My more generalized opinion is that stereotypes suck, but remain terribly amusing and sometimes quite relevant– let’s not cheat ourselves by being PC for the sake of being PC. Here’s to hoping that mass media progress enough so that both whitewashing (hey some Asians are whitewashed) and stereotypes (and some Asians are fobs) provide supplement to “authentic” Asian roles.

Also. I think chop suey kung fu movies are the cake. Asian actors, please feel free to continue your typecasted performances, because kung fu films are kind of terrible when there’s white people in them.

Ernie: Sirui wasn’t holding Romeo Must Die up as a good model, if anything the opposite. Did you watch AHHS? Only $1.99 on Amazon!

And no, I don’t think much progress has been made especially when I see a movie like 21 (2008), which is based on a story about an Asian-American, and most of the players are Asian but was played by a an unknown British actor who needed a dialect coach to be hired, when there were plenty of suitable Asian-American actors who could have played the part. The studio’s excuse was that they wanted the best actor for the job, and yet this was Jim Sturgess’ first feature role.

They completely white-washed that film and the book. Jeff Ma who the story is based on I’m sure took the first drop of cash in front of him on the book Bringing Down the House, because he was changed to Kevin Lewis who was then changed to Ben Campbell in the film.

Fact is, that no one in Hollywood thinks that an Asian male can sell tickets because for the most part, there hasn’t been any in an American film/show that has a proven track record and can act or who hasn’t done some type of kung fu or played the unsexy role. I don’t do kung fu, I’m sort of a nerd, but really just your every man. But it seems that the every man role is taken up by everyone BUT Asian males. That’s all I’m saying.

This episode of Akira’s Hip Hop Shop intrigues me though as fitting that idea I’m getting at.