Activism: The killing of Tommy Le by a King County Sheriff's Deputy has left Seattle's Vietnamese community grappling with how best to communicate their concerns about the case.

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Magic Can Be Normal: "Why seek out examples of representation in art and culture for my kids as if their lives and identities depend on it? Because I'm convinced they might." Nicole Chung on political parenting, representation, and finding magic."

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Kenzo Designer Humberto Leon Pens an Open Letter About Identity Politics: In this op-ed, Humberto Leon -- co-founder of Opening Ceremony and co-creative director of Kenzo -- shares his experience as a gay man and first generation Asian American in Donald Trump's America.

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Why Whites and Asians Have Different Views on Personal Success: A new study explores why the latter are far more likely to opt for an elite college where they'd struggle than a so-so one where they'd excel.

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Law schools are filled with Asian Americans. So why aren't there more Asian judges? Asians are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S. but underrepresented in the leadership of the legal profession.

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What to say when you're Asian American and someone calls you 'exotic': Calling someone "exotic" is racism thiny veiled as a compliment. What is the harm, and how can you respond?

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Asian American Voices in Response to Madame Butterfly: Seattle Opera recently hosted a panel discussion inviting Asian arts leaders to respond to Madame Butterfly.

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This photo book addresses the fetishisation of Asian women: Using mimicry to subvert the stereotypes imposed on Asian women and their bodies, Elizabeth Gabrielle Lee's photo book project XING enlists a roster of photographers to explore identity and 'Othering.'

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The Poet Bao Phi, On Creating A 'Guidebook' For Young Asian-Americans: Bao Phi hopes his poetry book Thousand Star Hotel and his children's book A Different Pond can fill the hole in Asian-American literature that he saw when he was a kid.

Angry Reader of the Week: Sujata Day

"My entire life is a series of decisions where I always chose art over money."



Hey, everybody! You know what's up. It is time again to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Sujata Day.

Lana Condor to star in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'

Teen romantic comedy, based on the popular novel by Jenny Han, has started shooting.



Lana Condor, last seen as Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse, is starring in the teen romantic comedy To All the Boys I've Loved Before, based on the novel by bestselling author Jenny Han.

Lana Condor to Star in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' Movie Based on Jenny Han Novel

Condor plays Lara Jean Covey, a romance novel buff who starts her junior year content to spend lunch in the library reading. Her love life goes from imaginary to out of control when her secret box of love letters is unexpectedly delivered to the various boys she's had crushes on throughout her life. To avoid confronting them, Lara Jean fakes a relationship with one of them -- but starts to realize that she may not be pretending.

The film, directed by Susan Johnson with a screenplay by Sofia Alvarez, has begun production in Vancouver.

John Corbett stars as Lara Jean's father, a single dad trying to raise three daughters on his own. Janel Parrish and Anna Cathcart will play Lara Jean's sisters. The cast also includes Noah Centineo, Israel Broussard and Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor.

Queens couple plead guilty to keeping children as slaves

Sook Yeong Park and Jeong Taek Lee held two Korean kids as slaves in their home for several years.



This week in New York, a Flushing couple admitted to holding two Korean children as slaves in their home for several years, forcing them to work long hours and withholding contact with their parents.

Couple Who Kept Korean Teens as 'Slaves' at Flushing Home Plead Guilty

50-year-old Sook Yeong Park pleaded guilty to two counts of labor trafficking. Park was sentenced to six months in prison followed by five years probation, after taking a plea deal. The 60-count indictment against her included grand larceny, forcible touching and assault for her treatment of the two children. Her husband, 54-year-old Jeong Taek Lee, was sentenced to five years probation.

The two victims, a 9-year-old brother and 11-year-old sister from Korea, were brought to stay with the couple in January 2010. Shortly afterwards, Park confiscated their passports and effectively enslaved them.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 16: They Call Us George Takei

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. 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.

This week, in an episode recorded live in Little Tokyo as part of Asian American ComiCon, we talk to legendary actor, activist and icon George Takei. Uncle George discusses art, aging, politics and love, and plays along with a very special edition of The Good, The Bad and The "OH MY."

The F4 Olympics: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #7

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this week's episode, we learn that sports can solve all of life's problems -- specifically horse riding, car racing, and swimming. We also meet some new characters, including an older sister and the first adult figure at the school (who turns out to be useless). Also, some Fast and Furious talk.

Meet the guy who introduced Bruce Lee to nunchucks

The story of revered martial artist Dan Inosanto is being developed into a movie.



You know that Bruce Lee was pretty damn deadly with a pair of nunchaku. But do you know of the man who first introduced Bruce to his most famous movie weapon? Soon, hopefully everybody will know. The story of martial artist Dan Inosanto is being developed into a feature film.

Bruce Lee Protege, Who Helped Cowboys Win Super Bowl, to Get Film Treatment (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Mark Gordon Company is developing movie on the life of Dan Inosanto, who was a protege, instructor, training partner and close friend of Bruce Lee, and a martial arts legend in his own right. The film will be produced by Mark Gordon, Matt Jackson, Tarik Heitmann and Dan Inosanto's daughter (and Bruce Lee's goddaughter) Diana Lee Inosanto.

Family Reunion: A Storytelling Show

"Real Talk" - Thursday, July 20 at The Lyric Hyperion Theatre



Hey, Los Angeles! It's story time! Disoriented Comedy invites you to the latest edition of Family Reunion, a monthly live storytelling show co-presented by Angry Asian Man Angry Asian Man, Tuesday Night Project, Mishthi Music and KAYA Press, featuring regular everyday folks talking story. No notes.

This month's Family Reunion theme is "Real Talk": tales of confrontations, big realizations, and not so big ones. The evening's featured lineup of storytellers includes Julie Zhan, Sangita, Pete Lee, Christine Medrano, Mark Brazill, Christopher Lam, Melanie Maras, Naomi Ko, and host Atsuko Okatsuka.

It's happening Thursday, July 20 at The Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe in Silverlake. Here are some more details about the show:

Every Shot of Kelly Marie Tran in The New 'Star Wars' Footage

New featurette goes behind the scenes of 'The Last Jedi.'



Over the weekend at the D23 Expo, Disney's massive official fan convention, Star Wars fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, the much-anticipated next installment of the multi-generational space fantasy saga. The rabid internet masses have pounced on the new footage like a piece of meat, poring over each frame in search of hints about what's in store for our heroes in a galaxy far, far away.

Of course, for those keeping score, we're all about Rose Tico, the new Resistance character played by our pal, the lovely and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. She didn't make it into the Last Jedi teaser trailer that was released a couple of months back, but she's all up in this new footage from the set and it has got us hyped.

Check it out:

She stopped speaking to her mom after Trump was elected

Daughter and mother sit down and talk for the first time since the election.



We live in a divided America. There's no question that the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump's ascension to the White House revealed a stark division in the United States -- an often awkward and bitter ideological divide that impacts regular folks and family around the dinner table.

Business Insider talked to an Alabama woman named Rebecca, a Korean American adoptee who basically stopped speaking with her white, conservative Christian mother since the election of Donald Trump. In this interview, Rebecca and her mom, Mary, reunite and sit down to talk about their differences on camera.

It is not awkward at all. (No, actually, it's pretty awkward.)

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BREAKING: Viral Story About "Asian White Supremacist" May Be Fake: After a Medium post recounting the experiences of a self-described "Asian White Supremacist" was shared widely, some fairly simple internet sleuthing has raised serious questions about the essay and author's authenticity.

* * *
Authenticity in casting: From 'colorblind' to 'color conscious,' new rules are anything but black and white: "If a role is written for a particular ethnicity, sexual identity, gender or disability, how far should the creative community go to find an actor who checks that particular box? And should the fact that many traditionally marginalized groups are fighting for better representation be taken into consideration? Who has the right to tell what stories? And who gets to make that decision?"

* * *
200 years of authenticity (or lack thereof) in casting: American entertainment has a long, complicated history when it comes to authenticity in casting. Here's a look at some of the milestones that have led to the modern conversation about who has the right to play which roles.

* * *
These 3 Women Are Fed Up With Sexual Harassment. And They're Taking Action. A trio of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs just launched Betterbrave.com, a comprehensive guide for anyone who’s experienced sexual harassment at work and doesn't know what to do next.

* * *
Man who conspired with sister in 1993 'black widow' murder now seeks clemency: 23 years after fatally shooting his sister's boyfriend, Andrew Suh has apologized for his actions and is seeking reprieve from his 80-year prison sentence.

* * *
Nonprofit Helps California's Asian-American Farmers Grow Their Businesses: NPR highlights Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement, a nonprofit that works directly with Asian farmers across California to provide local and healthy food to the Asian and Pacific Islander population in Los Angeles.

* * *
Chinatown's swap meets once opened a door to the American dream. Now, their future is uncertain: Not only does L.A. Chinatown's swap meets offer some of the best bargains to be found in the city, they offer vendors a crack at the American dream. But that dream is now at risk.

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Diane Wong on gentrification in Chinatowns and being labeled "too radical for academia": Ethnographer, scholar, and activist Diane Wong, whose dissertation studies the gentrifcation of American Chinatowns, talks with The Tempest about gentrification, being a woman of color in academia, and the connection between scholarship and activism.

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Chinese Laborers Built Sonoma's Wineries. Racist Neighbors Drove Them Out: From the backbreaking labor of clearing roads and digging out caves to highly skilled horticultural work, Chinese laborers helped build Sonoma's wine country, dating as far back as the mid-1800s.

Angry Reader of the Week: Jae Suh Park

"Mostly carbs, salt and wine."



Greetings, good people of the internet. It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Jae Suh Park.

Racist Airbnb host ordered to take Asian American studies

Tami Barker canceled Dyne Suh's Airbnb reservation because she is Asian. Now she'll pay.



Remember the racist Airbnb host who canceled a guest's reservation because the woman was Asian? She has been ordered to pay $5,000 in damages and take a course in Asian American studies.

Airbnb host who canceled reservation using racist comment must pay $5,000

In February, Dyne Suh was en route to a ski vacation with friends in Big Bear, California, where she had reserved a cabin through Airbnb. But when she messaged the host, Tami Barker, to confirm the reservation, Barker abruptly refused to rent it to Suh. And she made her reasons pretty clear.

"I wouldn't rent it to u if u were the last person on earth," Barker texted. "One word says it all. Asian."

When Suh said she'd complain to Airbnb about the racist remark, Barker replied, "It's why we have Trump... and I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners."

What? You think Trump in the White House gets you a do-racist-shit-for-free card? Nope.

2 Live Crew's Fresh Kid Ice dies at 53

Christopher Wong Won was a founding member of the groundbreaking, controversial rap group.



Christopher Wong Won, aka Fresh Kid Ice, a founding member of the groundbreaking, controversial rap group 2 Live Crew and one of the first high-profile Asian American rappers, has died. He was 53.

2 Live Crew Rapper Fresh Kid Ice Dies at 53

Won died of an undisclosed medical condition in a Miami hospital on Tuesday, according to his longtime manager Debo. 2 Live Crew's former frontman Luther Campbell, aka Uncle Luke, aka Luke Skyywalker, tweeted his condolences on Thursday morning, calling Fresh Kid Ice "a legend."

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 15: They Call Us Shirley Chung

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. 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.

This week, in an episode recorded live at Opodz in Little Tokyo, Jeff and Phil welcome former Top Chef contestant Shirley Chung, who talks about her lifelong love of food, cooking with her heart and soul on TV's top culinary competition, and finally getting approval from her mom.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Jeet Kune Do

"Using no way as way; having no limitation as limitation."


Photo Credit: Bruce Lee Enterprises
Fans of Bruce Lee know that in addition to being a movie star and perhaps the most influential martial artist ever, he is the founder of a groundbreaking philosophy and expression of martial arts known as Jeet Kune Do, or "Way of the Intercepting Fist." But did you know that this week marks the 50th anniversary of Jeet Kune Do?

Fifty years ago, on July 9, 1967, Bruce Lee made his very first mention of something called "Jeet Kune Do," scrawled in the hand-written notes of his day planner. It was apparently his first attempt to put a name or label to his evolving martial expression -- something he was initially reluctant to do.

"Lee wrestled with putting a name to his art as he constantly veered away from any type of crystallization (and thereby limitation) of its essence," according to the official Bruce Lee Facebook page. "However, the simple need to refer to it in some concrete way won out and Jeet Kune Do was born."

New Caledonia Blues: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #6

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this week's episode, we are treated to some eye candy, wonder what purpose "Ringo" plays in the story, and contemplate the show's playlist of four songs. And then finally, THE KISS! So it's over, our heroes get together and live happily ever after! Wait, there are 21 more episodes?!?!

He's 14 years old. He's named Jeremy Lin. And he can play.

No, not that Jeremy Lin. A different Jeremy Lin.



Have you heard of that guy Jeremy Lin? He's got game.

No, not Jeremy Lin, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets. I'm talking about a 14-year-old kid also actually named Jeremy Lin, who was recently highlighted as one of the standout players from the 2017 Ballislife Jr. All American Camp by adidas Hoops. The kid can ball. According to ballislife.com, young Jeremy exhibited impressive range and passing abilities, landing him a spot in the top 25 game at the camp.

Here's a highlight video of Jeremy Lin in action:

Asian AF: An Asian American Variety Show

Friday, July 28 at UCB Sunset



Los Angeles! Get ready for some laughs! The hit monthly variety show Asian AF returns with another showcase of comedic Asian American talent at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. This month's lineup is still being finalized, but you can count a fun night of improv, sketch, standup and even some music.

It's happening Friday, July 28 at UCB Sunset. Here are some more details:

"The Bigot of Bitter Lake"

North Seattle man assaulted in racist encounter.



A man in north Seattle says he was assaulted on the street by a man who threatened him and told him that his "passport would be taken away," among other things, before punching him in the face.

Marcus Choi says he was walking with his dogs in the Bitter Lake area last week when he was confronted by a man coming out of a Lowes parking lot, yelling at him, getting his face and threatening him.

"He then aggressively put his forehead on mine and said I was going to prison, along with the rest of us" -- meaning us Asians, of course -- "and that my passport would be taken away," Choi said in a Facebook post.

Choi went home, but the incident bothered him, and he just couldn't leave it like that.

"I could have avoided this by simply letting it go, but I don't tolerate racism, especially in my own neighborhood," Choi said. "I came back out to get a picture and video of him."

He returned to confront the man and take his picture, which escalated the situation -- something Choi probably had to expect. The man took a swing at Choi, hitting him in the face and knocking off his glasses.

Choi posted the details of the incident, including a photo and video of his assailant, on Facebook:

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'Hawaii Five-0' Asian actors won't be without projects for long: "So yes, the path to equality is rarely easy. But for Asian Americans who want roles of substance and commensurate success, it's increasingly looking like that path leads in a direction beyond acting."

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CBS Made Wrong Call on Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park 'Hawaii Five-0' Deals (Column): CBS's upcoming season of Hawaii Five-0 will be sans Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park due to the inabiltiy to negotiate a contract that would resolve the pay parity with the show's white co-stars.

* * *
Deportation a 'Death Sentence' to Adoptees After a Lifetime in the U.S.: At least a dozen adoptees live in South Korea after they were deported from the U.S. because their adoptive parents failed to get them citizenship. Without economic resources, networks, and often without a grasp of the language, many deportees see their situation as a "death sentence."

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The Big Sick & Brown Romance In Pop Culture Narratives: Yes to more Brown representation on the big screen -- but there's still room for improvement. Taz Ahmed offers this on-point intersectional feminist reading of The Big Sick alongside other Brown narratives, like Master of None.

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Steven Yeun Finds Life After Glenn: Just because Glenn is over, doesn't mean Steven Yeun is. The Okja star talks about navigating Hollywood after The Walking Dead.

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Ben Fong-Torres Remembers His Summer of Love in San Francisco: Before Ben Fong-Torres became a rock music journalist for Rolling Stone, he was a DJ in San Francisco, spinning golden oldies during the Summer of Love.

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Gestured to and not yet quite: an interview with Muriel Leung: Bone Confetti writer Muriel Lung discusses queer love, how loss can activate political consciousness, Hortense Spillers, and writing in a state of transition.

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How 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Star Jacob Batalon Went From College Dropout to Blockbuster Star: Jacob Batalon had never auditioned for a movie before he landed his big screen debut Ned Leeds in Spider-Man: Homecoming. This is how he got there.

Asian American ComiCon Summit on Art, Action & the Future

Saturday, July 15 at the Japanese American National Museum



What's up, fanboys and fangirls? If you are in Southern California, the Japanese American National Museum invites you to AACC: The Asian American Comicon Summit on Art, Action & The Future.

In a time where diversity and creativity are both under attack, this summit will feature diverse creators talking about where we're going next -- folks like Jeff Yang (CNN, They Call Us Bruce), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), LaToya Morgan (writer, Into the Badlands), Lewis Tan (Marvel's Iron Fist), and Keith Chow (The Nerds of Color). The program will include a special live recording of our podcast They Call Us Bruce, featuring a conversation with pioneering actor and activist George Takei.

The summit will also see the unveiling of New Frontiers, a brand new graphic anthology of original stories inspired by George Takei's life and legacy -- stories about incarceration and exclusion, representation and resistance, the digital world, and the struggle in the streets. AACC will include an Artists' Alley where leading comics creators will be available for commissions and signings.

It's happening Saturday, July 15 at the Japanese American National Museum. Here are more details:

Randall Park joins the cast of 'Ant-Man and The Wasp'

'Fresh Off The Boat' star will play SHIELD Agent Jimmy Woo.



Fresh Off The Boat star Randall Park has joined the cast of Marvel's Ant-Man and The Wasp. No official word on his role, but there's strong speculation that he'll be playing SHIELD Agent Jimmy Woo.

Randall Park Joins ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp’

Best known for playing Louis Huang on the hit ABC comedy, Park joins the follow-up to 2015's Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed and starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, a thief turned pint-sized superhero. Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas and Michael Pena are also set to return.

Angry Reader of the Week: Christina Chou

"I'm a praying woman, but not passive."



Hello, my friends. It is that time again. Time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Christina Chou.

Enter the Dragon Lady: On Heroine Worship and Reclaiming Asian Female Aggression

Guest Post by Sarah Kuhn


Sarah Kuhn's 'Heroine Worship'
Heroine Worship, the second book in my series starring Asian American superheroines, came out this week.

Those are words I still can't quite believe, no matter how many times I type them. Even as I hold the book in my hands, I have to stare at it for a really, really long time before it sinks in that it's real. It has pages and a cover and everything! And my two heroines, Evie Tanaka and Aveda Jupiter (aka Annie Chang), are beautifully and prominently featured on said cover, perfectly rendered by artist Jason Chan.

Heroine Complex, the first book in the series, was Evie's book. It focused on her journey from wallflower to heroine, from downtrodden personal assistant to a woman confident in her own power. Heroine Worship is Aveda's book -- and I knew going in that she was going to be difficult in every sense of the word. She's aggressive and loud and dives into situations without thinking about the consequences. Her emotional arc is messy and complicated and involves her trying to figure out how to be a better friend to Evie and rein her more self-centered behavior while retaining the forcefulness and confidence that made her a good superheroine in the first place.

As Evie reminds her: Yes, she's a bludgeon. But bludgeons get shit done.

Aveda's aggressiveness is one of the things that made me love writing her. And thinking about her in such detail has me thinking about "difficult" female characters in general -- and who gets to be a bludgeon in the first place.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 14: They Call Us #UglyDelicious

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. 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.

This week, we welcome comedian/writer Jenny Yang and Eater NY News Editor Serena Dai, who broke the story about the white chef that's been serving up sushi while speaking with a faux Japanese accent. We discuss food, its deep connection to culture, and things that make you say "Yo, I don't know about that."

Welcome to New Caledonia: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #5

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this week's episode, it's all hard swings as we go from brutal bullying, to a dashing rescue, to... an island vacation? We are treated to a blatant advertisement for the island of New Caledonia, and also chat about beauty standards and personal tastes in Korean food.

Asian American actors exit 'Hawaii Five-0' over pay equality

CBS refused to pay Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park as much as their white co-stars.



Aloha. Hawaii Five-0 stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park are leaving the CBS series over a salary dispute, because the network reportedly refused to pay them as much as their white co-stars.

Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park Exit ‘Hawaii Five-0’

After seven seasons as series regulars, Kim and Park have departed from the popular cop action drama because they were unable to negotiate the same salaries as their co-stars Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan. The studio apparently didn't think the two Asian leads were quite as worthwhile as the two white dudes.

About ten to fifteen percent less worthwhile, if sources are correct.

According to Variety, Kim and Park were seeking equal pay, but couldn't reach a deal with CBS Television Studios, whose final offer to the two actors was reportedly "10-15% lower" than the salaries of O'Loughlin and Caan. What kind of bullshit is that? It was enough for Kim and Park to walk.

So say goodbye to Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua, who will not appear in the show's upcoming eighth season. The characters' absence will be referenced in the season premiere. And with that, Hawaii Five-0 has unceremoniously lost all of its main Asian American characters.

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David Bouhadana Has a Problem, and We Need to Talk About It: New York sushi chef David Bouhadana, who is white, is known to regularly speak with a faux Japanese accent during service. You know, like "dericious."

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One Man Called Another a Racial Slur. Then They Shook Hands. On a jog through a Manhattan park, Simran Jeet Singh, who is Sikh, once again found himself the recipient of racial hate. This time, though, he decided to respond -- to surprising results.

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Kamau Bell: Chinatown is as American as fireworks: In the latest episode of CNN's United Shades of America, host W. Kamau Bell visits one of America's "most fundamentally American places." Chinatown!

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It's the end of an era: Channel 18 cancels international format that served generations of L.A. immigrants: In its height, Los Angeles's Channel 18 offered content in 14 Asian languages and served as a hub for immigrants who wanted programming made for them. Now it is coming to an end -- Channel 18 will now broadcast English infomercials.

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This Filipino Dish Is So Good It Might Make You Sing: As a young girl in the Philippines, Wilma Consul had to step into the kitchen early after her father's death. For this edition of NPR's video series Hot Pot, Consul cooks picadillo, a comfort dish from her childhood.

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The Defiant Sound of Asian American Women in Indie Rock: Artists like Jay Som, Japanese Breakfast, and Mitski are at the forefront of indie rock, creating space for Asian American women.

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Get That Life: How I Became the First Woman to Edit ESPN The Magazine: Alison Overholt went from reading magazines in her cubicle to running one, as editor-in-chief of ESPN The Magazine.

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Why People Are Upset Over Jackie Chan's Role In "The Foreigner": Although Jackie Chan is a beloved action hero among Asian Americans, some are slamming his upcoming film's erasure of Vietnamese people.

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Did You Catch the Translation Joke in Okja?: Bong Joon-ho's Okja is full of excellent jokes. There's one joke in particular that you might catch if you understand both English and Korean.

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Steven Yeun's Five Favorite Films: The Walking Dead and Okja star talks about Frank Darabont's "magic window," filming in South Korea, and what made Glenn such a relatable character.

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Life with Ellen Wong: Toronto's kick-ass actor on her new, female-filled show 'GLOW', and not playing a type: When Ellen Wong auditioned for GLOW, the Netflix series about a women's wrestling team set in the 80s, she had never even watched a wrestling match. But... she does have a black belt in taekwondo.

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Remember Rufio in 'Hook'? The actor is trying to keep his cult character's legacy alive. Over 30 years ago, Dante Basco played Rufio in Steven Spielberg's Hook, a cult character whose legacy he's trying to keep alive. He produced a new crowd-funded film called Bangarang, a short film about Rufio's origin story.

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"Bajillion Dollar Properties" Creator Kulap Vilaysack Wants To Be the Asian Shonda Rhimes: "I want to be a bad ass boss who creates expansive worlds filled with diverse characters and complicated leading women."