Asians on American TV | Asian American Poll

HOW THE TV NETS TREAT ASIANS
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:08:10 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which U.S. TV network is most Asian-Friendly?
ABC | 24%
CBS | 28%
FOX | 27%
NBC | 21%

Which U.S. TV network is least Asian-Friendly?
ABC | 28%
CBS | 20%
FOX | 26%
NBC | 26%

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WHAT YOU SAY

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ABC is the worst, when it comes to international sports events they are always looking down at asian countries, if they happen to win they would not comment on the good things they did to win, but try their hardest to find out some flaw.
... Sunday, January 20, 2002 at 10:44:47 (PST)

me,

It's true Chris Tucker is smitten with ZZ in RH2, but you gotta admit there was more focus on Rosalyn Sanchez as a "prettier" lead female. For instance, you see the camera panning her body up and down as Jackie AND Chris admire her. With ZZ, more emphasis is played on her fighting skills, not her looks. (Not that this is necessarily bad in itself, but it rather defeminizes her in comparison with RS. )Then someone in the movie points out to ZZ that RS is very pretty; both look at her--especially ZZ (with some degree of envy) as she shoots at RS's apple. Yes, ZZ is considered an attractive rival to RS, but the fact remains that the AF in this movie are still desexualized and defeminized, and more so when we see those AF's going horny after Chris. (In the West, "good" women are supposed to be desired, rather than desiring.)

Of course, much the same could probably be said for Asian males too. I have yet to see one Western film where the camera focuses on an AM's fit body with gleaming muscles. Or focuses on his lovemaking. Only WM's are accorded this sort of positive attention.

P.S. Even in Revenge of the Nerds, the WM's got their women, but the BM and AM didn't.
Asian Dominatrix Sunday, January 20, 2002 at 10:00:40 (PST)

Ac Dropout,

Hello?! Are we talking about the same Madame Butterfly??? In Puccini's opera, Madame Butterfly is Japanese and certainly an AF--even if she was played by WF opera singers!

I have to admit I didn't see One Night Stand but just kept hearing about the AF being dumped for a WF--the central part of the plot. Goldsea readers have pointed that out too. As Asian American Male has noted here, it's quite telling that the AF is dumped for a WF, not a BF. It seems that the central focus for admiration in Hollywood (and some so-called independent filmmakers) is white. That's why we need some AF--and AM--screenwriters to change things around.
Asian Dominatrix Sunday, January 20, 2002 at 09:43:56 (PST)

Patrick, you're right about no love scenes for Chinese guys and white girls. Kiss of the Dragon and Replacement Killers didn't have any. The One did, briefly. It was cool though because they showed scenes from their wedding, and Carla Gugino has the traditional Chinese dragon wedding dress on. Then again, that is a popular style of modern dress for everyone.

Anyways, first things first. Nothing happens overnight. Crawl before you walk.

Personally, I am trying to make it into the entertainment or broadcasting industry. I've heard a lot of negativity from relatives about how racist people are and everything, but I just ain't hearing it. That's why I said that I believe the hardest workers will succeed regardless of color. As with anything, if you let the negativity get to you, obviously you aren't going to make it very far.

Their points may have some validity, but I don't see it that way. Besides, if they they say is true, someone will have to break the barriers someday. I'm sure countless people told Jackie Robinson he was a fool. Now, I'm not saying I'm a big shot like him, or that my goals are nearly as lofty and revolutionary as his, but using his example, we can destroy all glass ceilings.
TSJ Eric@KristinKreuk.net Friday, January 18, 2002 at 14:05:15 (PST)

"Not least, look at stories like Madame Butterfly and 'One Night Stand' (the one starring Ming-Na Wen) when the Asian woman is dumped for the white woman. "

I think we're taking both these stories out of context. In Madame Butterfly, it's not even a AF.

In One Night Stand, it was more like a swingers party. Granted Snipes dumps Ming-na for a white chick. But on the other end a WM dump his white wife for Ming-na.

AC dropout Thursday, January 17, 2002 at 17:50:56 (PST)

None of the us tv networks are asian-friendly!!!! really think about the stereotypical asian roles.
Proud AA woman Thursday, January 17, 2002 at 16:17:51 (PST)

Eric,

Yes an Asian male with a white girl is a good sign, my point is you dont see it much in Hollywood, its always either the Asian girl with a white guy or a black guy, never with an Asian guy?
Why I dont know because white guys are with white girls, black guys with black girls, etc and if they dont pair with an Asian girl he will rarely if ever get romantically linked with a non Asian woman and even if they are they dont get a love scene or even a kiss.

Some people think "Anna and The King" was negative for Asians and esp the Asian male, but I dont think so, because even though Anna was sent to "enlighten" the king, she ended being enlightened herself and falling in love with him, but Im not Asian so I wouldnt know if that movie was negative for Asians or not. It seemed to me that it showed every culture has its positive and negatives.

Speaking of Chinese culture, that is one of the things I liked about Mira Sorvino, she spoke fluent Mandarin and majored in Chinese studies, probably the main reason her and Tarentiono got together was their love for Asian films. Oops, Im getting sidetracked.

Anyways, i bascially agre with what you said, but my point is that they are virtually no Asian women in leading roles in TV or Hollywood.

Patrick aka chowyunpat chowyunpat@aol.com Thursday, January 17, 2002 at 15:43:19 (PST)

Paula Zahn gets paid more because she's GOOD! Race has nothing to do with it. Gosh, you guys all sound like JOHNNY COCHRAN up in here!
TSJ Eric@KristinKreuk.net Wednesday, January 16, 2002 at 11:26:45 (PST)

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