Viola Davis’ speech becomes the new cry of all actors of color.
Even Asian Americans.
Indeed the only thing that separates us all from crossing the line is opportunity.
Then we break out the ” success perms.”
Davis said, “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that simply aren’t there.”
But even when there are a few roles for us, you can’t win.
Or you can win what I call the “Invisible Emmy.”
I would have given an “Invisible Emmy” to Randall Park and Constance Chu of “Fresh off the Boat,” this year.
I wrote about it in an AALDEF piece earlier this year.
(You can also read about the incredible Asian American who has won so many Emmys —for his off-camera work).
For this year’s broadcast, Davis was the highlight for me, but props to Berkeley’s Andy Samberg too. He had a nice soft edge in his opening monologue. Good enough to be invited back, I’m sure, but edgy enough to sting. “Most diverse Emmys” joke, so “racism over,” was funny and stinging enough for the bosses in the crowd. So ABC hires more Asians this year and Fox dumps Mindy. Hollywood logic.
Maybe next year with season two of “Fresh Off the Boat, ” and the premier of “Dr.Ken,” we’ll see some Asian Americanwinners?
I hope. But I doubt it. Cable and the web give the latitude to explore real themes that make for award-winning shows. The broadcast networks would never run more than watered down versions of the winners. But maybe Asian Americans will be flavor of the month next year?
On the Emmy broadcast, the most face time for an Asian American was likely Shaun So’s celebratory reaction to “Veep” winning for best comedy. So is married to Veep co-star Anna Chlumsky and the camera caught them both at length because they were sitting behind Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her husband Brad Hall.
That’s our diversity moment! #Typical.
The story of the invisible. But not for long.
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