A Korean American TV Invasion?
October 28, 2005
It’s autumn, and that means the six TV networks are pulling out their new programs in the hopes of finding the next CSI or Desperate Housewives. The recurring theme this season seems to be the invasion of supernatural forces, in shows like Fathom and, yes, Invasion.
But if you look closely, you might notice another invasion of sorts taking place. And the only thing to fear from this invasion on the airwaves is the lingering effects of the kim chee you had for lunch on your breath (sorry, cheap joke). Yup, it’s the Korean American invasion and it’s happening on a channel near you.
LET’S EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE:
Two of the hottest shows on television — Lost and Grey’s Anatomy — feature prominent Korean American actors. On Anatomy, Sandra Oh is a doctor-in-training, and on Lost, there’s Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim as mysterious island castaways.
The new FOX comedy Kitchen Confidential features John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) in a recurring role for at least eight episodes. And before you ask why John doesn’t have his own series, FOX is saving John for his very own TV show, which they are developing just for him (you heard it here first, folks).
So far, so good. But there’s more to come when three mid-season shows debut.
Eddie Shin, formerly of the short-lived That ‘80s Show, stars alongside Frasier’s Jane Leeves and 3rd Rock from the Sun’s French Stewart in the WB comedy Misconceptions, which is about a single mother with a daughter who seeks out and finds her absent father.
Also on the WB is a sitcom set in a Chicago television newsroom titled Pepper Dennis. Rebecca Romijn (X2: X-Men United) will be joined by Korean hapa Lindsay Price –– formerly of Beverly Hills, 90210 and the disastrous American version of Coupling, which ran and died on NBC two years ago.
Finally, there’s Heather Graham in Emily’s Reasons Why Not. Graham (Boogie Nights) is a single woman trying to undo the wrongs in her life. Smith Cho, who also guest spots on House and Crossing Jordan, gets a juicy regular role as her “crafty, back-stabbing former assistant.”
Being Korean American myself, I’m proud to see my brothers and sisters doing so well. (Full disclosure: Many of the actors cited above are also friends –– so I’m proud of them for personal reasons as well.)
But I also realize this start of an “invasion” may possibly fizzle out. Hollywood does not have a strong track record of portraying the reality of Asian America. Let me put it this way — when you have a series set in a metropolitan hospital (i.e., House) and don’t cast at least one Asian American doctor, there is something seriously wrong.
But this wave of Korean American exposure is significant. And this sudden and concentrated burst of young talent is no accident.
All of the actors I mentioned above are in their 20s and 30s — and are a part of the post-L.A.-riots generation. These are the sons and daughters of immigrants.
Most Koreans migrated here in the 1970s and 1980s, and their English-speaking, American-born or raised children are now grown up and making their impact in non-traditional fields like entertainment.
These young artists faced objections from their immigrant families over their acting careers. Daniel Dae Kim was already pursuing a more traditional career when he realized acting was what he needed to do and dropped out of his old life.
All of these actors worked very hard for years, toiling away in theater and bit film and TV parts. I did a play with John Cho years ago, where sometimes there were only 10 people in the audience –– but he still went out and gave it his all. I think that same “Korean work ethic” of the immigrant parents passed on to their artist children.
What’s especially hopeful is that, for the most part, these actors on these shows are being allowed to play three-dimensional, interesting characters.
Even the Korean couple on Lost, who seemed early on to border dangerously close to stereotypes, have revealed a depth that’s totally refreshing. To see the love they were allowed to express on last season’s finale, before Daniel’s character sails off on the raft — when was the last time you saw any Asian couple in a Hollywood production display genuine feelings for each other?
I honestly don’t know if this TV season is just an anomaly or if it’s a pretense for a real Korean (or Asian) American invasion. I hope it’s the latter, even if I’m not holding my breath.
Philip W. Chung is a writer and co-artistic director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble in L.A.
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