The arrival of ABC’s sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” marks the first time in 20 years that an all-Asian cast has been featured on television in the United States. Deriving inspiration from chef Eddie Huang’s book, Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir, the show takes a comedic approach to depicting Asian American experiences. However, the show’s title, a derogatory term traditionally targeted at Asian immigrants, prompts questions as to why the negative term stands as the representation of Asian-Americans in media.
For the past two decades, cultural diversity on television has been minimal. According to a UCLA diversity report, white lead actors currently dominate the industry, making up 94.9 percent of characters. Thus, the creation of “Fresh Off the Boat” provides a greater representation of minority groups and has the potential to depict overshadowed perspectives in modern media.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Huang expressed some disappointment in terms of the media’s portrayal of his story. “I think a lot of time there are jokes and things that me and my family weren’t even aware about that were put into the story,” says Huang.
In response to the addition of scenes not published in the book, for instance, a recent NASCAR feature, Huang says, “I couldn’t relate to it because there were broader jokes that the writers in the room felt were funny and felt that people would relate to.”
Senior Zaneta Lai says, “When I first heard about the show, it sounded a little bit negative, and I was slightly offended. However, when the first trailer came out, and later the first episode, I realized that it was a pretty interesting because of how relatable the stories are. Although some of the things the Huangs go through are highly exaggerated, I can almost see myself as one of the Huangs. I felt that I could grow to enjoy watching it every week.”
Sophomore Kevin Chen says, “Being the first all Asian cast in a featured show, I feel they use this humor as sort of a crutch to make it normal, and that’s something I don’t really like about it.”
Not all viewers find the material offensive. Lai says, “Out of all the episodes so far, I feel like they’ve portrayed an average Asian family. A lot of the things that Eddie is going through, I’ve experienced myself. Certain parts of the family dynamics I have also seen among my family, as well as close family friends.”
In a recent episode, the main character’s achievement-driven mother emplaces a “Chinese Learning Center,” an academic after-school program, after deciding that her children were not being challenged enough. Such a depiction arguably drives from the stereotype of the “tiger mom” Asian parenting style.
“I feel they perpetuate a lot of unnecessary stereotypes, like the Asian mom or how Asians are academically successful just to try to make it funny for the viewers,” says Chen.
Sophomore Patrick Lynch comments, “I don’t exactly consider myself to be that [from] with Asian culture, so I didn’t really understand the Chinese Learning Center part, but as a viewer I know that a lot of people from all backgrounds go to places similar to a CLC for additional help. I don’t think anyone should be looked down upon for being academically driven for success.”
However, even as perceptions of the portrayal vary, the show maintains an entertainment aspect. Freshman Prateek Tenkale says, “The stereotypes in the show are definitely obvious, and I feel that stereotypes are something that the creators need to be careful with. It really is a touchy subject that can be funny or harmful depending on the viewer. For this show in particular, I felt the stereotypes are repetitive but for me what made it funny was how the actors played them out. Being someone who doesn’t identify as Asian, I know the show isn’t the best way to learn about Asian culture. I just found the acting to outperform it.”
Despite controversy surrounding the show, Fresh Off the Boat attracted more than 7 million viewers during its premiere. The show is perhaps is a defining moment in Asian-American culture, for better or for worse. Concludes Lynch, “I see a lot of potential on the show to propel television into a new era and genuinely believe that this will be a turning point for all races.”
