What would it be like to see an American sitcom with a mostly Asian cast? Or even one that just dealt regularly with Asian American themes and stereotypes. Could it become a reality today? Would the general public accept it? How could the series be presented in a way to appeal to a broad viewing audience?
As far as I can tell, the closest thing America has to a main stream TV show with a less stereotyped Asian American members is Glee which features Jenna Ushkowitz and Harry M Shum. Glee did indeed tackle some Asian American stereotypes and I have mostly great things to say about Glee's involvement in sharing some Asian American culture, issues and dilemmas. Mike Chang's struggle with his parents' expectations and his own duty to family are indeed common themes with many young Asian Americans. Yet the glimpse into Mike Chang's supposed home life is by no means a tell all for every situation. For example, Glee does not tap into the the poverty and day to day struggle of thousands of poor Asian Americans, nor does it tap into the emerging group of Asian Americans who are experiencing less and less of the traditional “Asian” pressures and are finding themselves with interesting questions of identity. In saying such, I also understand that Glee doesn't have the obligation to explore the above mentioned themes. So what can we take away from Glee?
When I look at Glee I thank the stars that Mr. Shum and Jenna Ushkowitz have large rolls in the show. Originally Shum wasn't a core member of the cast and if it wasn't for his talent and popularity among fans he may have faded into the background. Thus, for many of us that have continued to hope for depictions of “normal” Asian Americans, that is Asian Americans in non stereotyped roles, we have definitely seen media get better. There are more Asians in “regular” American roles and less of a focus on martial arts, brainiacs, shop keepers etc.
Yet I feel that we have reached a hypothetical glass ceiling. We have yet to pass into what I like to call, “the realm of normalcy.” For almost a decade now there have been sitcom shows directly aimed at other ethnic populations. Latinos and Black Americans have a variety of shows to pick from in which their actors are actually of their ethnicity and are portrayed as American families going through American issues while incorporating a blend of ethnic culture. Now I understand that networks are aiming to make money and by looking at population numbers alone, using a mostly Asian cast may seem like a bad bet if one assumes that a show with mostly actors or themes from one culture would mostly draw that ethnicity as an audience.
But is it really a bad bet? What if you could make a show that appealed to a wider audience while still involving an Asian American cast portraying, normal Americans who happen to be of Asian descent. Reports in census data nd economic data show rapid growth in the Asian America population, especially in urban areas, as well as a rapid growth in Asian American spending power. They remain a relatively untapped market according to many economists.
So what would a for TV Asian American series look like? Well FremantleMedia gave our friends at Wong Fu the opportunity to take a shot at it, culminating in “Home is Where the Hans Are.”
Wong Fu productions was given the chance to create the beginnings of a series that could potential go to TV. Thus, Home is Where the Hans Are was born, telling the story of a Caucasian son returning from abroad after several years as a less than successful music artist. Disappointed at his perceived failure he arrives back to his suburban Californian home only to find that his mom has remarried an Asian American man with two children of his own.
In my own opinion, the first 3 episodes are entertaining, well written and clever. The family is made up of a Caucasian mother and son and an Asian father, with an Asian teenage daughter and son. As an Asian American, it was refreshing to see young Asian Americans on the screen in ways that I could very easily relate to. However, the notable point about the show is that it is clear that Wong Fu made an effort to ensure that the story line could appeal to a wide audience. The complexities of the characters and their issues appeal to all of us as Americans. And the plot of a racially diverse family and the sometimes, awkward, frustrating or comical situations that that the diversity can entail is definitely an untapped theme that is becoming more and more common as America's “melting pot” analogy becomes more and more realized.
Unfortunately there won't be more of the Hans in the near future as the project was just a small opportunity given to Wong Fu by FremantleMedia. And yes there is the huge hurtle of bringing a wide scale audience to a show somewhat based on Asian American life. In addition, there is a little stretch of the imagination to believe that a son would really not know that his mother remarried an Asian man without notifying her son unless the mother and son had some sort of major falling out which does not seem to be the case.
Still it is a great first try and if nothing else the fact that Wong Fu was given the chance to create the show is a pleasing sign that change may be on the horizon.
Check out Home is Where the Hans Are here and please, if you like what you see, leave a positive comment and tell your friends. The more positive comments and views, the higher chance that the show or something like it may become a reality.
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