Fresh Off the Boat is the first Asian American-centred comedy since Margaret

Fresh Off the Boat is the first Asian American-centred comedy since Margaret Cho’s All-American Girl20 years ago. It’s been a controversial project, starting with its title, which some feel is derogatory.

It’s also the title of celebrity chef, lawyer and author Eddie Huang’s memoir on which the sitcom, starring Randall Park (The Interview) and Constance Wu, is based.

Huang created a stir at the Television Critics Convention in Los Angeles last month over comments he made that the network had watered down his vision. But that didn’t stop the show’s sneak preview from earning a solid sampling of close to 8 million viewers. It has since settled into its regular time slot of Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

In it, a young Eddie (Hudson Yang) moves to Orlando, Fla., with his family, trying desperately to fit in with the culture.

The Star talked to Huang about his controversial comments, the role of Asians in media, and why Hollywood can’t seem to get it right.

So why did it take 20 years since Margaret Cho to land another show about Asians on prime time?

I think Margaret Cho was a once-in-a-generation talent. And she just happened to be Asian. And she was way ahead of the curve and the rest of America was not really aware of Asian America.

Now it’s a little different. Asians have more money. They have consumer power. It’s taken two generations. Lot of second- and third-generation Asians are flexing their muscle now in fashion, in business, food, music and politics. It’s created more interest in our communities.

Margaret Cho’s debut didn’t have a happy ending. It was cancelled after one season and she complained about network interference. It seems you’re doing the same, but before your show even premiered. Isn’t this suicidal?

I saw what they did to her. And I saw what television executives did to other minority groups. And I said I wasn’t going to let them take my story and do that to me.

I went public because I need the public support. I need the writers to be authentic. If the network and the studio know that people want something authentic they will do something. They don’t want Panda Express and Moo goo gai pan. They want something real.

Regardless of what happens to the show I’m proud of the conversation we started. . . . That’s what matters to me. I keep saying the conversation is what matters.

I’ll be ecstatic if it rated and we got to do a season two and it was even better than season one. But for me it’s the conversation. People who come after can point at this.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2015/02/16/fresh-off-the-boats-eddie-huang-shows-need-to-match-reality.html