Never Too Soon: A Conversation with Leland Cheuk
Leland Cheuk, author of the novel No Good Very Bad Asian, talks about comedy, identity, and whether today’s representations of diversity in the comedy and writing worlds are authentic.
No, Simon Cowell, it's not 'time for UK-Pop'
Forget about Simon Cowell. The Korean music industry has been trying to internationalize K-Pop, recruiting talent from around the world to leverage and expand its international fan base -- and raising a lot of questions along the way.
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 special Thanksgiving-themed episode, recorded live at the Edison Theatre in Long Beach, we welcome some good friends -- actress Tess Paras (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), screenwriter Thuc Doan Nguyen (The Bitch Pack) and writer Shirley Li (The Atlantic) to talk politics, culture and the year in Asian America.
Dial Up!
How the Hmong diaspora uses the world’s most boring technology to make something weird and wonderful.
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Understanding the Struggles of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
"New findings from a study of California’s diverse Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population reveals that while little attention has been paid to the economic vulnerabilities of this population, nearly one-out-of-four (23%) of AAPI Californians report working and struggling with poverty."
Chinese Roast Duck, but Make It Turkey
With juicy meat and extra-crisp skin, Thanksgiving turkeys cooked in the manner of ducks are keeping Chinatown barbecue restaurants busy across the United States.
Already a star in China, US fame comes to 'Farewell' actress
While actress Zhao Shuzhen, who plays the beloved NaiNai in The Farewell, was previously unknown to most American audiences, the 75-year-old is not only a veteran of stage and screen in her native China, she's also a big star.
Japanese American point guard debuted with the New York Knicks in 1947.
Wat Misaka, the pioneering Japanese American athlete who became the first person of color to play in modern professional basketball, died Wednesday in Salt Lake City. He was 95.
Misaka, the son of Japanese immigrants, starred for the University of Utah on teams that won two national tournament championships. In 1947, he made professional debut with the New York Knicks -- then part of the Basketball Association of America, a forerunner of the National Basketball.
Bill Clinton Owes My Father an Apology
Bill Clinton took responsibility for contributing to mass incarceration. He has yet to say he's sorry for his role in mass deportation. Aarti Shahani talks about the decade-long case she fought to keep her father in the U.S.
Can the Japanese community save Little Tokyo from gentrification?
In an effort to save these businesses, the Japanese American community started the Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund to collectively buy a local building and charge below-market rents to selected tenants.
Study examines the eating habits of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Our friend Oliver Wang, professor of sociology at California State University Long Beach, is launching a pilot study to explore the eating habits of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and he could use your help.
Oliver says the study came from a simple question: how do AAPIs eat? Specifically, he and co-author Mike Hoa Nguyen were interested in how those of us raised in the United States make decisions about what to cook at home or eat in restaurants. How often do we prioritize some kind of Asian food -- whether it’s the food linked to our family heritage or just any kind of Asian food -- when we think about what we want to eat?
"For me, that’s pretty important," Oliver says. "I live in Los Angeles's San Gabriel Valley -- practically the national capital for Asian American cuisine -- and it's easy for me to take for granted how many restaurants and markets I have access to. It certainly shapes my meal decisions, whether I'm getting a bite out to eat or I'm cooking for my family."
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.
The shooter was reportedly a classmate, described as an "Asian male wearing black clothing."
Two students are dead and at least three others were injured, two of them in critical condition, after a classmate reportedly opened fire on Thursday morning at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California.
Officials said they had located the suspected shooter and that the person is "no longer a threat." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says the suspect is in custody and is reportedly in grave condition at a local hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting occurred in the school's quad area. Officials say video from the scene shows the suspect pulling a semi-automatic pistol out of his backpack, shooting five students, and then shooting himself in the head.
The shooter has been identified as a 16-year-old male student at the school whose birthday is today. Earlier reports described the suspect as an "Asian male wearing black clothing."
An NBC News investigation found that Mina Chang, the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations, has inflated her educational achievements -- like claiming, falsely, to be a Harvard grad -- and exaggerated the scope of her nonprofit's work.
Bobby Rubio's personal animated short premieres on Disney+.
I won't lie: I stayed up late to watch The Mandalorian on Monday night, as soon as the new Disney+ streaming service went fully operational. I'm a Star Wars geek and I could wait no longer. With that out of the way -- it was great -- I want to make sure you watch the best film on the platform: the Pixar original animated short Float.
Directed by story artist Bobby Rubio, Float is the first Pixar film ever to feature Filipino American characters.
In Float, a father discovers that his is son is different from other kids in the most unusual way. To keep them both safe from judgement, Dad covers him and keeps him out of sight -- but when his son's ability becomes public, Dad must decide whether to run and hide or to accept his son as he is.
Rubio originally conceived the story as a comic... with a significant difference. The characters were white.
Your favorite family from the best damn movie of the year.
I just want to make sure everyone knows that this shirt exists, and if you're like me, and you believe that Bong Joon Ho's smash hit masterpiece Parasite is the best damn film of the year, you will order this shirt immediately. I won't say anything more about the film, except that if you haven't seen it yet, don't read anything and don't talk to anyone about it -- just go watch it and get your ass kicked. That is all.
'Jeopardy' host gets choked up by contestant's heartfelt message of support.
You don't really expect to see a lot of emotional moments on Jeopardy! and you sure as heck don't expect to see Alex Trebek getting choked up. But that's what happened on Monday's night's airing of the perennial TV quiz show, when a contestant's heartfelt message of support had the host fighting back tears.
During the "Final Jeopardy" round, contestant Dhruv Gaur revealed his response to evening's final question: "What is we [heart] you Alex!" Not quite the correct response; just some real love for Mr. Trebek, who has been publicly fighting a battle with pancreatic cancer. Just before Gaur's message, Trebek had announced that he was undergoing another round of chemotherapy.
Realizing the message was intended for him, Trebek was visibly moved. "That's very kind of you, thank you," he replied with his voice cracking. Watch the touching moment, and I dare you not to get choked up too:
Suspects assaulted three elderly men in an attempted robbery.
In San Francisco, police are searching for suspects who were caught on video assaulting a group of elderly men in a violent attempted robbery on Saturday night.
Video of the attack shows a group of seniors walking near Portsmouth Square in Chinatown when they're approached by two suspects who begin throwing punches at them. One victim is hit directly in the face and falls down, appearing to be out cold.
The Story of the Great Japanese-American Novel
John Okada's novel No-No Boy captures the injustice of incarcerating Japanese Americans during World War II -- and serves as a warning today for our own fractured society.
Opinion: It's time for UC to stop using the SAT
Decades of research show that the SAT and ACT add little or nothing to the high school GPA's prediction of a student's performance in the first year of college.
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In Conversation: Bao Phi and Jane Kim
Poet/autor Bao Phi sits down to chat with his longtime friend, San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, to talk about everything from Lost, to Ali Wong, to stepping into their power as marginalized people.
Conrad Ricamora Is Ready to Be a Leading Man
Why is Conrad Ricamora starring in the musical Soft Power in New York while filming How to Get Away With Murder in Los Angeles? Because he finally gets to play the hero.
Greetings, 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 Arthur Dong.
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.
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.
Contrary to popular belief, Jeremy Lin was not the first player of Asian descent in the NBA. In 1947, Wat Misaka, a 5-foot-7 Japanese American point guard from Utah, suited up and played three games with the New York Knicks to become the first nonwhite player in professional basketball.
Now you know. Now check out this incredibly cool Wat Misaka Throwback replica jersey, created by acclaimed poet/emcee G Yamazawa, paying tribute to the pioneering sports figure.
Produced with the blessing of Misaka's family, this handmade, custom cut and sew throwback jersey comes in black and white inspired by Misaka's championship run at Weber College, as well as a fire red Japanese colorway. Each purchase includes a retro basketball card (including randomly inserted autograph editions) designed by Gabe Gets. 20% of profits will be donated to the Special Olympics.
Kurt Suzuki, a yonsei (4th gen. Japanese American) wore one of those disgusting white supremacist hats when visiting the White House. It was horrifying, and symbolic of larger issues of Asian Americans and adjacency to white privilege.
The question I always want to pose to these garbage Japanese Americans is, how can you support a guy whose campaign and supporters have voiced support for the incarceration of Japanese Americans and have used it as a justification for oppressing other minority groups?
Suzuki couldn't even muster an apology. He said he was just trying to "have some fun." I wonder if he could go to a migrant concentration camp, look a mother and child in the eyes while wearing that hat, and claim it's just about having some fun.
I wonder if he could look me in the eye as a fellow yonsei and say it's just about having some fun.
Death, migration and the loss of culture
In Chinese culture, the transition to the afterlife is memorialized in tomb-sweeping festivals and food rituals. But what happens when years of migration cause treasured family traditions to vanish?
When comfort food means a heaping plate of Tex-Mex
"My love of Tex-Mex is the story of my family's journey and the hardships they faced, what they lost and what they gained. It is a story that begins in a riverside village in rural Guangdong province in southern China, long before I am born."
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
"...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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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:
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.
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.
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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.
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.
"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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
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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.
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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.
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At the Academy: ABOMINABLE
The creators behind the hit animated film Abominable talk about balancing cultural authenticity with universality.
"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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
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:
