AsianWeek Fall 2008 TV Preview

"Grey's Anatomy" star Sandra Oh

"Heroes" star Masi Oka

A couple of weeks ago, I went out for a walk in the neighborhood to grab some milk tea from the local Quickly’s store a couple of blocks from my house (I love milk tea, cannot live without it). On my way home I noticed an AsianWeek stand and I decided to grab a newsletter and go home and read it. Immediately the first thing I noticed was a photo on the front page of various television actors and actresses who were premiering on television this fall. I recognized Sandra Oh from Grey’s Anatomy and Lucy Liu. I flipped to the article that pertained to the front cover of AsianWeek (Vol. 29, No.6) and there were pictures of Asian television actors and actresses who were going to be featured on television this fall. I did not know many of the television actors and actresses because I do not watch many television shows that featured Asians, except probably only Grey’s Anatomy (one of the best television shows ever) where Sandra Oh plays Dr. Cristina Yang. I also recognized Lucy Liu from her role in “Charlie’s Angels.” There was also Daniel Day Kim from the show Lost. However, looking at the numerous photos of Asian American actors and actresses, I realized that Asian Americans are gaining a larger role in acting on the big screen. The idea used to be held (and is still mostly held today) that Asian Americans highly did not consider acting as a career because acting was looked upon as insensible and not worth all the hard work and effort when Asian Americans could instead become something more practical such as a doctor, lawyer, or businessman. Now Asian Americans are breaking barriers and stepping up to the plate to put them in a larger contextual role for Asian American culture. Having more Asian Americans on the screen will inspire other Asian Americans to consider acting if they have been afraid to. Not only are these Asian American actors and actresses appearing on the television screen, but they have large roles in these television shows and are not given roles to play minor characters that often get ignored in the show. Masi Oka plays Hiro Nakamura, a programmer at Yamagato Industries in the NBC television series "Heroes," and he has the special ability to manipulate space and time. Bobby Lee is a repertory cast member in the television series "MADtv". Watching television this fall will be more thrilling and exciting not only because of the plot involved in these television shows, but also because there are Asian American actors and actresses who represent our culture and heritage in society.