#EmmysAintSoWhite: Aziz Ansari garners a bunch of Emmy nominations

A scene with the "parents" from the Emmy-nominated episode Parents from "Master of None."

ACTOR and comedian Aziz Ansari was nominated for Emmys in a number of categories for his hit series Master of None - which might best described as Friends with friends of color.

The Netflix production, which Ansari created with Alan Wang, was nominated in the Best Comedy Series category.

Ansari was also nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. In addition, the heralded episode Parents, won nods in Best Writing in a Comedy and Best Direction of a Comedy.

In the heartfelt episode Parents, the lead characters - two single Asian/Americans living in New York City, acknowledged the sacrifices made by their immigrant parents, touching the heartstrings of a generation of Asian/Americans.

"It's been really incredible," Ansari told Vulture. "I think the show has definitely resonated with a lot of people who are like, 'I've never seen this perspective,' and a lot of South Asian people and people of color have said the nicest things about our show. I do feel like it's an underdog show, in a sense. For us to get the recognition like this is really super-flattering. We're really excited."

Actress Michelle Ang from Fear the Walking Dead was also nominated for outstanding actress in a short form comedy or drama series.
In the more esoteric categories, Quest Crew, made up mostly of Asian/American dancers, were nominated in the Best Choreography for their performance in America's Best Dance Crew. 

In the same category, Vincent Rodriguez III's performance in "A Boy Band Made Up of Four Joshes" in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was cited. If you haven't seen it, here it is:

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was also picked for the categories of Best Original Music & Lyrics for "I'm Going On A Date With Josh's Friend"/"Settle For Me;" Best Title Theme Music and Best Editing.

The nominations for the 2016 Emmys is noteworthy for its diversity and the many more opportunities for actors of color, which stands in stark contrast to the all-white nominations for the Academy Awards acting categories.

With the new version of Roots and several hit programs starring -- not just "featuring", but "starring" -- minority actors, such as The Good Wife, Blackish and Empire, the selections for nominations made it easier to make the nominations more racially diverse in more categories.

Constance Wu, from the groundbreaking comedy Fresh Off the Boat, was overlooked by the members of the industry despite being widely praised by critics and fans. Her nuanced depiction of Jessica Huang and comedic timing is perfect. Too much one way or the other and she could be accused of stereotyping or lampooning. But she is able to negotiate that fine line.

The Emmy's award ceremony will be held on Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Microsoft Theater, and will air live on ABC, with Jimmy Kimmel acting as host.

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Health: Asian/Americans confront hepatitis B, the 'silent killer'

Journalist Alan Wang is featured in "Be About It."

ALAN WANG, former a television journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area and from outward appearances, is living the good life.

"I don't want for too much," he tells a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News. "There are only a few things you've got: your health and your family and the love around you. I've really learned to appreciate that." 

In a Sunday feature article about a documentary, "Be About It," he told the reporter that he suffers from Hepatitis B.

One in 10 Asian/Americans is chronically infected with Hepatitis B, and San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the world, according to figures from San Francisco Hep B Free.

There are several reasons hepatitis B is known as "the silent killer," the article states. "First, it often doesn't produce symptoms in people for decades, so people aren't aware they've got it until it has progressed significantly, says Huy Trinh, a San Jose hepatologist, or liver specialist. In the meantime, the disease progresses, and people transmit it unwittingly."

"The majority of patients are not aware they have the infection," Trinh says. "Their perception is that they must have significant symptoms to have the virus."

The film, which has been making the rounds of film festivals, including the CAAMFest film festival in San Francisco in March and will be shown later this month in the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, aims "to break the silence" about a disease that disproportionately impacts people from East Asia and Asian/Americans. It is the story of two fathers who have contracted the disease. 

A.J. Jabanero competed in triathalons.

Besides Wang, the other father featured in the documentary is A.J. Jabonero, who died from the disease about a year ago. 

Up until late 2014, Jabonero seemed to be doing amazingly well. He began to devote himself to eating well and competing in triathlons, especially after he became the father of his first two children, now 7 and 3, says his wife Melissa. 

But he was inconsistent in taking his medication, she says.

Often stigmatized and misunderstood, Hep B is the most common cause of liver cancer among Asian Americans. 

Wang left the television station where he worked last March 31. According to his LinkIn bio, he is now a spokesperson for Weber Shandwick/Gilead Sciences, which is helping promote "Be About It."

The executive director of the documentary is Paul Kiely and it was directed by Christopher Wong, who was also a co-producer along with Zebediah Smith. "Be About It" will be shown in the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, April 22 at the Downtown Independent theater. 

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For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.