Five TV episodes celebrating Asian American Thanksgivings

The award-winning Thanksgiving episode of Master of None is a classic.

ThanksgivingThanksgiving is arguably the best holiday on television for Asian Americans. The big meal and all the traditions that revolve around it provide ample fodder for both comedy and drama.

Thanksgiving around my house and I'm sure -- most Asian American households -- always includes comfort dishes from the homeland to make the meal a true family celebration. I know its almost a cliche, but for our family, it means adding pancit and lumpia to the alrady laden table or adding bagoong to the string beans to give it that extra salty kick. Besides the roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, the Thanksgiving table is often joined by pancit, lumpia and rice. You got to have rice.. In larger celebrations, the turkey would play second fiddle to the lechon (roast suckling pig).

RELATED: The truth about Thanksgiving

The aromas waft throughout the house all day for family and for any visitors who might pop in to be met at the door by that Filipino greeting, "Have you eaten yet?"

After stuffing yourself and everyone has moved to the living room to watch football or holiday movies.

Netflix is making the first three episodes available on its streaming network this holiday. The final two shows haven't been syndicated or picked up by anyi of the streaming networks but you can view them on YouTube for only $1.99.

Master of None, “Thanksgiving” (Season 2, Episode 8)

If you want to split hairs, this is technically not an Asian American Thanksgiving, but it features Aziz Ansari, which is good enough for us. If nothing else, holidays are opportunities to reflect on how you and your loved ones have changed from year to year. Riffing on the idea of holidays as markers of time, this Season 2 episode of Master of None tells the coming-out story of Denise (Lena Waithe), over seven holiday meals. “Being gay isn’t something black people love to talk about, Denise tells her friend, Dev (Aziz Ansari), during the 1998 holiday. “Some black people think being gay is a choice, and when they find out that their kid is gay, they try to figure out what they did wrong.” You see all of Denise’s big life changes during these meals, as well as the big shifts that her mother, played by Angela Bassett, goes through. 

Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari won the Emmy Award for best comedy writing for this episode. 

Fresh Off The Boat, “Huangsgiving” (Season 2, Episode 8)

This episode begins with a classic Thanksgiving showdown scenario: grown-up sisters engaging in hostilities as they each attempt to prove to their mother that they can host a better version of the holiday. Jessica and Louis have a good game plan, with homemade cranberry sauce and Cornish hens replacing a big turkey, but, as is often the case during big family events, things go awry. 

And to add that extra Asian touch, Jessica's mother declares the turkey to be “dry but edible.” The ultimate compliment.

Gilmore Girls, “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving” (Season 3, Episode 9)

The episode gets to the heart of what Thanksgiving is all about — this idea of celebrating with family and friends, and obligations. That’s why Lorelai and Rory get roped into not one, not two, but four Thanksgiving dinners, and each one offers a different vignette. They know to expect religious music and tofurkey at the Kim household with Keiko Agena playing Rory's best friend Lane. They experience Sookie’s first married Thanksgiving with Jackson, who, because of a compromise, cooks up a deep-fried turkey feast, much to her dismay. They essentially double-date at Luke’s Diner. Lorelai gets into an argument with her mother during dinner. There are two passionate kisses. It’s the unpredictable nature of Thanksgiving in a nutshell.

Dr. Ken, “Thanksgiving Culture Clash” (Season 1, Episode 8): 

Molly gets a Japanese tattoo, which sparks a culture clash between Allison and Ken over their Japanese and Korean heritages, respectively, and makes for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner experience, all of which is documented by Dave for a school project. Meanwhile, Julie invites the staff over to her place to avoid being alone, but Damona and Clark try to get out of it due to other plans.

This episode is available for purchase here.

The Filipino American family, the Chans, made their debut on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Thanksgiving episode.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, "My First Thanksgiving with Josh," (Season 1, Episode 6)

The first-ever depiction of a Filipino American family occurred on this musical rom-com Thanksgiving episode written by FilAm writer Rene Gube (who also plays the cool priest, Father Brah, in the series) The menally-off Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) tries to impress her boyfriend Josh Chan's (played by Vincent Rodriguez III) extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins  by cooking a bowl of dinaguan, a Filipino dish best described as a pork stew cooked in vinegar and pig blood. Complications ensue because Rebecca's rival for Josh's affections is also invited to the family fesat. They compete with each other for the Chan family's affections. Rebecca gets to do a rap  called "I Do Good Parent" featuring Amy Hill and Alberto Isaac as the parents, Lourdes and Joseph Chan.

This episode can be bought for only $1.99 here.

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A host of AAPI actors will be losing their jobs as their shows are cancelled or ended

'Quantico's' Priyanaa Chopra and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's'' Vincent Rodriguez III

WHILE Asian/Americans were celebrating the renewal of Fresh Off the Boat, networks were cancelling other shows with AAPI starring roles.

Here are the shows that we won't see next year and the AAPI actors we bid a fond farewell (for now):

•Quantico, which starred Priyanka Chopra as the lead character, made it through three seasons. In her short stint in Hollywood, the former Miss World has made quite an impression. Quantico is merely a launching pad for her.

•Designated Survivor. with Kal Penn and Maggie Q couldn't get pass the second season. Both Asian/American actors played multi-layered complicated characters.

•The Crossing didn't even last a full season so we couldn't get fully involved in its premise or its characters. Somebody please give Sandrine Holt a series worthy of her talent.

•Marvel's Inhumans' cancellation was a big loss. Kenny Leung, Mike Moh and Sonya Balmores deserve a better fate, and a better vehicle.

•Rise never rose to the pre-season expectations, but expect to see the talented Aull'i Cravalho (Moana) in future projects if not on TV, perhaps the Broadway stage where she has the mentorship of award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda.

•Scorpion. Too bad. I felt pretty sure that "geniuses" Jadyn Wong and Elyes Gabel would be back for a fifth season in the engaging nerds-save-the-world storyline.

•The Exorcist. Even the addition of John Cho in its second season couldn't save this one.

In addition, this year saw - or, will see - the demise of shows that had previously scheduled their own end.

•Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. One of the most original shows on television for the past three years and the show that introduced the AAPI bro and romantic lead in the character played by Vincent Rodriguez III.

•New Girl. After seven seasons, the show is currently in its final season. It had a good run marked by likeable characters and good writing. Hannah Simone was part of the repertory team that delivered the comedic goods week-in and week-out.

•The Mindy Project. While there was much ado about the debut of Fresh Off the Boat, it might be easy to forget that Mindy Kaling has had her own show for seven (more or less) seasons. In her own way, the evolution of Mindy, paralleled the evolution of the Indian American community.

That's a lot of shows leaving us and a lot of out-of-work AAPI artists. Let's hope that this is not the beginning of a trend. After two seasons we've seen a spate of television shows featuring AAPI actors in prominent roles. While two seasons won't undo the decades of neglect and being invisible, it demonstrated what the industry could do if it wanted to and not just spurred by shame from the brouhaha surrounding the #OscarsSoWhite debacle.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Keep an eye out for Views From the Edge's annual roundup of all the new fall shows featuring AAPI actors.)
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A recipe for making an American Thanksgiving a Filipino/American tradition

A Filipino American Thanksgiving made its historical debut on network TV in the first season of 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' when main the character Rebecca Bunch cooked dinaguan (pork stewed in pig blood) for her boyfriend's Filipino family.

THANKSGIVING is upon us and that usually means visits from relatives and friends. Our family, like most Asian American families like this tradition because it means family gatherings center around the latest gossip and -- food.

Who can forget this historic first? A Filipino American Thanksgiving dinner made its network debut in the TV in 2017 in the first season of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" featuring Josh Chan's (Vincent Villanueva III) family. Besides the turkey, there was panic, lumpia and dinuguan. That last dish, (my favorite) pork cooked in pig's blood and vinegar, was prepared by Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) who was trying to impress her boyfriend's family.

As a nod to our American tradition, we can't pass up the traditional roasted turkey. Mashed potatoes are a must, but it's not a sin to have rice instead. Or, as a nod to the mixed cultures, both rice and mashed potatoes, not in the same bite, of course

Lots of that turkey gravy over the turkey or rice,  Yum.

However, there is always an Asian twist to the meal. In my case, I mean a Filipino twist.

We reserve the lechon (roast pig) for other holiday feasts like Christmas, Easter or New Years, or somebody's wedding or graduation or any other time weak excuse to have that delicious roasted baby pig with potato-chip like crackling.

What family feast would it be without lumpia, that Filipno take on the Chinese spring roll, except a properly made lumpia is made with the paper-thin rice wrap. I remember my mom experimenting and experimenting with making the perfect rice tortilla-like wrapper. 

Finally, she perfected it. She made it on an upside down pan heated over high heat, much like a French crepe. Her version included a filling of ground pork, chopped up shrimp, chopped up chicken, green onions, chopped cabbage and  bean sprouts. Sad to say, I haven't been able recreate the recipe or technique ... yet.

For my far-flung family (or, anybody else who reads this blog) I can share one quick, easy recipe for your holiday meal: My version of green beans. It involves the use of bagoong, that pungent Filipino shrimp paste. You can usually obtain it in Asian markets.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 TBS of peanut oil
• Dash of red pepper flakes
• Green beans. Amount varies according to how many are at the table. Prepare as you like, tips cut off or cut into two-inch pieces. You can also use Chinese green beans.
• Bacon. Two pieces of thick cut bacon. Cut into quarter-inch slices. Add more bacon if necessary for larger amount of green beans.
• Half a yellow onion, quartered and then cut in half again.
• Bagoong. 1 TBS. Filipino shrimp paste. There are so many varieties on store shelves. I usually buy the one that says alamang from Pangasinan. It is not so odorous as other brands but still delivers that high-salt burst.

STEPS

1. Par boil as many green beans as you want to serve. (If using Chinese green beans, skip this step.)
2. In a wok, add tablespoon of peanut oil
3. Add chopped bacon (or pancetta) stir fry until crisp. Remove from wok, set aside.
4. Add unions and red pepper flakes. Stir fry.
5. Add bagoong. Start with a tablespoon but you can add more if you like. Ahh, this is when the house begins to smell like a Filipino house. Stir fry.
6. Add green beans, stir fry.
7. Return bacon to wok, stir fry.
8. Serve ... with love.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

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'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' team will produce new comedy featuring an Asian/American family

Award-winning Aline Brosh McKenna and Rene Gube will team up on a new project.

I DON'T WANT get too excited, but this is BIG NEWS!

Deadline reports that Rene Gube, one of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's writer and from time to time, plays lead character Josh Chan's spiritual advisor as hip priest Father Brah, is teaming up with CEG's co-creator/showrunner Aline Brosh McKenna to work on prospective series Big Men.

CBS TV Studios, where Brosh McKenna is under an overall deal, is the studio that has bought the series.

The premise for Big Men should draw an instant audience from Asian/Americans, especially Filipino/Americans, who are crazy about basketball. Written and executive produced by Brosh McKenna and Gube, Big Men centers on an Asian-American rookie pro basketball player who dreams of a baller lifestyle but standing in his way are his 13-year-old twin sisters whom he co-parents with his overbearing immigrant father. 

Although there are no current plans for Gube to act in the project, in an episode in CEG, Gube, as Fr. Brah, looked pretty comfortable around a basketball court as he he shot basketballs with Josh Chan.

Brosh McKenna co-created with star Rachel Bloom the hourlong musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, now in its third season on the CW. In the series, Josh Filipino/American actor Vincent Rodriguez, was cast as the romantic leading man, a rarity in Hollywood.

The show also made history when it featured Chan's Filipino/American family was in a Thanksgiving episode. Since then, the "family" has appeared several times in their recurring roles. 

Josh’s mom, Lourdes, is played by Amy Hill, whom Brosh McKenna remembered from working on a project together 20 years ago. Hill is half-Japanese, while the rest of Josh’s immediate family was played by Filipino/American actors: Alberto Issac was cast as his father (Joseph), and Tess Paras (a friend of Bloom’s she had wanted to cast for a while) and Coryn Mabalot play his sisters (Jayma and Jastenity, respectively).

The Chan family of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was the first Filipnon/American family introduced on U.S. television.

Gube was previously a writer and actor on TBS’s Ground Floor, where he told Vulture he sneaked his ethnicity into a script. “I fought all year to get one joke in that identified me as a Filipino person,” he said. “I saw how much that meant to Filipino people on Twitter, and I can relate because growing up, there was only Rob Schneider and Lou Diamond Phillips. 

"To have an opportunity to create a fully developed Filipino character, a male romantic lead, (for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) I’ve never seen that before, and I was super excited about that. It is a great opportunity to show a Filipino family on network television, and show how American that Filipino family truly is.”

Although the ethnicity of the family in Big Men hasn't been identified beyond being described as Asian/American, you can bet Gube will have something to say about that.
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