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 comedian Hari Kondabolu, whose latest standup special Vacation Baby is available on YouTube. He talks about how becoming a parent -- during the pandemic -- informed his act, why Father's Day should be observed on a leap year, making peace with Hank Azaria in the aftermath of his documentary The Problem with Apu, and why he's got no love for San Diego. Plus: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being a dad. Hint: it involves poop.
Opinion: Affirmative action isn't hurting Asian Americans. Here's why that myth survives
“Asian Americans, like all nonwhite students, do face implicit bias. Importantly, Asian Americans experience both positive and negative forms of bias in college admissions. The stereotype of hard work and smarts can provide an advantage in some instances. But research shows that those who view Asian Americans through that lens are more likely to view other people of color as lacking a work ethic. Indeed, the model minority stereotype has long been used to undermine demands for equality for all."
Past Lives Captures What So Many Immigrants Feel
And that's only one of many layers in Celine Song's moving film. Here, the director speaks to Nancy Wang Yuen about what inspired the story—and what she hopes viewers take away from it.
* * *
Opinion: 'Elemental' hit me hard in my feelings
"Elemental may not be a perfect film, but it's the perfect one for a moment when Asian Americans are finding the confidence and platform to dig ever deeper into the complicated and unruly aspects of our reality."
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 Peter Sohn and Leah Lewis, director and star, respectively, of the new Disney/Pixar animated feature Elemental. They talk about drawing from Peter’s own immigrant family and upbringing to tell a deeply personal story, how even anthropomorphic fire and water can make moving and compelling narrative chemistry, and why computer animation still isn’t as simple as punching a button. Plus: The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making Elemental.
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."
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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
