We Are One Step Closer to "Bruce Lee Day" in California

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

California bill to create Bruce Lee Day heads to Gov. Newsom

In case you hadn't heard: we are one step closer to Bruce Lee Day. A plan to officially designate May 17 as Bruce Lee Day in California is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk after winning unanimous approval in the state. The bill would honor the martial arts icon's impact on film, culture and Chinese American history, and would make Lee the first Chinese American commemorated with a day in California.

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Eugene, Springfield Asian American households still may be targeted by burglary ring

Despite recent prosecutions of a burglary ring targeting Asian American business owners and households in Oregon, local law enforcement say there has been an increase in organized burglary activity, and Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander households in the Eugene and Springfield communities could still be at risk.

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@thesavbananas G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S😮‍💨 @Kelsie Whitmore #savannahbananas #bananaball #fergie #glamorous ♬ original sound - thesavbananas

Watch Savannah Bananas give Kelsie Whitmore legendary entrance with champagne and Fergie

You gotta smile at the Savannah Bananas giving pitcher Kelsie Whitmore, one of the baddest players in baseball, the glamorous entrance that she deserves, complete with champagne and Fergie. Already a veteran and trailblazer in the women's baseball, she was the first overall draft pick in the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League, set to debut this year. So yeah, a fitting walk up, Bananas-style.

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'The Fast and the Furious' took the Asians out of an Asian American story

"Fans of modified Japanese import cars, like me, have a love-hate relationship with the $7 billion Fast and Furious franchise. On one hand, the movies helped popularize modified Japanese cars. People all over the world fell in love with them and the import car culture they publicized. On the other hand, the movies left out so, so much of the story."

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The Outer Threat

Constance Wu stars in the new sci-fi thriller The Outer Threat, in which the discovery of extraterrestrial life forces an astrophysicist and his family to flee from their home, pursued through the countryside by a relentless and anonymous danger. Their escape for their lives tests the limits between cosmic truth and paranoia. The Outer Threat hits digital platforms on July 10.

"Go Back to Japan"

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Torrance Police Investigate Hate Crime After Store Finds Threatening Note
"Do not forget you are in America. We can do anything we want." In Torrance, California -- yes, friggin' Torrance again -- police are investigating this racist, threatening note that was found pinned to the front door of a Japanese cookware shop. Among many others things, the printed screed reads "go back to Japan" and threatens violence. "We are going to bomb your store if you don't listen and we know where you live." This is a hate crime. There's been some speculation on social media that the note, based on grammar and spelling, was not written by a native English speaker. Maybe. But also I have complete confidence that plenty of Americans, born and raised here, can't write for shit.

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New Jersey Chinese Restaurant Vandalized with Racist COVID-19 Graffiti
A Chinese restaurant in New Jersey was vandalized with hateful messages regarding the coronavirus overnight Wednesday. The owner of New Gourmet Garden in Wyckoff arrived in the morning to discover racist spray-painted graffiti on the restaurant's storefront, including "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" with an arrow pointing at the front door and "Go home to China." The incident -- the second time a business has been vandalized during the pandemic -- is being investigated as a hate crime.

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California Assemblyman Accused of Making Racist Remarks
A coalition of Silicon Valley civil rights leaders are calling for a California legislator to resign over "racist and bigoted" comments they say he made about African American and Latinx children's ability to learn and compete in school. Assemblyman Kansen Chu's alleged comments were printed in the Chinese language newspaper World Journal, in a June 11 article, in which Chu said many Hispanic Americans told him "they did not care about their children's education, they are busy with their livelihoods, and they did not intend to let their children attend college." Chu is also alleged to have said "many Hispanic and African ethnic groups are unable to compete or have the ability to continue their studies due to unresolved structural economic and educational problems." Chu claims the World Journal article "was written with the reporter's own opinion and not direct or literal quotes from me," and the translation was inaccurate.

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Constance Wu Joins Period Rom-Com 'Mr Malcolm’s List'
Constance Wu has joined the cast of the period romantic comedy Mr. Malcolm's List. Based on the novel of the same name, the film stars Sope Dirisu as the titular Mr. Malcolm, London's most eligible bachelor. Wu will play Julia, a society lady who is jilted by Mr. Malcolm when she fails to meet one of the items on his list of requirements for a bride. Feeling shunned and humiliated, she enlists her friend Selina (Freida Pinto) to help her take revenge on Mr. Malcolm by tricking him into thinking he has found his perfect match. Who says Asians can't star in western-set period stories? Bring it, I say.

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See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
"How do we love in a time of rage? How do we fix a broken world while not breaking ourselves? Valarie Kaur -- renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer -- describes revolutionary love as the call of our time, a radical, joyful practice that extends in three directions: to others, to our opponents, and to ourselves. It enjoins us to see no stranger but instead look at others and say: You are part of me I do not yet know. Starting from that place of wonder, the world begins to change: It is a practice that can transform a relationship, a community, a culture, even a nation."

Han Lives! Sung Kang Returns in 'Fast & Furious 9'

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



'Fast & Furious 9' Trailer: Sung Kang on Justice For Han
Justice for Han! The new trailer has dropped for Fast & Furious 9, the latest installment in what is now officially being referred to as "The Fast Saga," and holy shit, it is on. Not only has Justin Lin returned to the director's chair, F9 gives us the shocking return of Sung Kang as fan-favorite character Han. To everyone's apparent surprise, Han did not die in a fiery wreck on the streets of Tokyo, but was apparently just chilling and sitting out the franchise for two movies. He is alive and in good health. And let's be honest: Han's resurrection is nowhere close to the craziest thing to happen in this franchise, or even in this trailer. Watch it here.

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Could this be the chink in Trump’s armour?
This is an actual headline regarding Andrew Yang's run for president. There's a disclaimer at the end of the piece explaining that author, columnist June H.L. Wong, is well aware of the term "chink" and its derogatory associations, even in the context of this specific idiom. Basically, she knows that the headline can and will offend, and is okay with it, in an attempt to "own" the word. Its placement is deliberate. And I am tired.

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Census 2020 & Beyond: New AAPI Mapping Tool
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the country, yet apparently are the least familiar with the U.S. Census, and are the most reluctant to participate. Ensuring a complete count among AAPIs is crucial, which is why AAPI Data has launched a new research tool showing census-tract level maps for the 20 largest AAPI metro areas. The hope is to help journalists, decision-makers, and community organizations better understand the diversity and geographic settlement patterns of AAPIs.

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'Kung Fu' Reboot Gets Pilot Pickup from CW
The CW has ordered a pilot for Kung Fu, a reboot of the cult 1970s martial arts western. You may remember that show starred David Carradine, who is very much not Asian at all. This time around, the show is a contemporary take that centers on a Chinese American woman, with Christina M. Kim attached to write and executive produce. According to Variety, "a quarter-life crisis causes a young Chinese-American woman to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to find her hometown overrun with crime and corruption, she uses her martial arts skills and Shaolin values to protect her community and bring criminals to justice, all while searching for the assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her." Let us hope for the best.

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Constance Wu Stars in the Sci-Fi Short Nine Minutes
Constance Wu stars as an marooned space explorer in the sci-fi short Nine Minutes, written and directed by Ernie Gilbert. In the near future, an experienced astronaut, Lilian, and her A.I. explore a newly discovered planet. After weeks of research, a malfunction during the return launch forces Lilian to choose between survival and completing the mission. Watch the 12-minute film here.

'Fresh Off The Boat' to end after six seasons

The hour-long series finale is set to air on February 21.



It's official: Fresh Off The Boat will end this season. After six seasons, the ABC comedy -- the longest-running sitcom about an Asian American family in broadcast television history -- is coming to close next year.

Fresh Off the Boat Canceled After Six Seasons

The network reportedly informed Fresh Off The Boat's cast and crew this week that it would not be ordering further episodes, and the current season's 14th and 15th episodes would mark the end of the show's run.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 74: They Call Us Constance Wu

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 Constance Wu. She talks about skyrocketing to stardom on Fresh Off the Boat, the steep learning curve of being in the spotlight, the loneliness in her new film Hustlers, and yes, those tweets.

'Fresh Off The Boat' renewed for Season 6

The Asian American family comedy will return to ABC for a historic sixth season.



The Huangs will be back! Season 6! ABC has renewed Fresh Off The Boat for the 2019-20 season.

Inspired by the best-selling memoir of food personality and provocateur Eddie Huang, the family comedy follows the adventures of the Huangs, a Taiwanese American family getting their immigrant hustle on in 1990s suburban Orlando, in pursuit of the American dream.

The single-camera comedy, executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan and Melvin Mar, stars Randall Park, Constance Wu, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, Lucile Soong, Chelsea Crisp and Ray Wise.

Still 'Fresh' at 100

'Fresh Off The Boat' celebrates its landmark 100th episode.



My, how far we've come. Tonight marks the landmark 100th episode of ABC's Fresh Off The Boat, starring your favorite prime time network sitcom family. You never thought the Huangs would take it this far.

Now in its groundbreaking fifth season, Fresh Off The Boat follows the continuing misadventures of the Huangs -- Jessica and Louis, their sons Eddie, Emery and Evan, and Grandma -- as they pursue the American dream in 1990s suburban Orlando. The series, based on the memoir by Eddie Huang, stars Constance Wu, Randall Park, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, Lucille Soong, Chelsey Crisp and Ray Wise.

Need to catch up? Here's a ridiculously fast recap of every single episode that got us here:

Is that you, Constance Wu?

'Fresh Off The Boat' star begins filming 'Hustlers' in New York City.



Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu has begun production on her next project, the stripper crime drama Hustlers. Unofficial photos from the set give us a glimpse of her look... and wow.

This is not Rachel Chu. This is definitely not Jessica Huang.

T-shirt re-imagines Constance Wu as Rosie the Riveter

Artist Jerry Ma puts an Asian American spin on the iconic "We Can Do It!" image.



By popular demand! This fun t-shirt design puts an Asian American spin on the iconic "We Can Do It" image, with the likeness of Fresh Off The Boat star Constance Wu stepping in for Rosie the Riveter. Created by our friend, artist/illustrator Jerry Ma of Epic Proportions, the shirt will be available in a limited run.

Constance Wu to star in stripper crime drama 'Hustlers'

Based on the New York magazine article "The Hustlers at Scores."



Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off The Boat star Constance Wu has signed on for a lead role as an enterprising stripper in the crime drama Hustlers, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria.

Based on the real-life story of some modern Robin Hoods, chronicled in the 2015 New York magazine article by Jessica Pressler entitled "The Hustlers at Scores," the film follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their wealthy Wall Street clients.

The movie takes place in the late '00s in New York City in the wake of the financial crisis, and will focus on themes of identity, loyalty, survival and control.

Jennifer Lopez, who is also producing, is set to portray the ringleader to the group of ambitious women who take their plans too far. Wu's role hasn't been specified, but it's safe to assume she'll be playing to the lead role of Roselyn Keo, the real-life former stripper at the center of Pressler's article.

If 'Fresh Off The Boat' had the 'Full House' theme song

Season five premieres October 5 as part of ABC's re-launched "TGIF" lineup.



The Huang family is back! Fresh Off The Boat returns for its landmark fifth season on October 5, premiering in its new Friday night time slot, holding down the re-launch of ABC's iconic "TGIF" programming block.

And it appears they're fully embracing their Friday night responsibilities, invoking one of TGIF's flagship legacy shows, Full House, for a funny bit in this week's premiere. In this scene, Louis imagines his family by way of a beloved 1990s family sitcom's opening credits -- complete with the Full House theme song.

Check it out:

What was really happening in Crazy Rich Asians’ pivotal mahjong scene

Guest Post by Jeff Yang



One of the most beautiful things about Crazy Rich Asians is how it refuses to explain many of its most intrinsically Asian elements. That lack of training wheels is intentional: As director Jon M. Chu told me, "We didn't want to give people an excuse to think of this world as some kind of obscure, exotic fantasyland -- this is a real place, with real culture, history and tradition, and instead of just giving them answers to their questions, we want them to have conversations."

The movie's Singapore-specific local color and broadly Asian cultural nuances are indeed fairly Google-able, and can readily be contextualized through polite discussions with actual Asian people. But there's one scene in particular that has been resiliently enigmatic to audiences of many backgrounds, both Asian and non-Asian... and it's a pivotal one: The mahjong scene.

That's especially true for fans of the book, who won't recognize it -- it's original to the movie. It was inserted in part because Michelle Yeoh, who delivers an amazing steel-and-silk performance as the movie's main antagonist, refused to play the stock, villainous tiger mom from the book. This scene provides her with critical impetus toward her eventual redemption.

But it's also true for people who don't understand the complex rules of the game, which aren't intuitive and are often different depending on region of the world. So here's a quick primer on the game of mahjong itself, as well as its significance to the film in that pivotal scene. Spoilers abound starting here, so if you haven't yet watched the deliriously warm and funny movie, crawl out from under that rock and see it before reading further.

The Crazy Rich Asians trailer is here. And you are not ready.

"The only thing crazier than love is family."



Here we go. Who said there are no Asian American movie stars? After teasing us with a juicy sliver of footage last week, the full official trailer for Crazy Rich Asians has finally dropped. And it is hot damn glorious.

If you haven't heard about this movie, you will. Based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, and directed by Jon M. Chu, the contemporary fish-out-of-water romantic comedy is the first major Hollywood studio movie featuring an all-Asian cast in over 25 years. And judging from the trailer, it's going to be a blast.

Fresh Off The Boat's Constance Wu stars as Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor who accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (newcomer Henry Golding), to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. But she soon learns that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. Not only is his family impossibly wealthy, he's perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

Check it out:

Constance Wu has had it with your "bitch-ass things"

"I march today for Asian-American women who have been ignored, or judged or fetishized."



Constance Wu is not taking your shit. At Saturday's Women's March in Los Angeles, the Fresh Off The Boat star took to the stage and shared about the first time she refused a man's sexual advances.

"He called me a bitch," she recalled.

She went on to call out the men who have expressed discomfort and paranoia with the rise of #MeToo, #TimesUp and other movements fighting back against systemic sexism, misogyny and harassment.

"This movement is not about catering our voices to accommodate your comfort," Wu proclaimed to cheers. "We are not here to suppress our perspectives for your relief. We are here because we deserve our voices and perspectives too."

Wu's speech begins at around the 14:00 mark:

'Crazy Rich Asians' secrets revealed!

Entertainment Weekly's latest cover story goes behind the scenes of next summer's buzziest film.



Crazy Rich Asians fans, check it. Entertainment Weekly's latest cover story goes behind the scenes with an exclusive look at next summer's buzziest film, which features a rare all-Asian principal cast that includes Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Gemma Chan and Awkwafina.

Crazy Rich Asians stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding reign supreme in EW's first look cover

Based on the hugely popular bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor who accompanies her boyfriend Nick back to his hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding. That's when she realizes Nick's family is not just rich -- they're crazy rich. He is perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

"This is about a girl going somewhere that's foreign to her, to really find out who she is," Wu, who plays Rachel, tells EW. "It's just such a beautiful story, to show an Asian American immigrant going back to Asia and finding the things that overlap and connect us all, things like family, things like love."

'Crazy Rich Asians' sets a release date

See you at the movies next August.


kevinkwanbooks.com
Mark your calendars. Crazy Rich Asians has a release date. Warner Bros. has announced that the comedy, starring Constance Wu and Henry Golding, will be released on August 17, 2018.

'Crazy Rich Asians' Stakes Out Mid-August Date

Directed by Jon M. Chu and adapted from the hugely popular novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians centers on three wealthy Chinese families as they prepare for Singapore's wedding of the year.

The story follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor who accompanies her boyfriend Nick back to his hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding. That's when she realizes Nick's family is crazy rich, he is perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

Hell yes. Constance Wu to star in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

'Fresh Off The Boat' star will play the lead in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the best-selling novel.



Hell yes. This is some casting news we've been waiting for. At long last, Crazy Rich Asians has found its lead. Constance Wu will star as Rachel Chu in Warner Bros.' adaptation of Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel.

Constance Wu to Star in 'Crazy Rich Asians' (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Fresh Off The Boat star is in negotiations to play the movie's Chinese American lead. Directed by Jon M. Chu, from a screenplay by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, the film will start shooting in Singapore this spring with an all-Asian cast.

For Lunar New Year, you get two nights of Fresh Off The Boat

Episode 309: "The Best of Orlando" airs January 17; Episode 312: "Clean Slate" airs January 18.



ABC's hit Asian American family sitcom Fresh Off The Boat airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm. The comedy, inspired by the memoir of chef Eddie Huang, tells the story of the Huang family, a Taiwanese American family getting their immigrant hustle on in 1990s suburban Orlando, in pursuit of the American dream. Previous episodes are available for viewing on the ABC website

Fresh Off The Boat stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery, Ian Chen as Evan, Lucille Soong as Grandma Huang Chelsey Crisp as Honey and Ray Wise as Marvin. This week, we get two nights of brand new episodes. In "The Best of Orlando" (1/17), Louis is named "Small Businessman of the Year." In "Clean Slate" (1/18), the Huangs celebrate another Chinese New Year.

Here's a preview of this week's double dose of Fresh Off The Boat:

Jessica's Shocking Past is Revealed on 'Fresh Off The Boat'

Episode 310: "How to Be An American" airs Tuesday, January 3, 9:00 pm on ABC



ABC's hit Asian American family sitcom Fresh Off The Boat airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm. The comedy, inspired by the memoir of chef Eddie Huang, tells the story of the Huang family, a Taiwanese American family getting their immigrant hustle on in 1990s suburban Orlando, in pursuit of the American dream. Previous episodes are available for viewing on the ABC website

Fresh Off The Boat stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery, Ian Chen as Evan, Lucille Soong as Grandma Huang Chelsey Crisp as Honey and Ray Wise as Marvin. This week, Jessica's shocking past is revealed during her citizenship interview.

Here's a preview of episode 310, "How To Be An American":

It's the Return of Lao Ban Santa on 'Fresh Off The Boat'

Episode 308: "Where Are The Giggles" airs Tuesday, December 13, 9:00 pm on ABC



ABC's hit Asian American family sitcom Fresh Off The Boat airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm. The comedy, inspired by the memoir of chef Eddie Huang, tells the story of the Huang family, a Taiwanese American family getting their immigrant hustle on in 1990s suburban Orlando, in pursuit of the American dream. Previous episodes are available for viewing on the ABC website

Fresh Off The Boat stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery, Ian Chen as Evan, Lucille Soong as Grandma Huang Chelsey Crisp as Honey and Ray Wise as Marvin. In this week's special Christmas-themed episode, Evan is left home alone.

Here's a preview of episode 308, "Where Are The Giggles":