They Call Us Bruce 184: They Call Us Rodney Faraon

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 former intelligence officer, security expert, writer/producer and amateur chef(!) Rodney Faraon. In the final episode of an extremely tumultuous year, we discuss a wide range of topics, including Twitter's sad plunge into the toilet, the mishandling of top secret secrets, what it's like to have your CIA career inspire a TV series starring Katherine Heigl, and why risotto is the kiss of death of cooking competitions.

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They Traveled From South Korea. They Got Stranded Near Buffalo.
A South Korean tour group’s van became stuck in the snow outside a house in Williamsville, N.Y. They spent the weekend with the residents — who luckily had a well-stocked kitchen.

* * *
Defining 'Asian American' is complicated. Who gets left behind?
Asian Americans have long debated who is included in their cohort. South Asians and Southeast Asians, among others, sometimes feel overlooked by the umbrella term.

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Why Hallmark's 'A Big Fat Family Christmas' left Asian American communities divided
An Asian American-led Hallmark Christmas movie sparks disagreement and discourse.

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How the American Born Chinese TV series translates the classic graphic novel to screen
American Born Chinese author Gene Luen Yang, show creator Kelvin Yu, and star Ben Wang talk about working with Michelle Yeoh and bringing the Asian-American experience to screen.

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'I'm Not Trying to Be America's Sweetheart': Hong Chau on Her Banner Year
As an actress, Hong Chau's resume is lean but mighty. What it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality.

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The Best Action Scene of 2022 Was Everything Everywhere All at Once's Butt-Plug Fight
Stephanie Hsu and Martial Club reveal how they made the film's wildly outrageous, Hong Kong-inspired fight sequences.

They Call Us Bruce 183: They Call Us Queen of Christmas

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 singer-songwriter Elizabeth Chan, the world's only full-time recording artist dedicated to original Christmas music -- and still, legally, the "Queen of Christmas." She talks about her prolific output of Christmas music -- an album a year for the past twelve years and counting -- her trademark victory over Mariah Carey to keep the crown, and what it's like to have the holidays in your heart year-round.

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The viral AI avatar app Lensa undressed me—without my consent
"I have Asian heritage, and that seems to be the only thing the AI model picked up on from my selfies. I got images of generic Asian women clearly modeled on anime or video-game characters. Or most likely porn."

* * *
John Fetterman’s TikTok Whisperer
Fresh off a frantic election cycle, Annie Wu Henry, the former Fetterman campaign social media producer -- and dedicated Swiftie -- takes time to shake it off.

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As an American, I want the right to celebrate without fear
Curtis Chin reflects on the recent signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan bill affirmatively recognizing and protecting marriages of same sex couples and of interracial couples at the federal level, a feat that seemed impossible only a few years ago.

* * *
In LA, The Rise Of The Asian American Progressive
Kenneth Mejia, the newly elected Los Angeles city controller who took office last week as the first Asian American to hold citywide office, is at the forefront of an increasingly visible group of Asian American progressives to enter local politics in the last few years.

* * *
Tell Him Your Story, and He’ll Photograph Your Wedding. For Free.
Vincent Po, an engineer turned itinerant photographer, has been shooting weddings in exchange for room and board for the last two years as part of his Portrait of a Young Couple series.

* * *
Meet the Bad-Ass Asian American Bakers Reshaping LA’s Desserts Scene
Cheesecake baos, mochi egg tarts, black sesame mooncakes, and more.

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‘KPOP’ Composer Helen Park, Star John Yi on Representational Impact and Broadway's AAPI Inclusion
In an emotional panel following their final performance, KPOP creatives and other notable members of the theater industry's Asian community said goodbye for now to the history-making production.

* * *
Babylon's Li Jun Li on Capturing Anna May Wong Onscreen
Her character in Babylon may be named Lady Fay, but actress Li Jun Li says she took all her inspiration from trailblazing Chinese American actress Anna May Wong.

All The Asians On Star Trek 32: Peipei Alena Yuan

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 32, we welcome actress and stunt performer Peipei Alena Yuan, who served as the stunt double for Freda Foh Shen in the 2009 feature film Star Trek, directed by JJ Abrams. Outside of Star Trek, her long list of stunt credits includes Bullet Train, Stranger Things, The Terminal List, Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Flight Attendant, among many others. She talks about pivoting from visual effects to stunt work, her unexpected pivotal role in creating "Bully Maguire," and getting to perform a fight scene with a bucket list legend.

They Call Us Bruce 182: They Call Us The Black Widow

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 champion pool player Jeanette Lee, subject of the ESPN documentary 30 For 30: Jeanette Lee VS., and director Ursula Liang. They discuss the career and legacy of the "Black Widow" in professional billiards and beyond, overcoming pain and pressure from all sides when life knocks you down, and approaching the pool table with confidence, swagger, and your whole, authentic, black-clad self.

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Time names Michelle Yeoh its 2022 Icon of the Year. She’s ready for Oscars love too
Michelle Yeoh has been named Time's 2022 Icon of the Year, highlighting her storied 40-year acting career that includes this year’s Everything Everywhere All at Once.

* * *
Broadway's trailblazing 'KPOP' musical is abruptly closing. What went wrong?
KPOP, the first Broadway musical about Korean pop culture, announced that it's closing nine days after opening -- after just 44 preview performances and 17 regular performances. How did the show fail to find an audience?

* * *
KPOP Songwriter Helen Park Reflects on a Broadway Run Cut Short
KPOP composer Helen Park reflects on the the groundbreaking Broadway musical's abrupt closing.

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As an immigrant kid, I learned about Christmas from TV — and it nearly broke my heart
New to the U.S. and unfamiliar with Christmas traditions, holiday movies shaped Nancy Wang Yuen's childhood, for better or worse.

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I Had Korean Double Eyelid Surgery at 18. I Look Back Now with Regret.
Years after going under the knife, writer Iris Kim examines her complicated relationship with Korean plastic surgery and impossible standards of beauty.

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How a rom-com launched the greatest fake band in San Francisco history
The story of Hello Peril, Randall Park's authentically good but fake band in Always Be My Maybe.

* * *
Atsuko Okatsuka Wants Her Grandma to Feel Hotter
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who stars in her first standup special The Intruder on HBO, talks about not always feeling hot, her love of dancehall, and discovering her superpowers.

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Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh on Creating Iconic Characters From Roles Written for Men
Icons Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett in conversation.

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Don't believe the K-dramas: Look to "Return to Seoul" for a more realistic view on Korean adoptees
In Davy Chou's film Return to Seoul -- Cambodia's Oscar entry for the Best International Film category -- Park Ji-min is a transracial adoptee who impulsively ends up seeking out her birth family.

* * *
On Stage And Screen, 'Industry' Star Ken Leung Is Leaning In To The Fear
Veteran actor Ken Leung talks about sustaining a career full of variety and his return to theater after twenty years in Evanston Salt Costs Climbing.

They Call Us Bruce 181: They Call Us Atsuko Okatsuka

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 comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who stars in her first HBO comedy special The Intruder. She talks about the actual and metaphorical intruders that inspired her act, going really really really viral on TikTok with the "drop" challenge, blurring the personal and private on stage, and why her grandma deserved a lap dance at Magic Mike Live.

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New York Times Theatre Critic Jesse Green Draws Criticism for KPOP Review
Company members of Broadway's KPOP are speaking out following a negative review of the musical by New York Times theatre critic Jesse Green, who took issue with the amount of Korean language in the show.
* * *
Asian American voters could help decide the Senate runoff in Georgia, experts say
National political leaders and advocates are trying to rally Asian American support in the final days before the Senate runoff between Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock in Georgia.

* * *
After Strangers Saved an Asian Man in a Subway Stabbing, I Fought Back My Own Fear
Bystander intervention training and a self-defense class—both tailored to the Asian experience—showed Rodlyn-mae Banting how to protect herself and her community.

* * *
Everything Everywhere All at Once Director Daniel Kwan on His New Children's Books, ADHD, and What He Never Wants to Read Again
"I think some of my best work comes out of an informed naivety. I think there's something really great about boldly making decisions that an expert would not make, and I feel like these books definitely feel like that."

* * *
'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Star Ke Huy Quan On Getting A Second Chance To Pursue His Dream: "I'm Always Grateful"
Ke Huy Quan walked away from acting due to the lack of roles for Asian actors. He talks about that time, how Crazy Rich Asians inspired him, and his comeback with Everything Everywhere All at Once.

* * *
Bilal Baig Steps Into Their Comfort Zone
Sort Of star and co-creator Bilal Baig is learning to tolerate being perceived.

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Why Celeste Ng calls her new novel, 'Our Missing Hearts,' 'scarily real'
Celeste Ng's new novel, Our Missing Hearts, may feel like a departure to the legions of fans who read her first two books, but the bestselling author does not see it that way.

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What Does It Mean to Care About COVID Anymore?
Tips on navigating COVID mitigation as we approach the third pandemic winter.

* * *
From homeless to city hall: the Hmong American mayor making history in Oakland Sheng Thao, the newly elected mayor of Oakland, is the first Hmong American woman to lead a major U.S. city, the youngest Oakland mayor in 75 years and the first renter to hold the position.

* * *
10 Must-Read Novels About Asian American Politics Ryan Lee Wong names ten novels that expand upon, challenge, and imagine futures for an Asian American political identity -- stories of rebels and revolutionaries, organizers and outsiders taking histories into their own hands.

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As Anna May Wong quarters roll out, a younger generation reflects on the actress’ legacy Trailblazing actress Anna May Wong is the first Asian American to to be featured on a U.S. quarter.

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Broadway Musicals Don't Have Asian Roles. Helen Park Is Changing That. Helen Park, composer of the new musical Kpop at Circle in the Square Theatre, is Broadway’s first Asian American woman composer and only the sixth Asian composer of a Broadway show.

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David Siev, Jaclyn Siev, Rachel Siev and Chun Siev on a Year Living on Edge in "Bad Axe"
David Siev's Bad Axe documents his family keeping their restaurant afloat and navigating conservative politics in a rural town in the early months of the pandemic.

They Call Us Bruce 180: They Call Us Thankful 2022

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 some good friends from the Potluck Podcast Collective: Ada Tseng (Los Angeles Times, Saturday School), Scott Okamoto (Asians in Baseball, Chapel Probation), and Kim Cooper (Asians in Baseball, Korean Drama Podcast) to celebrate friendsgiving and play a very special Thanksgiving edition of their signature segment: Thanks, No Thanks and WTF.

They Call Us Bruce 179: They Call Us Bad Axe

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 filmmaker David Siev, director of the documentary Bad Axe, a pandemic portrait of his own family in rural Michigan as they fight to keep their American dream alive. He talks about telling his family's multi-generational story through the lens of America's very real and very current racial tensions, dealing with actual local white supremacists, and making a film that weirdly folded in on itself partway through production.

They Call Us Bruce 178: 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.

In this episode, we welcome welcome back award-winning actor and writer Maulik Pancholy, who talks about his latest middle grade novel Nikhil Out Loud, a sweet coming-of-age story about a gay Indian American teen. He talks about the anti-gay backlash he received for his first book The Best at It that inspired this new novel, what it's like to get your book banned by school districts, and the important question at the center of all this controversy that nobody seems to be asking: who's listening to the kids?

They Call Us Bruce 177: They Call Us Raymond lee

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 Raymond Lee, star of NBC's sci-fi drama Quantum Leap. He talks about leaping into the lead role of a lifetime, subverting the notion that time travel is for white people, and why being great at nothing but passably good at a lot of things is perfect for playing Dr. Ben Song.

All The Asians On Star Trek 31: Away Mission with Swapna Krishna

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 31, we embark on another Away Mission, in which we invite fellow Asian American fans of Star Trek to do a deep dive into an episode of their choosing. For this edition of the Away Mission, we welcome writer and journalist Swapna Krishna to discuss "Lineage" from season seven of Star Trek: Voyager. We discuss the ridiculous lack of privacy regarding pregnancy on the USS Voyager, extremely wise parenting advice from Tuvok, and a lonely night of soulful saxophone in Ensign Harry Kim's quarters.

Your Halloween Costumes 2022

Our annual gallery of awesome reader-submitted Halloween costumes.



All right, good readers. It's that time of year again. In what has become a holiday tradition, I'm putting the call out for your awesome Halloween costume photos. Send in your rad, not-racist costume photos -- cute kids are particularly welcome -- to be considered for inclusion in the annual costume photo roundup. To submit your photos, email angryasianman @ angryasianman.com with the subject line "Halloween Costume 2022" or tag @angryasianman on social media. I'll feature the best ones here in our infamous annual gallery.

Getting things started:

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Bizarre Republican Ad Blames Biden for Anti-Asian Violence Incited by Trump
A new attack ad blames Joe Biden for the spike in racist violence against Asian Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When I do recall it was Donald Fucking Trump who started calling it "the Chinese virus" and "the Kung flu."

* * *
Can Social Media Rhetoric Incite Hate Incidents? Evidence from Trump's "Chinese Virus" Tweets
The number of anti-Asian incidents sharply increased following Donald Trump's initial "China virus" tweets -- especially in the Trump-supporting counties, where such incidents spiked by an estimated 4000 percent.

* * *
In California, two Asian Americans fight for a seat in the House — and with each other
Democrat Jay Chen is challenging Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in a district where more than a third of voters are Asian Americans. Some of the accusations being hurled, specifically around China and communism, have frustrated voters.

* * *
Asian Americans' Place in the History of Racial Justice
Ellen Wu discusses her forthcoming project focused on the plight of Asian Americans in the U.S. racial divide, as Ellen dives into the diverse cultural backgrounds of the Asian American population.

* * *
Asian Americans had the highest rate of mail-in voting in 2020. New laws could block that progress
"These states are reducing all the great practices of 2020 that made voting more accessible," Christine Chen, executive director of the nonpartisan organization Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, said.

* * *
A Chinese Immigrant's Fearless Comedy Set Went Viral. Then Came the Backlash.
A Chinese Immigrant's Fearless Comedy Set Went Viral. Then Came the Backlash.

They Call Us Bruce 176: They Call Us Jay Chen

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 Jay Chen, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s congressional 45th district. He talks about why his Daily Show appearance from 2010 still weirdly remains relevant, his opponent’s increasingly shameless xenophobic and red-baiting attacks, and the benefit of running for congress in a super-Asian district that has so many incredible food options.

They Call Us Bruce 175: They Call Us Thai Cave Rescue

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 Kevin Tancheroen, executive producer and director of the Netflix series Thai Cave Rescue, which tells the true story of the global rescue effort to save twelve young boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave. He talks about shooting in absurdly wet conditions, reconnecting with his own Thai roots, and prioritizing the soccer team (and the people of Thailand) at the center of this extraordinary story.

They Call Us Bruce 174: They Call Us 38 at the Garden

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 Frank Chi, director of the documentary short 38 AT THE GARDEN, which chronicles the extraordinary ascendance of Jeremy Lin during his landmark 2012 season with the New York Knicks -- and the fateful game where he dropped 38 points on the Los Angeles Lakers. They look back at the sheer joy of that moment, what Linsanity meant for Asian Americans, and why it still resonates ten years later.

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Jeremy Lin Finally Loves 'Linsanity' Just as Much as You Do
When he went from mostly anonymous to global celebrity in 2012, Jeremy Lin was overwhelmed by the attention and struggled to tune it out. For many people, he suddenly represented many things -- a stereotype breaker, an inspiration -- but he just wanted to play basketball. A decade later, Lin has fully embraced the phenomenon that turned him into a cultural icon.

* * *
Jeremy Lin Is Still Floating
Jeremy Lin's favorite bucket of his career happened right where you’d expect it: in Madison Square Garden, during that legendary stretch in 2012, leading his underdog Knicks over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

* * *
The Deadly Collision of Racism and Mental Illness
Talking openly about the role that mental illness may play in racially motivated violence seems overdue and necessary. But there are reasons conversations on this subject are also dangerous and fraught.

* * *
Alice Wong: I Still Have a Voice
Alice Wong can no longer speak. But she still has a voice.

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I always avoided family duties. Then my dad had a fall and everything changed
"For most of my life, I've avoided moments like these -- moments where I have to take on any kind of family responsibility. I'm the youngest."

* * *
How L.A.'s Little Manila Disappeared Without a Trace
Many Filipino establishments between 1924 and 1939 could be found on First and Main streets in downtown Los Angeles. According to researcher Joseph A. Bernardo, "Little Manila" provided new Filipino migrants with a space space to ease the shock of urbanization, isolation and white antagonism.

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The Nuance of Nikkei: Why Los Angeles Is the Epicenter of Japanese American Cooking
Experience LA's Nikkei moment at these four phenomenal restaurants.

* * *
Hasan Minhaj Explores the Darker Sides of Fame in The King's Jester
Hasan Minhaj is back on Netflix with The King's Jester, the comedian's second special following 2017's Homecoming King.

All The Asians On Star Trek 30: Patrick Kwok-Choon

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 30, we welcome actor Patrick Kwok-Choon, who plays tactical officer Lieutenant Commander Gen Rhys on Star Trek: Discovery. Outside of Star Trek, his credits include Open Heart, Backpackers, Shoot the Messenger, Wynonna Earp and SkyMed, among others. He talks being a part of Discovery's bridge crew, joining the tremendous legacy of Star Trek, and observing a healthy level of respect before putting his butt in the captain's chair.

New Comic Reimagines Lois Lane as an Asian American Teen

First look at 'Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story' by Sarah Kuhn and Arielle Jovellanos.



If you were like me, growing up as an Asian American consumer of comic books, you sometimes had to crane your neck to find representation within those four-color panels. And sometimes, intended or not, it was right there in front of you in plain black ink. I can't be the only one who interpreted Superman's canonically black hair as a signifier of Asian-ness -- by way of Krypton, of course. (Kal-El is an immigrant, don't ya know?)

For writer Sarah Kuhn, it was Lois Lane, intrepid reporter for the Daily Planet.

"Lois Lane is my idol — as a kid, I imprinted on her immediately and dreamed of becoming a hard-charging reporter on a quest for the truth (who also gets burgers and freshly squeezed orange juice delivered to her desk at 9 am)." Sarah says. "I was always desperately searching for some tiny scrap of representation in the stories I loved and Lois had dark hair, so sometimes I'd fantasize that she was Asian American -- like me."

Sarah, whose previous work includes the Cassandra Cain story Shadow of the Batgirl, gets to realize that fantasy in her upcoming original graphic novel, Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story, due out in April 2023. Part of the DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults line, with art by Arielle Jovellanos, the book reimagines Lois Lane as an Asian American teenager -- a small town girl with a big city summer internship trying to get a handle on friendship, romance and a burgeoning career.

I'm pleased to share this first look at preview pages from Girl Taking Over:

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How to Hit Back
The desperate, confused, righteous campaign to stop Asian hate.

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'I Felt Like We Are All Chinese — We Can Take Care of Each Other'
Asians and Pacific Islanders belong to the most economically divided racial group in America, and the need for child care often brings together members from the top and bottom of the ladder.

* * *
From BTS to Zoom therapy, why Korean Americans are seeking more mental health help
Korean Americans are seeking more mental health help than ever before, shifting the stigma.

* * *
The Mixed Metaphor
Why does the half-Asian, half-white protagonist make us so anxious?

* * *
How these Chinese doughnuts helped save my refugee family
Golden crullers, dipped in soy or served with rice porridge, are more than breakfast – for Jean Trinh and her family, they're a symbol of resilience.

* * *
How Carla Ching tells a 'complex, nuanced' story about betrayal, revenge porn in new play
In Carla Ching's play Revenge Porn, leading character Kat Chan has to decide how she'll respond to her ex-husband releasing nude photographs of her.

* * *
Hasan Minhaj Confronts His Own Clout-Chasing and the One Thing He Has in Common With the Crown Prince
Comedian Hasan Minhaj, whose last Netflix foray was censored after Saudi objections, reflects on his decidedly more personal stand-up special, The King's Jester, ahead of its premiere on the streamer.

* * *
How Ali Wong Helped Make Her 'Favorite' Comedian Sheng Wang a Netflix Star
Stand-up comedian Sheng Wang tells The Last Laugh podcast how his friend Ali Wong directed him to new comedic heights in his first hour-long Netflix special Sweet and Juicy.

* * *
James Wong Howe's Way with Light
"Wong Howe's path through Hollywood was not always easy, but in his best work he found a voice that was inimitably his own, imbued with the vulnerability and longing of an outsider trying to find his place in the world."

173: They Call Us Tanuj Chopra

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 friend and filmmaker Tanuj Chopra, who directed season two of the Netflix series Delhi Crime. He talks about making the leap from indie films to international television, bringing an insider/outsider perspective to get the tone right, and the future of global storytelling.

Sacred Book Honors Japanese Americans Incarcerated During World War II

The Ireichō is on display at the Japanese American National Museum.



Over the weekend in Los Angeles, the Japanese American National Museum invited the public to view and sign the Ireichō, a sacred book that records -- for the first time ever -- the names of over 125,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who were unjustly imprisoned in U.S. Army, Department of Justice, and War Relocation Authority camps during World War II.

Visitors were invited to view the names and use a special Japanese hanko to leave a mark for each person in the Ireichō as a way to honor those incarcerated during World War II. Community participation will "activate" it and rectify the historical record by correcting misspelled names or revealing names that may have been omitted from the record.

The Ireichō will be on display at JANM for one year. A companion virtual monument is available online.

More here: 'There’s our family name': Sacred book honors Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII

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How Constance Wu Survived That Tweetstorm
In Constance Wu's new book, Making a Scene, the former Fresh Off the Boat star reveals her isolation, racism in her career -- and yes, those tweets -- and how she's moving on.

* * *
At Gracepoint Ministries, 'Whole-Life Discipleship' Took Its Toll
As Gracepoint Ministries, a predominantly Asian American church network, expands to dozens of college towns, former members come forward with claims of spiritual abuse.

* * *
New laws address anti-Asian hate in the long-term, but what about feeling safe right now?
This month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills seeking to address harassment on public transit and in businesses. Meanwhile, the Citizen personal safety app announced it was providing up to 20,000 Asian Americans in the Bay Area with a free one-year subscription. Both try to address anti-Asian hate, but their differences illustrate the complexity of the issue.

* * *
Talking about substance use can be hard for Filipino Americans. Why it's helpful to share stories
Honest conversations about substance abuse disorders and mental health can be difficult for some Filipino families.

* * *
Hua Hsu on His New Memoir, 'Stay True'
Hua Hsu's new memoir is both a coming-of-age story and an evolutionary step for Asian American literature.

* * *
The Stakes of Dictee
An introduction to Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's famously difficult work.

* * *
Watching Spirited Away Again, and Again
For Nina Li Coomes, each viewing of Miyazaki's animated feature Spirited Away is a gift.

* * *
"The Field Is Open": Ocean Vuong on Minari's Lasting Cultural Legacy
Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, reflects on the history of Asian American farmers in an original essay from A24's Minari screenplay book.

They Call Us Bruce 172: They Call Us Yuji Okumoto

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 actor Yuji Okumoto, who stars in season five of Netflix's Cobra Kai as Chozen Toguchi, the role he originated in 1986's The Karate Kid Pt. II. He talks about stepping back into the Karate Kid Cinematic Universe, his (and ours, and everybody's) love for Kumiko, and getting an unexpected redemption arc for his character over thirty years later. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.

Kelly Marie Tran to Star in Biopic on Activist Amanda Nguyen

Nguyen founded the non-profit organization Rise, dedicated to furthering the rights of sexual assault survivors.



Kelly Marie Tran is developing a biopic about her friend, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, telling the story of her transformation from a survivor of college sexual assault to an activist for survivors' rights.

Tran will star in and produce the biopic about Nguyen, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee who founded civil rights accelerator Rise and wrote the Survivor's Bill Of Rights, which inspired the federal law passed in 2016.

“Over the years, Amanda's activism has changed the lives of billions, as she continues to make our world safer for sexual assault survivors everywhere,” Tran said in a statement. "Her courage inspires me every day, and I am honored to help tell her story."

Tang Yi is in talks to write and direct the film, which is in the early stages of development.

More here: Kelly Marie Tran to Star in, Produce Biopic on Activist Amanda Nguyen

New Documentary Revisits the Legend of Linsanity

'38 at the Garden' premieres October 11 on HBO.



I'll always remember the night Jeremy Lin dropped a stunning 38 points on the Lakers at Madison Square Garden. A new documentary short, 38 at the Garden, chronicles the extraordinary ascendance of your favorite Asian American point guard during his landmark 2012 season with the New York Knicks -- the period that affectionately became known as "Linsanity." You know the story. But I'll never get tired of it.

A decade later, Lin's stature as a groundbreaking, cultural icon stands in stark relief to the recent hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. 38 at the Garden recognizes a pivotal moment in time for Lin and celebrates a phenomenon that was bigger than basketball for the world. The film features a candid, new interview with Lin, as well as journalists Lisa Ling and Pablo Torre, comedians Ronny Chieng, Hasan Minhaj and Jenny Yang, and Knicks teammates Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert.

Here's the trailer:

Wakaji Matsumoto — An Artist in Two Worlds: Los Angeles and Hiroshima, 1917–1944

Online exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum



Wakaji Matsumoto — An Artist in Two Worlds: Los Angeles and Hiroshima, 1917–1944 is an online exhibition and public program about an artist and pioneer in Pictorialism who documented the lives of Japanese immigrant farmers in rural Los Angeles during the early 1900s and created rare images of urban life in Hiroshima prior to the 1945 atomic bombing of the city.

The online exhibition, presented by the Japanese American National Museum, highlights rarely seen early photographs of Los Angeles prior to World War II and of Hiroshima before the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb through the single lens of photographer Wakaji Matsumoto.

"Wakaji Matsumoto's photographs of farms that were operated by Japanese Americans in the Los Angeles area demonstrate the difficult life of Japanese Americans and their resolve and resilience," says Dennis Reed, the curator of the exhibition. "His photographs of Hiroshima are the largest-known photographic archive of the city prior to the atomic bomb. Today, our knowledge of the city's horrific fate lends a pall of melancholy over these tender images. They bear the weight of history."

View the online exhibition here: janm.org/exhibits/wakaji-matsumoto

Eugene Cordero Upped to Series Regular on 'Loki'

He played Time Variance Authority employee Casey in season one.



Eugene Cordero has been reportedly promoted to series regular on season two of Marvel's Loki. Cordero played the Time Variance Authority employee "Casey" in the first season of the Disney+ series. He only made a handful of appearances on the show, so it's pretty cool to see him make the jump to a bigger role.

Eugene is one of my favorite actors working today. If you don't know him from, say, his fan-favorite role as "Pillboi" on The Good Place, you've probably seen him in a dozen other things, including Easter Sunday, The Mandalorian, Kong: Skull Island, Tacoma FD, and The Good Place, to name a few.

More here: 'Loki': Eugene Cordero Upped To Series Regular For Season 2

Judge Overturns Murder Conviction of Adnan Syed of 'Serial'

Syed has been in prison for 23 years for the murder of high school classmate Hae Min Lee.



Adnan Syed, whose case was chronicled by the popular podcast Serial, was released from prison Monday after spending 23 years behind bars on charges that he murdered his former high school girlfriend.

Judge Melissa M. Phinn of Baltimore City Circuit Court overturned Syed's murder conviction in the 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee, finding that prosecutors had failed to turn over evidence that could have helped Syed at trial and discovered new evidence that could have affected the outcome of his case.

The office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City said in a motion filed last week that there was new information about two potential alternative suspects in the homicide. While prosecutors aren't saying Syed is innocent, they are saying they lack confidence in "the integrity of the conviction."

Prosecutors have 30 days to decide if they will proceed with a new trial or drop the charges against Syed, who was ordered to serve home detention until then.

More here: Judge Vacates Murder Conviction of Adnan Syed of 'Serial'


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They Call Us Bruce 171: They Call Us Jamie Ford

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 bestselling author Jamie Ford, whose latest novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is described as an "epigenetic love story." He talks about the tragic real life of the first Chinese woman in America, weaving the intricate story of her imagined descendants, and exploring (and perhaps overcoming) inherited intergenerational trauma. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.