One thing to remember: This show does not mean to represent all Asian American families, but means to shed light and humor on one guy's experiences as an Asian in the US. Yes, it was a highly anticipated show, but that does not mean that you should expect your own experiences as an Asian to be expressed through this show. In fact, by criticizing the show for having a dad that's "not Asian enough" and an "unrelatable main character" you're missing the show's intent. Fresh Off the Boat conveys that there is no such thing as a normal Asian family. It's a heavy burden for the show to claim that they are representing a whole group of people, just like us Asians can't really describe every single individual Asian experience. I mean, my dad is Asian and he is a LOT like Randall Park's character. He is not a white guy trapped in an Asian man's body; rather, he embodies what a lot of people come to America for: a bright future for their kids, financial opportunities, just achieving the American dream. As for the show's title, my interpretation is that no matter your background, people here are going to look at you as an Asian before they see you as your own person, and so labels are going to happen and we have to fight that. Also, Eddie is supa fresh!
Yeah, but even Eddie Huang said in an interview that they changed the father's personality to balance the show. His actual dad is a legit hardass asian dad who has a gun collection (that's probably not 'safe' for tv). It feels like the TV people changed a lot of it and whitewashed it.
I don't get why they don't recognize that this is based on Eddie Huang's book in the first place, didn't get the comment about the title. The title comes from the book, which is authentic about the immigration. I really like the channel, but they should have checked the background first before discussing.
42cosmonauts Or they just didn't want to deal with gun nuts. Let's face it, if you're pro or against, just bringing it up is going to make people focus on that one aspect of it and not anything else. If anything it would distract against the plot. IDK I like the show because it's a whole bunch of 90's cheese. It makes you remember the times when we didn't really have that many problems, compared to now. At least that's what I see in it. Also, I bet a lot of kids now are so happy that they have the internet, there's porn everywhere. There's no this is the adult movie area, like it was in the past.
Well, you guys are being stereotypical too. I was born and raised in Taiwan, but my parents are NOT those "typical/normal" Asian parents!! We treat each other with respects and share ups and downs together. How are you so sure to make a statement that Asian parents don't open up to their kids?
i think the title "fresh off the boat" is meant to be somewhat ironic. the idea that the kids have been born and raised in the usa but are still treated like they don't have this intimate knowledge of the usa. like when the white mum said "you speak english very well!" and that they are still separated a lot from white families/people
i agree! its irritating sometimes when some ignorant people can't seem to get that asians can be born in america. the worst part is when they don't even bother with formalities. it may be hard to believe, but i've had people approach me and my friend on buses or on the street and without even a hello, they begin the conversation with "Chinese? No? Korean? No? I got it...Japanese?"
Too relatable! I agree that the title is poking at the fact that everyone treats the family like they're fresh off the boat even though they were raised in usa, which I think a lot of asians can relate to.
I think that if they were doing an authentic Chinese/Taiwanese style, it would come off to non Asians as abusive in the verbal and physical forms at times. Whether it be the severe punishments by western standards for educational related incidents, or just plain talking back to your elders (which is not even in the cards), non Asians would not really enjoy the show. Eastern Asians just don't kiss or hug their parents on a normal basis. We don't mouth back to our parents, we don't go to slumber parties, we are required to help out with family businesses....even if it's our uncle or aunts business. Things are never really explained, and there are a ton of "unsaid" things in the family that as kids we think about from time to time, but never get a straight answer on.....if at all. Bottom line, the show had to altered from reality in order to appeal to all.
onyxspirals i agree. I'm not hating onthe show but I was agreeing with most of what was said. I think I forced a laugh but the acting was very forced and soo much stereotyping! Idk who made this but this show needs a redu. Ive only.seen the first episode due to work but I was hoping for more
Kee Moh I think you make a great point. Network television is for middle of america kind of people who don't like to be challenged or see cultures outside of there own. The show has to be this way for it to be succesful.
Have you guys seen Huang's World? Eddie seems to be brought up that way. The kid who plays Eddie is an exact version of him in real life. This is based on his memoir so it could be how his parents were and you'll just dont want to accept it.
***** it depends on taiwanese parents. Taiwanese families do speak english. Some don't then again. Most taiwanese friends speak better than mainland counter parts. It's mostly cantonese have the most trouble.
Eddie Huang's parents are atypical because they're based on Eddie Huang's actual parents, who are real people, not fictional characters formulated to be 100% representative of most Asian parents. Eddie's dad acts like that because Eddie's real dad was like that. The show does omit the corporal punishment and generally tones a lot of things down from the memoir. Like in the memoir the kid who calls him an ethnic slur is white I think, and he fights him in stead of just cursing him out. I think that this is more about the network not wanting to depict a woman bullying her husband into beating his sons with a belt while still trying to make her a sympathetic character, or depict 10 year olds beating the crap out of each other, all while trying to maintain a comedic tone and not scare off advertisers. The show is called "Fresh Off the Boat" because that's the name of the memoir, which is a reference more to the "eternal foreigner" stereotype and Eddie Huang's unique personal views on his identity, feeling like an outsider despite being totally Americanized, as if the white people around him will always view him as an immigrant, no matter how assimilated he becomes.
I do not disagree, but these guys poured some realism into their critique. Their comments simply expressed that their childhoods were not such as we see in the show. It also seems certain creative liberties were taken, like making Randall Park's character more fun-loving. Is it possible Eddie Huang's real-life dad was more strict? Did Eddie's grandmother really help him achieve more thug-type swagger? Would Asian parents really side with their children, if called in by the principal? Would Asian children really defy their parents? All good questions. This show makes for very good comedy. It is only a show, after all.
+Alan Horton i think they did a great job with their critique and the show just isn't what they promoted it to be. just not real enough for me as an asian to relate. ended up not finishing the show and it just wasnt funny.
I don't know, Eddie Huang has made subtle comments about his parents being abusive, especially his dad. But it's been a very long time since I read about it, so my memory might be fuzzy
These guys said "Asian dad's are not like that", having seen Eddie's dad on his show 'Eddie's world' his dad doesn't seem like a stereotypical strict asian parent, you guys realise that not all asian dads are the same right?
I think you guys are all missing the point. The show's on ABC!!!!.....NOT HBO or SHOWTIME!!! If FOB was on HBO or SHOWTIME, it could be as edgy and risque and odd and weird humor as it wants to be. But it's on ABC!!! ABC is owned by DISNEY!!!! Meaning, EVERY FAMILY SIT-COM has to be clean cut and safe and non-controverisal. It doesn't matter if the show is about a black family or a Latino family or an Asian family, if it's on ABC/DISNEY, the show has to be wholesome with GOOD "AMERICAN" FAMILY VALUES. This is why the Randall Park character is American-style (rather than Asian style parenting where father tells mother he's disappointed in you-the child, and then mother relays the message to you, instead of him talking to you directly). ABC just wants to show an American family who happens to be Asian with tiny little quirks, that's all, so that any advertiser like Glade cleaning products and Applebee's can sponsor it. Network family sit-com is all about safe clean cut shows where 9 year old children can watch with their mom and dads. And the odd character(s) trying to fit in is a normal plot-line for TV, like Malcom in the Middle or The New Adventures of Old Christine. I hope you guys understand why the Fresh off the Boat is the way it is...... :) P.S. "The Goldbergs" on ABC is a family sit-com about a Jewish family with a main character as a child living in the 80's and voice-over by the adult version of the child. Same premise as Everybody Hates Chris. And Fresh off the Boat. ABC likes formulaic "safe" shows. Somebody just need put up the money and make a show on HBO or Showtime or Netflix about the Asian-American or Asian-Australian or Asian-Canadian or Asian-British experience, that's all.
onyxspirals LOL! I don't remember what commercials were shown but I know McDonald's has done an excellent superb job advertising to Asian folks. There's a McDonald's commercial in every Asian language in the United States, at least here in California on TV and radio (foreign language stations). The show Fresh off the Boat is not that funny, tho. Very middle of road and bland like this: child goes to school and sees that his classmates has something that he doesn't. So he wants it and does something he's not supposed to do to get it. But he gets in trouble with the principal or the law, and his parents talk to him and they hug and lesson learned. Kind of boring and normal, which means no one gets offended, which means every demographic can watch it. And while everyone from gay republicans to single mothers to Russian immigrants is watching it, Lay's Potato Chips or Taco Bell comes out with a commercial announcing a new flavor. Then everybody who's been watching the Fresh off the Boat TV show, goes "ooh, that looks good, i want to eat that" and then they buy it. This is how network family sit-com works.
I'm asian and my parents are unlike any regular stereotypes you guys have said about asian parents. Their soft side is like on 95% of the time, they say I love you all the time and they always try to connect with me daily. And I know a lot of families that are like that. I guess, it's more of a 'chinese' stereotype. But, even then I'm still chinese-indonesian.
Dan n mike you guys are obliged to your own opinion but you guys do know this is based off Eddie Huang's book "fresh off the boat?" like his dad really likes American culture which is why randall does a good job portraying him in a "white" manner. the kid is suppose to be like that since that is how eddie was when he was a kid.
You guys have to do your research first. The show is based off Eddie Huang's memoir called "Fresh Off The Boat", hence the show's name. Also, and many people have already commented about it here, it's hypocritical of you to say that the show didn't depict a typical Asian family, yet you get ticked off when stereotypical jokes are made. I think it's good that they picked a story like Eddie's to show the American audience that not all Asian families are the same.
The incident with the black kid is one of the very few real events that they used from the autobiography. I really enjoyed that scene. You're not suppose to blame the black kid, it's trying to show you how damaging the social structure are to people who are not white in the school (and in general). :) I loooove the parents, especially the mom. I actually can't relate to the mom because my mom is anything but tiger mom. However, the dad does remind me of my dad. And I don't feel that it is fair to use "Oh they're not like my parents." as an excuse to dislike it. They're one Asian family, not all Asian families and I appreciate the little differences they have. I actually don't mind the stereotypes because I feel like a lot of them originated around that era and we do acknowledge a lot of it is very very true for a lot of Asian American families. But I understand where people are coming from. I'm sure you already know this but the title is the title of the autobiography it's based on. Eddie wanted to take back that derogatory term. It's not meant to be taken literally, but it still makes sense to me since they came from a heavily Asian populated place to a white suburban neighborhood. I think they were originally going to name it Chopsticks. What I really love about this show is how I see bits and pieces of my friends and their families along with mine in this show. It's not just one cookie cutter family. I can totally relate to using grandma as a shield so mom doesn't yell as much XD I love the younger brothers because I know Asian kids who navigate through eastern and western cultural perfectly. My parents would totally defend me and threaten to sue the school because it's the "American" thing to do. My friend's mom is the ultimate tiger mom. We ALL have or had the set of red bowls. There's always that one rebellious child in the Asian family. ~cough~ friend's younger brother ~cough~ ALSO THE "SUCCESS PERM" OMG Etc. Overall, it's not perfect. It's not "made" for Asian Americans. But it's a step.
I don't think you guys are keeping in mind the fact that is an adaptation of a book called "Fresh Off the Boat". You guys are just critiquing it as a show, independent of its origins. The show did not pick the name of the book. The show did not pick what the book was about, which was an autobiography of Eddie, the kid. The show did not choose the main character of the autobiography. These are all things the show had to work with, coming from the source material. So I feel many of your criticisms fall short of being part of a meaningful conversation and instead show what I feel many asian people want this to be. This isn't about the average asian-american family, or FOB family, it's about Eddie's life growing up. And his life had some asian stereotypes in it and some not.
It is cute and I feel it is funnier than Fresh Off the Boat so far. Maybe I like work place comedy more than a 90s family sitcom. Selfie has very very few Asian specific jokes.
My least favorite part of the whole show is the fact that the father (played by Randal Park) always switches from an American accent to a really bad Taiwanese one. If you hear Eddie Huang's father speak (whether it be on Huang's World or in real life), you will know that he has a thick accent. I feel like this minute detail takes a way a tremendous amount from the show. Rather than focusing on the storyline or the jokes, I get caught up in listening to his accent.
Hoa Phan Yeah. Wong Fu did one not too long ago, and you can tell that he is just speaking regularly until there is a "funny" stereotypical asian joke.
it will get better. I'm not gonna debate this cause i'll lose. Mind you this is the same guy that's fresh off the interview. We should all hope this show does well. It's about time Asian-Americans get a show. We've been next up in the demographic for quite some time now.
Hoa Phan Yeah. I really want to see the show do well, and I will continue to watch it every Tuesday. It's just a minor detail that, in my mind, impacts the show negatively.
Two things: 1) The show is based off of Eddie Huang's life. It's not meant to encompass every singles Chinese/ Asian family. 2) You guys seemed to have a lot of expectations for this show. Just curious, if there were other shows with a large Asian cast on TV, would you guys be as critical? Because the burden would certainly be lifted off this show. As it stands, you guys made this show to be the one and only show that should represent Asian Americans and it shouldn't have to.
Emely Noona The first season is the best. After that all the suits at the studio took it a different direction and then it changed the tone. Buts it's good.
Also the reason for this shows inaccuracies is because at the end of the day they need views. If they made it 100% accurate only Asian Americans would watch.
I think the "Fresh Off The Boat" title is tongue-in-cheek about them moving from DC to Orlando -- they are adjusting to a new Western culture than the one they already adjusted to in DC. Much of the 1st season is about adjusting to living in an all-white community when before they were surrounded by other Chinese and other minority families.
There is no "normal" asian family. How did mainland Chinese family become the normal Chinese family? I think your basing your idea of an actual Chinese family off of your own. Northern Chinese people are different than Southern Chinese people. Differences in culture, food, and family. I think you are lacking in knowledge of Southern China, in areas like Hong Kong and Macao. That is why you think this family isn't the "typical" Chinese family. You think the typical Chinese family is from Northern mainland China. If you knew more about the Cantonese speaking Chinese people, I think you would understand more.
Okay, I'm a white male in Norway, but your arguments and points seems kind of more racist than the show itself.. It's important to keep in mind the intent of the joke, rather then the joke itself... I feel this show is going to be remembered as a milestone for sitcomes and acceptence/undersating for asian culture!
Just goes to show that not all Asian families are the same. You talk about stereotyping but say that an "Asian family would never do this or that" --this show is based on one instance of an Asian American family living in America. While I didn't agree with everything, I found some relatable points. That whole cafeteria scene hit it home for me. I hope the show delves much deeper into the relationship between Eddie and Walter if there's a 2nd season.
I have to disagree with the comment about getting whipped if we were to stand up for ourselves. I'm Cambodian and we tell our kids to defend themselves anyway they can when it comes to school troubles; no punishment for that.
1) This was the 2nd show on air starring an asian american family. the last one was All American Girl that was on air in the 90s, starring margaret cho. it lasted one season and was cancelled and it's been 11 years since. 2) I liked how straightforward they were about race in the show. it is based on eddie huang's memoir and he lived in the 90s in a community with very little asian people. it's not surprising he experienced race-sensitive problems and i'm happy abc chose to present at least some of his experiences in a way that didn't sugarcoat it too much. 3) it's a memoir! how unique do you want a coming of age story to get? its a genre for a reason! most follow a general premise and what makes this show unique is its viewpoint from a new character on tv, the asian-american first gen kid. 4) of course not all characters are relateable to everyone. i just wanted to point out that for me and a decent amount of my friends, one of our parents was the conservative, stick to our roots dictator. and the other one was the one who embraced the american culture. maybe not always completely, but at least in some things, if not most. i think you'd be hardpressed to find ANY immigrant asian parents who has not accepted at least one small part of american culture, be it food or music or clothes. To have two characters that represent each of these stereotypes for comedic value is all the better. you can find parts of your own parents in each of them. 5) just because you're close to your parents doesn't mean that you're not fresh off the boat! what makes you so adamant that if you are able to talk and joke with your parents, that means you're westernized? aren't you the one pushing the stereotypes now? I do agree with some of the things you said, mostly near the end, about the show still trying to find its identity. although, i think the reason for that is because so many asian americans, really, haven't found their identity yet. so trying to have show portray something that's already so intangible is difficult. so i understand that's its still confused because we are watching the beginning of a show that will really help present and future asian americans find their voice, their culture, and their individual identity. It's also true that some of the writing didn't ring true, like asian americans threatening to sue. but this is one of the first shows on television starring asian americans. even the real eddie huang, who disliked the writing of the show in the beginning, stated that he understood the need for these jokes. fresh off the boat is introducing basically a culture that's unfamiliar to most of america. this is the first true portrayal of asian american life and struggle. its not always easy to get people to enjoy something foreign so the show needs to find a way to relate with the masses. all we can do is hope that this show will help open doors in the future for more portrayals of asian americans in the media so we can further educate about our culture.
I thought this show was pretty funny. I'm not Asian so I don't know how accurate it was, but as an "ethnic American," I could relate to it on some level. Plus it was nice to see more Asians on mainstream American TV.
Dude F.O.B Is not only 4 East Asians, Middle Easterners, Africans, and most immigrants in general can relate 2 the term! But i do agree with you the tittle does not bare much significance 2 the show, it's probably just a hook!
DoRe HeyIt'sMi Well, yes they did use the name 4 the book and the show is based off of his life, where they use the title. But what i'm trying to say East Asian's in know way claimed the term. I mean i'm from Canada, where we actually have more East Asians, but the term is used with all immigrants, especially Africans! Nobody actually owns the term! But i'd say if we wan't 2 claim it, then you say it belongs to people of color! -Thanks
Samuel Appiah But your original comment is talking about the name of the show, as in the name of the show is a "hook". I just wanted to clarify that it's the book's title and not just a "hook" -You're Welcome
LMAO "White Dad trapped in an Asain body," that's hilarious... Seems to me Asian & Hispanics families aren't as different, I mean, some of the things these guys said about their background reminds me of mine. Haha
These guys obviously haven't really watched this show completely, they should watch more episodes and put their viewpoint on this. And they should know that this was based off the real Eddie Huang's memoir (book) "Fresh Off The Boat: A Memoir", so his lifestyle was different than these guys or the majority of Asians or Asians Americans, in my opinion. What really annoyed me is that these guys said that the dad was an "Asian man trapped in a white man's body". That really annoyed me, because just because a person acts a different way as one race would see that their majority of their race acts or should act, doesn't mean they are trying to be another race. Also, how is this show supposed to be relatable? Sure, I've heard some Asians or Asian Americans say that "Fresh Off The Boat" is relatable to their culture, but it is based off of someone else's life...IN THE 90'S!!! Some people just judge a book by its cover without knowing about it's content or anything. When I watch, "Fresh Off The Boat", I don't view this as a typical Asian/Asian-American family. I see it as a funny show, and that is all.
Eddie Huamg said in an interviewt that Abc changed the content and portrayal of how it actually was being an immigrant. So he end up backing out, so many of the scenes were geared towards how non Asians viewed it.
I thought you guys did your research with Eddie Huang's memoir. Anyway, you also have to consider the time this is set in....it's the early 90s....immigrants growing up in the 90s, not now.
Where did this false information that Constance Wu was 26 when the show premiered come from? The show premiered in 2015. She was born in 1982. She's in her early 30s.
It's not always Chinese. Where do you live and what do you watch? Typically with these Off the Great Wall guys it is Chinese because that's what they are. But they do make LOTS of blanket statements.
filthyswit OTGW has some fair shares of interesting clips about Chinese culture. But I do agree with you that what bothers me is when they do non-Chinese Asian episodes (such as talking about K-Pop or Japanese samurai) while continuing calling their channel "Off the Great Wall". It's not only an inaccurate reflection of their video clips, but it's a bit insulting (whether intentional or not) to lump everything about Asian material on a "Chinese" channel, as if all things Asian revolve around China.
I say mostly because the amount of chinese people in the world is a lot, thus accounting for the largest percentage of ethnicity in the Asian region, and presumably largest ethnicity of the Asian immigrants. Thus most common to be seen, or associated by? China makes a huge part of Asia, for centuries people think China as Asia. Hell my friend from Europe still think Asia is mostly China. So yeah. It's a large country with huge population and large ethnic group all over the world compare to others. With the numbers it's almost certain that when you see Asians most of the time they're Chinese. And from there people ended up generalizing.
ChocoL473 Yea,,,China is huge country with massive population, but they still live in the hand of mother fucker communist....With all those pollution and shiiitt,,,man,,,Glad i'm in states, not in China
Do you even know what communist means? Also what is a "mother fucker communist" China is a one party state very much like vietnam. The one party happens to be the communist party. However, when most people think of communism, they dont think of the core values of it. Communism has never existed and the "communist countries" are really just soviet-era dictatorships
You guys are entitled to your opinion. The first time I heard about this show, I was a bit meh about it. After watching the show, I was hooked because it sort of reminded me of my childhood. Eddie trying to embrace the hip hop feel...that was me when I was a kid. To me...it was like having flashbacks to my childhood.
I don't think you guys know about eddie huang... the whole reason the show is named fresh off the boat is because that's what his memoir is called and this show is literally his life growing up in america with his parents. If you watch his travel/food show, that's how he acts, so it's not the writing or the acting, the kid IS eddie huang, and he's the type of guy you either love or hate.
Check out Constance Wu's comments that she doesn't represent every Asian mom (time.com/3696111/fresh-off-the-boat-constance-wu/). I think there's a Catch-22 with what you guys are asking for: you wish this to be a "regular sitcom" without so much "Asian" elements in there, but at the same time you wish to have a more accurate portrayal of an Asian family, so what's it going to be? ABC's doing their best to balance the humor so it caters to both Asian and non-Asian viewers. Besides, FOTB is based on book by Eddie Huang, who in real life is actually a guy that's rebellious as a youngster during his identity crisis. Considering that this is a TV show, there's a reason why the parents have different personalities (as opposed to both of them being "Tiger parents"), along with the brothers too. Otherwise, all of them would be difficult to distinguish from one another. Besides, if all three brothers were portrayed as the "good obedient Asian boys", everybody would find this show boring. There has to be a little bit of friction in terms of personalities with each character to make a TV show work.
You guys usually do a good job with your homework, but this video needed more research before it could be uploaded. Just to add on about what others are saying neglecting "All-American Girl" being the first Asian-American family household, FOTB being based on a book, and John Cho being on "Selfie" as an Asian male romantic male lead, there are indeed some popular Chinese-American actors in mainstream media today. Not as many as we'd like, but there are a few. Elementary's Lucy Liu, Shield's Ming Na Wen, and Glee's Harry Shum Jr as starters.
I disagree that Asian parents don't defend their kids for standing up for themselves. That's probably one of the only things they will praise. When I was in elementary school I defended my brother from bullies and got in trouble for it. When we got home, my parents actually said "Good job". Like they'll say keep a low profile, but if you have to stand up for yourself, then you had better fight to the death.
As a Filipino my family and I enjoy watching the show. We relate the show to us and I laugh at the grandma scene. My dad is color washed and is understanding and my mom is not strict as the mom from the show but my mom is cheap and did that Chinese Learning did to me when I was little. I like the show because it really relates to my family. The parents relates to my parents. I think it's a show to be watched with a family mainly Asian parents to get to relate and reflect onto themselves.
I think if you guys watched Eddie Huang's travel/food series on Vice's youtube channel, you will get where the boy's character is coming from. That is Eddie's personality.
Funny, FOB never had the "uneducated" connotation when I heard it from Asian Americans. It was more of a "stay hanging in Flushing, dress like Mainland China teens, and listen to Chinese/Korean music", and it was always directed toward teenage kids. I'm in New York (if you didn't catch that by the Flushing reference)
What movie? Also, not saying Jackie Chan is unattractive, but they hardly ever/never have a very attractive Asian guy playing lead role in a movie (that is not a martial arts movie), and gets the girl in the end.
Not all Asian parents yell at you for being called the principal's office. My parents didn't yell at me for it. They told me it was good that I was standing up for myself. The kid did say the racist remark first, and I was just defending myself.
I'm Chinese and my parents wouldn't punish me at all for standing up to a bully the way Eddie did. The worst they'd do is probably say "maybe you could have handled it better". But honestly, this is one big way in which my parents never agreed with the Western school system. You're supposed to punish the bully before the victim does it for you, especially if that victim is a kid and doesn't know any better.... duh.
Wow this was such a horrible critique of the show. A heads up for the next review, your opinion would've counted for something or remotely valid if you had done some research into the show, the memoir that it's based on, and who and what the author went through growing up as an asian American in a primarily white neighbourhood. Regardless of whether he was born here or just arrive from Taiwan, he talks about his experiences and struggles assimilating into a new neighbourhood of primarily white culture and people. Yes there's racism with the black kid because that was one of his racist accounts he experience which he mentions was a prominent moment in his life that changed how he viewed the world after and no it was just placed there to be funny. You complain that they play off of the stereotypes too much but then criticize the parents for being unrealistic. What the hell do you want? To be able to relate to the show or that it's not accurate to YOUR envisioned stereotype of the typical asian American. I think you two are completely missing the point of the show that asian Americans even if they're not fresh off the boat have issues assimilating or conflicts between the western and eastern cultures. I don't find anything wrong with the dad, if anything in the memoir, Eddie Huang and he had an open, unconventional relationship. The fact that you two don't acknowledge this dad as a realistic portrayal of an asian dad just because he's not like yours in turns shows how people like you that stereotype/generalize misconstrue others' perception of an asian dad. This show has stereotypes but breaks them too and thus is the bridge of a better understanding of asian culture that isn't seen in Hollywood. This review was so unbelievably shitty and contradictive.
What the black kid said wasnt racist actually, he was highlighting how society views minorities. With no Asians, black kids are the most hated - with FOB Asians, they are the new black.
I think you guys are hating on the show a little too much. lol It's based off of Eddie Huang's autobiography, so it might not be representative of every single Asian American story. It's Eddie Huang's personal story. And you also have to take into account the time period that this show is taking place. America nowadays is not the same as it was back then. There are definitely a lot more Asian Americans now than before, so your story will not necessarily be the same. Back in the 90s, hip hop was a huge thing. Many Asian American boys were really into that whole hip hop thing because there were no Asian American influences or music they could look up to. Black people were starting to have their voice heard in the American mainstream media. And Asian Americans also had that minority mentality, so they kind of got into the whole hip hop movement. And contrary to what you said, I believe Asians living in America do experience racism just like other ethnicities. It just might not be too apparent nowadays because a lot of Asians hangout mostly with other Asians most of the time. But once you step out of that bubble, you do notice it. Asians who are not that tall and big may experience more straight forward racism because other people feel it’s okay to pick on that small, scrawny Asian kid because they do not see you as a threat. That’s something that many Black people and Latinos do not have to deal with; they deal with another kind of racism.
Agree w/ Nanda below. Really annoying that these two guys don't see this as a show but want it to tell "The Chinese FOB Story" when the reality is that everyone's story is different. Depending on the age that your parents came/ country they came from/city they immigrated to/socio-economic level/ other factors, everyone's experience is very different. These guys hating is really annoying and doesn't help the cause of getting Asians on TV more and eventually having the rest of America see Asians as just as American as those that immigrated from other countries.
About the no Asians in romance thing, there is actually this show called selfie. The asian is Korean, and not too stereotypical. You should try it out.
I'm Chinese American. I never knew until I was grown up that Asian Parents don't normally show affection towards their kids. This is because my dad would always give me a hug and a kiss on my head at bed time. Then, he will say he loves me very much on daily bases. Then, I will say it back to him. So, my dad didn't fit the normal Asian dad stereotype. Thank goodness! So, when I have kids, I will do the same for my kids. It just doesn't sound right to not say I love you, if you love them. lol Now on the other hand, my mom didn't show me one bit of affection. When I was little or grown up. I asked her once why she never hug me and she said because Chinese people don't that! But, I told her dad does it all the time, and she said, well I don't! So that was that, I guess. In the end, my dad did love the whole thing about being an American and we would do all that stuff. Like celebrating the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas and more. We would go out and watch games. Now this doesn't mean he forgot how to be Chinese, nope. We did that stuff too. He just wanted us to do it all because well we're Americans!
There's an Australian show called The Family Law which is similar to this show, but it's got so much more Asian-ness to it and is much more enjoyable. It's hard not to compare the two because they are both based off of biography, both are of the same genre, both the moms are strong and open minded, both dads run a restaurant etc. If you like this kind of TV shows I highly recommend you check it out
I am not sure where you get your definition of FOB. But FOB never means uneducated, uncivilized and none of that negative terms that you have used. It is great that you are voicing out for Asian Americans, but I do think that you need to be careful with what you put out to the world because people that are unfamiliar with the culture will think the way you do. FOB is really just a term that describes those that have just arrived in the country. It doesn't mean they are uncivilized or uneducated, it really just means that they are unfamiliar with the western culture, or they are choosing to live the way they were used to living when back in their country. Please do not put any more judgements on immigrants, they are trying hard in a new country and they are brave.
John Cho played the Romantic male lead in the ABC show Selfie it only lasted for 13 episodes but it still counts as an American romantic comedy with an Asian male lead. I Personally I wish it would have lasted longer John Cho and Karen Gillan where good together. :) really like the show
They really don't know anything about this show. The only the reason they watch is I because ta an Asian family. This show is about the child hood of Eddie hung which is the main kid they hate
I'm Asian, I'm Chinese and I love this series. Take it with a pinch of salt coz it is entertainment and not a documentary. Modern Family- cmon don't U think they are exaggerating stuff to make it funny? Ditto w Fresh Prince of Bel Air etc. These all portray CARICATURES of people. I find that most of us Asians, regardless of where we have put down roots, have similar mothers. Lol. The mum in FOB has the best lines. Constance does such a great job. Another similarity we share? We need to help Asian talents and Asian shows in Hollywood to have more opportunities by showing them our support & watching shows like FOB. It was not easy to secure this opportunity to create a series starring Asian talents. Let's support it so that more opportunities can arise from it, then we can talk about creating better stories and characters. The priority is to show the suits that Asians have an audience.
I like your guys comments, especially about the Mainland China descendants. I think they could have achieved the level where the Korean descendants have done. And this show is good in terms of media exposure for Asian Americans, regardless of they are of Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese descent. We have got a long way to go. Good job! :)
My grandfather was a Japanese-American actor. (Yes, I am adopted.) His name was Teru Shimada. Many times in his career he had to say he was Chinese because of negative feeling about Japanese people. But he was in the James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. But like you were saying, he never had the opportunity to play the romantic lead before he passed away.
Its called fresh off the boat because thats the name that Eddie Huangs book is called and its what the show is based off. It is similar to "everybody hates chris" because both these t.v. Shows are based of memoirs of people so yes there would be a lot of similarities.
I'm black not Asian at all but I must say you guys seem a bit critical. I think maybe because you are a bit older you pick up all those stuff, but from lots of Asians I've met they really seem to be like the Eddie character they relate to him and really love black culture, especially at that age. I lived in Japan for a few years and most of the teens and preteens really did relate and yes talk back to their parents as he did. For me, I'm just glad to see Asians represented on TV and not just at the restaurant or sidekick or karate :)
also i'd like to add, Eddie is playing to the black audience members and its entertaining seeing that part of the 90's as well as the pop culture references that they add to the show..lol.. i enjoyed it very much. And i think you guys have a problem with it because you are asian. You see things that other races wont see because we are not informed about the culture.
The title of this show really fits it quite well. As a Chinese-American with parents from Taiwan, I knew the term ABC (American Born Chinese) and FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) early-on in life. And in knowing that, the title fits perfectly to reflect the lifestyle of being Chinese-American and growing up with parents who are Fresh Off the Boat. The show would NOT work if it presented an ENTIRELY FOB family. I relate to this first-gen Chinese-American child providing my perspective of what it was like growing up in a 93% white suburb. It provides both the parents FOB perspective and what it was like for us, their children to grow up with clashing cultures (home vs. society). Also, I don't know about you but my dad is very much like Randall Park portrays. My mom is extreme tiger-mom and my dad is definitely the parent that is the more relaxed one and has no control over our tiger mother. As I have learned growing up there are different Chinese-American family dynamics. Some of my friends have really well-assimilated parents- no tiger moms, relaxed dad, whole package - then there are those as portrayed here where the mother is overbearing, and then in my experience it's been rare (or just so unknown to me because I had the former) but I know it's out there the family is more patriarchal. Judging a show because your family doesn't EXACTLY match their dynamic is not the point of the show. It's giving a fresh and somewhat-realistic perspective and view into the Asian-American family, being relatable but also very much aware of what keeps it on TV. If they realistically showed how some Asian parents disciplined their children, you know it'd start some 50 shades of grey domestic abuse controversy. They made tiger-mom TV-friendly. The show is doing its best in giving a fresh and somewhat-realistic perspective and view into the Asian-American family, being relatable but also very much aware of what keeps it on TV and who its audience is. I love the show and hope it keeps up the good work.
Production company wanted to name the show Far East Orlando but the author and creator of the show/book, wanted it to be named Fresh Off the Boat after his original memoir, so he campaigned for this title. I think the title is great.
I don't know if you know this, but the show is named 'fresh off the boat' because it's based off of Eddie Huang's memoir called 'fresh off the boat: a memoir'. Also, I don't remember from where, but I read somewhere that the two parents are the stars of the show, not the kid. I could be wrong, but that's what I read.
The thing with the show is that all characters even the non asian ones are stereotypes. My fav parts are the asian perm and when the family was watching the commercial the dad has made. It literally had me dying.
As a Chinese American born and raised in NYC, I enjoyed it the show. I love the character Eddie and I find him relatable. I grew up in a neighborhood where it was predominantly blacks and Latinos who lived in my apartment building. I can relate to the hip hop/r&b because that's what I listened to growing up and I still do till this day. Do I love this show? Not exactly. My parents were never like Luis and Jessica on Fresh Off The Boat. We need to remind ourselves that we live in a society where many individuals disagree with our cultural ways/beliefs. And so to make this show relatable to non asian viewers, was the main focus for ABC. Will I continue to watch? Absolutely.
I'm a first gen Chinese-Canadian, a real FOB if you will, and I love the show! When I was 9, I immigrated from Mainland China to a part of Ontario with lots of hip hop influence (and lots of southeast Asians but no Chinese) and went through much of what Eddie went through. I remember feeling self conscious re: my rice lunch and got my dad to switch to sandwiches. I also remember my parents trying to fit into our white and Hispanic neighbourhood. Btw, although my parents are very strict and I've received my share of beatings, I still gave them plenty of sass so I don't think every Asian kid was terrified of their parents. I also was fortunate to have pretty loving parents (definitely did not hear any I love yous until this year - I'm 29 now) much like Eddie's. Also, this show is based on Eddie Huang's book Fresh Off the Boat.
I think most of the problems people have with the show can't be resolved because that might be done on purpose since its based off of a biography. Like the way the dad is, the main kid being into hip hop culture etc
When you guys mentioned that there wasn't many Chinese actors in Hollywood, it just reminded me of Lu Han because he's gonna be in this big Hollywood movie and stuff XD
So I know that you guys may not like this comment but that's fine. You made a like/dislike video based on a show that you watched. That is completely fine :D. However, I feel like when you do a review on a show you should do some research. So this show is BASED VERY LOOSELY on the memoir of Eddie Huang. Eddie Huang is a American born Asian, in which his family comes from Taiwan. But here's where I have issues a few things you said. The name of the show "Fresh off the Boat" was picked because it was the name of his memoir and vice documentary that he created. In the same respect I completely agree with you on the chris comparison because it is the asian equivalant. Sorry if people didn't like the comment just wanted to float my opinion out there.
"Fresh Off the Boat" was the title Eddie Huang originally used when he was doing food journey videos with Munchies. Due to title issues, the RUclips video's were changed from "Fresh Off the Boat" to "Huang's World".
I agree with most of it. Few people things: to further argue against the title, the family was in DC before moving into Orlando. Also, let's not forget that whatever stretches the show may have made, in general, the series is still based off of a true story of an individual whom we may or may not always relate to, depending on the situation.
Peter John You mean "All American Girl" and that show only had 1 season. Ironically, ABC also produced the show. It was suppose to be about a Korean American family...but it was so stereotypical...that's why it bombed
I agree with many of your points, particularly about liking the parents for their humor and wanting to root for them and not liking the kids/not wanting to root for them and also feeling uneasy about how the show doesn't know what it wants to be. I think the Eddie Huang character on the show isn't sympathetic enough, as you said. Unfortunately, I disagree with you on thinking that this show will open the door for more Asian actors and Asians being represented in entertainment media. I'm not saying it definitely won't, but it should be too early to tell. Remember how there wasn't a boom in roles for Asians after the Harold and Kumar film series and Margret Cho's sitcom? It's all very gradual. To address your views on being unable to related to Eddie Huang's obsession with hip-hop, I'd like to point out that you're probably dealing with a different kind of east and west disparity: the east and west coasts of the U.S.! I grew up on the east coast of the U.S. and practically all of the Asian guys who fit in were all about hip-hop and the ones who weren't, completely fit the bookish stereotype. I'm Chinese-American and had a friend who was Bangladeshi-American and he and I would often talk about how we were the only yellow and brown kids we knew who leaned more towards the rocker side of the divide; everyone else being obsessed with hip-hop. Asians who want to socialize really do take to hip-hop like a fish to water; that's one of the "true stereotypes" for Asians in America… at least on the east coast. Hip-hop is more accepting to them; even ebonics' syntax and pronunciation is more in tune with how Asians would talk. Why I said it's probably a difference between east and west coasts is that California has a lot more Asians than the east coast, so it's probably easier for Asians to fit in without adopting something from outside themselves. My sister didn't really "get back in touch with her Asian side" until moving out to California. Also, from what I heard, the real-life Eddie Huang is obsessed with hip-hop.
The title is based of the book written by Eddie Huang, which is what this series is supposed to be based off of. That's where the title comes from. Eddie Huang even touched on the topic of why he chose this as the title for his book in a handful of interviews. A little bit a research should have been done before assuming why this and that was done for a show you are doing a review/critique about.
The show is called "Fresh Off the Boat" because that is the title of Eddy's book. I think I remember Eddy saying that it wasn't because his family was Fobby, but it was more of a hip hop reference, like "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
How can you guys comment on "this show isn't about a FOB family" when you guys don't even know what fob is? Uncivilized, uneducated, no manners? Wtf? That's your definition of fob? Fobs are often way more book smart and educated than those who grew up in the US. Uncivilized? What? That reeks of western ethnocentrism. Ok here it is- they tend to have accents, are most often than not very well educated, don't know much of western Pop culture, stick with their own social groups, and basically stick out on a social level as awkward because they're not too familiar with the nuances of western culture or language. And these days a lot of fobs don't have strong accents, follow western pop culture like religion, try to hook up with white people, and try to be more white than white people themselves. So there are many sub definitions and eras of fobdom. Then you have the semi fobs. You guys don't even have the tip of the iceberg.
The first Asian centered show in the States was The Margaret Cho Show based off her comedy routine about her Korean immigrant parents and grandparents and how she was so westernized. It was on in the early '90's.
i kind of like that this show doesn't display typical asian family stereotypes, because my experience as an asian-american doesn't always fit the mold. like jessica and most asian moms, my mom was heavily involved in my education, but i can definitely relate to eddie fruitlessly begging his mom to buy him the latest cool clothing. my parents would 100% support me for standing up for myself like jessica & louis. i can speak my mind freely with my parents, which some asians might find super "american", though i think there is still a level of respect for elders that carries through from chinese culture. eddie rocks the boat a bit and sometimes thinks his family is crazy, but he admires his parents -- very similar to my childhood. and i think it's important to keep in mind that the huangs are moving from DC to orlando, not coming directly from another country. i agree this show is having a bit of an identity crisis from aiming to please too many groups, but i still love it because it's telling a story from the view of an asian american. it's a huge step up from being the "foreign" supporting character.
One thing to remember: This show does not mean to represent all Asian American families, but means to shed light and humor on one guy's experiences as an Asian in the US. Yes, it was a highly anticipated show, but that does not mean that you should expect your own experiences as an Asian to be expressed through this show. In fact, by criticizing the show for having a dad that's "not Asian enough" and an "unrelatable main character" you're missing the show's intent. Fresh Off the Boat conveys that there is no such thing as a normal Asian family. It's a heavy burden for the show to claim that they are representing a whole group of people, just like us Asians can't really describe every single individual Asian experience.
I mean, my dad is Asian and he is a LOT like Randall Park's character. He is not a white guy trapped in an Asian man's body; rather, he embodies what a lot of people come to America for: a bright future for their kids, financial opportunities, just achieving the American dream. As for the show's title, my interpretation is that no matter your background, people here are going to look at you as an Asian before they see you as your own person, and so labels are going to happen and we have to fight that. Also, Eddie is supa fresh!
This response is great! Bit late but I thought I'd let you know :) hit the nail on the head
Oh shut it
The show was based off of Eddie Huang's memoir "Fresh Off the Boat". The show and book was based on his life.
Yeah, but even Eddie Huang said in an interview that they changed the father's personality to balance the show. His actual dad is a legit hardass asian dad who has a gun collection (that's probably not 'safe' for tv). It feels like the TV people changed a lot of it and whitewashed it.
hm interesting
I don't get why they don't recognize that this is based on Eddie Huang's book in the first place, didn't get the comment about the title. The title comes from the book, which is authentic about the immigration. I really like the channel, but they should have checked the background first before discussing.
42cosmonauts Or they just didn't want to deal with gun nuts. Let's face it, if you're pro or against, just bringing it up is going to make people focus on that one aspect of it and not anything else. If anything it would distract against the plot. IDK I like the show because it's a whole bunch of 90's cheese. It makes you remember the times when we didn't really have that many problems, compared to now. At least that's what I see in it. Also, I bet a lot of kids now are so happy that they have the internet, there's porn everywhere. There's no this is the adult movie area, like it was in the past.
I was just abt to say that:)
Well, you guys are being stereotypical too. I was born and raised in Taiwan, but my parents are NOT those "typical/normal" Asian parents!! We treat each other with respects and share ups and downs together. How are you so sure to make a statement that Asian parents don't open up to their kids?
Lucky brat
The father is too nice and chilled to be stereotypical. The mother is on point.
i think the title "fresh off the boat" is meant to be somewhat ironic. the idea that the kids have been born and raised in the usa but are still treated like they don't have this intimate knowledge of the usa. like when the white mum said "you speak english very well!" and that they are still separated a lot from white families/people
i agree! its irritating sometimes when some ignorant people can't seem to get that asians can be born in america. the worst part is when they don't even bother with formalities. it may be hard to believe, but i've had people approach me and my friend on buses or on the street and without even a hello, they begin the conversation with "Chinese? No? Korean? No? I got it...Japanese?"
Too relatable! I agree that the title is poking at the fact that everyone treats the family like they're fresh off the boat even though they were raised in usa, which I think a lot of asians can relate to.
I think that if they were doing an authentic Chinese/Taiwanese style, it would come off to non Asians as abusive in the verbal and physical forms at times. Whether it be the severe punishments by western standards for educational related incidents, or just plain talking back to your elders (which is not even in the cards), non Asians would not really enjoy the show. Eastern Asians just don't kiss or hug their parents on a normal basis. We don't mouth back to our parents, we don't go to slumber parties, we are required to help out with family businesses....even if it's our uncle or aunts business. Things are never really explained, and there are a ton of "unsaid" things in the family that as kids we think about from time to time, but never get a straight answer on.....if at all.
Bottom line, the show had to altered from reality in order to appeal to all.
onyxspirals i agree. I'm not hating onthe show but I was agreeing with most of what was said. I think I forced a laugh but the acting was very forced and soo much stereotyping! Idk who made this but this show needs a redu. Ive only.seen the first episode due to work but I was hoping for more
If this was more real. fresh off the boat would be a dark drama.
Kee Moh I think you make a great point. Network television is for middle of america kind of people who don't like to be challenged or see cultures outside of there own. The show has to be this way for it to be succesful.
Have you guys seen Huang's World? Eddie seems to be brought up that way. The kid who plays Eddie is an exact version of him in real life. This is based on his memoir so it could be how his parents were and you'll just dont want to accept it.
***** it depends on taiwanese parents. Taiwanese families do speak english. Some don't then again. Most taiwanese friends speak better than mainland counter parts. It's mostly cantonese have the most trouble.
Eddie Huang's parents are atypical because they're based on Eddie Huang's actual parents, who are real people, not fictional characters formulated to be 100% representative of most Asian parents. Eddie's dad acts like that because Eddie's real dad was like that. The show does omit the corporal punishment and generally tones a lot of things down from the memoir. Like in the memoir the kid who calls him an ethnic slur is white I think, and he fights him in stead of just cursing him out. I think that this is more about the network not wanting to depict a woman bullying her husband into beating his sons with a belt while still trying to make her a sympathetic character, or depict 10 year olds beating the crap out of each other, all while trying to maintain a comedic tone and not scare off advertisers. The show is called "Fresh Off the Boat" because that's the name of the memoir, which is a reference more to the "eternal foreigner" stereotype and Eddie Huang's unique personal views on his identity, feeling like an outsider despite being totally Americanized, as if the white people around him will always view him as an immigrant, no matter how assimilated he becomes.
+Alan Horton Well put!
+Alan Horton Yes, finally someone who understands!
I do not disagree, but these guys poured some realism into their critique. Their comments simply expressed that their childhoods were not such as we see in the show. It also seems certain creative liberties were taken, like making Randall Park's character more fun-loving. Is it possible Eddie Huang's real-life dad was more strict? Did Eddie's grandmother really help him achieve more thug-type swagger? Would Asian parents really side with their children, if called in by the principal? Would Asian children really defy their parents? All good questions. This show makes for very good comedy. It is only a show, after all.
+Alan Horton i think they did a great job with their critique and the show just isn't what they promoted it to be. just not real enough for me as an asian to relate. ended up not finishing the show and it just wasnt funny.
I don't know, Eddie Huang has made subtle comments about his parents being abusive, especially his dad. But it's been a very long time since I read about it, so my memory might be fuzzy
These guys said "Asian dad's are not like that", having seen Eddie's dad on his show 'Eddie's world' his dad doesn't seem like a stereotypical strict asian parent, you guys realise that not all asian dads are the same right?
Dont reply ever
I think you guys are all missing the point. The show's on ABC!!!!.....NOT HBO or SHOWTIME!!! If FOB was on HBO or SHOWTIME, it could be as edgy and risque and odd and weird humor as it wants to be. But it's on ABC!!! ABC is owned by DISNEY!!!! Meaning, EVERY FAMILY SIT-COM has to be clean cut and safe and non-controverisal. It doesn't matter if the show is about a black family or a Latino family or an Asian family, if it's on ABC/DISNEY, the show has to be wholesome with GOOD "AMERICAN" FAMILY VALUES.
This is why the Randall Park character is American-style (rather than Asian style parenting where father tells mother he's disappointed in you-the child, and then mother relays the message to you, instead of him talking to you directly). ABC just wants to show an American family who happens to be Asian with tiny little quirks, that's all, so that any advertiser like Glade cleaning products and Applebee's can sponsor it. Network family sit-com is all about safe clean cut shows where 9 year old children can watch with their mom and dads. And the odd character(s) trying to fit in is a normal plot-line for TV, like Malcom in the Middle or The New Adventures of Old Christine. I hope you guys understand why the Fresh off the Boat is the way it is...... :)
P.S. "The Goldbergs" on ABC is a family sit-com about a Jewish family with a main character as a child living in the 80's and voice-over by the adult version of the child. Same premise as Everybody Hates Chris. And Fresh off the Boat. ABC likes formulaic "safe" shows. Somebody just need put up the money and make a show on HBO or Showtime or Netflix about the Asian-American or Asian-Australian or Asian-Canadian or Asian-British experience, that's all.
onyxspirals
LOL! I don't remember what commercials were shown but I know McDonald's has done an excellent superb job advertising to Asian folks. There's a McDonald's commercial in every Asian language in the United States, at least here in California on TV and radio (foreign language stations). The show Fresh off the Boat is not that funny, tho. Very middle of road and bland like this: child goes to school and sees that his classmates has something that he doesn't. So he wants it and does something he's not supposed to do to get it. But he gets in trouble with the principal or the law, and his parents talk to him and they hug and lesson learned. Kind of boring and normal, which means no one gets offended, which means every demographic can watch it. And while everyone from gay republicans to single mothers to Russian immigrants is watching it, Lay's Potato Chips or Taco Bell comes out with a commercial announcing a new flavor. Then everybody who's been watching the Fresh off the Boat TV show, goes "ooh, that looks good, i want to eat that" and then they buy it. This is how network family sit-com works.
Hahaha! The shows on ABC. In Canada, that stands for "Chinese Born Canadians". HAHA! Yes, I have a bad sense of humour...
Pls stfu
I'm asian and my parents are unlike any regular stereotypes you guys have said about asian parents. Their soft side is like on 95% of the time, they say I love you all the time and they always try to connect with me daily. And I know a lot of families that are like that. I guess, it's more of a 'chinese' stereotype. But, even then I'm still chinese-indonesian.
Dan n mike you guys are obliged to your own opinion but you guys do know this is based off Eddie Huang's book "fresh off the boat?" like his dad really likes American culture which is why randall does a good job portraying him in a "white" manner. the kid is suppose to be like that since that is how eddie was when he was a kid.
they apparently didnt know ! and basically saying that if his dad isnt like theirs its wrong ! as if other shows are spot on
You guys have to do your research first. The show is based off Eddie Huang's memoir called "Fresh Off The Boat", hence the show's name. Also, and many people have already commented about it here, it's hypocritical of you to say that the show didn't depict a typical Asian family, yet you get ticked off when stereotypical jokes are made.
I think it's good that they picked a story like Eddie's to show the American audience that not all Asian families are the same.
The incident with the black kid is one of the very few real events that they used from the autobiography. I really enjoyed that scene. You're not suppose to blame the black kid, it's trying to show you how damaging the social structure are to people who are not white in the school (and in general). :)
I loooove the parents, especially the mom. I actually can't relate to the mom because my mom is anything but tiger mom. However, the dad does remind me of my dad. And I don't feel that it is fair to use "Oh they're not like my parents." as an excuse to dislike it. They're one Asian family, not all Asian families and I appreciate the little differences they have.
I actually don't mind the stereotypes because I feel like a lot of them originated around that era and we do acknowledge a lot of it is very very true for a lot of Asian American families. But I understand where people are coming from.
I'm sure you already know this but the title is the title of the autobiography it's based on. Eddie wanted to take back that derogatory term. It's not meant to be taken literally, but it still makes sense to me since they came from a heavily Asian populated place to a white suburban neighborhood. I think they were originally going to name it Chopsticks.
What I really love about this show is how I see bits and pieces of my friends and their families along with mine in this show. It's not just one cookie cutter family. I can totally relate to using grandma as a shield so mom doesn't yell as much XD I love the younger brothers because I know Asian kids who navigate through eastern and western cultural perfectly. My parents would totally defend me and threaten to sue the school because it's the "American" thing to do. My friend's mom is the ultimate tiger mom. We ALL have or had the set of red bowls. There's always that one rebellious child in the Asian family. ~cough~ friend's younger brother ~cough~ ALSO THE "SUCCESS PERM" OMG Etc.
Overall, it's not perfect. It's not "made" for Asian Americans. But it's a step.
I don't think you guys are keeping in mind the fact that is an adaptation of a book called "Fresh Off the Boat". You guys are just critiquing it as a show, independent of its origins. The show did not pick the name of the book. The show did not pick what the book was about, which was an autobiography of Eddie, the kid. The show did not choose the main character of the autobiography. These are all things the show had to work with, coming from the source material. So I feel many of your criticisms fall short of being part of a meaningful conversation and instead show what I feel many asian people want this to be. This isn't about the average asian-american family, or FOB family, it's about Eddie's life growing up. And his life had some asian stereotypes in it and some not.
There is the ABC romcom "Selfie" with an Asian lead man.
...
Which got cancelled...
It is cute and I feel it is funnier than Fresh Off the Boat so far. Maybe I like work place comedy more than a 90s family sitcom.
Selfie has very very few Asian specific jokes.
Stars Karen Gillan and John Cho.
ArchOfWinter I agree I liked selfie more than fresh off the boat. Too bad the title really hurt the show imo
I loved that show
I was sooo mad when it got cancelled, it kept getting better and better but the title is such a turn off :(
My least favorite part of the whole show is the fact that the father (played by Randal Park) always switches from an American accent to a really bad Taiwanese one. If you hear Eddie Huang's father speak (whether it be on Huang's World or in real life), you will know that he has a thick accent. I feel like this minute detail takes a way a tremendous amount from the show. Rather than focusing on the storyline or the jokes, I get caught up in listening to his accent.
Listen to one of his interviews. He's not altering his voice by much.
Hoa Phan Yeah. Wong Fu did one not too long ago, and you can tell that he is just speaking regularly until there is a "funny" stereotypical asian joke.
it will get better. I'm not gonna debate this cause i'll lose. Mind you this is the same guy that's fresh off the interview. We should all hope this show does well. It's about time Asian-Americans get a show. We've been next up in the demographic for quite some time now.
Hoa Phan Yeah. I really want to see the show do well, and I will continue to watch it every Tuesday. It's just a minor detail that, in my mind, impacts the show negatively.
I think they should just do a way with accents, cause realistically the parents will speak to each other in Mandarin at home.
Two things:
1) The show is based off of Eddie Huang's life. It's not meant to encompass every singles Chinese/ Asian family.
2) You guys seemed to have a lot of expectations for this show. Just curious, if there were other shows with a large Asian cast on TV, would you guys be as critical? Because the burden would certainly be lifted off this show. As it stands, you guys made this show to be the one and only show that should represent Asian Americans and it shouldn't have to.
Margaret Cho had the first asian TV series ever......it didn't last but 2 season I think.
What show?
Emely Noona All American Girl. It was in the 90's. And it was about how she became a stand up comedian.
Tip Aly oh nice thanks for replying. Is it worth checking out?
Emely Noona The first season is the best. After that all the suits at the studio took it a different direction and then it changed the tone. Buts it's good.
Tip Aly thanks
Also the reason for this shows inaccuracies is because at the end of the day they need views. If they made it 100% accurate only Asian Americans would watch.
I think it's the hard split between catering to asian americans and non asians.. both sides see those jokes separately
Dude I'm Mexican straight off the border, not really I was born here but I'm still Mexican af Lol Kinda like the show, but I'd watch. Why not
+Iceburgg Slimm dude lol
I think the "Fresh Off The Boat" title is tongue-in-cheek about them moving from DC to Orlando -- they are adjusting to a new Western culture than the one they already adjusted to in DC. Much of the 1st season is about adjusting to living in an all-white community when before they were surrounded by other Chinese and other minority families.
There is no "normal" asian family. How did mainland Chinese family become the normal Chinese family? I think your basing your idea of an actual Chinese family off of your own. Northern Chinese people are different than Southern Chinese people. Differences in culture, food, and family. I think you are lacking in knowledge of Southern China, in areas like Hong Kong and Macao. That is why you think this family isn't the "typical" Chinese family. You think the typical Chinese family is from Northern mainland China. If you knew more about the Cantonese speaking Chinese people, I think you would understand more.
the mother is beautiful and the little kids are super cute! I like this drama ^^
Its not drama its a comedy sitcom
Mei Wang Your not so bad yourself *wink*
Same here. I love this show.
I agree the kids are so so cute especially the youngest one haha
Okay, I'm a white male in Norway, but your arguments and points seems kind of more racist than the show itself.. It's important to keep in mind the intent of the joke, rather then the joke itself... I feel this show is going to be remembered as a milestone for sitcomes and acceptence/undersating for asian culture!
Asian in the U.S.. Agree with you. The show is pretty good. Yeah a lot of stereotype jokes. That's why it's funny.
Just goes to show that not all Asian families are the same. You talk about stereotyping but say that an "Asian family would never do this or that" --this show is based on one instance of an Asian American family living in America. While I didn't agree with everything, I found some relatable points. That whole cafeteria scene hit it home for me. I hope the show delves much deeper into the relationship between Eddie and Walter if there's a 2nd season.
I have to disagree with the comment about getting whipped if we were to stand up for ourselves. I'm Cambodian and we tell our kids to defend themselves anyway they can when it comes to school troubles; no punishment for that.
1) This was the 2nd show on air starring an asian american family. the last one was All American Girl that was on air in the 90s, starring margaret cho. it lasted one season and was cancelled and it's been 11 years since.
2) I liked how straightforward they were about race in the show. it is based on eddie huang's memoir and he lived in the 90s in a community with very little asian people. it's not surprising he experienced race-sensitive problems and i'm happy abc chose to present at least some of his experiences in a way that didn't sugarcoat it too much.
3) it's a memoir! how unique do you want a coming of age story to get? its a genre for a reason! most follow a general premise and what makes this show unique is its viewpoint from a new character on tv, the asian-american first gen kid.
4) of course not all characters are relateable to everyone. i just wanted to point out that for me and a decent amount of my friends, one of our parents was the conservative, stick to our roots dictator. and the other one was the one who embraced the american culture. maybe not always completely, but at least in some things, if not most. i think you'd be hardpressed to find ANY immigrant asian parents who has not accepted at least one small part of american culture, be it food or music or clothes. To have two characters that represent each of these stereotypes for comedic value is all the better. you can find parts of your own parents in each of them.
5) just because you're close to your parents doesn't mean that you're not fresh off the boat! what makes you so adamant that if you are able to talk and joke with your parents, that means you're westernized? aren't you the one pushing the stereotypes now?
I do agree with some of the things you said, mostly near the end, about the show still trying to find its identity. although, i think the reason for that is because so many asian americans, really, haven't found their identity yet. so trying to have show portray something that's already so intangible is difficult. so i understand that's its still confused because we are watching the beginning of a show that will really help present and future asian americans find their voice, their culture, and their individual identity. It's also true that some of the writing didn't ring true, like asian americans threatening to sue. but this is one of the first shows on television starring asian americans. even the real eddie huang, who disliked the writing of the show in the beginning, stated that he understood the need for these jokes. fresh off the boat is introducing basically a culture that's unfamiliar to most of america. this is the first true portrayal of asian american life and struggle. its not always easy to get people to enjoy something foreign so the show needs to find a way to relate with the masses. all we can do is hope that this show will help open doors in the future for more portrayals of asian americans in the media so we can further educate about our culture.
I thought this show was pretty funny. I'm not Asian so I don't know how accurate it was, but as an "ethnic American," I could relate to it on some level. Plus it was nice to see more Asians on mainstream American TV.
Constance Wu a year ago when you posted this video was 33, not 26... It's different, just sayin
Well, she looked like she was 26 :D
She's gorgeous!
Loved this review because all the other ones I've watched where so positive (and sponsored) and didn't address the main shortcomings.
Dude F.O.B Is not only 4 East Asians, Middle Easterners, Africans, and most immigrants in general can relate 2 the term! But i do agree with you the tittle does not bare much significance 2 the show, it's probably just a hook!
That's what I also thought
jamina v thanks
It's based off Eddie Hwang's book and his life... so they used the name of his book. East Asian Americans kind of claim the FOB acronym like ABC
DoRe HeyIt'sMi Well, yes they did use the name 4 the book and the show is based off of his life, where they use the title.
But what i'm trying to say East Asian's in know way claimed the term. I mean i'm from Canada, where we actually have more East Asians, but the term is used with all immigrants, especially Africans! Nobody actually owns the term! But i'd say if we wan't 2 claim it, then you say it belongs to people of color!
-Thanks
Samuel Appiah But your original comment is talking about the name of the show, as in the name of the show is a "hook". I just wanted to clarify that it's the book's title and not just a "hook"
-You're Welcome
LMAO "White Dad trapped in an Asain body," that's hilarious... Seems to me Asian & Hispanics families aren't as different, I mean, some of the things these guys said about their background reminds me of mine. Haha
These guys obviously haven't really watched this show completely, they should watch more episodes and put their viewpoint on this. And they should know that this was based off the real Eddie Huang's memoir (book) "Fresh Off The Boat: A Memoir", so his lifestyle was different than these guys or the majority of Asians or Asians Americans, in my opinion. What really annoyed me is that these guys said that the dad was an "Asian man trapped in a white man's body". That really annoyed me, because just because a person acts a different way as one race would see that their majority of their race acts or should act, doesn't mean they are trying to be another race. Also, how is this show supposed to be relatable? Sure, I've heard some Asians or Asian Americans say that "Fresh Off The Boat" is relatable to their culture, but it is based off of someone else's life...IN THE 90'S!!! Some people just judge a book by its cover without knowing about it's content or anything. When I watch, "Fresh Off The Boat", I don't view this as a typical Asian/Asian-American family. I see it as a funny show, and that is all.
Wondering if they even remotely knew that this show is based off a book about the real Eddie huang.......
Eddie Huamg said in an interviewt that Abc changed the content and portrayal of how it actually was being an immigrant. So he end up backing out, so many of the scenes were geared towards how non Asians viewed it.
I thought you guys did your research with Eddie Huang's memoir.
Anyway, you also have to consider the time this is set in....it's the early 90s....immigrants growing up in the 90s, not now.
Where did this false information that Constance Wu was 26 when the show premiered come from? The show premiered in 2015. She was born in 1982. She's in her early 30s.
When people say asian, why always chinese.? Why not korean, thai, vietnamese, Japanese and other asians?
It's not always Chinese. Where do you live and what do you watch? Typically with these Off the Great Wall guys it is Chinese because that's what they are. But they do make LOTS of blanket statements.
filthyswit OTGW has some fair shares of interesting clips about Chinese culture. But I do agree with you that what bothers me is when they do non-Chinese Asian episodes (such as talking about K-Pop or Japanese samurai) while continuing calling their channel "Off the Great Wall". It's not only an inaccurate reflection of their video clips, but it's a bit insulting (whether intentional or not) to lump everything about Asian material on a "Chinese" channel, as if all things Asian revolve around China.
I say mostly because the amount of chinese people in the world is a lot, thus accounting for the largest percentage of ethnicity in the Asian region, and presumably largest ethnicity of the Asian immigrants. Thus most common to be seen, or associated by? China makes a huge part of Asia, for centuries people think China as Asia. Hell my friend from Europe still think Asia is mostly China. So yeah. It's a large country with huge population and large ethnic group all over the world compare to others. With the numbers it's almost certain that when you see Asians most of the time they're Chinese. And from there people ended up generalizing.
ChocoL473 Yea,,,China is huge country with massive population, but they still live in the hand of mother fucker communist....With all those pollution and shiiitt,,,man,,,Glad i'm in states, not in China
Do you even know what communist means? Also what is a "mother fucker communist" China is a one party state very much like vietnam. The one party happens to be the communist party. However, when most people think of communism, they dont think of the core values of it. Communism has never existed and the "communist countries" are really just soviet-era dictatorships
You guys are entitled to your opinion. The first time I heard about this show, I was a bit meh about it. After watching the show, I was hooked because it sort of reminded me of my childhood. Eddie trying to embrace the hip hop feel...that was me when I was a kid. To me...it was like having flashbacks to my childhood.
"Fresh off the Boat" is the title of a real novel that this show is based on
I have to say, the fact they didn't even know that took a lot away from this. I mean they should have researched it a little.
You do realize it is called fresh off the boat because of Eddie Huang's book...
I don't think you guys know about eddie huang... the whole reason the show is named fresh off the boat is because that's what his memoir is called and this show is literally his life growing up in america with his parents. If you watch his travel/food show, that's how he acts, so it's not the writing or the acting, the kid IS eddie huang, and he's the type of guy you either love or hate.
That asian dad played Kim Jong Un in The Interview!!!
Yeah his name is Randall Park
Check out Constance Wu's comments that she doesn't represent every Asian mom (time.com/3696111/fresh-off-the-boat-constance-wu/). I think there's a Catch-22 with what you guys are asking for: you wish this to be a "regular sitcom" without so much "Asian" elements in there, but at the same time you wish to have a more accurate portrayal of an Asian family, so what's it going to be? ABC's doing their best to balance the humor so it caters to both Asian and non-Asian viewers. Besides, FOTB is based on book by Eddie Huang, who in real life is actually a guy that's rebellious as a youngster during his identity crisis.
Considering that this is a TV show, there's a reason why the parents have different personalities (as opposed to both of them being "Tiger parents"), along with the brothers too. Otherwise, all of them would be difficult to distinguish from one another. Besides, if all three brothers were portrayed as the "good obedient Asian boys", everybody would find this show boring. There has to be a little bit of friction in terms of personalities with each character to make a TV show work.
You guys usually do a good job with your homework, but this video needed more research before it could be uploaded. Just to add on about what others are saying neglecting "All-American Girl" being the first Asian-American family household, FOTB being based on a book, and John Cho being on "Selfie" as an Asian male romantic male lead, there are indeed some popular Chinese-American actors in mainstream media today. Not as many as we'd like, but there are a few. Elementary's Lucy Liu, Shield's Ming Na Wen, and Glee's Harry Shum Jr as starters.
I disagree that Asian parents don't defend their kids for standing up for themselves. That's probably one of the only things they will praise. When I was in elementary school I defended my brother from bullies and got in trouble for it. When we got home, my parents actually said "Good job". Like they'll say keep a low profile, but if you have to stand up for yourself, then you had better fight to the death.
As a Filipino my family and I enjoy watching the show. We relate the show to us and I laugh at the grandma scene. My dad is color washed and is understanding and my mom is not strict as the mom from the show but my mom is cheap and did that Chinese Learning did to me when I was little. I like the show because it really relates to my family. The parents relates to my parents. I think it's a show to be watched with a family mainly Asian parents to get to relate and reflect onto themselves.
I think if you guys watched Eddie Huang's travel/food series on Vice's youtube channel, you will get where the boy's character is coming from. That is Eddie's personality.
Funny, FOB never had the "uneducated" connotation when I heard it from Asian Americans. It was more of a "stay hanging in Flushing, dress like Mainland China teens, and listen to Chinese/Korean music", and it was always directed toward teenage kids. I'm in New York (if you didn't catch that by the Flushing reference)
There has been a romance/comedy movie with an Asian actor as a main character!!! Jackie Chan!
What movie? Also, not saying Jackie Chan is unattractive, but they hardly ever/never have a very attractive Asian guy playing lead role in a movie (that is not a martial arts movie), and gets the girl in the end.
Oops I meant to add the Spy Next Door movie
harold and kumar too..haha classic
Not all Asian parents yell at you for being called the principal's office. My parents didn't yell at me for it. They told me it was good that I was standing up for myself. The kid did say the racist remark first, and I was just defending myself.
I'm Chinese and my parents wouldn't punish me at all for standing up to a bully the way Eddie did. The worst they'd do is probably say "maybe you could have handled it better". But honestly, this is one big way in which my parents never agreed with the Western school system. You're supposed to punish the bully before the victim does it for you, especially if that victim is a kid and doesn't know any better.... duh.
Wow this was such a horrible critique of the show. A heads up for the next review, your opinion would've counted for something or remotely valid if you had done some research into the show, the memoir that it's based on, and who and what the author went through growing up as an asian American in a primarily white neighbourhood. Regardless of whether he was born here or just arrive from Taiwan, he talks about his experiences and struggles assimilating into a new neighbourhood of primarily white culture and people. Yes there's racism with the black kid because that was one of his racist accounts he experience which he mentions was a prominent moment in his life that changed how he viewed the world after and no it was just placed there to be funny. You complain that they play off of the stereotypes too much but then criticize the parents for being unrealistic. What the hell do you want? To be able to relate to the show or that it's not accurate to YOUR envisioned stereotype of the typical asian American. I think you two are completely missing the point of the show that asian Americans even if they're not fresh off the boat have issues assimilating or conflicts between the western and eastern cultures. I don't find anything wrong with the dad, if anything in the memoir, Eddie Huang and he had an open, unconventional relationship. The fact that you two don't acknowledge this dad as a realistic portrayal of an asian dad just because he's not like yours in turns shows how people like you that stereotype/generalize misconstrue others' perception of an asian dad. This show has stereotypes but breaks them too and thus is the bridge of a better understanding of asian culture that isn't seen in Hollywood. This review was so unbelievably shitty and contradictive.
What the black kid said wasnt racist actually, he was highlighting how society views minorities. With no Asians, black kids are the most hated - with FOB Asians, they are the new black.
I think you guys are hating on the show a little too much. lol It's based off of Eddie Huang's autobiography, so it might not be representative of every single Asian American story. It's Eddie Huang's personal story. And you also have to take into account the time period that this show is taking place. America nowadays is not the same as it was back then. There are definitely a lot more Asian Americans now than before, so your story will not necessarily be the same. Back in the 90s, hip hop was a huge thing. Many Asian American boys were really into that whole hip hop thing because there were no Asian American influences or music they could look up to. Black people were starting to have their voice heard in the American mainstream media. And Asian Americans also had that minority mentality, so they kind of got into the whole hip hop movement. And contrary to what you said, I believe Asians living in America do experience racism just like other ethnicities. It just might not be too apparent nowadays because a lot of Asians hangout mostly with other Asians most of the time. But once you step out of that bubble, you do notice it. Asians who are not that tall and big may experience more straight forward racism because other people feel it’s okay to pick on that small, scrawny Asian kid because they do not see you as a threat. That’s something that many Black people and Latinos do not have to deal with; they deal with another kind of racism.
Agree w/ Nanda below. Really annoying that these two guys don't see this as a show but want it to tell "The Chinese FOB Story" when the reality is that everyone's story is different. Depending on the age that your parents came/ country they came from/city they immigrated to/socio-economic level/ other factors, everyone's experience is very different. These guys hating is really annoying and doesn't help the cause of getting Asians on TV more and eventually having the rest of America see Asians as just as American as those that immigrated from other countries.
About the no Asians in romance thing, there is actually this show called selfie. The asian is Korean, and not too stereotypical. You should try it out.
I think it was canseled
yeah, but my point is that it exists.
I'm Chinese American. I never knew until I was grown up that Asian Parents don't normally show affection towards their kids. This is because my dad would always give me a hug and a kiss on my head at bed time. Then, he will say he loves me very much on daily bases. Then, I will say it back to him. So, my dad didn't fit the normal Asian dad stereotype. Thank goodness! So, when I have kids, I will do the same for my kids. It just doesn't sound right to not say I love you, if you love them. lol
Now on the other hand, my mom didn't show me one bit of affection. When I was little or grown up. I asked her once why she never hug me and she said because Chinese people don't that! But, I told her dad does it all the time, and she said, well I don't! So that was that, I guess.
In the end, my dad did love the whole thing about being an American and we would do all that stuff. Like celebrating the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas and more. We would go out and watch games. Now this doesn't mean he forgot how to be Chinese, nope. We did that stuff too. He just wanted us to do it all because well we're Americans!
There's an Australian show called The Family Law which is similar to this show, but it's got so much more Asian-ness to it and is much more enjoyable. It's hard not to compare the two because they are both based off of biography, both are of the same genre, both the moms are strong and open minded, both dads run a restaurant etc. If you like this kind of TV shows I highly recommend you check it out
Actually the stinky tofu thing... My mom really has done that before... I don't think that part was too far-fetched to be completely honest.
I don't think these guys are familiar with Eddie Huang and his memoir...
I thought the mom and dad were the main charecters. Welp they are my favorite
Can you please make a lunar new year video featuring Tet/Chinese New Year foods?
i think they already had made videos about that..
Yeah but what about for the new year?
For this coming one not really but they made videos on past cny they did go over horoscopes though
K thx but I really want some for the new year for the vibe
Isn't it tomorrow?
I am not sure where you get your definition of FOB. But FOB never means uneducated, uncivilized and none of that negative terms that you have used. It is great that you are voicing out for Asian Americans, but I do think that you need to be careful with what you put out to the world because people that are unfamiliar with the culture will think the way you do. FOB is really just a term that describes those that have just arrived in the country. It doesn't mean they are uncivilized or uneducated, it really just means that they are unfamiliar with the western culture, or they are choosing to live the way they were used to living when back in their country. Please do not put any more judgements on immigrants, they are trying hard in a new country and they are brave.
MAN!!! You guys really want me to hate being asian!!!
When y'all showed rain , siwon , and Lee joon . I was like yeeeeeeessssssss.
John Cho played the Romantic male lead in the ABC show Selfie it only lasted for 13 episodes but it still counts as an American romantic comedy with an Asian male lead. I Personally I wish it would have lasted longer John Cho and Karen Gillan where good together. :) really like the show
They really don't know anything about this show. The only the reason they watch is I because ta an Asian family. This show is about the child hood of Eddie hung which is the main kid they hate
The similarities with Everybody Hates Chris was the most glaring to me
I thought I was the only one when I saw the titled I thought they came from Asia to USA too but still loving that it opens door to all Asian actors 😄
I'm Asian, I'm Chinese and I love this series. Take it with a pinch of salt coz it is entertainment and not a documentary. Modern Family- cmon don't U think they are exaggerating stuff to make it funny? Ditto w Fresh Prince of Bel Air etc. These all portray CARICATURES of people.
I find that most of us Asians, regardless of where we have put down roots, have similar mothers. Lol. The mum in FOB has the best lines. Constance does such a great job.
Another similarity we share? We need to help Asian talents and Asian shows in Hollywood to have
more opportunities by showing them our support & watching shows like FOB. It was not easy to secure this opportunity to create a series starring Asian talents. Let's support it so that more opportunities can arise from it, then we can talk about creating better stories and characters. The priority is to show the suits that Asians have an audience.
I like your guys comments, especially about the Mainland China descendants. I think they could have achieved the level where the Korean descendants have done. And this show is good in terms of media exposure for Asian Americans, regardless of they are of Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese descent. We have got a long way to go. Good job! :)
My grandfather was a Japanese-American actor. (Yes, I am adopted.) His name was Teru Shimada. Many times in his career he had to say he was Chinese because of negative feeling about Japanese people. But he was in the James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. But like you were saying, he never had the opportunity to play the romantic lead before he passed away.
The first tv show that featured an asian family was "All American Girl" staring margret cho btw
Its called fresh off the boat because thats the name that Eddie Huangs book is called and its what the show is based off. It is similar to "everybody hates chris" because both these t.v. Shows are based of memoirs of people so yes there would be a lot of similarities.
I'm black not Asian at all but I must say you guys seem a bit critical. I think maybe because you are a bit older you pick up all those stuff, but from lots of Asians I've met they really seem to be like the Eddie character they relate to him and really love black culture, especially at that age. I lived in Japan for a few years and most of the teens and preteens really did relate and yes talk back to their parents as he did. For me, I'm just glad to see Asians represented on TV and not just at the restaurant or sidekick or karate :)
also i'd like to add, Eddie is playing to the black audience members and its entertaining seeing that part of the 90's as well as the pop culture references that they add to the show..lol.. i enjoyed it very much. And i think you guys have a problem with it because you are asian. You see things that other races wont see because we are not informed about the culture.
It's not really playing to the black audience. In real life eddy was very influenced by hip hop culture.
The title of this show really fits it quite well. As a Chinese-American with parents from Taiwan, I knew the term ABC (American Born Chinese) and FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) early-on in life. And in knowing that, the title fits perfectly to reflect the lifestyle of being Chinese-American and growing up with parents who are Fresh Off the Boat. The show would NOT work if it presented an ENTIRELY FOB family. I relate to this first-gen Chinese-American child providing my perspective of what it was like growing up in a 93% white suburb. It provides both the parents FOB perspective and what it was like for us, their children to grow up with clashing cultures (home vs. society). Also, I don't know about you but my dad is very much like Randall Park portrays. My mom is extreme tiger-mom and my dad is definitely the parent that is the more relaxed one and has no control over our tiger mother. As I have learned growing up there are different Chinese-American family dynamics. Some of my friends have really well-assimilated parents- no tiger moms, relaxed dad, whole package - then there are those as portrayed here where the mother is overbearing, and then in my experience it's been rare (or just so unknown to me because I had the former) but I know it's out there the family is more patriarchal. Judging a show because your family doesn't EXACTLY match their dynamic is not the point of the show. It's giving a fresh and somewhat-realistic perspective and view into the Asian-American family, being relatable but also very much aware of what keeps it on TV. If they realistically showed how some Asian parents disciplined their children, you know it'd start some 50 shades of grey domestic abuse controversy. They made tiger-mom TV-friendly. The show is doing its best in giving a fresh and somewhat-realistic perspective and view into the Asian-American family, being relatable but also very much aware of what keeps it on TV and who its audience is. I love the show and hope it keeps up the good work.
Production company wanted to name the show Far East Orlando but the author and creator of the show/book, wanted it to be named Fresh Off the Boat after his original memoir, so he campaigned for this title. I think the title is great.
We brown asians use FOB exactly the same way you guys do. Which is hilarious.
I don't know if you know this, but the show is named 'fresh off the boat' because it's based off of Eddie Huang's memoir called 'fresh off the boat: a memoir'. Also, I don't remember from where, but I read somewhere that the two parents are the stars of the show, not the kid. I could be wrong, but that's what I read.
The thing with the show is that all characters even the non asian ones are stereotypes.
My fav parts are the asian perm and when the family was watching the commercial the dad has made. It literally had me dying.
All 3 Harold and Kumar movies. Harold (John Cho) is the romantic, comedic lead.
Not to forget steven yuen in the walking dead went from single to having a wife and kid.
As a Chinese American born and raised in NYC, I enjoyed it the show. I love the character Eddie and I find him relatable. I grew up in a neighborhood where it was predominantly blacks and Latinos who lived in my apartment building. I can relate to the hip hop/r&b because that's what I listened to growing up and I still do till this day.
Do I love this show? Not exactly. My parents were never like Luis and Jessica on Fresh Off The Boat. We need to remind ourselves that we live in a society where many individuals disagree with our cultural ways/beliefs. And so to make this show relatable to non asian viewers, was the main focus for ABC. Will I continue to watch? Absolutely.
I'm a first gen Chinese-Canadian, a real FOB if you will, and I love the show! When I was 9, I immigrated from Mainland China to a part of Ontario with lots of hip hop influence (and lots of southeast Asians but no Chinese) and went through much of what Eddie went through. I remember feeling self conscious re: my rice lunch and got my dad to switch to sandwiches. I also remember my parents trying to fit into our white and Hispanic neighbourhood. Btw, although my parents are very strict and I've received my share of beatings, I still gave them plenty of sass so I don't think every Asian kid was terrified of their parents. I also was fortunate to have pretty loving parents (definitely did not hear any I love yous until this year - I'm 29 now) much like Eddie's. Also, this show is based on Eddie Huang's book Fresh Off the Boat.
I think most of the problems people have with the show can't be resolved because that might be done on purpose since its based off of a biography. Like the way the dad is, the main kid being into hip hop culture etc
When you guys mentioned that there wasn't many Chinese actors in Hollywood, it just reminded me of Lu Han because he's gonna be in this big Hollywood movie and stuff XD
So I know that you guys may not like this comment but that's fine. You made a like/dislike video based on a show that you watched. That is completely fine :D. However, I feel like when you do a review on a show you should do some research. So this show is BASED VERY LOOSELY on the memoir of Eddie Huang. Eddie Huang is a American born Asian, in which his family comes from Taiwan. But here's where I have issues a few things you said. The name of the show "Fresh off the Boat" was picked because it was the name of his memoir and vice documentary that he created. In the same respect I completely agree with you on the chris comparison because it is the asian equivalant. Sorry if people didn't like the comment just wanted to float my opinion out there.
"Fresh Off the Boat" was the title Eddie Huang originally used when he was doing food journey videos with Munchies. Due to title issues, the RUclips video's were changed from "Fresh Off the Boat" to "Huang's World".
8:03 The way Mike looks in the pic he looks like "Once this pic is done, I'm gonna beat the sh*t out of you..." lol
I agree with most of it. Few people things: to further argue against the title, the family was in DC before moving into Orlando. Also, let's not forget that whatever stretches the show may have made, in general, the series is still based off of a true story of an individual whom we may or may not always relate to, depending on the situation.
honestly, i can relate so much to the main character
Margaret Cho had a show featuring an east asian family in like 1992 guys!!!!!!!
I was gonna say that too! That show bombed so badly tho lol
xpinkHOLIC It had two seasons which is more than most shows!
Are you an egg? (White on the outside, yellow/asian on the inside)
mayfunkymonkey No, I am vegan.
Peter John You mean "All American Girl" and that show only had 1 season. Ironically, ABC also produced the show. It was suppose to be about a Korean American family...but it was so stereotypical...that's why it bombed
I agree with many of your points, particularly about liking the parents for their humor and wanting to root for them and not liking the kids/not wanting to root for them and also feeling uneasy about how the show doesn't know what it wants to be. I think the Eddie Huang character on the show isn't sympathetic enough, as you said. Unfortunately, I disagree with you on thinking that this show will open the door for more Asian actors and Asians being represented in entertainment media. I'm not saying it definitely won't, but it should be too early to tell. Remember how there wasn't a boom in roles for Asians after the Harold and Kumar film series and Margret Cho's sitcom? It's all very gradual.
To address your views on being unable to related to Eddie Huang's obsession with hip-hop, I'd like to point out that you're probably dealing with a different kind of east and west disparity: the east and west coasts of the U.S.! I grew up on the east coast of the U.S. and practically all of the Asian guys who fit in were all about hip-hop and the ones who weren't, completely fit the bookish stereotype. I'm Chinese-American and had a friend who was Bangladeshi-American and he and I would often talk about how we were the only yellow and brown kids we knew who leaned more towards the rocker side of the divide; everyone else being obsessed with hip-hop. Asians who want to socialize really do take to hip-hop like a fish to water; that's one of the "true stereotypes" for Asians in America… at least on the east coast. Hip-hop is more accepting to them; even ebonics' syntax and pronunciation is more in tune with how Asians would talk. Why I said it's probably a difference between east and west coasts is that California has a lot more Asians than the east coast, so it's probably easier for Asians to fit in without adopting something from outside themselves. My sister didn't really "get back in touch with her Asian side" until moving out to California. Also, from what I heard, the real-life Eddie Huang is obsessed with hip-hop.
Constance Wu is not 26 she is now 35.
how can you not like the kid? I totally related to the kid. he was charming, sweet, and straight to the point. maybe it is not the kid, but you
The title is based of the book written by Eddie Huang, which is what this series is supposed to be based off of. That's where the title comes from. Eddie Huang even touched on the topic of why he chose this as the title for his book in a handful of interviews. A little bit a research should have been done before assuming why this and that was done for a show you are doing a review/critique about.
The show is called "Fresh Off the Boat" because that is the title of Eddy's book. I think I remember Eddy saying that it wasn't because his family was Fobby, but it was more of a hip hop reference, like "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Selfie had an asian guy as a main character (John Cho)! And an interracial relationship but got cancelled :(
How can you guys comment on "this show isn't about a FOB family" when you guys don't even know what fob is? Uncivilized, uneducated, no manners? Wtf? That's your definition of fob? Fobs are often way more book smart and educated than those who grew up in the US. Uncivilized? What? That reeks of western ethnocentrism. Ok here it is- they tend to have accents, are most often than not very well educated, don't know much of western Pop culture, stick with their own social groups, and basically stick out on a social level as awkward because they're not too familiar with the nuances of western culture or language. And these days a lot of fobs don't have strong accents, follow western pop culture like religion, try to hook up with white people, and try to be more white than white people themselves. So there are many sub definitions and eras of fobdom. Then you have the semi fobs. You guys don't even have the tip of the iceberg.
White dad trapped in an asian body ROFl xD
The first Asian centered show in the States was The Margaret Cho Show based off her comedy routine about her Korean immigrant parents and grandparents and how she was so westernized. It was on in the early '90's.
i kind of like that this show doesn't display typical asian family stereotypes, because my experience as an asian-american doesn't always fit the mold. like jessica and most asian moms, my mom was heavily involved in my education, but i can definitely relate to eddie fruitlessly begging his mom to buy him the latest cool clothing. my parents would 100% support me for standing up for myself like jessica & louis. i can speak my mind freely with my parents, which some asians might find super "american", though i think there is still a level of respect for elders that carries through from chinese culture. eddie rocks the boat a bit and sometimes thinks his family is crazy, but he admires his parents -- very similar to my childhood. and i think it's important to keep in mind that the huangs are moving from DC to orlando, not coming directly from another country. i agree this show is having a bit of an identity crisis from aiming to please too many groups, but i still love it because it's telling a story from the view of an asian american. it's a huge step up from being the "foreign" supporting character.