These are new shows. It's that time of year again. The fall television season has started up, and as we attempt to do every year, we're keeping an eye out for Asian folks on the tube. Because we like to keep track of such things. But with cable and streaming services cranking out tons of new content, as well as network shows now premiering year-round, the old model of a fall "season" as a programming benchmark is not quite what it used to be. Nevertheless, after scouring the slate of series premiering across a variety of platforms, we're pleased to present a general rundown of actors of Asian descent who are series regulars (not technically guest starring or recurring) on new scripted prime time network, cable and streaming shows premiering this fall.
CHARMED
The CW | Premieres October 14
Ellen Tamaki
Niko Hamada
A reboot of the fantasy drama of the same name, Charmed follows the lives of three sisters -- Macy, Mel and Maggie -- who, after the death of their mother, discover they are The Charmed Ones, the most powerful witches, and together they possess the "Power of Three." Their combined powers are used to protect innocents and vanquish supernatural demons. Ellen Tamaki plays Nico Hamada, a detective on the local police force whose romantic relationship with Mel complicates her investigation.
CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA
Netflix | Premieres October 26
Tati Gabrielle
Prudence
In a dark re-imagining of the Archie Comics series, 16-year-old Sabrina Spellman must reconcile her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while fighting the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit. Tati Gabrielle plays Prudence, a student at the Academy of Unseen Arts and the de facto leader of a trio of witches known as the Weird Sisters (seen in the background of the photo above). Beautiful and cunning, Prudence nurses a deep, personal, and possibly life-threatening grudge against Sabrina.
THE FIRST
Hulu | Premieres September 14
Keiko Agena
Aiko Hakari
This Hulu drama follows a crew of astronauts attempting to become the first humans on Mars. Under the direction of a visionary aerospace magnate, the crew contends with peril and personal sacrifice as they undertake the greatest pioneering feat in human history. Keiko Agena plays Aiko Hakari, one of five astronauts chosen for the monumental interplanetary mission.
GOD FRIENDED ME
CBS | Premieres September 30
Suraj Sharma
Rakesh
Miles Finer is an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from God and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him. Suraj Sharma plays Miles' best friend Rakesh, a hacker who helps him research the enigmatic "God Account."
I FEEL BAD
NBC | Premieres October 4
Sarayu Blue
Emet
Sarayu Blue stars as Emet, the perfect mom, boss, wife, friend and daughter. Okay, she's not perfect. In fact, she's just figuring it out like the rest of us. Sure, she feels bad when she has a sexy dream about someone other than her husband, or when she pretends not to know her kids when they misbehave in public, or when she uses her staff to help solve personal problems. But that's okay, right? Nobody can have it all and do it perfectly.
Madhur Jaffrey
Maya Kamala
Madhur Jaffrey plays Maya, Emet's always-around and always-critical mother. She is very traditional and still hasn't come to terms with the fact that Emet is a working mom. As such, Maya believes she needs to make up for what she sees as Emet's shortcomings.
Brian George
Sonny Kamala
Veteran character actor Brian George plays Sonny, Emet's father.
LIGHT AS A FEATHER
Hulu | Premieres October 12
Brianne Tju
Alex Portnoy
An innocent game of "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" goes wrong when the five teen girls who played start dying off in the exact way that was predicted, forcing the survivors to figure out why they’re being targeted -- and whether the evil force hunting them down is one of their own. Brianne Tju plays Alex, one of girls who plays the deadly game.
Jordan Rodrigues
Trey Emory
Jordan Rodrigues plays McKenna's next-door neighbor (and possible love interest) Trey.
MAGNUM P.I.
CBS | Premieres September 24
Tim Kang
Detective Gordon Katsumoto
Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. Tim Kang plays Detective Gordon Katsumoto, who is suspicious of Magnum's casual attitude and presence at his crime scenes, but finds that he and Magnum are more alike than either of them care to admit.
Amy Hill
Kumu
Amy Hill plays the charming and irreverent Kumu, the cultural curator and de facto "house mom" of Robin’s Nest. Whip-smart, she makes sure neither Magnum nor Higgins get away with anything on "her" property. But if they're ever in need, Kumu is the first person to offer help from herself and her dozens of cousins, "tutus" and neighbors all over Oahu. She's the funny and tart voice of the islands.
MANIAC
Netflix | Premieres September 21
Sonoya Mizuno
Dr. Fujita
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the Netflix miniseries Maniac tells the stories of two struggling strangers who connect during a mind-bending pharmaceutical trial involving a doctor with mother issues and an emotionally complex computer. Sonoya Mizuno plays Dr. Fujita, the empathetic assistant of the ruthless Dr. Mantleray.
MANIFEST
NBC | Premieres September 24
Parveen Kaur
Saanvi
When Montego Air Flight 828 lands safely after a turbulent but routine flight, the crew and passengers are relieved. But in the span of those few hours, the world aged five years -- and their friends, families and colleagues, after mourning their loss, gave up hope and moved on. Now, faced with an impossible mystery, they're all given a second chance. Parveen Kaur plays Saanvi, a brilliant graduate student and medical researcher who returns home to learn that her work has led to startling medical breakthroughs.
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS
ABC | Premieres September 26
Grace Park
Katherine Kim
They say friendship isn't one big thing, it's a million little things; and that's true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it's just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Grace Park plays Katherine Kim, a working mom trying to juggle her successful legal career and role as her family’s sole breadwinner with her responsibilities as a parent.
MR. INBETWEEN
FX | Premieres September 25
Chika Yasumura
Brittany
Produced in Australia, FX's half-hour drama series Mr Inbetween follows Ray Shoesmith, a criminal for hire trying to juggle his roles as a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend. Chika Yasumura plays Ray's 8-year-old daughter Brittany, a unicorn lover, who is extremely talkative, but is also perceptive and observant. She dedicatedly extracts a dollar for each swear word that falls from her father’s and her uncle’s lips. When they do eventually pay up, she'll be a very wealthy young lady.
MURPHY BROWN (Revival)
CBS | Premieres September 27
Nik Dodani
Pat Patel
Candice Bergen returns for the revival of CBS' groundbreaking comedy about the eponymous broadcast news legend who reassembles her FYI team and returns to the airwaves with her biting take on current events -- now in a world of 24-hour cable, social media, "fake news" and a vastly different political climate. Nik Dodani plays social media director Pat Patel, who is tasked with bringing Murphy and the team into the 21st century.
NEW AMSTERDAM
NBC | Premieres September 25
Anupam Kher
Dr. Vijay Kapoor
Inspired by Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in America, NBC's new medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin, the institution's newest medical director, who is out to disrupt the status quo to prioritize patient care and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital. Veteran actor Anupam Kher plays Dr. Vijay Kapoor, one of the oldest doctors at the hospital, who believes the hospital needs to change but does not feel he needs to change his ways.
THE ROOKIE
ABC | Premieres October 16
Melissa O'Neil
Lucy Chen
After a life-altering incident, small-town guy John Nolan pursues his dream and joins the Los Angeles Police Department as the force's oldest rookie. Melissa O'Neil plays Lucy Chen, a rookie cop who struggles with a domineering training officer and might be developing a budding romance with Nolan.
SINGLE PARENTS
ABC | Premieres September 26
Jake Choi
Miggy
This ABC ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. Jake Choi plays Miggy, a 20-year-old, sleep-deprived dad raising a baby boy after the mother departs for college and leaves him to parent their son alone.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS
Facebook Watch | September 18
Kelly Marie Tran
Jules Shaw
The Facebook Watch comedy Sorry For Your Loss follows Leigh Shaw, a young widow who is forced to reassess her life and relationships following the death of her husband. Kelly Marie Tran plays Leigh's sister Jules, a recovering drug addict who's coming off a stint in rehab. She's fighting day-by-day to maintain her sobriety, but also struggling to evolve out of the role of the well-meaning disaster in her family.
TITANS
DC Universe | October 12
Ryan Potter
Garfield Logan/Beast Boy
Titans, the first original scripted series for DC Entertainment's new streaming service, follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Ryan Potter plays Garfield Logan, aka "Beast Boy," a teen who developed green skin and the ability to shapeshift into any animal, as a result of the side effects from a drug that cured him of a lethal disease.
YOU
Lifetime | Premieres September 9
Shay Mitchell
Peach Salinger
You is a 21st century love story that asks, "What would you do for love?" When Joe, a brilliant bookstore manager, crosses paths with Beck, an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Shay Mitchell plays Peach, who has wealth and vast resources that make her the controlling queen bee of Beck's inner circle of privileged friends. She has her sights set on Joe in a way that feels oddly adversarial with Beck.
And there it is. All of the actors of Asian descent who are series regulars on new scripted network, cable and streaming shows premiering this fall. As usual, there are a number of folks playing medical professionals and law enforcement officers. Computer-savvy characters, like hackers and social media experts, continue to be a trend. Making an unexpectedly significant showing this year: overwhelmed parents.
These are new shows. These are new shows. These are new shows.
Did we miss anybody? Please note that this list doesn't include actors on shows that will be premiering midseason, around January. (We'll probably have to put together another list in early 2019.)
