10.31.2019

Your Halloween Costumes

Submit your awesome costume photos for our annual Halloween gallery.



What are you rocking this Halloween? Show us your stuff! In what has become a fun tradition on this website, we invite readers to submit photos of your cool, funny, scary, adorable and totally-not-racist costumes for our annual Halloween gallery, just for fun. Email or tag me on social media. We can't guarantee everyone will make it into the gallery, but don't be afraid to share! The world should see and enjoy your awesome costumes. Super-cute kid costumes are particularly welcome.

Keep checking back here for updates:

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 81: They Call Us Love Boat

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.

On this episode, we're talking about LOVE BOAT! We discuss the infamous Taiwanese culture and language study tour with filmmaker Valerie Soe, director of the documentary Love Boat: Taiwan, and writer Abigail Hing Wen, author of the forthcoming young adult novel Loveboat, Taipei.

10.28.2019

Preity G Zinta and Vir Das to star in potential 'Fresh Off The Boat' spinoff

'Magic Motor Inn' will center on an Indian American family.



Plans for a Fresh Off the Boat spinoff, centering on an Indian American family, are underway. The series, tentatively titled Magic Motor Inn, will likely be led by Bollywood star Preity Zinta and actor/comedian Vir Das, who are set to guest star on an upcoming episode of Fresh Off the Boat.

'Fresh Off the Boat' Casts Vir Das and Preity G Zinta as Stars of Potential Spinoff

Written by Fresh Off the Boat writer-producer Rachna Fruchbom, the episode centers around an Indian family whose daughter attends school with Eddie. Das and Zinta will star as the girl's parents. The episode would reportedly serve as the basis for the proposed spinoff, which would go through the regular pilot process.

John Cho inspects a really gross bathtub in 'The Grudge'

Watch the trailer for the new remake of the Japanese horror classic.



Wait, a Hollywood remake of a remake of an Asian horror movie... starring an actual Asian person? Actually starring John Cho, actually. In this trailer for the upcoming new take on The Grudge, we see Cho as a real estate agent named Peter Spencer arriving at a spooky house and inspecting a really yucky bathtub. Later, we see poor Peter taking a shower... and more yucky things happen. Dude needs some new shampoo.

Take a look:

This is the Most Insanely Detailed Bruce Lee Statue

80th Anniversary Bruce Lee Tribute Statue from Blitzway



Holy crap. Next year would have been Bruce Lee's 80th birthday. It's hard to imagine the famed martial artist as anything but a young man, but here's an awesome tribute that immortalizes Lee in his finest form.

This highly detailed, 1/4 scale 80th anniversary Bruce Lee Tribute Statue from Blitzway features a mixture of polystone, PVC, and fabric type elements that make this one of the realest looking Bruce figures in your collection. The statue stands about 21.5 inches tall, standing on a stylized base and a flag diorama.

But this one's only for the true Bruce fans -- it'll set you back $499. Pre-order it here.

Here are some more images:

10.27.2019

Read These Blogs


Playwright David Henry Hwang on Flipping a Flawed Musical on Its Head in Soft Power
Soft Power, playwright David Henry Hwang's newest musical running through November 17 at New York City's Public Theater, is his attempt to confront the contradictions of The King and I and bring it into a new era.

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Yoshihiro Hattori: The door knock that killed a Japanese teenager in US
In October 1992, Yoshihiro Hattori knocked on the wrong door.

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Comedians have to walk a tightrope on issues of race. That will make the art form better.
"I appreciate the struggle of wanting to push boundaries while knowing I'm limited in what I can say. But it means we are finally being seen."

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Asian hair, and what we talk about in L.A. barbershops
"Haircuts became another way for me to learn about the city, affording the rare opportunity to have an intimate, low-stakes conversation with a stranger. I always ask for the same haircut, and it always comes out different depending on where I am."

* * *

A Leader of Farmworkers, and Filipinos' Place in American History
Before she passed away in 2018, historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon published a children's book telling the life of labor organizer, Larry Itliong.

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One Family Built Forever 21, and Fueled Its Collapse
How Do Wan Chang and his two daughters built Forever 21, which just went bankrupt last month.

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Frenzied Woman
Cinelle Barnes considers how the chaos and discipline of dance kept the disparate parts of her being stitched together.

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I, Too, Would Leave My Fiancé for Dev Patel
Dev Patel, as you can see, is extremely hot.


10.25.2019

Angry Reader of the Week: Ally Vega

"...swimming in that divine feminine essence and letting it pour out to everyone around me."



Hey, everybody! Gather 'round, because 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 Ally Vega.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 80: They Call Us Maulik Pancholy

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.

On this episode, we welcome actor, advocate and author Maulik Pancholy, who talks about The Best At It, his new novel for young readers. They discuss 30 Rock, camel nuggets, Snake Americans, being true to yourself, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being The Best.

Iris Chang Park to open in San Jose next month

Site named in honor of late 'Rape of Nanking' author/activist.



After years of delays, a public park named in honor of Iris Chang is set to open next month in San Jose.

San Jose: Iris Chang Park finally set to open next month

The late writer and activist, who died by suicide in 2004, is best known for The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. The best-selling 1997 book is widely considered the definitive account of the Nanking massacre, documenting atrocities committed against Chinese by forces of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Her other books include Thread of the Silkworm and The Chinese in America.

10.20.2019

Read These Blogs


The Whitewashing of “#WhitePeopleDoingYoga"
Chiraag Bhakta's art installation #WhitePeopleDoingYoga was about the appropriation and whitewashing of yoga. San Francisco's Asian Art Museum didn't understand.

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Soleil Ho Is Revolutionizing Food Criticism, With No Taste for Outdated Conventions
The new critic at the San Francisco Chronicle knows that food is about more than just what's served on a plate.

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Tienlon Ho: The Months Of Magical Eating
While pregnant with her first child, Tienlon Ho yawned, and her concerned father started cooking remedies.

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“Your House Will Pay" Is a Fictional Account of the L.A. Uprising
Steph Cha on writing realist social crime fiction and exploring the racial tensions of the '90s.

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A Guide to Asian Restaurants, by Ali Wong
Ali Wong leaves some wisdom for her daughters on how to choose a good Asian restaurant.

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This Berkeley-based documentary project tells the stories of California 'donut kids'
Pink Box Stories is an ongoing documentary project that focuses on donuts, immigrants, and modern California history.

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Is This What We Consider 'a Good Education'?
Interrogating the Asian American disconnect in the debate over NYC's specialized high schools.

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The Complicated Fun of Being Into Historical Costume & Not White
Catherine Fung got into sewing and dressing in historical costumes, but is constantly navigating this hobby as an Asian woman.


10.18.2019

Angry Reader of the Week: Miki Ishikawa

"Pay attention dummy, we don't have time for that anymore."



Hello, internet friends! You know what time it is. 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 Miki Ishikawa.

10.17.2019

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 79: They Call Us Sophia Chang

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.

On this episode, we welcome music industry veteran Sophia Chang, who talks about her many identities: former manager of some of hip hop and R&B's greatest acts (RZA, GZA, Old Dirty Bastard, A Tribe Called Quest, D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq, to name a few), kung fu practitioner, daughter of Korean immigrants, and now, author of the new audio memoir The Baddest Bitch in the Room.

10.15.2019

Director Lulu Wang did a Q&A for the one guy who showed up to see 'The Farewell' last night

"I wrote and directed this film... Please stay after for the Q&A."



Writer/director Lulu Wang's family drama The Farewell is one of the most critically and commercially successful films of the year, first debuting to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival, then scoring a magical summer box office run for a film of its modest indie stature. But the hype inevitably had to die down. That said, three months after opening in theaters, it's still playing on a handful of screens.

On Monday night, Wang apparently held a Q&A for the one moviegoer who showed up to the 10:15pm showing of The Farewell at the Angelika Film Center in New York City. Wang says she and her best friend wanted to see her deeply personal film "as real audience members" at a theater where they've seen countless film together. It so happens that there was one other person in attendance. So the director surprised him with a Q&A.

Here's Ms. Wang introducing the film. It is adorable:

10.13.2019

Read These Blogs


Superman smashed the KKK once, and now he's doing it again
Superman Smashes the Klan, the new graphic novel from writer Gene Luen Yang and artists Guruhiru, pits the Man of Steel against the KKK -- an updated take on a famous 1946 radio serial.

* * *

Where's Rose? Star Wars Fans Want Kelly Marie Tran's Hero on More Merch
Fans have expressed disappointment that the first major female Asian character in the Star Wars saga appears to be missing from the new wave of merchandise for The Rise of Skywalker. Here's what happened.

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Scandalized by Ali Wong's Stand-Up? Brace Yourself for Her Book
The star of two uproarious Netflix comedy specials is nervous about how people will react to her essay collection. "I hope my siblings don't get pissed at me," she says.

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Andrew Yang and the Political Narratives of Asian-Americans
Once seen as a fringe candidate, Andrew Yang has improbably managed to position himself as an Asian-American everyman.

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Overlooked No More: Mitsuye Endo, a Name Linked to Justice for Japanese-Americans
A belated obituary for Mitsuye Endo, the lead plaintiff in a Supreme Court case that successfully challenged mass internment of American citizens during World War II.

* * *

This Grandmother Went From Chinatown To Brentwood Looking For The Landlord Trying to Evict Her
70-year-old Dieu Pham took part in an anti-eviction protest after her landlords tried to order tenants to move out in order to raise rents.

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The uncertain future of your neighborhood dry cleaner
For decades, Korean-American dry cleaning businesses have flourished in New York. But startups are better funded and increasingly aggressive.

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Quyên Nguyen-Le's short films explore politics and relationships from a queer Vietnamese perspective
Quyên Nguyen-Le's latest film, Hoài (Ongoing/Memory), is about a queer, second-generation Vietnamese American woman and heartbreak.

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A New Slate of Films Gives Korean American Mothers Their Flowers
"By portraying their deaths, these films depict Asian American mothers as worthy of the same care, sympathy, and compassion that they bestow on their children, family, and friends."

* * *

Kal Penn on Why 'Sunnyside' Is the Perfect Setting for His Immigrant-Focused Sitcom
"Queens in general seemed to be the perfect location to set a show because it's rich with comedies and stories that haven't been told in a this-is-all-America way," says Kal Penn, star of NBC's Sunnyside.

* * *

Hasan Minhaj Goes Into the Lion's Den
Hasan Minhaj, host of Netflix's Patriot Act, talks to Vanity Fair about the politics of provocation, and what it means to be funny in Trump's America.

* * *

Mindy Kaling Didn't Sign Up to Be a Role Model
This year alone, she wrote, costarred in, and coproduced the Sundance darling Late Night, cocreated, cowrote, and co–executive produced a re-imagining of the '90s rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral, and cocreated, wrote, and co–executive produced a forthcoming Netflix, Never Have I Ever.

* * *

'Godfather Of Harlem' Producer Nina Yang Bongiovi Talks Creating Significant Narratives For People Of Color, Building Asian American Presence In Hollywood
A meeting with Forrest Whitaker launched Nina Yang Bongiovi's career as a film producer.

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Angela Dimayuga's 10 Essential Filipino Recipes
The creative director for food and culture at the Standard hotels and former Mission Chinese Food chef chooses the dishes that define the cuisine for her.

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Julian Saporiti Chronicles Asian-American History With His Band No-No Boy
No-No Boy's music is inspired by stories and imagery from Asian American history.


10.11.2019

Angry Reader of the Week: Janelle Wong

"I am a university teacher and researcher. I am a political scientist."



Hey, everybody! 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 Janelle Wong.

10.10.2019

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 78: They Call Us Manny Jacinto

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.

On this episode, we welcome actor Manny Jacinto, best known for playing Jason Mendoza on NBC's The Good Place. We talk about his stereotype-busting breakthrough role, the unmatched work ethic of Tom Cruise, and what it's like to play the dumbest character on television.

10.06.2019

Read These Blogs


The 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years
"Clearly, it’s time for a canon, a set of films that fans can debate, but which make undeniable that Asian American cinema exists and elicit some consensus about their quality and cultural impact." What are the 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years? A list for discussion and debate.

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‘Harvey Weinstein Told Me He Liked Chinese Girls'
In a powerful testimony, Rowena Chiu reveals her own #MeToo story as Harvey Weinstein's assistant over 20 years ago. “I've had many years to ruminate on how I fell into Harvey's trap, and the best way to understand it is through the four power dynamics of gender, race, seniority and wealth."

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As a teenager, she loved 'Miss Saigon.' As an adult, she demands more for Vietnamese Americans
"All I advocate for is the very thing Miss Saigon has denied us ⁠-- a real voice and ownership of the stories Vietnamese Americans carry in our blood."

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Where's Rose Tico In The New STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Merch?
Fans have noticed a conspicous absence in the latest wave of new Star Wars merchandise: Rose Tico.

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Asian Americans are rightly angry about racism. Making colleges less diverse isn't the answer.
While landmark decisions have been made about Harvard admissions to uphold affirmative action, here's a reminder that making colleges less diverse is not the answer to structural racism.

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Why Are There So Many Filipino Nurses in California?
In California, Filipinos make up the second largest group of the state's active workforce of nurses. After filling a nursing shortage in the 1960s, immigrant caregivers have changed the practice and the politics of health care.

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Ocean Vuong: The 10 Books I Needed to Write My Novel
On Herman Melville, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, James Baldwin, lê thị diễm thúy, and more

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Reading Recommendations for Filipinx* Americans

Randy Ribay, author of Patron Saints of Nothing, recommends recent examples of Filipinx and Filipinx American representation in children’s literature -- "books that I wish were on my childhood shelf but am grateful exist for kids coming up today."

* * *

When Nail Salon Workers Organize, Customers Also Benefit
Almost 80% of workers in nail salons are immigrants working in challenging conditions, including wage violations and exposure to harsh chemicals. When they organize for better work environments, everyone benefits.

* * *

How Do You Make the Reverse of The King and I
Playwright David Henry Hwang and composer Jeanine Tesori created Soft Power, in which the power dynamics of stories like The King and I are reversed.

* * *

At the Academy: ABOMINABLE
The creators behind the hit animated film Abominable talk about balancing cultural authenticity with universality.

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How do you turn fan art into a career? At NYCC, a Doctor Who artist explains
Alice Zhang's super-popular fan art is described as "sometimes whimsical, sometimes emotionally charged, occasionally hilarious, and always beautiful."

* * *

After 'Hustlers,' Constance Wu Is on That Next Level
The Hollywood breakout advises: "It's always better to be brave than smart."


10.04.2019

Angry Reader of the Week: James Kim

"I love making podcasts. It's one of the few things I'm passionate about."



What is up, 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 James Kim.

10.03.2019

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 77: They Call Us Helen Zia

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.

On this episode, recorded live at Cal Poly Pomona, we welcome author/activist Helen Zia. We discuss the tumultuous forces of history, migration and intergenerational trauma that propel her latest book, Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution.

10.02.2019

Randall Park, Michael Golamco and Hieu Ho launch new production company

Imminent Collision will develop "comedy-forward stories from Asian American perspectives."



From Deadline: Fresh Off the Boat star Randall Park has teamed with longtime creative partners and friends Michael Golamco and Hieu Ho to launch Imminent Collision, a production company dedicated to developing comedy-forward stories from Asian American perspectives.

In a competitive situation, the company has signed a first-look television deal with 20th Century Fox Television, the studio behind Fresh Off the Boat. Park, Golamco and Ho drew inspiration for the name of their company, Imminent Collision, from a play of the same title they worked on as members of Lapu The Coyote That Cares, the Asian American theater company co-founded by Park at UCLA over 20 years ago.

You gotta love this funny quote from Randall, Michael and Hieu in the press release: "Our immigrant parents came to America with a dream. That dream was for their children to land a first look television producing deal, scripted and unscripted, at a major Hollywood studio. We would like to thank Carolyn, Howard, Dana, Craig and the entire 20th team for helping us make our parents proud."

More here: Randall Park Launches Production Company With Michael Golamco & Hieu Ho, Inks First-Look Deal With 20th Century Fox TV

Stop ordering spicy noodles with no spice

A personal message from the CEO of Xi'an Famous Foods.



Look, if you go to Xi'an Famous Foods and order your noodles "not spicy" -- honestly, what's the point? -- then complain that the food is "too bland," that shit is on you. I'm sorry, but you have made a bad life choice.

The New York City noodle chain has an important advisory for its customers: "Not Spicy = Not As Good." Xi'an's CEO Jason Wang recently posted a "personal message" to customers at the company's 14 locations, warning people that if they order certain menu items as "not spicy," they may be disappointed. You can have it the way you want it. Just know that the way you want it... does not taste good.

Judge rules in favor of Harvard in admissions lawsuit

Federal judge rules Harvard can consider race in its admissions process in pursuit of a diverse class.



From NPR: A judge has ruled in favor of Harvard University in a high-profile court case centered on whether the school's admissions process forces Asian Americans to clear a higher bar to get in.

Federal District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued her decision Tuesday, saying "the Court finds no persuasive documentary evidence of any racial animus or conscious prejudice against Asian Americans."

In the decision, Burroughs said that while Harvard's admissions program is "not perfect," "ensuring diversity at Harvard relies, in part, on race conscious admissions."

More here: Federal Judge Upholds Harvard's Race-Conscious Admissions Process

10.01.2019

Jude Weng to direct Netflix's 'Finding Ohana'

Screenwriter Christina Strain's Hawaii-set feature is "a Goonies style adventure starring all Datas."


Jude Weng, Christina Strain and the cast of 'Finding Ohana'

Netflix has nabbed the rights to director Jude Weng's feature film debut, the Hawaii-set family adventure Finding Ohana, with newcomers Kea Peahu and Alex Aiono leading a large ensemble of Hawaiian and Asian actors.

Finding Ohana follows two Brooklyn siblings whose summer in a rural Oahu town takes an exciting turn when a journal pointing to long-lost treasure sets them on an adventure, leading them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage. According to screenwriter Christina Strain, it's "a Goonies style adventure starring all Datas."

Read this great Twitter thread, in which Strain explains why and how this project came together:

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