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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
LISA LING & RICK YUNE
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:06:44 PM)
he's the most watched Asian woman on American TV. He's the year's hottest Asian American movie hunk. She's 26. He's 29. She's 5-5. He's 6-1. She's Chinese. He's Corean. Both are unquestionably American. She's daringly bubbly. He's recklessly intense. What makes them special to many AA minds is that they defied the odds and the unwritten laws of the American media to become the lone bona fide Asian American star couple.
Rick Yune was barely one when his family left his native Seoul, Corea for Silver Springs, Maryland. His education has been enviably ivy-covered -- private schools topped off by a Wharton MBA. Then came a stint as a Wall Street stock trader and modeling for Versace and Polo. He made a memorable film debut in December 1999 as a young Japanese American husband accused of murder in Snow Falling on Cedars. Yune's character walks and gets the girl. A breathless Newsweek profile didn't hurt his career. His intense and classic Asian features add sizzle to The Fast and the Furious (2001) and will undoubtedly do the same for The Fence (2001).
Lisa Ling is a Sacramento native who got her start in TV at the age of 15 as a reporter for a syndicated teen magazine show called Scratch. Just as she was about to leave for Boston University, Channel One asked her to become one of its peripatetic on-air reporters. She attended USC while working full-time at Channel One's Hollywood studio. All her dates at USC were white, it's rumored. Soon after graduating she joined the panel of The View, ABC's popular daytime talkshow and began spending time with a Disney exec named Morgan Wandell. The fact that Disney is ABC's parent company led to resentment and innuendo. What really raised AA eyebrows was an Old Navy commercial showing Ling cavorting with a group of men and uttering the line "I like my men strong and good-looking". The beef? None of the five men are Asian.
Little wonder that many were skeptical of rumors that surfaced in early 2000 that Ling and Yune had become a couple. Some speculate that it's a sign that Asian men are ascendant. Others suspect it's just Ling's effort at rehabilitating her image with her Asian American viewership. Still others are just glad to see an Asian-Asian star couple at long last.
What do you think?
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WHAT YOU SAY
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Why are we talking about how Lisa looks, instead of her abilities? I think it shows that she works hard researching info in her segments. She also offers an interesting perspective from an AA's point of view. She might not be the most beautiful AF on TV, but she's definitely not ugly. Would you be so focused on her appearance had she been a MALE co-host? And if Rick Yune likes her for only her looks, then that's truly sad.
B. Supportive
Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 16:17:20 (PDT)
Lisa is beautiful, stop hatin'
JeenC.
Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 06:31:56 (PDT)
Sal T,
Why don't you get a brain? Who is Rick Yune? Duh, read the article on this page explaining who he is...duh. Nothing against Lisa Ling, but she is an ugly girl.
Littledragon,
Get a life. No one said she wanted to marry YOU!
LA guy
Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 16:08:25 (PDT)
Lisa Ling is very beautiful. i don't know who this guy is and i don't care. i think she is really intelligent and has a wonderful warm personality. i would marry her for sure.
littledragon76
Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 12:44:57 (PDT)
Lisa Ling has definitely made a milestone for Asians in terms of media exposure. All the comments about looks are called for, but isn't it personality that counts? She has character, but I do agree that The View could have chosen a "better-looking" person. It just goes to show, that she was "in the right place at the right time" and landed that job. There ARE Asians now in the newsmedia, but not many in in an entertainment role. In order to break into non-typical areas, we all have to break our mold and not act the sterotype and be yourself. And Lisa Ling is not a sterotypical Asian, she's just being Lisa.
Asiangirl#2
Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 10:50:36 (PDT)
Lisa is the only Asian person on TV nationally every single day...thank Goodness because I'm not even attracted to Asian women but I think she's HOT. It's funny how the chicks on this board trash her, get a life. Who is Rick Yune anyway?
Sal T.
Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 05:14:25 (PDT)
I was very happy when they added an Asian member to "The View," even though I think it's a pretty vapid show. I'd rather watch a root-canal procedure. My own. But I digress...
I do agree that, with all the talented and beautiful Asian women in this country, they could have hired someone better-looking and more interesting. I think Lisa Ling is pretty plain-looking and, worse, doesn't display a very interesting personality. Now had they added Margaret Cho to the mix, THAT would have been awesome casting. But she probably would have told the other gals to go *@!?(@ themselves eventually. (Always liked that girl.)
But hey, we need to support all our AA sisters and brothers in show biz (It's not as if they can pass legislation, after all) so my hat is off to Lisa Ling.
Northwest Girl
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 20:23:55 (PDT)
Honestly... to tell you the truth, Rick and Lisa make a f*cked up couple. He's good looking but she's not. whoever said she looks like a baboon, I agree.
I could never imagine the two of them getting married!
Korean Girl Widda BODY
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 18:16:59 (PDT)
I can't believe how hateful you are towards Lisa. You Asian women are disgraceful player haters. She's great and so lovely. I've watched her since I was 16, and she is a brave, smart woman. She and Rick and great together, I wish them much luck and love. Some of you on this board make me embarrassed to me Asian.
India
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 12:10:52 (PDT)
Donnie Chan,
Lisa Ling looks like a baboon. Are you serious??? She is stunningly ugly!! I see much better looking girls just about anywhere in LA. Rick Yune can do so much better and I'm sure he will. IMO, they will definitely not marry each other.
c-web
Friday, August 02, 2002 at 17:27:00 (PDT)
Lisa Ling is bland and ordinary looking. I don't think she's even intelligent or witty. As an Asian American, I don't feel she should represent us in the media. I think because she's so ugly. She should think about cosmetic surgery.
I really don't mean to offend any Lisa Ling fans, but it's just my honest opinion.
an Asian girl
Thursday, August 01, 2002 at 05:47:54 (PDT)
Lisa Ling is stunningly beautiful. She is smart and well versed. She's the only reason to watch TV.
Donnie Chan
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 05:27:51 (PDT)
I watched the View few times, and honestly I didn't find Lisa Ling all that. I don't think she is the right person to represent Asian females on TV. She often really doesn't have much to say on the show. She is not as witty as other hostess. Just my personal opinion. Dont mean to start any fights here.
happy asain lady
Monday, July 29, 2002 at 09:52:08 (PDT)
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