The First Asian-American Televison Sitcom, All American Girl: Its Significance, Contradictions, and Limitations

by Motoko Kainose

Primary Advisor: Peter Kiang
Second Reader: Judith Smith

Abstract:

This project analyzes the production and reception of the first Asian American family sitcom on prime time television, All American Girl, broadcast weekly from September 14, 1994 to March 15, 1995. The project positions the television show in several contexts: the history of problematic literary , film and television stereotypes of Asian and Asian America characters; the circulation of supposedly more positive interest in Asian-Americans as a model minority and new fashions of Asian chic; the success of television sitcoms driven by female comedienne characters such as Roseanne and Ellen. The analysis creatively utilizes a range of sources, including press coverage of the show's origins, critical responses to the show from Asian American activists and academics, and email letters to Cho, as well as providing detailed critiques of individual episodes. Although the show's creator, Margaret Cho, was an unusual and creative stand up comedienne, and the show promised to break through stereotypical representations of Asian Americans, n the end, it did not deliver. Their pressures of the commercial network TV apparatus and generic ethnic family sitcom overwhelmed the possibility for Cho's creative voice to represent new ways of looking at Asian American women and their families. In the end, Kainose concludes that "All Americn Girl revived stereotypes of Asian Americans." Audience response was not enthusiastic enough to keep the show on the air; although Cho's stand up comedy fans were excited for her to gain exposure to a TV audience, the Asian American audience found their initial high hopes of less stereotypical representation disappointed.