April 2, 2008

• MAASU, MADtv and… KORI

  Just got back this weekend from speaking and workshopping at MAASU (Midwestern Asian American Student Union) and had a great time.  As most may be aware, in my workshops I have the participants “audition” for the roles that my colleagues and I read for as actors – both the good and the bad. 

  In doing so, it gives folks a real sense of how these roles seen by millions of viewers and will ultimately and subtly “trickle down” to the mass public’s perception of Asian Americans.  That seeing an Asian American character described for the 20th time as:

  “Office I.T. guy, nerdy and shy.  Awkward around women.  However has the ability to access information with lightning speed” or “fiercely intelligent (a nerd, even), and asexual” 

  Leads to real-life statistics like this:

  The authors of “Freakonomics” did a study of women who dated online and found 97% of white women preferred white men but responded equally to profiles of Hispanic Men if they made $77k+ more, Black Men if they made $154k+ and Asian Men if they made $247k or more. 

  In the workshops, I ask folks how did the Asian American Male become so undesirable – that only having a quarter million dollars in his pocket could even things out? 

  My theory is it comes largely from the roles that are inundated in a medium that is seen all over the country and now the world with sites like YouTube.  Because honestly, who’d want to be with a guy whose fingers are only magic on the computer keyboard and not in the bedroom? 

  So my intent in doing these workshops is to expose the future leaders and pillars of society to what is going on in the real world so that when they actually are in a position to do something about it 15 or 20 years from now… they’ll hopefully do so. 

  Anyway, it’s always inspiring to see the younger generation get gung-ho about being proactive.  However, I do often wonder about how many follow-though once every day life gets to ‘em after college.

  Then a few weeks ago, Bobby Lee invited me into the Korean Drama parody sketch world of “Attitudes and Feelings, Both Desireable and Sometimes Secretive” on MADtv. 

  Here’s where they left off in the storyline last season and the saga will continue with Bobby, Sung Kang, Cathy Shim and myself (speaking Chinese in a Korean Drama, natch!) this Saturday, April 5th on MADtv, 11/10 central on FOX!  Not to give anything away but I can tell you the sketch has something to do with Ping-Pong! 

  I saw Bobby at an event two Christmas’ ago, and told him how much I loved the ‘Attitudes’ sketches to which he replied, “You wanna do one?”  To which I replied, “Hell yeah!”  And lo and behold, 15 months later when there was an opening, he was true to his word. 

  When I met comedian Danny Cho at MAASU this weekend, he said Bobby did the same thing for him — getting him in as “Pongo” on his Thailand Cable Access sketch on MADtv.  Check out when Danny cuts in on Carmen “Electrica” at 4:38 during the slow dance at the end.  Cracks me up all the time and apparently Carmen too – Danny told me that was part was all improvised.

  Granted, the stuff isn’t Shakespeare but here’s a guy that’s at least trying to use his position on a show to integrate as many Asian faces as possible and being a generous guy lending a hand out.  Good lookin’ out, Bobby!

  And then finally – it happened again 2 weeks ago.  Low amniotic fluids in my wife’s belly.  Baby needs to come out 3 weeks early.  Sound familiar?  Well that’s because the same thing happened 3 years ago with Avery!

  Although this time we got to schedule the C-section the next day!  Got to go home, shower, pack a bag.  24 hours notice — sheesh, cake walk.  Anyway, please welcome… Kori Layne Shen at 5lbs 10oz, 19 inches long. 

  Avery’s been a great big sis so far. 

  I took her to see “Horton Hears a Who” last week since I was going to miss her B-Day speaking at MAASU and this time I got her a pair of earmuffs to wear because the theater’s loud sound system just freaks her out. 

  She asked if Kori could come.  I said, “No, she’s too small.”  And she retorted, “But I’ll share my earmuffs with her!”  Aww.  I have feeling I’m in store for a lot more “Aww” moments in the near future.

  • 7:40 pm
  • 25 Comments