The Netflix series Marco Polo was launched on Dec 12th with an ensemble #AAPI cast including Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Olivia Cheng, Zhu Zhu, Tom Wu, Remi Hii, Claudia Kim and Rick Yune: imdb/title/tt2189461/. The series did receive negative reviews avclub/tvclub/marco-polo-wayfarer-212933 for its orientalism, pathetic reimagining (long story) and wtf with the feigned accents and dialect coaches (long long story), but IMHO, the performances by the main #AAPI cast was quite good. Now if only we could match them up with better writers. Meanwhile here are week #12 network TV ratings: tvseriesfinale/tv-show/2014-15-tv-show-season-ratings-week-12-35032/ There are at least 10 network TV programs with #AAPI stars or co-stars this season (in brackets, the shows 18-49 rank for week #11 and actors): Modern Family (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) (#2), Scorpion (Jadyn Wong) (#15), Two Broke Girls (Matthew Moy) (#24), Marvel Agents of SHIELD (Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet) (#34), Stalker (Maggie Q) (#43), The Mentalist (Tim Kang) (#55), Grimm (Reggie Lee) (#61), Hawaii Five-O (Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Masi Oka, Wily Taylor) (#68), Elementary (Lucy Liu) (#70), and Selfie (John Cho) (#73). Note that there are other TV programs with #AAPI stars/co-stars including: AMCs Walking Dead (Steven Yeun) which has perhaps the highest ratings of all shows, HBOs The Network (Olivia Munn), TBSs Sullivan & Son (Steve Byrne, Jodi Long, and Vivian Bang), and CBCs Strange Empire (Cara Gee, Terry Chen). Many #AAPI actors have also been cast as guest-stars or in recurring roles in number of network TV programs. Here is a partial list (feel free to add names): NCIS (Stephanie Jacobsen), NCIS: Los Angeles (Eddie Shin, Tamlyn Tomita), How To Get Away With Murder (Tamlyn Tomita), Madam Secretary (Danni Wang, Francis Jue, James Saito), Arrow (Rila Fukushima, Karl Yune, Brandon Nomura, Vincent Tong, Kelly Hu, Katrina Law, Yee Jee Tso), Marvel Agents of SHIELD (Dichen Lachman), Mindy Project (Steve Park), Gracepoint (Yee Jee Tso), and Hawaii Five-0 (Will Yun Lee, Brian Yang, Dennis Chun, Mark Dacascos, Ian Anthony Dale, Shawn Mokuahi Garnett, Ron Yuan, Shawn Anthony Thomsen, Eidan Hanzei, Maile Holck, Cody Easterbrook, Gregory Suenaga, Hiinani Papapa, Holo Groendyke). So at least 21 #AAPI actors in starring or co-starring roles and another 29 others (at least) making guest star or recurring star appearances. Clearly, there is more diversity and representation so #AAPI groups and activists deserve a pat. But what about the writing and the backstories? And feigned accents and dialect coaches in Marco Polo? Really?
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 00:59:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015