Read These

What Reparations Actually Bought
In 1990, the U.S. government sent a letter of apology and a $20,000 to more than 82,000 Japanese Americans who, during World War II, were robbed of their homes, jobs, and rights, and incarcerated in camps. The redress program showed that the money matters. But it's not the only thing that matters.

* * *
How Asian Americans got wrapped up in the affirmative action debate — and why many want out
Asian American college applicants have been cast as victims of affirmative action, often unwillingly, by conservative anti-affirmative action politicians who are leaning into people's biases and stereotypes to advance their own agenda. Higher education researcher Oiyan Poon breaks it down for WBEZ.

* * *
Why I Don't Translate Non-English Words in My Writing
"We encounter the unfamiliar in all kinds of fiction, from historical epics to sci-fi to small-town Iowa realism. Yet there remains a particular insistence on maximum legibility when it comes to books set in worlds that aren't white, aren't Western, aren't lived in "standard" English."

* * *
How Spam Became a Staple of Asian Cuisine
American G.I.s fought abroad in wars in the 20th century and left behind an unlikely legacy: canned meat.

* * *
Tea Tea
Did you know that the word "chai" means "tea," so when you say "chai tea" you’re just saying "tea tea"?

* * *
American Born Chinese: VFX Supervisor Kaitlyn Yang Breaks Down How Diversity Unites Communities
Kaitlyn Yang, visual effects supervisor for American Born Chinese, breaks down the power of diverse experiences in modern media and the surprises of the show.

* * *
YouTube channel Wong Fu Productions reflects on 20 years of Asian American storytelling
Before there was Crazy Rich Asians or Everything Everywhere All at Once, there was a scrappy trio of college students making independent films that resonated with young Asian Americans.

They Call Us Bruce 201: They Call Us American Born Chinese

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 Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese, and actor Ben Wang, who stars as Jin Wang in the Disney+ series adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel. They talk about some of the tricky considerations when it came to bringing this beloved book to life, how they updated the story for contemporary television (and contemporary Asian America), and how toy robots and Panda Express can bring people together.

They Call Us Bruce 200: They Call Us 200

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 celebrate 200 episodes of They Call Us Bruce by welcoming back some good friends and returning guests from Episode 100: actor Daniel Wu, who stars as the Monkey King in Disney's adaptation of American Born Chinese, and comedian/filmmaker W. Kamau Bell, whose HBO original documentary 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed explores multiracial identity though conversations with kids and families. They discuss why the kids are all right, the meme-ification of Bruce Lee, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of having a foot in two worlds. Plus: Phil and Kamau engage in an impromptu Daniel Tiger sing-off.

Read These

'Past Lives' is a what-if love triangle in two languages
Celine Song's feature film debut Past Lives is a romantic drama inspired by a real-life love triangle.

* * *
We Should All Believe in Ourselves as Much as Filmmaker Celine Song Believed in Her 'Past Lives'
Celine Song didn't have any of the things that usually allow producers to trust a first-time filmmaker. But she believed that her script for Past Lives was so good that it would be the build-it-and-they-will-come of screenplays. She was right.

* * *
New documentary about Korean liquor store families starts messy, necessary conversation
"In the quest to articulate an Asian American political identity over these past few years, I wonder if we plan to include our parents. More than half of Asian Americans are immigrants who were born speaking a different language. And in large part, these are the people who need the most help."

* * *
This Is the Vibrant Future of Night Markets in Los Angeles
Inspired by immigrant-run street markets, a younger generation of Angelenos is organizing events to encourage entrepreneurship and community preservation.

* * *
Reflecting on Four Decades of Houston's Asiatown
Since taking root 40 years ago, Houston's vibrant Asiatown neighborhood remains a refuge for food and family.

* * *
An Asian American Comedy Milestone Riffs on a Kung-Fu Icon
For Criterion's series on Asian American cinema of the 1980s, Oliver Wang writes about the somewhat forgotten fish-out-of-water comedy They Call Me Bruce, starring pioneering comedian Johnny Yune.

* * *
Daniel Wu's Journey to the West
"Americans think I'm just a kung fu star, and that's not really indicative of my whole career."

* * *
Ronny Chieng Is 'Asian-Mom Famous'
Actor/comedian Ronny Chieng has made you laugh, made you cringe, and he's been chased by a scary robot doll -- but Chieng's biggest roles are still ahead of him.

Read These

The High-Risk Feat of Bringing 'American Born Chinese' to TV
For years, Gene Luen Yang was convinced a single character in his groundbreaking graphic novel American Born Chinese would doom any attempt at an adaptation. What changed?

* * *
Ke Huy Quan's Role in 'American Born Chinese' Scared the 'Sh**' Out of Him
In American Born Chinese, Ke Huy Quan plays Freddy Wong, an actor from a popular '90s sitcom whose character was based on painful Asian stereotypes.

* * *
Stopping Asian American Hate Stemming From the COVID-19 Pandemic
"During Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions that our community has made and continues to make in this country. However, we also understand that there is much work to be done in eradicating Asian American hate. And doing so requires every elected official to be honest about the long struggles of Asian Americans and finally set the record straight about COVID-19."

* * *
How one woman fought bigotry and helped change the way Asian Americans see themselves
Helena Zia has waged a decades-long campaign against anti-Asian violence, encouraging Asian Americans to unite, organize, and agitate.

* * *
Star Ballroom – site of Monterey Park mass shooting – on brink of closing for good, owner says
This community dance studio, social hub, and safe haven was shattered when a shooter entered and opened fire, killing eleven people. Now it may close for good.

* * *
Food blogging reminds me of what I'm capable of and how my heritage is my own
"I don't want to brag, but my food is pretty good. Soon enough, everyone was asking me for the recipes, which is how Bun Bo Bae, my Vietnamese cooking blog, came to be in 2019."

* * *
XO, Kitty star Anna Cathcart is ready to take the lead
Anna Cathcart stars in XO, Kitty, a spinoff of the To All the Boys trilogy.

They Call Us Bruce 199: They Call Us Tze Chun

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 Tze Chun, showrunner behind not one, but two new shows: the animated prequel series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai and the Boots Riley-created absurdist coming-of-age comedy I'm a Virgo. He talks about spinning new lore from a classic franchise, putting Chinese characters at the center ("unless otherwise noted"), getting to tell "weird" stories about people of color, and making sure fellow Asian American creators get a boost.

All The Asians On Star Trek 33: Christopher Aguilar

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 33, we welcome actor Christopher Aguilar. When he was 12 years old, he guest starred on Star Trek: Voyager, in the season three episode "Before and After," in which he played "Andrew Kim" -- the future son of Ensign Harry Kim and the grandson of Lt. Tom Paris and Kes. Wait, what? It's all very confusing and Christopher helps us clear it up. He talks about getting his start as a kid actor in Hollywood, channeling is own inner Kes while shooting Voyager, as well as his job eventually working as a cast member for Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. He also gets real about his journey, sharing about his work as a writer, performer and mental health advocate.

They Call Us Bruce 198: They Call Us Connie

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 two of the legions of Asian American women of a certain age who were named after journalist Connie Chung: writer Connie Wang, whose New York Times piece "Generation Connie" put a spotlight on this phenomenon, and cartoonist Connie Sun, one of the many namesakes of the trailblazing newswoman who participated in the "Con Con." They talk about this unique sisterhood, the aspirational qualities of naming your kid Connie, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being named Connie.

They Call Us Bruce 197: They Call Us Girl Taking Over

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 Sarah Kuhn and artist Arielle Jovellanos, whose new original DC young adult graphic novel Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story re-imagines Lois Lane as an Asian American teen tackling a summer internship in the big city. They talk about finding your people, putting an Asian American twist on a beloved legacy character, the dreaded drawing of cars and crowds, and re-directing the scent of stinky lunchbox moments.

Read These

Generation Connie
Growing up, Connie Wang thought being named after Connie Chung made her unique. Little did she know that there was a whole generation of Asian American women named after the same iconic news anchor.

* * *
Asked to Delete References to Racism From Her Book, an Author Refused
Maggie Tokuda-Hall declined Scholastic's offer to license her book, Love in the Library, on the condition that she edit her author's note to remove a description of past and present instances of racism.

* * *
Philadelphia Mayoral Candidate Helen Gym Wants to Change How People Live
In advance of the May 16 primary, Philadelphia mayoral candidate Helen Gym Gym talks about her years of work in the community, organizing alongside young people, and what progressives are up against in 2023.

* * *
The Last Gamble of Tokyo Joe
Ken Eto rose through the ranks of the Chicago mob, and then it tried to kill him.

* * *
In the U.S., a weak support system erodes Asian traditions of intergenerational caregiving
The clashing of cultural norms with American systems is especially clear to Asian American and Pacific Islander women -- the most likely group to be caring for elderly parents in the United States.

* * *
To Court SF Voters, Politicians Give Themselves Flowery Chinese Names
San Francisco political candidates who are not of Chinese ancestry have traditionally appeared on ballots with a Chinese name based on their English names' phonetic transliteration, but aspiring officeholders are now being much more deliberate about selecting an "authentic" Chinese name.

* * *
Constance Wu Put Mental Health In Asian Communities In The Spotlight. Here’s What's Next.
"Though Constance Wu’s transparency about her mental health has opened up a conversation around the pressures of being an Asian American woman, there’s still a long way to go in terms of people of Asian diasporas getting the help they need to ensure their mental well being. And, we need to be talking about it."

* * *
She Wrote a Blistering Satire About Publishing. The Publishing Industry Loves It.
In her latest novel Yellowface, R.F. Kuang draws on her own experiences to tackle issues like cultural appropriation and representation. "I hate the feeling of being read just because somebody's trying to tick off a diversity check box," she says.

* * *
Being an Honorary White Person Doesn't Make Us More Powerful
Beef reminds us that choosing proximity to whiteness often means doing harm to ourselves and others.

* * *
Randall Park's Big Plans
Longtime actor Randall Park talks to GQ about his directorial debut, Shortcomings, what real creative freedom looks like, and why he's been working out so much.

* * *
For Helen Park, 'KPOP' nod 'feels like an encouragement to continue.'
Helen Park, the first Asian American female composer on Broadway, was nominated for a Tony Award for best original score for the short-lived musical KPOP.

* * *
'This is the golden age': How the Class of 1997 changed Asian American filmmaking forever
With feature films from Justin Lin, Quentin Lee, Rea Tajiri and Michael Idemoto, 1997 was a banner, signal year for independent Asian American cinema.

* * *
Ashley Park Is Finally in the Driver's Seat
With Joy Ride, Ashley Park is officially putting her quirky-best friend past in the rearview.

* * *
How Diana Lee Inosanto Of 'The Mandalorian' Is Shaking Up The Entertainment Industry
Diana Lee Inosanto is a veteran actress, director, and stuntwoman who appears in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian and the forthcoming Ahsoka.

* * *
The Curator: FFC Interviews Brian Hu
Walter Chaw interviews film programmer Brian Hu.

They Call Us Bruce 196: They Call Us Ten Thousand Things

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 Shin Yu Pai, award-winning poet, museologist, and host of Ten Thousand Things, a podcast about modern-day artifacts of Asian American life. We discuss the personal objects and collections that say who we are and where we've been, from Rep. Andy Kim's now-famous blue suit to our precious stuffed loved ones. We also play a special show-and-tell version of The Good, The Bad and The WTF featuring our own Asian American artifacts.

They Call Us Bruce 195: They Call Us Shib Sibs

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 awesome sibling duo Alex and Maia Shibutani, two-time Olympic medalist ice dancers and authors of the children's picture book Amazing: Asian American and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All. They discuss their unique journey growing up as brother/sister teammates on the ice, their evolution as role models and community advocates, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of working with your sibling.

Read These

The Fallout of a Callout
What happens after a public callout? Hari Kondabolu and Hank Azaria, the voice of Apu on The Simpsons, speak to each other publicly for the first time since Hari's documentary The Problem With Apu came out in 2017.

* * *
A disguise hides even more than identity in Asian American spy stories
Drawing a line through The Sympathizer, M. Butterfly, and espionage history.

* * *
"Noodles are tasty": The economic implications behind race and cultural appropriation in food media
Discussing cultural appreciation and appropriation is also about broader questions of who can get a platform to share food -- and who profits.

* * *
Surgeon General: We Have Become a Lonely Nation. It's Time to Fix That.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is introducing a new framework to address loneliness in the United States this week, writing in a new op-ed that social connections must be a "top public health priority" in the country.

* * *
Streaming has twice the AAPI representation of broadcast, report shows
While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders still struggle with feeling represented, new research shows that streaming platforms are a significantly more inclusive space for them.

* * *
In Nida Manzoor's World, Martial Arts and Jane Austen Belong in the Same Movie
Writer-director Nida Manzoor set out to make "a joyful film about South Asian Muslim women" that didn't revolve around trauma. The result is Polite Society.

* * *
Greta Lee and Steven Yeun Have an Emotionally X-Rated Conversation
A professional scene-stealer in shows like Russian Doll and The Morning Show, Greta Lee’s career blew up at Sundance when her movie Past Lives wowed the entire festival and made the actor an early awards contender.

Read These

The big casting blunder on ‘Beef’ sends a message
"When we talk about rebuilding Hollywood, we can't do it on the same rotten foundations. And ironically, the lesson of Beef itself is that as much as it hurts to reckon with our own failures, it hurts more people and causes more damage when we fail to do so -- all of which is to say, the individuals and institutions associated with the show can’t stay silent."

* * *
We're in Asian America's peak media moment. But 'Beef' has poisoned the well
"To uncritically embrace Beef for what it gives to the Asian American community shows that we’re on board with rape culture and with misogyny, especially against Black women. To embrace it shows that we're willing to let others pay the price for our feelings of validation and belonging."

* * *
Juggling College With a Media Job. Now Both Are Over.
Emma Choi, NPR’s first Gen Z podcast host, went from being an intern to landing her own show in less than a year. Then she got laid off.

* * *
This Asian American Farmer Wants to Create a Home for Rare Heirloom Asian Vegetables
One of California's most prominent farmers, Kristyn Leach hopes to create a permanent home in Sebastopol for her work preserving Asian heirloom vegetables and seeds.

* * *
When a Margaret Cho DVD Was Like Precious Contraband to Atsuko Okatsuka
Comedians Margaret Cho and Atsuko Okatsuka both imagined the other was born confident -- but it took years for each to find her voice."

* * *
Hari Kondabolu is a Vacation Daddy
Stand-up comic Hari Kondabolu discusses pandemic fatherhood, humor and his new special Vacation Baby.

* * *
Nida Manzoor Is Changing The Way Muslim Women Are Portrayed On Screen
Nida Manzoor's debut feature Polite Society centers on Ria, a British Pakistani teen aspiring to be a stunt performer in movies, who stages a heist in order to stop her older sister's wedding to "a rich Mr. Darcy wanker."

* * *
'It's about time': How 'Indian Matchmaking' found love - and success - on Netflix
The creator of the reality TV dating series Indian Matchmaking, which recently premiered its third season on Netflix, talks about her hit show, which unleashed an international discussion about arranged marriage.

* * *
New Asian American and Pacific Islander Literature for AAPI Heritage Month and Beyond
"...this AAPI Heritage Month, truly engage with contemporary AAPI literature. Dive deep, and delight in the experience. These books are important, they’re works of art, and they’re frankly just really good reads."

They Call Us Bruce 194: They Call Us K-Pop Dreaming

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 Vivian Yoon, host and writer of the podcast K-Pop Dreaming from LAist Studios, a journey through the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, mapped against Vivian's own coming-of-age as a second generation Korean American in Los Angeles. We talk about some of the unknown stories behind K-pop's ascent, how diasporic Korean identity has always been in conversation with K-pop, and how to feel, as Asian Americans, about K-pop's seemingly sudden global dominance and ubiquity.

They Call Us Bruce 193: They Call Us Beef

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 the Bruce Crew, perennial favorite guests Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA, to slice, dice and discuss the Netflix series Beef. They talk about the evolution and future of Asian American storytelling, the seductive appeal of the worship leader oppa, and what happens when Asian American character are allowed to be their whole, messy, specific selves. Also, stick around for the bonus SPOILER discussion at the end of the episode.

Read These

Did the last census overcount Asian Americans? It depends on where you lookA new report is complicating an unusual finding from the U.S. Census Bureau's own report card on the accuracy of its 2020 head count of the country's population: a national overcount of Asian Americans.

* * *
In 'Beef,' Road Rage Is Only the Beginning
Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star in this comedy about a traffic incident that triggers a bitter feud. "It really is about how hard it is to be alive," said Lee Sung Jin, the creator.

* * *
'These Characters Happen to Be Asian American, but There's So Much More to Them'
Lee Sung Jin discusses the nuances of the characters' dynamics in Beef, the nostalgia he embedded in the Korean church scenes and why he conceives of himself as a character-first writer.

* * *
Steven Yeun talks about 'Beef,' his new hate-fueled Netflix series with Ali Wong
NPR's Brittany Luse, host of It's Been a Minute, talks with actor Steven Yeun about his new Netflix series.

* * *
Actor Young Mazino Feels Right At Home With Netflix's Beef
Breakout actor Young Mazino made things personal with his role as Steven Yeun's brother in Beef.

* * *
From Vintage Issey Miyake To Rachel Comey, Beef’s Fashion Is As Dramatic As The Show Costume designer Helen Huang talks about how the idea of contradictions -- that underneath our pristinely curated appearances is a simmering well of complexity, fury, and shame -- is a recurrent theme throughout Beef.

* * *
Viet Thanh Nguyen on the Cover of His New Memoir
"It often feels like a cover designer I have not met has captured some dimension of the book I have not been aware."

* * *
Ling Ling Huang and Constance Wu on Toxic Ideals and the Dark Side of the Wellness Industry
Huang's debut novel critiquing beauty and wellness products caught Constance Wu's attention – and now a television series in the works.

* * *
Nicole Chung on Writing Through Grief and How to Begin Again
In her second memoir, A Living Remedy, Nicole Chung writes of losing both her father and mother to illness within a short span while interrogating issues of class and the inequities of medical care in the United States.

* * *
Brandon Lee’s loved ones remember ‘The Crow’ star 30 years after his death
Loved ones remember Brandon Lee, thirty years after his tragic accidental death on the set of The Crow.

They Call Us Bruce 192: They Call Us Sexy Asians

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 Susie An and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, hosts of WBEZ Chicago's Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast. They talk about scheming up the podcast as a shameless, naked excuse to interview sexy Asians; the public radio hoops they had to jump through to get it made; and why listeners in search of "bold sexual discourse" might be disappointed. And of course, they discuss The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of sexy Asians.

Read These

How Filipinos in the Mission Recorded the First Asian American Rock Album
In the 1970s, San Francisco rock band Dakila was the second Filipino band signed to a major label in the U.S., the first American band to record a track in Tagalog -- and the first to put their Filipino identity front and center.

* * *
The Summer Camp
Where We Are is a series about young people coming of age and the spaces where they create community.

* * *
The unseen Asian American mental health crisis
Asian Americans' psychological state over the last few years has been one of hypervigilance and pretending -- constantly having to act as if everything is "business as usual." But as Asian Americans across the country continue to grapple with violence, cracks are appearing in their ability to live their everyday lives.

* * *
Abi Balingit's Cookbook Mayumu is an Ode to the Sweet Side of Filipino Cuisine
The Dusky Kitchen blogger Abi Balingit's new cookbook Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed is crammed full of recipes for sweets like adobo chocolate chip cookies, halo-halo baked Alaska, and much more.

* * *
Beverly Soon Tofu's Monica Lee Writes the First-Ever Cookbook About a Koreatown Restaurant
Monica Lee's forthcoming cookbook Sohn-mat features traditional Korean recipes from the legendary Beverly Soon Tofu, one of LA's most famous Koreatown restaurants, including soondubu jjigae.

* * *
Two action icons and a pop star take ‘John Wick 4' to new heights
No Hollywood franchise is doing ballistic, balletic, bone-crunching fight action better than the John Wick series — and in its newest installment, a murderer's row of talent joins Keanu Reeves to take the hit-man saga to the next level.

* * *
How to Stay, When to Vanish
Jean Chen Ho's Criterion essay about Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night, the pandemic, her sense of time, and the ending of a relationship.

They Call Us Bruce 191: They Call Us Everything Everywhere All Asian Oscars

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 the day after the 95th Academy Awards, we welcome perennial favorite guests Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA to debrief and discuss a historic night at the Oscars, for Everything Everywhere All at Once, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Daniels -- and Asians in general.

Read These

No, my Japanese American parents were not 'interned' during WWII. They were incarcerated
The Los Angeles Times officially halts the use of the word "internment" to describe the mass incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

* * *
What counts as an 'American name' in a changing nation
The Washington Post's Marian Chia-Ming Liu asked readers if they felt the need to Anglicize their names to fit in. She showcases just a few of the thousands of responses she received.

* * *
'RRR's' 'Naatu Naatu' made Oscars history. But South Asian dancers feel betrayed
After a milestone night for Asian and Asian American inclusion at the 95th Academy Awards, the South Asian community is still feeling the sting of being left out of the live performance of "Naatu Naatu."

* * *
Why 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' feels more like reality than movie magic
"I'll admit, this movie is a family hot pot of ridiculousness... But even though my friends have described me as cold-hearted and the Grumpy Cat meme in real life, I was unexpectedly emotional while watching it."

* * *
For Asian Americans, thrill of Oscars offset by rising anti-Asian hate
The historic success of Everything Everywhere All At Once comes almost a year after the Atlanta spa shooting, with anti-Asian attacks still on the rise.

* * *
Ke Huy Quan, Comeback Kid: The Oscar Winner on 'Everything Everywhere,' Kissing Harrison Ford and Why He's Worried About What Comes Next
Comeback kid Ke Huy Quan talks to Variety in the aftermath of his amazing, inspirational Oscar win.

* * *
Joy Ride: Adele Lim on Her SXSW Directorial Debut and Telling a Story About Messy, Thirsty Friends 'On Our Terms'
Teresa Hsiao, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, and Adele Lim wanted a film that showed young Asian women having fun and being messy, telling a story on their own terms. Joy Ride follows a young woman who goes on a business trip to Asia and decides to track down her birth mother while she's there.

Read These

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once' Is Big Winner at the Oscars
In a historic night at the 95th Academy Awards, Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven awards, including for best picture, original screenplay, directing and in three of the four acting categories.

* * *
Everything Everywhere's James Hong on bullying, 'yellowface' and his big break – at 94
He has worked with everyone from Clark Gable to Harrison Ford. Now the actor is finally getting the attention he deserves. He talks about hidden prejudice, tickling Kim Cattrall -- and his dreams for the future.

* * *
Stephanie Hsu feels at peace with the multiverse
The Everything Everywhere All At Once breakout star and Oscar nominee talks the film, her career thus far, and the magnitude of this moment.

* * *
For us weird Asians, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' is a second chance
Jeff Yang knew of the strange, obscure, and absurd stories out there in Asian American indie film, but was shocked by the impact Everything Everywhere All at Once has had at the big box office.

* * *
The Oscars and the Pitfalls of Feel-Good Representation
Why have we become so fixated on the award prospects of the most successful members of a minority group?

* * *
'She had to hide': the secret history of the first Asian woman nominated for a best actress Oscar
Merle Oberon, a pick for best actress in 1936, was born in Bombay and spent her career passing for white.

* * *
What I Found When I Looked Into the Fate of Anna May Wong, a Hollywood Star
"There is a platitude that has often been repeated in recent years: You can't be what you can't see. These Asian pioneers in cinema prove the contrary. They were each firsts in their own right, pushing forward where there were no trails to follow."

* * *
The Family Who Tried to End Racism Through Adoption
Bob and Sheryl Guterl saw their family as a kind of "ark for the age of the nuclear bomb" and attempted to gather "two of every race."

* * *
A Photographer Frames His Own American South
Tommy Kha's portraits blend his Asian heritage with the mythology of the South.

* * *
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Monica Youn
In her fourth poetry collection, From From, poet Monica Youn explores Asian American identity existing in the space between a homeland and a country of residence/citizenship.

They Call Us Bruce 190: They Call Us Unseen

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 Yoko Okumura, Midori Francis and Jolene Purdy, the director and stars, respectively, of the horror/thriller Unseen. They discuss the challenges of crafting a story about two people connecting via FaceTime; the unique storytelling dynamic that occurs when a movie, not originally conceived as an Asian American story, is told by a director and two leads who happen to be Japanese American; And The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Unseen (hint: involves bugs).

Read These

'I Don't Take a Single Second for Granted': Asian and Asian American Nominees on the Oscars
It was a record year for actors, but directors, musicians and other artists of Asian descent are also up for statuettes. We asked many of the contenders to reflect on their work.

* * *
Asian Actors Have Been Underrepresented at the Oscars For Decades. Here's the History.
A record number of actors of Asian ancestry were recognized with Oscar nominations this year, led by Michelle Yeoh of Everything Everywhere All at Once, who's up for best actress. Historically, Asian stars have rarely been part of the Academy Awards.

* * *
Hong Kong's Ageless Action Hero
Nearing 60, Donnie Yen, the last of a golden era of martial arts stars, looks back on an unparalleled career—and forward, to his role in the new John Wick film.

* * *
Why Everyone Will Be Talking About Steven Yeun's New Netflix Series
Steven Yeun plays a smolderingly angry, increasingly desperate general contractor in the new Netflix dark comedy Beef.

* * *
Ali Wong Gets Dramatic
Boundary-pushing stand-up Ali Wong tests her limits with an intense part on Netflix's Beef and a new real-life role as a divorced mom: "Whatever happens, I'm in my first trimester of life right now."

* * *
Hari Kondabolu on Comedy, Race, and Being a Queens Kid in Maine
Comedian Hari Kondabolu talks about seeing space for himself on the screen, discovering how to be in the world and the first joke he was really proud of.

* * *
How 'Unseen' Director Yoko Okumura Cast Against the Hollywood Grain in Debut Film
Yoko Okumura's feature-length directorial debut Unseen is about a women who is kidnapped by her obsessive boyfriend and held captive in the woods.

* * *
With Turning Red, Domee Shi Explores Uncharted Animated Waters
Domee Shi, director of Pixar's Turning Red, on the joys -- and weight -- of being a trailblazer.

* * *
Kung Fu Nuns of Nepal Smash Convention
In Himalayan Buddhism, the religious roles of nuns have long been restricted by rules and customs. But one sect is changing that, mixing meditation with martial arts and environmental activism.

They Call Us Bruce 189: They Call Us Everything Everywhere All at Once Again

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 revisit the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, now in the thick of awards season and on the cusp of Oscars glory, with an epic super-sized compilation of our previous conversations with Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Daniel Kwan, and of course, Michelle Yeoh -- who now all happen to be Academy Award nominees.

Read These

Randall Park Breaks Out of Character
Randall Park made his career in amiable roles like Louis on Fresh Off the Boat, but his directorial début, Shortcomings, is full of characters who are, in his word, "shitty" people.

* * *
Schools unprepared to help Asian American students navigate racial trauma
Amid recent high-profile attacks and the larger surge in anti-Asian hate, young Asian Americans -- for whom the leading cause of death was suicide even prior to the pandemic -- are calling on schools to invest in the sustained mental health resources they need to cope.

* * *
Stephanie Hsu on Lessons Learned from Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan
Actress Stephanie Hsu dishes on her Academy Award nomination for Everything Everywhere All at Once, lessons learned from her veteran co-stars and being a future bingo night winner.

* * *
She’s Oscar-Nominated, but Hong Chau Hopes to Stay an Underdog
Nominated for best supporting actress for The Whale, actress Hong Chau never dreamed of being a performer. But she has turned into a force of nature," says co-star Brendan Fraser.

* * *
'Everything Everywhere' Producer Jonathan Wang Unlocks the Secret of the Daniels' Success
Oscar nominated producer Jonathan Wang explains how he became the "third leg" of the Daniels and why the success of Everything Everywhere should be seen as a counterpoint to Top Gun: Maverick.

* * *
For a Film About Korean Adoptees, a Group Effort
In Return to Seoul, a French adoptee repeatedly visits her birth country of South Korea. Neither filmmaker Davy Chou nor star Park Ji-Min were adopted, but they got help from friends.

* * *
How 'Physical 100,' Netflix's Korean reality gauntlet, destroys misconceptions around Asian bodies
"The major contribution here is that it completely destabilizes the ways we link up race and ability."

Greta Lee and Teo Yoo Star in A24's 'Past Lives'

Celine Song's decades-spanning romantic drama premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival.



Damn, that's a hell of a trailer. Here's your first look at Past Lives, writer/director Celine Song's decades-spanning romantic drama starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro. The film premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival is scheduled for release this year.

Past Lives follows Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.

Take a look:

A24 is Auctioning Off (Almost) Everything from Everything Everywhere All At Once

Online charitable auction featuring original and iconic props, wardrobe, and set pieces.



If you're an Everything Everywhere All at Once superfan like me, you can't get enough of Daniels' multiverse jumping sci-fi action adventure comedy. But how about owning an actual piece from the movie?

A24's online charitable auction platform A24 Auctions is offering fans a chance to own a piece of movie history. Starting Thursday, February 23, 12:00 PM (ET), you can bid on the original and iconic props, wardrobe, and set pieces from Everything Everywhere All at Once. How about Jobu Tapaki's bedazzled Elvis costume? Hot dog hands? Racacoonie? The Auditor of the Month trophy? Yup.

100% of each of the auction's proceeds will be donated to one of the three charities that filmmakers The Daniels selected: Laundry Workers Center, Transgender Law Center and Asian Mental Health Project.

Read These

This comedian just won a $550,000 prize. Up next: A boundary-pushing Culver City show
Part of the world may have moved on from COVID-19, but performance artist Kristina Wong is reliving the worst of the pandemic night after night as part of her solo show, "Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord."

* * *
Chinatown's Hidden Poverty: How a Big Family Struggles To Survive in a Tiny Room
For the Yus, simple survival in San Francisco while struggling with poverty is filled with challenges, but the harsher question is whether they will ever find a way out of their one room SRO and into a home of their own.

* * *
While Florida targets Black history, Texas Republicans plan to make life miserable for Asian Americans
If Texas' proposed SB147 is enacted, the bill would ban citizens from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from buying property or real estate in Texas. At least 11 other states are considering similar legislation.

* * *
Letters from the Japanese incarceration camp at Santa Anita
Ted Fujioka was 17 years old when he was forced into an incarceration camp during World War II, and he wrote letters to a high school teacher. Decades later, those letters made it back to Ted's nephew Darrell Kunitomi, historian for the Los Angeles Times.

* * *
How 'Broker' and 'Return to Seoul' reveal hard truths about Korean adoption
Two critically acclaimed films about South Korean adoption were recently released depicting different sides of the adoption story: Broker and Return to Seoul. To better understand how these films speak to real-life adoptees, Jae-Ha KIm talked to Korean academics, human rights experts, and adoptees.

* * *
Sandra Oh's Sense of Purpose
Sandra Oh discusses Hollywood survival skills, winning the lottery, and her interest in telling “messy" Asian American stories.

* * *
Portraying Asian Americans Positively and the “Messiness That is Life in Any Community"
When Kathryn Ma wrote her new novel The Chinese Groove, she said it felt risky to write a Chinese character who was behaving badly.

They Call Us Bruce 188: They Call Us White Savior

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 Eric Nguyen and Scott Burman, creators of White Savior, a hilarious comic book spoof of white savior stories (à la The Last Samurai, The Great Wall). They talk about their creative partnership, the unique confidence of white guys, and why the time was right for a samurai skewering of this tired and tiring narrative trope.

Twenty-two Angry Years

Happy Angryversary.



This one snuck up on me. Happy Valentine's Day, to all who celebrate. But by pure coincidence, today also happens to the be the anniversary of this website. Yes, on this day twenty-two years ago, just after midnight, I hit publish on the very first iteration of Angry Asian Man. Powered by some very rickety HTML code and a little bit of that dumb fearlessness of the new millennium internet era, I just started blogging. I didn't even know what I was doing was referred to as blogging. But that's how this journey began. Now 22 years and counting.

Of course, this website is not quite what it used to be, as the day-to-day blogging has scaled back significantly and my energy and attention have been diverted to other concerns. Health, money, family, and gravity (and a global pandemic) have all collected their cut of my 24 hours. But I've been keeping busy with other personal and professional projects, maintaining a voice on social media, and still devoted to this community called Asian America, no matter how many times it inflates and breaks my heart.

So this is the annual post. Another ring on the tree trunk and another opportunity to say thank you. Thank you to all the supporters, especially the ones who have been here since year one. Thank you to all the great friends this website has brought into my life; you are easily the best thing about this journey. Thank you to all the creators and collaborators; let's make more great stuff. And thank you to my partner in crime Joanna, who has held my hand on every step of this path.

Let's keep this going. There is more great stuff to come in year 23 and beyond.

Why Do Asian Americans Love "Bizarre Love Triangle"?

Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday?



Asian Americans, we have an anthem. If you are Asian American of a certain age, there is a song that can immediately pull us into circle formation on the dance floor like synth siren's song. I am, of course, talking about "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order. If you know, you know. But why? What is about this specific track that has resonated so strongly with a generation of Asian Americans?

Our friend, sociology professor, DJ and music scholar Oliver Wang is formally asking the questions about "Bizarre Love Triangle" and doing some important work for the culture. Through a research study entitled "Bizarre Love Theories," he intends to get to the bottom of why New Order's 1986 dance chart hit has been embraced as an unofficial anthem of Asian America. And he needs your help. Check it:

Read These

As a reporter, I’d braced myself to cover mass shootings. My first was in my own community
"As a journalist in the U.S., I knew covering a mass shooting was a matter of when, not if... It never occurred to me that the first mass shooting I covered would take place in my community."

* * *
How a Bruce Lee mantra empowered me to try new things
Illustrator Hyesu Lee overcame her fear and tried to do something she always wanted to do.

* * *
Brandon Tsay, still grieving, gets the 'hero' treatment in Washington
While Brandon Tsay was welcomed in Washington and lauded as a hero for his courageous actions in Monterey Park, he's still processing his emotions just a few weeks after the mass shooting.

* * *
Biden's about to have a Cabinet opening. Asian American lawmakers have a favorite.
Julie Su, deputy labor secretary, is widely viewed as the frontrunner to take over the department's top job.

* * *
You Think You Understand Thai Culture Because You Eat at Thai Restaurants? Think Again
A government campaign drove the popularity and similarity of Thai menus, but they left out an ingredient: the experiences of actual Thai people.

* * *
The Curry Trap: How a Continent's Worth of Food Got Mashed Into One Word
American ignorance about Indian cuisine is flattening and hurtful.

* * *
Delia Cai's Small-Town Romance Goes Beyond The Tropes
With her romance novel Central Places, Delia Cai deploys the familiar Hallmark movie plot to tell a different story, offering readers an unflinching examination of what it means to be an Asian American in small-town America, enclosed in an ultra-romantic shell.

* * *
Jeremy Lin on 38 at the Garden doc, Linsanity, Asian hate - Los Angeles Times
Jeremy Lin talks about the Oscar-shortlisted documentary 38 at the Garden and how his career impacted the Asian American community.

* * *
How Rajiv Surendra Went from Mean Girls to the Renaissance Man of Your Dreams
He made a name for himself playing Kevin G in Mean Girls. Since then, Rajiv Surendra has built an enviable life for himself centered on his creative pursuits.

First Look at Adele Lim's Raunchy Comedy 'Joy Ride'

Here's a first look image for Joy Ride, the upcoming raunchy comedy from director Adele Lim (co-screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians), and starring Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu.

Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, Joy Ride is described as a "hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure."

The movie follows Audrey (Ashley Park), whose business trip to Asia goes sideways when her chances of closing a big deal suddenly hinge on her tracking down her birth mother.

To do so, she enlists the aid of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.

Produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film also stars Ronny Chieng, Desmond Chiam, Alexander Hodge, and Chris Pang. Joy Ride is set to hit theaters June 3 from Lionsgate.

More here: Ashley Park goes for a wild Joy Ride in first look at Adele Lim's hard R-rated comedy

Of Course Your Chinese Spy Balloon Jokes Are Racist

"Weather Barroon"



The appearance of a Chinese surveillance balloon over North American airspace last week inspired about a thousand hand-wringing discussions about spying and safety. And, predictably, racist jokes.

Case in point, this tweet from Joel R. Carter Jr., a state senator from Mississippi who immediately went to the tired and shitty place for this comic gem to take a jab at the Biden Administration. Carter posted an edited image of the balloon with the words "Weather Barroon (Totary NOT for spying)."

Some classic shit, Joel. You really got 'em good.