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 Simran Jeet Singh, scholar, activist and author of the book The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform You Life. He talks about his journey of faith, dad jokes, his refusal to give in to negativity, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being Sikh.
For Asian American cooks, ties with Italy run deep
They may not share a common origin, but evidence suggests that these starchy foods developed concurrently for hundreds of years, with China coming first.
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Why Wearing a Mask Makes Me Feel Powerful
"Over the years, my constant poker face hardened to such a point that it could cut diamonds and became so natural that it took little effort to maintain. People often told me—unsolicited, of course—that I looked unhappy, or bored, or even contemptuous."
Why Brandon Perea's 'Nope' Audition Made Jordan Peele Cry
Breakout ator Brandon Perea's unexpected take on Angel, the Fry's worker, so won over Nope director Jordan Peele that he decided during their meeting to rewrite the script.
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 28, we welcome voice over artist Eric Bauza. He played the role of "Cerritos Conn Officer" and other characters on several episodes of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Outside of Star Trek, he's a prolific voice over artist with dozens of credits, having provided voices for some of animation's most iconic characters -- including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety most recently in Bugs Bunny Builders. He talks about getting his breaks as a voice actor, almost getting cast as another Lower Decks character, and making merchandise from obscure Canadian kids TV shows.
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 key creatives behind the k-drama/telenovela-inspired narrative podcast rom-com Love and Noraebang: co-director Amy S. Choi, co-writer Quincy Cho, and actress Julia Cho. They discuss telling stories with joy and authenticity, and why Randall Park is the perfect voice of Los Angeles.
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 27, 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 filmmaker Andrew Ahn (Fire Island, Driveways, Spa Night) to discuss "Timeless" from season five of Star Trek: Voyager -- a perennial series favorite. We discuss, among other things, why Deanna Troi is a gay icon, how survivor's guilt over faulty phase variance data can really age you, and Andrew's big ol' crush on Ensign Harry Kim.
Raymond Lee stars in the new 'Quantum Leap' reboot as Dr. Ben Seong.
I cannot express how I excited I am for NBC's upcoming restart of Quantum Leap. Not only was a huge fan of the hit 1990s time travel drama, I'm pretty psyched to see Raymond Lee in the starring role as the titular leaper.
The original show centered Dr. Samuel Beckett, who unwillingly finds himself "leaping" through space and time into the identities of individuals, helping history along the way before leaping into the next life. In the update, Lee stars as quantum physicist Dr. Ben Seong, who sets the reboot in motion when he makes an unauthorized leap into the past. His team begins searching for answers, scrambling to bring him home before he gets in too deep."
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive preview on the new show, including some insightful background information on Dr. Seong from Lee and the showrunners:
Described as a spiritual scientist, quantum physicist Dr. Seong has a specific approach to time travel. "He is compelled over and over again to make the right decision, even if his own life is at stake, so he is a much better person than I am in real life. He's something to strive for," Lee says. Dr. Seong immigrated from Korea with his mother, which will be integral to the story Quantum Leap is telling. "We're telling an immigrant story at its core, and it is how Ben is experiencing life moving forward," Lilien explains.
Constance Wu Doesn't Need To Apologize
Constance Wu revealed that vicious community backlash over her tweets -- yes, those tweets expressing frustration over Fresh Off The Boat's renewal -- made her suicidal.
My hot, rowdy Indian summers at Hindu youth camp
Actor and filmmaker Sujata Day remembers how over several summers attending Hindu camp as a camper, then a counselor, she overcame bears, a serial killer and the wrath of the gods.
John Cho Has Entered His DILF Era
"I have found myself speaking about issues of race -- often against my will -- it seems like for all my career," says John Cho. But his latest film, Don’t Make Me Go, cares less about identity than everything else.
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Henry Golding and His Powers of Persuasion
Jane Austen wrote William Elliot as one of literature's most memorable cads. In a buzzy new Netflix adaptation of Persuasion, Hollywood's nicest guy proves it's a role he was born to play.
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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome tech entrepreneur/thinkers Anil Dash and Ben Sun to talk about Asian American impact on the tech industry (and get nostalgic about Asian Avenue). Part 3 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.
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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome writer/comedian Karen Chee and costume designer Minji Kim to talk about Asian American visibility in fashion and entertainment. Part 2 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.
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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome chef Dale Talde, food personality Agnes Chung Talde and writer Frankie Huang to talk about the rise of Asian American food culture. Part 1 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.
Some Surprising Good News: Bookstores Are Booming and Becoming More Diverse
Lucy Yu was certain that a bookstore "focused on Asian American and immigrant stories" was just what Chinatown needed, so she opened Yu and Me Books -- one of more than 300 new independent bookstores that have sprouted across the United States in the past couple of years.
Close-Up on: Mariko Tamaki
In Anne of Greenville, an adaptation of Anne of Green Gables, Mariko Tamaki imagines Anne Shirley as a queer, Japanese American disco enthusiast trying to make her way in a new school in the middle of nowhere.
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 Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street. She talks about the process of bringing Ji-Young to life, her surprising journey as a puppeteer thus far, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of working on Sesame Street.
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 26, we welcome artist Amanda Wong. She is a background painter on seasons two and three of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Her other credits include Carmen Sandiego, Rick and Morty, My Little Pony: The Movie and DC Super Hero Girls. She talks about becoming a Trekkie at 7 years old, her path to working in animation, and why it's important to get the specific nuances of Cardassian floor patterns just right.
The Challenges That Keep Asian Chefs From Cooking How They Want
While all chefs are tasked with weighing the challenges of filling a dining room, Asian American chefs often have the added burden brought by the expectations and assumptions made by diners.
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Listen: The myths of MSG and 'clean' eating
On the Season 3 finale of Extra Spicy, host Soleil Ho speaks to comedian Jenny Yang about the problem with "clean" eating and her open invitation to Goop.
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 25, we welcome actress Christina Chong. She plays Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh, the USS Enterprise's Chief of Security, on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Outside of Star Trek, her acting credits include Line of Duty, Heirs of the Night, Of Kings and Prophets, Dominion, 24: Live Another Day, Black Mirror and Doctor Who. She talks about her humble beginnings as a performer, the burden of her character's infamous ancestry, and what it means for her to be a part of the Star Trek universe.
The Many Afterlives of Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin's killing, forty years ago, has inspired documentaries, television, young-adult books, and countless works of scholarship. What do we want from his story, and the people who tell it?
Joel Kim Booster on Finding His 'Nanette' Moment in 'Psychosexual' Special ...
Comedian, writer and actor Joel Kim Booster discusses how his first Netflix special tackles criticisms about his humor and identity: "I can't just speak as an Asian man only or as a gay man only. I am all those things, all at once, all the time."
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 are still alive! Your hosts return to recap and reset after an extended, unintended hiatus. We discuss our most hectic Heritage Month ever, the suckiness of finally succumbing to COVID-19, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of what we missed over the last two months.
How I Became an Asian American
"I hope Mr. Chin becomes an even more potent symbol of overdue justice not only for Asian Americans but for all Americans who know their worth is more than what racism and capitalism demand."
Don’t be fooled — Asian American voters are more progressive than you might think
"The Asian American community can be a progressive political force at the polls. However, political leaders, parties and organizations must make some serious long-term and sustained investments in our communities — not just when they need our votes."
Gene Luen Yang on the corniness and coolness of Captain America -- the hero who is a flag on the move.
"The hero who dresses like the American flag. You can't get much cornier than that." As a young comic book reader, Gene Luen Yang didn't think much of Captain America. To be honest, he summarily dismissed Marvel Comics' star-spangled superhero as a dork -- and certainly nowhere near as cool as the X-Men.
But over time, Gene's relationship to Cap has evolved -- much like the flag, and America itself. In his foreword to the new Penguin Classics Marvel Collection edition of CAPTAIN AMERICA, the award-winning comic book creator shares about coming around to the appeal of Captain America's undeniable dorkiness, and his connection to Cap as a fellow child of immigrants. We're delighted to share Gene's foreword here:
It's Been 50 Years. I Am Not 'Napalm Girl' Anymore.
For decades, Kim Phuc Phan Thi has struggled with the infamous photo of her at fleeing a bombed village when she was 9 years old. Today, she thinks of the children of Uvalde, cautioning that school shootings are the "domestic equivalent of war."
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By Accident of Birth
NPR's Throughline tells the story of Wong Kim Ark, who forever changed the path of American immigration law in the 1897 Supreme Court cast United States v. Wong Kim Ark.
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This photographer's surreal images explore the complexity of Asian American identity
Photographer Michelle Watt's portrait series "Lunar Geisha" is an exploration of Asian American female identity, examining who how East Asian women are perceived by society, how they are thrust into playing certain roles, the ways in which they become complicit in those stereotypes and the ways in which they rebel against them.
Worst Episode Ever Returns to Remind Us Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Once Went Bizarrely Racist
"It’s absolutely crazy this cartoon was made barely more than 30 years ago. In fact, the episode is so problematic that it was redubbed and re-edited after it originally aired in 1990, and that’s the only version currently available for viewing, and it still has the warning in front of it. And it should!"
May We Please Just Date Without Hate?
An Asian American college couple tries to let their young love bloom, but racist incidents keep disrupting their honeymoon phase.
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You're called a 'model minority' as an Asian American — until they decide you aren't
"Privilege-adjacent. Invisible at times. As an Asian American, that's how I typically used to think of my minority status. Society labels us the "model minority" when it is convenient. Sometimes we're models to be emulated — when we're not on the receiving end of people's fear, anger and suspicion."
One 'underdog' candidate sees opportunity in N.Y. maps mess
New York congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou is vying with better-known Bill de Blasio and Rep. Mondaire Jones, but she sees an opening with an electorate that is 20 percent Asian American voters.
The Doughnut Kids Are All Right
The next generation of Los Angeles doughnut shop owners are preserving, innovating on, and continuing a uniquely Khmerican experience.
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Elvis reimagined as an Asian American icon
Tommy Kha has photographed a number of people who emulate Elvis Presley over the years, but in this portrait he offers himself as the American icon.
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Chan Is Missing: Lost (and Not Found) in Chinatown
The 1982 film distills a set of broad social themes through intimate snapshots of San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood and its delightful panoply of personalities.
How Wayne Wang Faces Failure
Filmmaker Wayne Wang discusses his political and artistic education, the contradictions of being Asian in America, and the importance of "unlearning everything."
A photographer's journey to reconnect with his Chinese American identity
"These images tell the story of not only those who were brave enough to build new lives in America but the story of the generations that came after; how they persisted with their dreams and fought for their culture to exist in a society that wasn't welcoming."
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What Corky Lee Taught Me
Photographer An Rong Xu pays tribute to Corky, who passed away in January last year. For decades, Lee worked to not only document the day-to-day lives of Asian Americans, but also to correct American history that left out Asian Americans.
Asians in Hollywood Are Finally Showing Their True Selves, Flaws and All
"The power of Everything Everywhere All At Once lies in its comfort of not performatively overcorrecting for the non-Asian audience. An Asian film need not get upon stilts to drive the point home that 'these are not your typical Asians.' We've already passed the audition. The characters should simply be because there is room for everyone."
Ellen Pao on What Asian American Women Need from Workplaces TIME talked to four Asian American women who have built successful careers within their own industries while advocating alongside other AAPI professionals to build better workplaces for their communities.
Finally! After seven decades in show business with over 600 film and television roles to his name -- perhaps the most credited Hollywood actor in history -- legendary actor James Hong is being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At 93 years old, he is the oldest actor yet to receive this distinction.
Most recently, you may have seen him playing Michelle Yeoh's father in Daniels' genre-bending multiverse epic Everything Everywhere All at Once. Here's a featurette from A24 with his cast mates including Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu, talking about Hong and his pioneering career:
The term 'Asian American' has a radical history
"Asian American" is a term that is both ambitious and contentious, depending on who you ask... There are significant limitations to a single category that encompasses such a vast and diverse population. But despite its imperfect nature, scholars of Asian American history say that the term's origins suggest that it has immense potential, too.
A Story of Succession on a New Jersey Farm, in 'Seasons'
Nevia No's mother, who emigrated from what is now North Korea, was embarrassed of her chosen profession as a farmer; in turn, Gabriella Canal and Michael Fearon's documentary about Bodhitree Farm focusses on Nevia’s desire to pass on her work to her own daughter.
Wayne Wang Still Isn't Satisfied
On the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough drama, Chan Is Missing, director Wayne Wang says a new generation of Asian American filmmakers must make more challenging work.
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Memories of a Vibrant Moment in Asian American Cinema
"To understand our contemporary moment, we must look back at the 1980s and ’90s, when cultural media organizations and film festivals that supported Asian American filmmakers robustly programmed a diversity of aesthetic approaches."
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Young Hollywood Was Asian
The playboys, half-castes, outsiders, and sirens who made motion pictures.
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'Fresh Off the Boat' Was Just the Start
Though Fresh Off the Boat has ended, executive producers Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar are continuing to lead TV’s expansion in Asian American and Pacific Islander representation.
NBC picks up reboot of popular 1990s sci-fi time travel drama.
NBC has given a series order to Quantum Leap, a reboot of the popular 1990s sci-fi time travel drama. A Quantum Leap reboot was inevitable. What was not inevitable, but is awesome: it stars Raymond Lee.
The original series starred Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Backett, a scientist who finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the bodies of different people on a regular basis and sorting out their problems whilst trying to get back to his own time. The show ran for five seasons and actually ended with Sam never returning home.
The reboot is set in present time. It's been 30 years since Sam stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
It was previously reported that Lee will play Ben Seong, who is described as both a scientist and man of faith. He's a world-renowned physicist working on the Quantum Leap time travel project. Other cast members include Caitlin Bassett, Ernie Hudson, Mason Alexander Park and Nanrisa Lee.
I was such a huge fan of the original show, so I welcome this reboot. But the fact that Quantum Leap will star an Asian American lead is kind of mind-blowing. Hell yeah, Raymond Lee. Count me in.
Upcoming anthology of AAPI spoken word, slam, and poetry of oral traditions to be published in 2024.
Attention, poets! Haymarket Books invites Asian American and Pacific Islander poets, spoken word poets, slam poets, and poets who consider themselves part of various oral traditions to submit their work for an anthology of AAPI spoken word, slam, and poetry of oral traditions to be published in 2024.
This anthology (title pending) seeks to celebrate poetry from the space where Asia, the Pacific, and “America” meet. This project seeks to interrogate what we mean when we say “AAPI poetry,” lean into the complexities of solidarity-building, and highlight what connects our stories. Gathering prominent spoken word artists of the 80s and 90s with contemporary voices in literary publishing, this collection makes a case for the importance of the oral tradition in accountings of Asian/Pacific American literary histories and futures. We seek an aesthetically, demographically, and politically diverse range of poetic work, with an ultimate commitment to fighting—and imagining beyond—imperialism across our diasporas. The editorial team of this anthology are Franny Choi, Terisa Siagatonu, No'u Revilla, and Bao Phi.
You can submit up to three poems for consideration. The deadline is July 1, 2022. For further information, go here: OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
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 writer/director Kate Tsang and actress Miya Cech to talk about their film Marvelous and the Black Hole. They discuss making a different kind of Asian American coming-of-age movie, working with the inimitable Rhea Perlman, and mastering the secrets of sleight of hand.
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 the legendary, incomparable Michelle Yeoh, star of Everything Everywhere All at Once. She talks about being the center of the multiverse, embracing absurdity, and playing a role unlike anything she's done before: the fantastically mediocre Evelyn Wang.
