ASIAN/AMERICAN entertainers were present both on stage and on the red carpet at the 68th Emmy Awards in Hollywood Sunday. For AAPI folk, the win by Master of None creators and writers Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari was one of the show's highlights.
Constance Wu and Randall Park of Fresh Off the Boat presented the awards for best guest actor and actress in a comedy series.
Wu pointed out that the Creative Emmys were presented over two nights.
Priyanka Chopra
“Wow, that makes three nights of Emmys,” responded Park. “So I guess that means Fresh Off the Boat will get our award on the fourth night?”
“Get over it, Randall,” said Wu.
Fans apparently still haven’t gotten over it, with many on Twitter giving shout outs to Wu, expressing dismay that she didn’t receive a nomination. Quantico's Priyanka Chopra presented the award for best directing of a limited series, movie or special. Chopra dazzled in a Jason Wu gown, but it was how she wore her cherry-hued red lipstick that drew raves from fashion critics.
Padma Laskshmi was on hand to see if her show Project Runway would win for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. That honor went to The Voice. (Views From the Edge contributed to this report.)
Priyanka Chopra will be back next season as FBI Agent Alex Parrish.
PRIYANKA CHOPRA is one of the most in-demand actresses around Hollywood after the success of her television series Quantico, which last week was approved for a second season. The former Miss World won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series last January. She was also picked as Best Newcomer for the Anna Awards.
During her teenage years attending Robert F. Kennedy High School in Queens, New York City, she acquired a fondness for hot wings. Last week, the Bollywood actress challenged Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon to see how many hot wings doused in what she called "nuclear" sauce, each could eat in 20 seconds. Watch the video to see who won the challenge.
Cary Fukunaga, wins the "best director" Anna Award for 2016
IT'S AWARDS SEASON again. Peoples Choice, Emmies, Oscars, there's a whole lot of categories in which Asian/American and Pacific Islander actors WERE NOT nominated. Not because they have any less talent, but mostly because of the lack of opportunities for meaty roles in big and important movies, television and stage shows.
The biggest award show of them all, the Academy Awards, is coming up this weekend and a handful of AAPI, African/American and Latino/Americans were picked to present the coveted trophies, a deserved honor in itself, but ostensibly, to add a little color to the #OscarsSoWhite proceedings.
To make up for the lack of recognition for Asian/American and Pacific Islander performing artists, there is always the highly anticipated awards handed out by Views From The Edge, which debuted last year. This year, we have had to abandon the (admittedly self-promoting) Eddie Awards from last year because - as we belatedly learned - there is already an Eddie Award sponsored by the American Cinema Editors named after the legendary editor, Eddie Shore.
After much deliberation, this year we decided to rename these awards to the Anna Awards, named after Anna May Wong, the first Chinese/American star in Hollywood. Despite the lack of acting opportunities for Asian/American actresses, she actually turned down a role because it cast Asians in a bad light. Hooray!
You might notice that most of the awards were given to TV actors. That's because the motion picture industry has not caught on to the changing demographics of the American audience. The 2015 television season, including streaming media, is historic in the number of offerings featuring AAPI actors. Let's hope this diversification of the entertainment industry is more than a trend.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The categories are made up entirely by whimsical me and really have no serious artistic merit. They are subject to change at a moment's notice or a sudden change of heart or because I didn't have my morning cup of coffee. The Anna Awards considers the performances by AAPI artists in all the performing arts in the year 2015. Enjoy!)
Envelope, please! The Anna Awards for 2016 go to:
Cary Fukunaga
Best Director: Hands down, it has to be Cary Fukunaga for directing Beasts of No Nation, an encgrossing drama about Africa's child soldiers. His direction helped showcase Idris Elba's talent enough to earn Elba acting nomination for the Screen Actors Guild. Critics say Beasts was snubbed and should have been nominated for Best Picture. Fukunaga also got an Emmy for directing the critically acclaimed first season of True Detective for television.
Best Newcomer: Priyanka Chopra hit American TV screens in a big way this season on her hit show Quantico. The Bollywood actress has made the transition with ease and U.S. audiences have shown their appreciation by voting her Favorite Actress in A New TV Series in the Peoples' Choice Awards. She will also present at the Academy Awards next week.
Priyanka Chopra
Best Actor Hardly Anyone Has Seen: Joel de la Fuente for his portrayal of the Japanese Chief Inspector Kido in Man In The High Castle. This excellent alternate history story based on the classic Philip K. Dick novel, is on Amazon so it is not accessible to great number of viewers. But if you have Amazon, you've got to tune in to watch veteran actor de la Fuente make his calculating smart character, a bad guy, almost sympathetic, always a step behind the American rebels and subtly showing his doubts about the Nazi persecution of Jews. Joel de la Fuente
The Huang family opened the door for other Asian/American families.
Best Asian/American Family Portrayal: This is a tough one but it is a nice problem to have. For the first time in history we have more than one Asian/American family to consider: Josh Chan's family in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Dev Shah's family in Master of None, and the Park family in Dr. Ken. However, this year the award will go to the Huang Family on Fresh Off The Boat. The parents (Constance Wu and Randall Park) especially are excellent. I like the inside jokes that only Asian/Amerian viewers would catch like the scene where the family is watching the show "All-American Girl" that starred Margaret Cho and one of the sons turns to the mother with the comment, "Still no shows about Asians." The best comedy and pathos comes from the friendly way the writers and producers approach race by not hitting you over the head. In FOtB, you can find yourself laughing but then realize the not-so-funny "truth" of those race-based situations.
Is he, or isn't he?: Bobby Morley, who plays Bellamy Blake in The 100. He's one of those Filipino/Australians who has found success in Hollywood (actually the show is taped in British Columbia). His character is not race-specific and it appears he uses makeup on his face to look a bit lighter (whiteface?). But if you Google his mugshots, his browness shines through enough to make you ask, "Is he half-Asian?"
Bobby Morley
Chrissy Teigen
Best Tweeter/Personality: For the second year in a row, the award goes to Chrissy Teigen. The irreverent don't-care funny Tweets have made her a go-to during the awards shows. When her husband performs, watch out for the camera to pan over to her. Whether co-hosting Tyra Bank's F.A.B. fashionista TV show or swaying lip-synching celebrities in Lip Sync Battle, she is sure to come up with biting remarks, riposte's and repartee. I love her response to haters.
Best Badass Man: That would have to go to Daniel Wu, star of Into The Badlands on AMC. He's also one of the producers of the martial arts epic that takes place in a future dystopian America where guns are outlawed. That premise allows for a lot of swordplay, kicks, punches and acrobatic jumps and somersaults, a perfect imagined world for the Hong-kong style of spectacular choreographed fight scenes. The opening fight scene is a classic.
Michelle Yeoh's character (left) in 'Strike Back' was instrumental in one of the main character's death.
Best Badass Woman: It was a pleasant surprise to find Michelle Yeoh on the last season of Strike Back, where she played the villainess, a spy for North Korea. She was able to demonstrate her physicality and familiarity with martial arts moves in the TV shoot'em-up in marvelous fight scenes. All-in-all, she was portrayed an evil character not to be messed with. Runner-up: Agent May as played by Ming Na Wen in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. For some unfortunate reason, the show shied away from Agent May-centric stories this season.
Let's See More Of Him: This is a first-time category also. Because this past year we've seen a number of roles that put more facets on the Asian/American image. One of the most intriguing characters on TV is that of Job as played by Hoon Lee in Banshee, which will end its run this spring. The former Ninja Turtle appeared in the Broadway production of the King And I over the summer but obviously, this talented actor has got more to give.
Hoon Lee
Best Performance in A Musical: Obviously. it must go to Vanessa Hudgens for her role in the Grease Live production. Her portrayal of a brassy, but vulnerable, Rizzo drew raves and industry admiration. Her solo rendition of "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," was made even more poignant because Hudgen's father died less than a day before Grease Live went on the air. We just need to keep the Filipina/American actress away from National Monuments. Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo in 'Grease Live.'
Many fans thought Steven Yeun's character Glenn Rhee was a goner.
Most Buzz & Angst: This is the first year for this category (because I didn't think of it last year.) but I had to find a way to mention The Walking Dead's non-death of Glenn Rhee as played by Steven Yeun. In terms of buzz, it generated as much, if not more, discussion than Jon Snow's non-death in Game of Thrones. For weeks, the Walking Dead producers kept us guessing the fate of everyone's favorite good-guy in the zombie apocalypse. Is he dead? Is he alive? What about Maggie? How could he survive? Was that his guts being eaten by zombies? The questions and theories kept coming up on discussion boards, talk shows, columns and blogs (including this one).
Lea Salonga
Best Broadway Performer:Lea Salonga in Allegiance reminded Broadway why she was the first Asian/American artist to win a Tony, as she played the main female role in the musical loosely based on the experiences of actor and social media master George Take, who made his first appearance on the Great White Way in his role in this show. With Allegiance now shuttered on Broadway, let's hope that Salonga doesn't wait so long to return to the New York stage.
Emma Stone in a bad case of whitewashing in the motion picture Aloha.
Best Asian role played by a non-Asian: We should call this the Emma Stone award. Her portrayal of a hapa in the movie Aloha came right after last year's #OscarsSoWhite fiasco so the criticism heaped upon the actress and director was enough for director Cameron Crowe to issue an apology. No amount of spray-on tan could convince anyone of Stone's character's mixed-race origins. Unfortunately, I expect this award to have more nominees next year.
Best non-Asian role played by an Asian: That would be Phillipa Soo, who plays Eliza Hamilton, the wife of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, in the Broadway musical Hamilton. The hip-hop musical is the hit of the season and might very well give Soo a shot at the Tony award, Broadway's equivalent to the Oscar. Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton
Best Asian/American zombie: Well, let's just say, "the only Asian zombie" that we know of. Susan Tran played the nice, little old lady who liked to putter around in her garden next door to the main characters' house in Fear the Walking Dead, the West Coast spinoff of The Walking Dead. It is a relief to know that Glenn (Steven Yuen) from the original series, might not be the only AAPI to survive the zombie apocalypse. Travis Manama, who plays the main protagonist Cliff Curtis, is Maori/American. Unfortunately, Susan won't be returning in the second season.
Susan Tran
"Crazy Ex- Girlfriend" got the Filipino family gathering right.
Best Show Not Being Watched: The winner (in this category, winning is losing) is Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Ii don't get it. It is one of the most original and entertaining shows on American TV this season. Is it because CW is the least watched network? Is the title scaring off a lot of people who might otherwise enjoy it? It is not because of the diverse cast, their talent abounds in the musical rom-com, the imaginative original songs and production numbers, an Asian/American romantic lead in Vincent Rodriguez III and the show introduced viewers to TV's first Filipino/American family, the Chan's. But the ratings are miserable - last not only in its time slot but last in Monday night's prime time. A second season is questionable so be sure to watch it while it is still on the air. Runner-up is Truth Be Told featuring Filipina/American actress Vanessa Latchey, who plays a Filipina married to a Euro/American. Race relations was supposed to be key part of the show which wanted to be edgy but the writing didn't match its expectations resulting in lackluster reviews.
Best Stereotype Buster: Aziz Ansari as, well as the character Dev Shah in Netflix's groundbreaking show Master of None. In the series, Ansari plays Dev Shah, a millennial Asian/American actor struggling to make ends meet while juggling his love life, his relationship with his parents and battling Asian stereotypes - in other words, a well-rounded human being with flaws and hang-ups. Good news for fans, the show will have a second season, but not until 2017. Runner-up honors go to Rene Gube for playing Father Brah, a hip, Filipino/American priest in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Aziz Ansari Most Groundbreaking Role: Vincent Rodriguez III, who, as Jose Chan, is the object of the obsessive "love" of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'stitle character played by Golden Globe winner Rebecca Bloom. The CW romantic comedy musical is struggling to find an audience despite glowing critical reviews. But hey, an Asian/American romantic leading man is historic. Through the season we've seen the Josh Chan character rounded out as a not-too-bright, but sensitive young man that you wouldn't mind to having a beer with.
Vincent Rodriguez III
Worst Portrayal of an Asian/American: For the second year in a row, Matthew Moy's character Han Lee in Two Broke Girls wins this ignominious award. The character is a short, desexualized Korean diner owner with a heavy accent and is often the butt of jokes. Producers have tried to round out Han Lee by occasionally allowing him to go out on dates. The only redeeming grace for this negative stereotype is that he occasionally is given a biting response towards the other characters. Matthew Moy
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For more news about Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.
Hollywood has a long history of 'yellow face' with some pretty big names taking part including, from left: Marlon Brando, John Wayne and Mickey Rooney. Can you name the films they were in where they played Asians? (For answers, see below.)
I CAN'T WAIT until Chris Rock comes on stage to host the 88th Academy Awards this Sunday. The comedian has not been sh when talking about about Hollywood's portrayal of America and the impact that message has on the definition of who is an American. You can be sure he will have something to say about the ongoing #OscarsSoWhite and #HollywoodSoWhite controversy. RELATED
There is a good possibility that we'll see an Asian/American receive an Oscar. Ronnie del Carmen, co-director and co-writer with Pete Doctor for Pixar's Inside Out, is up for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Screenplay. Del Carmen is one of the Filipinos employed by Pixar who call themselves the Pixnoys, some of whom drew the characters in the movie.
Embarrassed by the all-white nominees in the acting categories for the second straight year, the Oscars is adding a bit of color to its telecast by inviting minorities as presenters. (See, folks, we don't discriminate!)
Among the presenters are a few Asian/Americans including: Priyanka Chopra, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, Syrian/American Sacha Baron Cohen and Byung-hun Lee. The last name might be unfamiliar to American moviegoers. He's a big star in Korea and has appeared in a few Hollywood films such as two of the G.I. Joe movies and Reds 2.
For those of you who can't wait for the Academy Awards, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver presented this "report" on the film industry's diversity problem that explains why there aren't more AAPI actors being nominated - all the big roles are going to non-Asians. The video is pretty darn hilarious ... if ... It. Wasn't. So. True.
The 88th Academy Awards will be aired: Feb. 28 starting at 5:30 p.m. Pacific on ABC. Red carpet coverage starts at 4 p.m. Pacific. you can also lifestream the event if you want to avoid the censors on at ABC.com or the WATCH ABC app. Answers: Brando in Teahouse of the August Moon (Ah, so.), Wayne in Genghis Khan as the title character (really?) and Rooney in an incredibly insulting performance in Breakfast At Tiffany's.
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For more news about Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.
Priyanka Chopra, front and center, will lead the cast of Quantico, the latest entry starring an Asian lead character on ABC's increasingly diverse programming schedule.
WHAT IS it about American TV and movie producers? They seem to have a predilection for ass-kicking Asian women. We have a new entry in this category in the new ABC drama Quantico, which will star Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra, who will play an FBI recruit undergoing the rigorous training for agents at its facility at Quantico, Virginia. Think G.I. Jane meets the new crop of interns/cops-n-training meets the cops-&-robbers genre and you get the essence of Quantico. But if your daughter or young niece is looking for a role model, she might have to look for someone else. In an interview with an Indian publication she was asked what would allow her to succeed in Hollywood when so many others have failed. Her answer seems to indicate that her determination to downplay stereotypes, she wants to also downplay her ethnicity. She answers:
"The only different thing I did is stand my ground and say no to all those offers which would have put me in that box. I didn't want to be the exotic Indian princess who rides on elephants. I used to be asked those (stereotypical) questions all the time. Like, 'In India, do you go to school on elephants?' It is ridiculous sometimes to know how the perception is. When Quantico happened, the only thing I told the agency was that you have to find me a path, which is ethnically ambiguous as an actor. It should have nothing to do with my race, country, religion and to their credit, they found me one. I am playing a half-American, half-Indian FBI agent. It's a great female-driven part."
If you don't know who this actress is - well, you'll soon see a lot of her. She is one of Bollywood's most popular stars and she's making the leap to Hollywood. She attended school in America for a while, encountered racist situations, and returned to India where she launched her acting career.
In an terview with the Hindustan Times, she reveals her latest brush with American bigotry:
"When my song was played at National Football League (NFL), I got comments such as, ‘who’s this Arab terrorist?’ and ‘how can she be on NFL, she’s not white’. I was so offended. I hope the show will help break stereotypes."
Yet ... she wants to downplay her racial identity. I hope in time she'll learn the perspective of people of color living in the U.S. why it is important that her race become a part of who her character can be. It would be so much interesting, much more impactful, if her character doesn't ignore her racial heritage but uses it to enlighten others. It doesn't have to be a central part of the character, but how could she NOT be conscious of her race when other FBI agents and characters -- will (in real life) react to her race, whether she is conscious of it or not? Chopra joins a growing list of ass-kicking Asian women on American television. Presently, that group is led by Ming-na Wen and Chloe Bennett, both in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D; Maggie Q in the recently canceled Stalker, who played the same type in her previous hit series Nikita; and Grace Park, who plays a tough cop in Hawaii Five-O. That's only four names - plus Chopra makes five - but when there are only a few Asian actresses on television in key roles, that would account for about 50 percent.
Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The woman brawler probably debuted on American television with Diana Rigg in the original Avengers. Buffy the Vampire Killer and Xena brought the demon-fighting Buffy and a demigod type, respectively, to a new generation. The Asian female fighter really took hold in the U.S. with the success of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, in which Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi wowed audiences with their marvelous choreographed swordfight scenes. As someone who has dabbled in the martial arts, those were the best movie fights I had ever seen. The Asian woman-as-martial-artist may be a contemporary extension of the Dragon Lady stereotype that Asian women have had to put up with for decades. The other extreme stereotype is the demure, obedient do-what-your-man-says geisha type. Pick your poison. (This is an interesting cultural phenomenon that deserves a closer examination in a future posting.) Asian women seem to have fared better than their male counterparts, who overwhelmingly fall into the comedic vein. Thank goodness for Daniel Dae Kim on Hawaii Five-O and Hoon Lee in Banshee for going against the grain. At least - to counter the Dragon Lady stereotype a bit, we can point to Lucy Liu on Sherlock, Constance Wu on Fresh Off The Boat, Mindy Kaling on The Mindy Project, Indira Sharma in Game of Thrones, Shay Mitchell in Pretty Little Liars and Archie Panjabi in The Good Wife. Add Priyanki Chopra to the ass-kicking side of the ledger.
