Via 8Asians, casting has begun for a Koreatown reality series in the vein of MTV hit Jersey Shore. You’ve got your headshots ready, right? The show seeks:
“…attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life.
Translation: We want to exploit you as a vapid stereotype. Ka-ching!
When they say “Koreatown life,” I doubt they want to know what’s it like to bus tables at the tofu house or drive your halmoni to Sunday service. Koreatown + young Asian Americans = partying. Partying = limitless opportunities to make an ass of yourself on camera.
Some might argue that displaying Asian Americans in such a light is counter to staid representations of passive, nerdy yellow folk, but in my opinion, the hard-partying, materialistic, club-crazy Asian is pretty damn familiar, at least in your average metropolitan American city. So to me, it just sounds like good ol’ fashioned money-makin’ off of a cultural gimmick.
In some way, I do think it’s notable that Asian Americans are being seen as an audience draw for a reality show that has nothing to do with painful awkwardness or a bisexual orgy.
Then I ask myself: Do we really need a Korean or Asian American Snookie or The Situation? Haven’t Asian/Americans been pummeled enough throughout the history of Western media?
Now I’m empathizing with Italian American groups who protested the Jersey Shore series which turned “guido” from an ethnic slur into a term of endearment and introduced the ingenious acronym GTL (“gym, tanning, laundry” for those of you who aren’t in the know) as the supposed credo of proud Italian Americans everywhere. Most of us don’t want shallowness or stupidity inextricably linked with our entire culture. I admit, I watched Jersey Shore religiously. Perhaps we Asian Americans that indulged in some JWoww and Pauly D voyeurism are getting our comeuppance with the production of this new series.
But, according to the casting notice, not everyone on the show may be Asian American. They’re willing to take on non-Asians who are “obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way.” If I were cast on this show and they made me bunk next to some creeper with Yellow Fever, I’d be straight pissed. The Soju bottles and Louis Vuitton bags strategically placed on set by the producers and commercial sponsors would be flying.
Which I guess would make for good television…which means I’m totally gonna watch this show. In fact, I’m going to audition. Every reality show cast needs a black sheep who is antithetical to what the producers want on screen, someone who will be mercilessly ostracized by the other cast members and sent to the confessional booth in tears and with ragged remnants of self-esteem. I buy cheap clothes, drive a dinged-up car, rock the monolids, have a BMI over 17, my Korean sucks, and I can’t stand trance music. That could be me on TV! [Fist pump]
FOR ONLY $28!
Featured Event
It’s the new year, and Yim Jae Beum is coming to town! After a sold-out show in Los Angeles last October, he is coming back to hold two U.S. concerts for the 2012 Lunar New Year. Everyone already knows this man can sing! He’s got an impressive resume, debuting as a rock singer back in 1986, releasing Korean classics, such as “For You,” and most recently, joining and winning first place twice on the MBC show, “I am a Singer.”
Seattle and New Jersey, get ready! We are happy to announce that we will be giving away TWO (2) pairs of tickets! read more
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[...] celebrated the potential of our show and cast, a raging debate within the Asian-American community exploded across the web and college campuses across the country. Is this show good for Asian-Americans? Will it set the [...]
Oh no, this is most definitely a joke. Tyrese producing this? Anyway, most of the cast is ugly.
this is another example of how ppl take someone else’s ford and make it toyota~ well in that case… at least you get a better car – in this case- korean-americans get a better rep for being shallow, materialistic, vain, spoiled, and rotten~ *sigh~ another thing to damage control when i talk to people who have no idea about korean people or culture~
im praying that this show doesn’t get picked up by a network, and that all the actors try and go for more tasteful opportunities in the entertainment business~
not hating, but disappointed in korean americans who are this fame-hungry and selling out~ good luck to you, hope you don’t end up in the latimes for od-ing someday
Listen listen…David Lee,
Asian people got nathan. Nobody takes us seriously, in any facet of American life. I’m not gonna give you the trite rhetoric of “Asian American activist” historical accounts like: yellow peril; immigrant exclusion act, etc. Let me give you a real, not imagined nor abstract example of this social dynamic. Say you’re employed at some firm in which white people are the majority, call the shots, etc. And say there are a few ethnic people employed there, you, a few Asians, some blacks and a few Latinos…When people are smoking and joking, “subtle” racist jokes emerge. Things like pronouncing “really” like “rearry,” or “you orientals are good at math”; “do a karate chop” are what happen….Buuuut, these white people never do that to blacks nor Latinos. You know why? Blacks are vocal and will immediately pounce on the race-card. And some n!66as will get crazy on you, that is, they’ll drop you (i.e. stick their fists in); Chicanos are similar. Asians just sit there and take it. You can’t work for mom & pop, ajumah/ahjuhshih gigs the rest of your life. Do this, and you won’t be woven into the social fabric of America.
East Asians are too acquiescent, soft-spoken, and too often roll with the punches that white America throws at them. This show is to dispell the stereotypes of Asians being tacit pushovers. I’m for it, don’t give a damn if these people act ghetto, crass, etc.
And lastly, why do you think Tyrese picked Koreans of all Asian ethnicities (nevermind the fact that not all these people are Korean)? It’s because Koreans know how to have fun, know when to loosen up, got style, etc.
I actually am a strong advocate of this show. I don’t know about you but I am pretty tired of seeing Asians portrayed as nerdy, math-loving, kung-fu knowing people in all of today’s mainstream media. Although it may be more extreme, then what one would hope for, I think that it is going in the right direction.
This show is a f’in disgrace to all Korean and Asians. The fact that the cast members agreed to participate in a “get rich and famous quick” scheme truly disgusts me. This is a spit in the face to all 1st generation Koreans who have worked a dead-end, blue collar job to provide the proper life for their kids. The fact that Tyrese is executive producing this makes it even a bigger joke.
If this show miraculously gets picked up and aired, you can bet that there will be numerous Asian-American protest groups attempting to take the show off air.
[...] and the makers of the Asian version of Jersey Shore has competition before episodes air. Independently made KTOWN COWBOYS will show the internet world [...]
[...] and the makers of the Asian version of Jersey Shore has competition before episodes air. Independently made KTOWN COWBOYS will show the internet world [...]
Please don’t… I bet no straight Korean dude would try out for this show. We’ll probably see some black dude and white dude trying to hook up with a bunch of ugly Korean girls in the house. Entertainment is whack.
you go girl mmhmm!