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August 28, 2006
Asian Americans Not Ready for Prime Time

If you think you've read a blog entry like this before, it's probably because you have. It's time for a yearly report from some group or another saying there are aren't that many Asian Americans on TV. The latest one is from the Asian American Justice Center and it says that Asian Pacific American regular characters on network prime time television have not significantly increased over the last two years, since the group's last report.

Highlights from the report:

APIAs comprise only 2.6% of all prime time television regulars.
Among the 102 prime time programs, only 14 feature at least one APIA regular, and only one program (ABC’s Lost) includes more than one. These numbers are similar to the 2004 season.
APIA regulars remain absent from shows set in heavily APIA-populated cities such as Los Angeles and New York.
While missing from 2004 prime time situational comedies, APIA actors are featured on three sitcoms in the 2005 season: Hot Properties (ABC), That ‘70s Show (FOX), and Half and Half (UPN).
In contrast to 2004, APIA regulars in the 2005 season are just as likely as their non-APIA counterparts to be involved in intimate relationships.
In general, APIA actors feature less prominently than non-APIA actors as indicated by significantly lower screen time.
In contrast to 2004 when APIA men fared better than APIA women in character prominence and quality, the 2005 prime time lineup reveals a reversal of this trend.
Despite improvements in character prominence and quality, the lack of numerical representation renders APIAs largely invisible on prime time television.

No suprises in this report, which says some strides have been made and singles out Lost and Grey's Anatomy for featuring the most realistic Asian American characters. Enough said. Even I'm getting a bit tired of talking about this.

Posted by harry at August 28, 2006 2:12 PM


Comments

Yeah, it's the same-o, same-o.
No wonder considering that the Asians who "made it" are only too eager to appease the Man for lame morsels of bits and parts. Since these Asian actresses, actors, playwrights and writers all benefit from the Asian community by exploiting Asians while enjoying support from them (in various ways, including moral support, particularly from the "we'll take anything even if it's an Asian control-freak husband who can hunt fish and make sushi by instinct married to a sly, sneaky Asian wife who would rather be with some other man -- preferably non-Asian -- and possessing some ancient Chinese herbal secrets, as long as they are found on primetime tv, even if they are lost on some stupid island).
Not only are the stats the same, the status of Asians in America are still the same -- FOB (in LOST, FOP),
If only these Asian "celebrities" did something. But that would be like blaming my dog for wagging its tail when I toss him leftovers...
Too much to ask, I guess.

Posted by: B.Takahashi at September 9, 2006 7:09 PM

And how are you changing anything by talking shit about these actors? Oh that's right you aren't.

Posted by: DAB at September 13, 2006 1:57 AM

I said it a million times, why do asians put faith in Hollywood, go inndependent and make movies for Asians. Asian writers, producers and such. Thats the only way to kill the stereotypes

Posted by: Anonymous at September 13, 2006 8:44 PM

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