Triscribe

Author: ssw15

  • Other Items

    It’s that time again: previews for the 2011-2011 tv season.  Check out James Poniewozik’s post at Time.com about NBC previews, which, after checking them on-line at nbc.com, strangely intrigue me.  But, that’s the trouble of previews – they’re just previews.

    Poniewozik’s analysis of NBC’s previews also hits on some of my concerns (besides the whole Donald Trump’s-only-out-for-Trump business).

    For instance, as much as Maria Bello is fascinating as Detective Jane Timoney in the American network version of “Prime Suspect” in contemporary NYC, I’m a little disturbed.

    So, there’s a name change.  Ok.  And American Jane brandishes a gun, which the original British Detective Inspector (later Superintendent) Jane Tennison  – as played by Helen Mirren – wouldn’t really do that (well, because it’s more of a British thing).  And, Bello as Jane – in the preview anyway – isn’t nearly as self-destructive as Mirren as Jane (Jane Tennison kept failing with men; it got too sad to watch.  Actually, I fell so behind on watching “Prime Suspect,” so perhaps I shouldn’t say what was sad about Tennison).

    And, I’m not saying that a NYPD homicide unit isn’t sexist – it might very well be; but is it so masculine as to hate women in their midst, when it’s 2011?  Why wouldn’t the men mask their bastard behavior just a bit more? (as if we hadn’t learned anything from years of “Law and Order” and “NYPD Blue”).

    And, it’s really weird to see Kirk Acevedo in the “Prime Suspect” preview, because he was so recently Alternate Charlie on “Fringe” and, seeing him with the blonde Bello – well, it does look an awful lot like a redux of Charlie and Olivia from the first season of “Fringe.”

    And, if “Prime Suspect” gets picked up for a full season, will/can Acevedo still make a guest appearance on “Fringe” as Alternate Charlie (or even a non-dead Charlie, because time-traveling is a bitch, after all?).  I’d hate for Acevedo to lose a chance at weird tv. And, according to his profile on imdb.com, he’s part Chinese, so I’m all for representation and diversity on tv.

    “Grimm” could have been more interesting in its preview about a series of a modern day cop who finds out that he’s from a long line of Grimms, people who fight (were)wolves (and he seems to befriend one anyway; huh?).  I couldn’t really tell from the preview and I’m never sure of what to think when NBC makes a stab at fantasy/sci-fi (they find a way to botch it).

    The preview for “Awake” looks great – a bit of detective story with inter-dimensional/philosophical/dream versus reality and which is which.  And… Jason Isaacs as the lead! (continuing the trend of Brits as Americans; but he’s done it very well for quite awhile now (see the ex. of “Brotherhood“).  Plus, he’s clearly available after the end of the Harry Potter series anyway.

    But, as tv critic Alan Sepinwall notes: “Awake” is made by “Lone Star” creator Kyle Killen.  And, “Lone Star” looked good – but couldn’t last as a series (as I’ve noted previously (and when it first aired)).  I wonder if “Awake” is going to be the same – sure it’s high-concept, but its staying power for purposes of a series is another story.  And, Sepinwall’s right – previews aren’t exactly the best ways to judge the potential of a tv show.

    Also, over at Entertainment Weekly, check out Ken Tucker’s commentary about the NBC previews (I like his take – pretty even-handed about “Grimm” and I totally agree about the out-of-era sexism of “Prime Suspect”), about the FOX previews (the un-evenness is making it that, yeah, I think I’ll only watch “Fringe” on FOX, unless this new Abrams show is somehow fascinating), and about the ABC previews (another fairy tale show?  why is it that NBC and ABC keep trying to vie with each other – “Community” vs. “Modern Family” and now this?).

    I have to say, following the travails of the NFL lockout has been fascinating for all these legal gambits (and yet another opportunity for mediation – assuming the parties will negotiate in good faith). Crazy, though…

    The passing of Edward Hardwicke, who played Dr. Watson to Jeremy Brett’s Holmes; now, both men are gone. I grew up watching those episodes on PBS, when “Mystery!” was not under the “Masterpiece” umbrella. Edward Hardwicke was also the reader for Sherlock Holmes audiobooks (check out his imdb page – I honestly wouldn’t have thought that he did a voice in the Lara Croft game).

    The passing of Murray Handwerker, the son of Nathan Handwerker – of Nathan’s (hot dog) fame.

  • APA Heritage Month Continues

    From NAPABA: call to urge the Senate to confirm Goodwin Liu for the 9th Circuit.

    From AABANY: an article by current AABANY President Linda Lin in the NY Law Journal on the APA experience.

    Some items from NY1 about the growth of APA’s in the five boros: diverse APA groups in Queens and Chinese in Staten Island.  Curious to see what the coverage will be about APA’s in Brooklyn.

    Profile in the Daily News of Rahul Rai, Indian-American/Pace U student/ex-US Open ball boy/actor of “When Harry Tries to Marry” and resident of Brooklyn Heights.   Time Out New York review didn’t think much of the movie, but it sounds like a harmless romantic comedy with Asian Americans in NYC (with great NYC shots) – the kind of stuff for which I’m a sucker because they’re harmless amusement.

    Chef Morimoto, Iron Chef, hosting an event on Wednesday at the Harvard Club, for Japan earthquake fundraising.

    So… McDonald’s is changing some chicken sandwiches and McNuggets sauces and… bringing back the Asian salad.  Hmm…

    Many more items out there, I’m sure…

  • Some More Stuff

    Jim Lehrer stepping down as the main anchor on the Newshour.  Kind of weird that it’s really happening, even if Jim Lehrer was planning for the future for quite awhile (yeah, the future’s here!); at least he’ll still be on Fridays to moderate Shields and Brooks.

    The Washington Post with a nice Lehrer profile for the occasion.  I like the description of the Lehrer and MacNeil friendship.

    An analysis of NBC’s “Outsourced,” on NPR’s Monkey See Blog, as “Outsourced” is going to have its Big Sleep, presuming that being in the bubble means likely cancellation (yes, a Raymond Chandler reference; I recommend the book, if only to get the metaphor).  Americans of Indian descent deserve a better sitcom.  Actually, all Americans do, but that’s another story entirely.

    I’m almost got caught up with “Community” – but for the season finale, which was earlier this evening.  I did catch the last 5 minutes of the season finale though.  I don’t think I’ll ever truly appreciate Chevy Chase as Pierce, but maybe the writers will figure out to work Pierce better with the rest of the study group.  Or how to avoid putting too much Ken Jeong out there; too much of him can be a bit much.

    However, hat tip to 8Asians’ Facebook fan page: Ken Jeong’s Mother’s Day post on the Huffington Post, in honor of his wife was sweet.

    I think that I ought to get caught up on “Parks and Recreation.”  “Fringe” is not a sitcom, but it is … very strange…  time traveling always gives me a headache.  I’ll say that much.

    Hat tip to a law school classmate, JK: link to this article in the New York Magazine by Wesley Yang, “Paper Tigers: What happens to all the Asian-American overachievers when test-taking ends?”  A really interesting and complex read, because it’s kind of true – we as APA’s have to figure out the soft skills, not just taking a standardized test – and that’s not something to blame on affirmative action (the existence or lack thereof), but also involves class and culture clashes.

    In response to the Wesley Yang article, YC – via Facebook – suggested this link, “Tiger Moms and Black Swans,” considering how much parenting and other elements (like, how do we really view our kids?  what do we really value?) are so relevant.

    Hat tip to NAPABA’s fan page on Facebook: APA’s making progress in the federal judiciary, but with far to go.

  • May 2011 Continues

    A charming interview on NPR’s Morning Edition with Dick Van Dyke.

    A hat tip from a friend of mine on Facebook (NS) lead this link to CNN about lawyers who meditate, to balance the work-life stress.  The article, by Amanda Enayati, states that US Supreme Court Justice Breyer told Oprah that he wasn’t really a meditator, yet what he described a practice that is pretty much meditation, and honestly, meditation ain’t a bad thing.  More lawyers ought to do it to just chill out. I ‘m still working on it myself, though, so… who knows what really works to find balance?

    The passing of Bill Gallo, a New York City institution.  The Daily News Sports Section won’t be the same without Gallo, his characters (no more new Basement Bertha or Yuchie?), his fondness for lovable losers (well, the Mets were in that category for awhile now), and his drawing “the goat” for playoffs.

    A gallery of some of Gallo’s work here at the Daily News website.

    Thoughts from Daily News’ Mike Lupica about Gallo; see also NY1’s coverage, including a One On One by Budd Mushkin with Gallo, back in 2006.  Gabe Pressman at WNBC also wrote a nice piece about Gallo.

     

  • APA Heritage Month 2011 Continues

    Couldn’t make the 32nd AAPI Heritage Festival at Union Square this past Sunday because I foolishly re-injured my knee.  But, I expect to see pictures…!

    Hat tip to Angry Asian Man blog: the US Senate has confirmed Edward Chen, US magistrate judge, to be US federal district court judge for Northern District of California.

    As Angry Asian Man notes: Judge Chen will be “the first time an Asian American judge has been appointed to the federal district court in San Francisco, and he’s only the second Asian American federal district court judge in the Northern California district (after Lucy Koh, who was confirmed last year).

    See also the NAPABA press release on Judge Chen’s confirmation.  Congratulations to Judge Chen!

  • Happy APA Heritage Month and Stuff Like that…

    Interesting post from NPR on the subject of the end of Bin Laden from a religious perspective (highlighting the Dalai Lama’s thoughts and the statement from the Vatican). Not forgetting and searching for peace – not easy stuff. No surprise that there are no easy answers.

    Interesting interview with the author/journalist Janny Scott on NPR’s All Things Considered, regarding her new book about Ann Dunham, President Obama’s mother, as she made quite a life between mainland USA, Hawaii, and Indonesia – and how it led to the making of Obama (who Scott says was definitely born in Hawaii, based on her exhaustive research, even without seeing a long-form birth certificate).

    NAPABA issued a press release, congratulating Tony N. Leung on his appointment to the position of federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.  He is the first Asian Pacific American to serve on the federal bench in Minnesota.

    He is not this other Tony Leung, who was in such movies as “Chungking Express”, “In the Mood for Love”, “Hero,” “Internal Affairs,” and “2046” (I still haven’t watched most of these movies and I’d like to do so already; sigh).

    And, yes, I’m being facetious…  ultimately, kudos to Judge Leung, a longtime Minnesota state court judge, Yale alumnus and NYU Law alumnus.

    Also, kudos from our very own AABANY’s press release: AABANY congratulating Vincent T. Chang and Andrew T. Hahn, Past Presidents of AABANY, on their selection as the 2011 City Bar Diversity Champion Award Recipients.

    Oh, and this Sunday (Mother’s Day!) is the 32nd Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival 2011, at Union Square.  Be there or be… well, you know.

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art has some interesting Asian and Pacific Island exhibits.

    Umm… I’m not on the Fast Five thing, but I heard that it’s a fun enough movie and, hey, it has a diverse cast.  Vin Diesel (who’s not Asian or Pacific Islander; oh well; he’s still Vin Diesel).  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (part Samoan) .  Sung Kang (Korean American).  And Justin Lin directed it!

    But, around here at triscribe, everyday is APA Heritage Day…  🙂  Hope you’re enjoying APA Heritage Month so far.

    Oh, and last but not least: weird stuff: a seal who doesn’t really like people lands in town (Inwood, apparently). Sounds like the perfect NY’er…

  • A Moment to Observe

    President Obama:

    Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.

    And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.

    The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

    Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

    I added the italics to the line I thought was most interesting.  If we can remember our past, if we can not forget the horrors and the victories – that in great sadness, we were together – then, maybe Obama’s right.  We can do it.

    The emotions are far more complicated, speaking as a New Yorker and an American.  It’s not over, but let’s take a moment of observation.

  • May Day

    FC’s photos (here’s one; just scroll down for more) from the Bahamas makes me want my own nice long vacation…

    “Fringe” is one nutty odd show.   Check out the recap of the latest episode from Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly. If the season finale ends on another cliffhanger – yeesh.  It’ll be a long summer, that’s for sure.

    Angry Asian Man posts a link to the video from Museum of the Chinese in America, Frank Wu’s lecture on the Vincent Chin case (I had attended the event; really great stuff).

    Well, I’ve really gotten into reading the Angry Asian Mag blog for awhile now; great stuff… Happy 10th Anniversary, Angry Asian Man!

    Last but not least: apparently, the NYS legislature is considering a bill on ending the madness of re-naming neighborhoods (considering that there are other things to work on, oh well…), and in a Daily News opinion piece, Suleiman Osman points out: “But the legislation raises a serious issue.  Ruling that BoCoCa is ‘fake’ is one thing.  But which names are ‘real’?”  He describes how the history of Brooklyn showed how arbitrary the naming of neighborhoods really is.

  • Royal Wedding

    Of course I got up early to watch the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine (of the United Kingdom).  It was very nice.  Now, I suppose I’ll catch up on reading stuff about it, as well as still watching tv.  (this is what I get for scheduling a few days off from work with coincidental timing)…

    (cross-posted on sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com).

  • Winding Down of April?

    Hope you’re having a nice Easter, Passover, spring!

    I have recommended Jennifer 8. Lee’s book on Chinese-American food; but I do question whether Panda Express can work in China (link is to an NPR coverage on the subject, including soundbites from Jennifer 8. Lee.  I’d guess that Panda Express would have to pull quite a marketing thing.  Not sure if their food stuff is any healthier than McDonald’s, but hey, who knows?).

    Via an AABANY posting on Facebook, I discovered this link to a recent NPR interview: Michel Martin talking to Prof. Thomas Sy, who researched on the issue of APA’s as leaders.  Very interesting stuff.  Prof. Sy made some illuminating points.  In a way, it goes both ways: Management (whoever they are) and APA’s as employees have to change (it ain’t about just working hard).  And, it turns out that being masculine is still the model of leadership – well, not sure what that means for women (or women of color, especially).  We all still have a long way to go!

    In time for Passover: really interesting essay from Sandip Roy on NPR, on the Jewish community of Calcutta, or what was once a strong Jewish community, as Jewish people left for Israel and away from the turmoil of the Hindu v. Muslim conflict at the time of Indian independence from Britain.

    Siddhartha Mukherjee, oncologist, won the 2011 Pulitzer for Nonfiction for his book, The Emperor of All Maladies, a biography of cancer.  NPR re-posts the interview with Mukherjee that was on “All Things Considered.” Great interview – and I think I’ll read his book, or at least to add to the perpetually long to-read list.

    Last, but not least: the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith, a long-time companion (well, in America, we’d say sidekick) to the Doctor.  At least she got to work with at least 4 Doctors (I feel bad enough that I fell behind on watching the latest series).