All the Asians on TV: Fall 2017 Series Premieres

Here are the new scripted shows featuring actors of Asian descent. We counted.



These are new shows. The new fall television season is well underway, and as usual, we've been keeping an eye on the new Asian faces on the tube. Because we like to keep track of such things. But with cable and streaming services, as well as new shows now premiering year-round, the old model of a new fall "season" as a programming benchmark is not quite what it used to be. Nevertheless, after scouring the slate of new shows, here's 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.

We might have missed a few, but here you go. These are new shows.

Ken Leung opens up about the death of his brother

Listen to 'The Inhumans' actor on The Well podcast.



Ken Leung is one of my favorite actors. His credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Vanilla Sky, Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, X-Men: The Last Stand, Lost, The Night Shift, and The Inhumans. Recently, he was a guest on The Well, a podcast about creative inspiration with Branan Edgens and Anson Mount. The conversation quickly becomes personal when Leung shares about the sudden death of his brother.

"Actor Ken Leung woke up one morning to a phone call. It was his father telling him that he had to fly to Thailand to bring back the body of his brother Kevin who had suddenly drowned while on vacation. Ken explains a mystery surrounding the circumstances; and goes on to tell us how the experience of handling his brothers affairs changed his outlook on both his life and his craft."

It's a wonderful, candid conversation that offers insight into Leung as a man and an artist. Listen:

All of the Asians in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

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Earlier this year San Diego Comic-Con's panel for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, two Asian American Star Wars fans stepped up to the microphone in Hall H to ask J.J. Abrams if there would be Asians in any of the upcoming Star Wars movies. To which the director replied, yes, "there are Asians in this film."

Well, the Force has awoken and the film is here. Chances are, you were among the faithful masses who contributed to Episode VII's galactic record-breaking box office take this weekend. Hell, I was there opening night. And we got to see if, indeed, there were Asians a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

There were. There are. I have seen the movie twice now. And so here is an approximate list of all the Asians in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, because that's what we like to do around here.

REQUISITE SPOILER WARNING: The rest of this post contains spoiler-y details pertaining to the plot and character of the latest Star Wars movie, currently in theaters. If you have not yet seen the movie, and/or do not wish to know such information, stop reading now. You have been warned.

Ken Leung is working 'The Night Shift'

New medical drama airs Tuesday nights on NBC



Forgot to mention this last week, but one of my favorite actors is on a new TV show... Ken Leung is in the starring cast of The Night Shift, the new medical drama on NBC. The show follows an irreverent team of men and women who work the toughest and wildest cases -- the night shift -- at San Antonio Memorial Hospital.

Ken plays Topher, "a quick-witted free spirit who knows how to manipulate the system in his favor. He will do whatever it takes to save a patient's life... and keep his best friend TC out of trouble." I've been a fan of Mr. Leung for years, and it's great to get a chance to see him regularly on the TV again.

The series premiered last week, but the pilot episode is available online:

MOCA presents "Sequels": A Staged Reading

Hey, New York City. Ever wonder what happens after the end of your favorite story? On Friday, December 14, come to MOCA for Sequels, in which writers Nora Chau, Ed Lin, and Kai Ma perform a staged reading of original sequels to three stories. The whole thing is directed by Lost's Ken Leung. Here's some more info:

ken leung and jeananne goossen cast in after hours pilot

I got a big kick out of seeing Ken Leung on the CBS drama Person of Interest last night, reprising his guest star role as forensic accountant Leon Tai.

I was hoping the show was setting him to be a recurring character, but then I realized that Ken was recently cast in the pilot for a new NBC medical drama After Hours: Ken Leung To Co-Star In NBC Drama 'After Hours' And Other Pilot Castings.

According to Deadline.com, Ken Leung and Jeananne Goossen will play doctors working the graveyard shift in the ER at San Antonio Medical Center: