Aziz Ansari rumored to return with 3rd season of 'Master of None'

 

Restaurants and food play key roles in Master of None featuring Aziz Ansari and Rachel Wood
in the first season of the Netflix comedy.

It has been four years since the Emmy-winning Master of None ended its second season with the third season uncertain.

Now there are strong rumors that the Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang Netflix comedy might be in the works.

Chortle, a entertainment publication in Great Britain, reported that production on the next season of Master of None began in London last Spring but the coronavirus pandemic put all work on the series on hold.

When the series debuted in 2015, it was hailed for its sensitive and realistic depiction of Asians and Asian Americans. The "Parents" episode surrounding the lead characters' relationships with their families won a writing Emmy for Ansari and Yang.

The series told the travails of a single Asian man, a struggling actor, and his ethnically diverse group of friends.

After the second season, Ansari said he needed to take a break and that it might take a while for the third season to appear. 

“I don’t know if we’re going to do a season three. I wouldn’t be surprised if I needed a long break before I could come back to it,” he told Vulture.

“I’ve got to become a different guy before I write a third season, is my personal thought, I’ve got to get married or have a kid or something. I don’t have anything else to say about being a young guy being single in New York eating food around town all the time.”

In 2018, in the midst of the Me Too movement, Ansari was accused of sexual misconduct after which he basically disappeared from the social scene in Los Angeles and New York.

He did a Netflix special last year in which he addressed the accusations and started doing standup gigs around the country.

Ansari now lives in London with his girl friend and the third season is supposedly set in that city, according to Eater-London, which speculates which restaurants the Asian American comedian will feature in the series.

Chortle also adds that Naomi Ackie, a British actress who featured in Star Wars: Episode 9 as Jannah and on Netflix’s The End of the F***ing World as Boonie will have a starring role. They don’t reveal her exact role but predicts it will be as a love interest with Lena Waithe from the previous two seasons returning.

The fly in the ointment -- is that Netflix hasn't officially confirmed the series' return.

Will Aziz Ansari's character Dev Shah's delightful parents make an appearance? Will Dev find a real acting gig? Will Dev find true love? Will Master of None have a 3rd season? Let's hope the rumors are true.

Let's hope that the rumors are true. We could use a little levity.

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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Aziz Ansari makes a little history with Golden Globes win

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Aziz Ansari won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical on TV. for his role in 'Master of None.'

ASAM NEWS

AZIZ ANSARI became the first Asian/American man to win in the best actor category in a comedy at the Golden Globes Sunday (Jan. 7) night.
He joins a short list of Asians to win a Golden Globe in the awards 75-year history. Others, according to KPRC, include Haing S. Ngor (1985 best supporting role, The Killing Fields), Peg Tilly (1985 Best Supporting Role, Agnes of God) Sandra Oh (2005 Best Supporting Role, Grey’s Anatomy) and Vic Tayback (1980 & 1981, Best Supporting Role, Alice).

Ansari won for his role as Dev Shah in Master of None. He also created the Netflix hit which is semi-autobiographical.

“Whatever seems best for storytelling. It’s usually fictionalized a decent amount and you know, I think we just try to tell stories that seem real and honest and show some sort of insight,” Ansari said backstage after winning his award.

He was one of two Asians up for an award last night. The other was Hong Chau for her supporting role in Downsizing. The award went to Laura Dern for Big Little Lies.

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SAG shows some love for Asian/American actors, 'The Big Sick' cast, Hong Chau and Aziz Ansari

Camel Nanjian's "family" in The Big Sick.'

Asian/American actors got a little bit of love from their acting peers when the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees were announced Wednesday (Dec. 13).

Vietnamese/American Hong Chau was nominated for her supporting role in the Matt Damon science fiction flick Downsizing. This follows her nomination by the Golden Globes in the same category.

RELATED: Asian Americans nominated for Golden Globe awards

The Big Sick, a movie based on Kumail Nanjiani’s true-life romance with his wife, took a cast ensemble nomination. Besides Nanjiani, the cast included Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Zoe Kazan and Indian actor Anupam Kher.

"We are so lucky to have been graced with the enormous talents of every single member of our cast," said Nanjiani, who co-wrote the script with his wife Emily Gordon. "They each put a piece of themselves into our story and we are thrilled at being recognized."

Hunter, who plays Nanjiani's future mother-n-law in the movie, also was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

“Recognition from your peers is a particular kind of humbling thing." said Hunter to SFGate. Actors know in a way that no one else knows. They are on the inside track so when I have in my career gotten honors from people who do what I do, it resonates a different way for me.”

Aziz Ansari, who writes and stars in Netflix's Master of None,  got the nod for Best Actor in a Comedy television series.

For the complete 2018 list of SAG nominees, click here. The awards show will air Jan. 21 on CBS.
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