BANZAI on Fox [Archive] - Yellowworld Forums

Shuriken

06-17-2003, 03:10 PM

They're at it again, folks. Fox — the media empire that brought you Rising Sun and Ms. Swan — is now going to foist the British-made show BANZAI (http://www.fox.com/banzai/) upon unsuspecting American viewers. The show basically consists of a series of stunts and silly contests, such as guessing how many helium balloons it will take to float a duck.

What's the problem? Banzai narrates its proceedings with off-screen announcers who speak in heavy, laughable Asian accents. One of the narrators is Burt Kwouk (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Kwouk,%20Burt), the Chinese-British actor best known for playing Kato in the "Pink Panther" series (he also had a role in Jet Li's Kiss of the Dragon), but never mind: the point of the narration is to make fun of the way that Asian people talk.

On top of this, Banzai keeps cutting away to a geeky-looking Asian guy in a rumpled suit and a bald Asian man in martial-arts attire. The point of this is to remind us just how amusing Asian faces are.

In short, Banzai mocks Asian accents and Asian racial features, and that makes it racist in my book. After a brief, unsuccessful run on the USA Network, Banzai is now back at Fox and will premiere Sunday, July 13.

Are you ready for the kicker? The Fox executive who pushed the hardest for the network to air Banzai is Wenda Fong, a Chinese American. Rather than championing shows about Asian Americans as dignified people who are an integral part of this country (with the failure of Black Sash, why would she?), Ms. Fong would evidently prefer to make some mileage off the idea of Asian people as racial oddities.

A couple months ago, Fox sponsored a show of Asian American stand-up comedians in L.A.'s Koreatown. Wenda Fong wanted to use the event to launch Banzai, and Fox showed clips from the show in between the comedians' sets. I attended this event along with a few fellow MANAA members. We showed the APA comedians the utmost respect and laughed at their jokes. But when the Banzai clips were shown, we — and others — booed them to let the Fox executives present know our displeasure. Now, the word is around Fox (which hates us for opposing Ms. Swan) that we booed the comedians during their routines and that we compelled the non-MANAA people to do so as well. This is so typical of the industry: they would rather lie about MANAA than understand our concerns.

If you would like to stop this kind of racist, offensive programming, go the Fox's official Banzai site and let them know:

http://www.fox.com/banzai/

You could also join MANAA (http://www.manaa.org/) and help to fight the show.

VV o n g B a

06-17-2003, 03:27 PM

i found a forum on their site but didn't find a way to write directly to their producers.

but even the website itself is offensive. it's really depressing that after blt where i thought we were making progress, this shit comes out.

SunWuKong

06-17-2003, 03:54 PM

am i going to be the only one who thinks this show will be funny?

golden_buns

06-17-2003, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by SunWuKung@Jun 17 2003, 02:54 PM
am i going to be the only one who thinks this show will be funny?
me too.

Aren't they trying to immitate more the weirdness of japanese shows?

rakovlam

06-17-2003, 04:26 PM

am i going to be the only one who thinks this show will be funny?

I think so, but just because it's some of the funniest content ever doesn't mean it is going to last (see Family Guy).

Faithless

06-17-2003, 05:20 PM

You have to wonder why they want to use an Asian character to do the hosting. But I guess that all apart of the spoofing.

At least they're taking an equal opportunity approach to who they spoof -- like Todd Bridges. But then everyone makes fun of Todd Bridges, so what so funny about that?

The show is hosted by MR. BANZAI, a mysterious figure who is like an enigma wrapped within a conundrum. He oversees most of the bets on the show and is considered to be somewhat of a judge in all matters BANZAI. The show also features a wild cast of BANZAI characters who host the bizarre scenarios. These include: CHEEKY CHAPPY, the lovable rogue who dreams of one day creating the perfect Naked Lady Gamble; LADY ONE QUESTION, the intrepid interviewer who simply asks celebrities a question, then does absolutely nothing; and MR. SHAKE HANDS MAN, who has perfected the science of handshaking as he tries to see how long he can shake hands with celebrities before they pull away.

BANZAI is a wild and irreverent romp that cuts through the wide sea of traditional television. Viewers at home can wager with friends and family to discover who can best predict the very unpredictable outcomes. And as Mr. Banzai put it best, "What's the point of breathing if you're not betting?" Gary Monaghan is the creator/executive producer of BANZAI, which is produced by Radar Productions Ltd.

Shuriken

06-19-2003, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by ChottoMatte@Jun 18 2003, 12:20 AM
You have to wonder why they want to use an Asian character to do the hosting. But I guess that all apart of the spoofing.

At least they're taking an equal opportunity approach to who they spoof -- like Todd Bridges. But then everyone makes fun of Todd Bridges, so what so funny about that?

It's not a matter of why they want an Asian person to do the hosting, but why the producers feel the need to do the thick accent and the exaggerated appearances. You answer your own question too fast.

Do you regard the character of Long Duk Dong in 16 Candles as "all part of the spoofing"?

And I don't see what you mean by "equal opportunity approach to who they spoof." Who are "they," the show or the network? The show doesn't make fun of the way that white people look and talk (so the racial humor is all one way). And until I see more Asians portrayed as dignified, relatable lead characters in the media, I won't accept the racial mocking of Asians as "equal opportunity spoofing."

Faithless

06-19-2003, 11:03 PM

Originally posted by Shuriken@Jun 19 2003, 01:01 PM
Originally posted by ChottoMatte@Jun 18 2003, 12:20 AM
You have to wonder why they want to use an Asian character to do the hosting.  But I guess that all apart of the spoofing.

At least they're taking an equal opportunity approach to who they spoof -- like Todd Bridges.  But then everyone makes fun of Todd Bridges, so what so funny about that?

It's not a matter of why they want an Asian person to do the hosting, but why the producers feel the need to do the thick accent and the exaggerated appearances. You answer your own question too fast.

Do you regard the character of Long Duk Dong in 16 Candles as "all part of the spoofing"?

And I don't see what you mean by "equal opportunity approach to who they spoof." Who are "they," the show or the network? The show doesn't make fun of the way that white people look and talk (so the racial humor is all one way). And until I see more Asians portrayed as dignified, relatable lead characters in the media, I won't accept the racial mocking of Asians as "equal opportunity spoofing."
I believe the spoofing is of the Japanese game shows and hosts as is suggested above.

I will check the show with a weary eye, too, but it seems that the show makes fun of everyone. Not that this is a good thing, but it beats the heck out of nothing but Japanese contestants.

Hey, why isn't Pat Morita hosting this one? It would seem that if he could make an ass out of himself as Arno of Happy Days, he could do wonders here. :rolleyes:

iris

07-01-2003, 05:58 PM

I'm not sure if I am offended by this show Banzai (http://www.fox.com/banzai/) by Fox, but I certainly don't appreciate their commercials.

It consists of a man, "Mr. Banzai," dressed in a white gi, kicking at the camera and speaking in a hideous Asian accent. I think it is supposed to depict a campy Japanese theme show. There is also another man with square, old-school glasses, and a greasy combover. Asian of course.

"The show is hosted by MR. BANZAI, a mysterious figure who is like an enigma wrapped within a conundrum. He oversees most of the bets on the show and is considered to be somewhat of a judge in all matters BANZAI. The show also features a wild cast of BANZAI characters who host the bizarre scenarios. These include: CHEEKY CHAPPY, the lovable rogue who dreams of one day creating the perfect Naked Lady Gamble; LADY ONE QUESTION, the intrepid interviewer who simply asks celebrities a question, then does absolutely nothing; and MR. SHAKE HANDS MAN, who has perfected the science of handshaking as he tries to see how long he can shake hands with celebrities before they pull away. " - FOX

I also think it's weird to use broken English to describe characters on the show despite the producer's attempt to apply it to "FOB" or emigre culture.

I'm wondering if the hosts are Asian also, but I'd be disappointed if they were. It would mean for an Asian to have his/her own show, he/she needed to cater to accepted stereotypes in order for the show to exist.

Has anyone seen the show?

golden_buns

07-01-2003, 06:05 PM

There was a rant about this topic before.

I've also seen the commercials on MTV Latin America, and it seems to be an immitation of those weird japanese shows. I didn't feel that offended after seeing that, but I'd have to watch the show to be able to tell.

iris

07-01-2003, 06:15 PM

Could someone merge this topic with the older thread? Thank you.

I think I'm less offended than sadden that it takes a show that caters to pre-conceived notions of Asian culture to bring Asians into prominence in a media format.

moschikat

07-01-2003, 10:22 PM

i saw a commercial for it, and it looked like the hosts were egging on two old ladies two play chicken in their electrical wheel chairs . . .

uhm . . . :blink:

edit : two old caucasian ladies . . .

Faithless

07-01-2003, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by moschikat@Jul 1 2003, 09:22 PM
i saw a commercial for it, and it looked like the hosts were egging on two old ladies two play chicken in their electrical wheel chairs . . .

uhm . . . :blink:

edit : two old caucasian ladies . . .
And I don't even think those Japanese game shows do that stuff.

http://forums.yellowworld.org/index.php?ac...ST&f=48&t=9327& (http://forums.yellowworld.org/index.php?act=ST&f=48&t=9327&)

maxdacat

07-02-2003, 02:27 AM

this has been on in the UK for a while though i think it might have died a well earned death.....it was of course a play on all the stupid japanese gameshows of old but ended up being pretty dreadfull despite the occasional laugh.....the accents were terrible........one of the commentators was even a white guy putting on a stupid accent!!!......Mr Hand Shakey did however crack the one minute barrier in a memorable interview with Jennifer Love-Hewitt.

AngryABCGirl

07-02-2003, 03:23 AM

I'd have to see this for myself, but it looks like it'll be offensively boring.

SunWuKong

07-02-2003, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by iris@Jul 1 2003, 09:15 PM
Could someone merge this topic with the older thread? Thank you.
anything for you, babydoll.

princess

07-02-2003, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by AzNBuffGrL@Jul 2 2003, 02:23 AM
I'd have to see this for myself, but it looks like it'll be offensively boring.
it looks just plain offensive to me. :angry:

deez nuts

07-02-2003, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by golden_buns@Jun 17 2003, 05:58 PM
me too.

Aren't they trying to immitate more the weirdness of japanese shows?
i think so, too.

it's either gonna be funny as hell or bomb like the a-bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki.

the show doesn't really appeal to me. either way, i could care less, personally.

My Name Is...

07-02-2003, 03:47 PM

verdict: My Name Is... says the show is offensive.

I mean, I understand the show is an imitation of a Japanese one. But considering that the show is going to aired in AMERICA (ie land of facked up racial problems), I think it's downright ignorant of FOX to pick up this show.

Jenny

07-02-2003, 04:21 PM

The first time I saw the commercial I just knew it would cause a stir in the AA community (and why wouldn't it?) but I guess we'll have to wait till the show actually comes out to judge it.

I'm not sure what to think though. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that we have a show like Banzai coming out. Even though it's spoofing Asians, it'll atleast give us a chance to bring the problem issues to the table. In the past there was nothing "in your face" enough to have anyone take us seriously. But with this, atleast people know AsianA's even exist. Remember a few decades ago when African Americans played servant roles and talked like "oh massa's gon' give you chillun a whippin'!" But with the success of shows like that, it made room for movies like ROOTS which was groundbreaking.

But that's just me trying to find the silver lining. :)

Faithless

07-02-2003, 04:54 PM

What the hell is Mrs. Banzai doing about this? :rolleyes:

jimbo

07-04-2003, 04:16 AM

Yup I've seen it, Its o.k for the first few episodes but then it gets very tiring after a while.

kasia

07-04-2003, 11:24 PM

i watched it on USA a couple of times. nothing redeeming about it. i wonder how many fobs out there will watch the show and find the fact that their accent is being mocked is actually funny.

Shuriken

07-06-2003, 01:05 PM

Here is an e-mail I received:

ATTENTION ASIAN AMERICANS!!!

Have you seen the promos for "Banzai" and it angers you? Want to do something but do not know what you can do? Afraid your 2-cents from the 2-percent will be ignored? We at MANAA thought of something we can do that's very effective and you can do from the comfort of your own home!

First, if you do not know what we're talking about check out Banzai at http://www.fox.com. Basically Fox acquired a British show that will showcase the most offensive, negative Asian stereotypes and will play them through the summer every Sunday at 8:30pm starting July 13th. MANAA has tried to stop this from airing, when that failed we asked to augment it, (reducing the awful stereotypes)...and, as you can see, very little was done.

We may not have the numbers to stop this from airing nationwide, but there are enough of us living in LA, NY, San Francisco, and Hawaii to stop this show from airing in these regions. We can call this the, "Not in our house!!!" campaign. Local stations to the Fox network have the power to take this off the air in their region for fear they might suffer in ratings or political pressure. The most famous example of this was when certain stations in the Bible belt and in the south choose not to air the "Ellen" episode where she admits she's gay (due to pressure from various religious groups). Although this action was negative, we can still use this tactic to our advantage. So here what we do:

1) Write letters, e-mails, and make phone calls to the stations below. Can't do just one... must do all three.

2) Tell them, "I understand you are not responsible for Banzai, but you do have the capability of not airing this on your station. Asians constitute a huge percentage of this city's population and we will not watch your channel's programming every Sunday until you take this off your air. And tell your affiliate relations executive at Fox that your station's viewers are threatening to boycott your channel"

3) And like shampoo, repeat if necessary. Hey! A project to do over 4th of July weekend!

If this show loses its audiences in the these major markets, the overall national rating will hurt and well have this off the air in no time. Plus the network will finally understand DO NOT TAKE US LIGHTLY!

Here are the stations:

LOS ANGELES - KTTV FOX 11
E-MAIL: programming@fox11LA.com
PHONE: 310/584-2005
ADDRESS: Programming: KTTV
1999 South Bundy Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90022-5235

SAN FRANCISCO - KTVU FOX 2
E-MAIL: can't find email but you can give feed back at http://www.ktvu.com/contact/
PHONE: 510/834-1212
ADDRESS: Programming: KTVU
P.O. Box 22222
Oakland, CA 94623

NEW YORK - WNYW FOX 5
E-MAIL: can't find e-mail but you can give comments on www.fox5ny.com
PHONE: 212/452-5555
ADDRESS: Programming: WNYW
205 East 67th Street
New York, NY 10021-6099

HAWAII - KHON FOX 2
E-MAIL: khon@khon.emmis.com
PHONE: 808/591-2222
ADDRESS: Programming: KHON
88 Piikoi St
Honolulu, Hi 96814

And of course if you have any questions e-mail us at manaaletters@hotmail.com. Please forward this to every open-minded Americans as well. Good Luck! Happy 4th of July and God Bless America!

kasia

07-06-2003, 01:22 PM

thanks, shuriken. i reposted that email in 'get involved.'

moving this thread to rant.

Emperor_Mike

07-06-2003, 02:20 PM

AH! I knew this thing would get ported over to North America. I've seen a few episodes and it's really not that funny. You'll get a few laughs here and there, but most of the time it's just plain dull. Yes, it's rather racist though like some of you have already mentioned, it's meant to parody those odd Japanese game shows. Still, the move to show this in the US where race is a very touchy issue is questionable, I think.

BeTheReds

07-06-2003, 06:34 PM

There is already a movement to protest this before anyone has even seen a single episode.

angel nympho

07-06-2003, 06:51 PM

I think it has funny potential... though very dumb and unintelligent humor. Definately one more thing to add to the downfall of modern civilization.

Anyway, the accents and stuff, I just took to be a part of their spoofing of Japanese game shows. Which I guess is the idea, since Japanese game shows are really some of the stupidest things I've ever seen... and they generally try to get people to do some really retarded shit.

I really doubt this show will do well... with or without boycotts. But more power to those who wanna boycott. I probably won't watch either.... just 'cuz it sounds like a waste of my time.

kasia

07-07-2003, 12:55 AM

Originally posted by BeTheReds@Jul 6 2003, 05:34 PM
There is already a movement to protest this before anyone has even seen a single episode.
it was on USA for quite some time. and i, just tonight, saw three commericals for it. "pick, pick, pick!" you are seriously angry. all. the. time.

by the way, i sure as hell hope that this isn't considered a social movement.

BeTheReds

07-07-2003, 01:35 AM

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that it's already begun to air.

Anyway, protesting it however you want is fine, if that's what you believe in.

yoMAMA

07-07-2003, 10:22 AM

you can boycotting it simply by not watching it:

there's plenty of channels to surf on :D

achtungbaby

07-07-2003, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by angel nympho@Jul 6 2003, 06:51 PM
Anyway, the accents and stuff, I just took to be a part of their spoofing of Japanese game shows. Which I guess is the idea, since Japanese game shows are really some of the stupidest things I've ever seen... and they generally try to get people to do some really retarded shit.
Exactly! Spoofing Japanese game shows is the intent, and taken in that context, there's nothing inherently racist about that, right...?

I'm just waiting for the FOX shows that spoof the game shows of other people of color. I probably shouldn't hold my breath.

achtungbaby

07-07-2003, 04:39 PM

I have a question for those of y'all who are adamantly against "protesting" or (gasp) speaking poorly of a show whose intent is to lampoon Asians (and I apologize if you feel I'm negatively singling you out as a group):

What type of broadcast on television would offend you as an Asian? Please describe the type of television show that would get you on your feet, pounding on doors, torches in hand? Give some examples of such shows that demonstrated the kind of real racism that Asians should instead be focused on.

If 1) none such shows exist that you're aware of or 2) you simply don't think people should ever get upset about entertainment, please state this.

Emperor_Mike

07-07-2003, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by achtungbaby@Jul 7 2003, 03:39 PM
I have a question for those of y'all who are adamantly against "protesting" or (gasp) speaking poorly of a show whose intent is to lampoon Asians (and I apologize if you feel I'm negatively singling you out as a group):

What type of broadcast on television would offend you as an Asian?  Please describe the type of television show that would get you on your feet, pounding on doors, torches in hand?  Give some examples of such shows that demonstrated the kind of real racism that Asians should instead be focused on.

If 1) none such shows exist that you're aware of or 2) you simply don't think people should ever get upset about entertainment, please state this.
It's quite hard to determine what would get me up in arms, really. I wouldn't know until the time comes. :D

As for getting upset over things, it's perfectly human to express displeasure. Just ensure that the subject you're dealing with is pertinent to the "Big Picture" and try to get something out of it. There's nothing worse than going out to make a lot of noise only to go home at the end of the day without some feeling of accomplishment. Sure, you've expressed outrage, but anyone can do THAT. In the case of the A&F shirts, there was a positive outcome which made the campaign worthwhile. It's progress that matters, not noise.

At least in the short run.

achtungbaby

07-07-2003, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by Emperor_Mike@Jul 7 2003, 04:46 PM
In the case of the A&F shirts, there was a positive outcome which made the campaign worthwhile. It's progress that matters, not noise.
Ah-hah, see, this is where I knew we'd diverge. In theory what you're saying is correct, but in practice, there aren't the necessary resources available to wage and sustain such strategy.

There are only rag-tag campaigns like A&F, begun by students, or Kung-Fool, begun by sexually ungratified / emotionally-displaced-from-Click2Asia-and-other-Asian-defunct-websites:)

I think the practice that you speak of almost presumes a kind of infrastructure and cohesiveness within the Asian community that may someday exist, but does not today. Even campaigns like A&F that seemed to present this resounding thud of the entire Asian community, in reality, only represented a very, very small fraction. When you think of national Asian advocacy groups, or even progressive Asian writers, professors, activists, etc...the community is very small.

achtungbaby

07-07-2003, 05:11 PM

Last add on that: I'm not contending that we point fingers and scream as loud as we can about everything that raises our hair. But considering the level of the playing field and our own resources, we do need to discern each and every cause, and then, I would argue, err on doing something.

Emperor_Mike

07-07-2003, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by achtungbaby@Jul 7 2003, 04:09 PM
Ah-hah, see, this is where I knew we'd diverge. In theory what you're saying is correct, but in practice, there aren't the necessary resources available to wage and sustain such strategy.

There are only rag-tag campaigns like A&F, begun by students, or Kung-Fool, begun by sexually ungratified / emotionally-displaced-from-Click2Asia-and-other-Asian-defunct-websites:)

I think the practice that you speak of almost presumes a kind of infrastructure and cohesiveness within the Asian community that may someday exist, but does not today. Even campaigns like A&F that seemed to present this resounding thud of the entire Asian community, in reality, only represented a very, very small fraction. When you think of national Asian advocacy groups, or even progressive Asian writers, professors, activists, etc...the community is very small.
I am of the opinion that the spotlight shouldn't be on Asian issues alone. We can wait for positive attitudes to crystalise in the Asian community or we can bring all other groups together under a single umbrella with Anti-Discrimination and the Abolishment of Stereotypes as the ultimate aim. With our cause it's easy to spread to other minorities because it affects us all. Greater strength in numbers, I think. My way of thinking traverses along the lines of winning the one "Big Fight" that is against discrimination as a whole and then using that victory as a leverage to attend to smaller, but no less important matters. Who knows? A good campaign with our fellow minority members may pave the way to greater political successes.

Emperor_Mike

07-07-2003, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by achtungbaby@Jul 7 2003, 04:11 PM
Last add on that: I'm not contending that we point fingers and scream as loud as we can about everything that raises our hair. But considering the level of the playing field and our own resources, we do need to discern each and every cause, and then, I would argue, err on doing something.
Work together with allies that share common interests and goals. :) When the time comes to diverge then we do so and hopefully by that time we would already have constructed for ourselves a solid platform for a purely Asian-oriented agenda.

Faithless

07-08-2003, 01:26 PM

So, it was FOX who pulled the hen stunt for the Banzai show:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/s...39p-87547c.html (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/96639p-87547c.html)

At some point, you have to think that the show is going a bit overboard, not just in its portrayals, but just in its stunts.

And of all the protesting, PG&E jumps into it to tell Fox not to air the hen episode:

http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?s...n.chicken.0627w (http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?story=n.chicken.0627w)

Uncle Tat

07-10-2003, 09:26 PM

Wenda Fong = White cocksucker probably

mr. x

07-10-2003, 09:53 PM

^--- who's wenda fong?

Faithless

07-10-2003, 10:51 PM

Originally posted by Uncle Tat@Jul 10 2003, 08:26 PM
Wenda Fong = White cocksucker probably
Hmmm. One way to find out -- contact her through the board she sits on:

http://www.capeusa.org/contact/contact.html

janqb

07-10-2003, 11:07 PM

I'm really disappointed by Banzai. I think Asians should be more critical of Banzai. And Ms. Swan, of course, was just like a blackface character performance, where a white actor would smear black paint all over his face to "imitate" a black person. Ms. Swan amounted to a white woman putting tape over her eyes to imitate a Korean woman. Takes us back to the 1937 movie with Luise Rainer with exaggerated, taped over eyes playing a Chinese woman in "The Good Earth".

At the Fox forums, when I talked about feeling offended, I was accused of having a "persecution complex" by someone at the Fox.com message boards for Banzai. I felt it was a really racist thing to say. It's like saying to black people "slavery is gone, get over it" or saying to Jews "you people are wealthy and powerful now, forget about that genocide." How can you "get over" these things? How can we Asians get over racist caricaturizations of ourselves? Why has that elite class of whites, most of whom control the media, been unable to perceive Asians as normal, ordinary, and human, like themselves?

Do Asians have a "persecution complex"? I mean, millions of Asians were not gassed at concentration camps or enslaved for hundreds of years by whites. But yeah, I have a persecution complex. Just because we haven't taken the brunt of the white man's anger doesn't mean we don't feel persecuted by it.

I so wish there were more of us in this country. If there were more Asian Americans then we'd be a much more politically formidable force. It isn't OK to mock black people like the way the media mocks Asians, Jewish people have somehow fallen into the "white" category, but Asians are still forced to look at hundred-year-old stereotypes of buck-toothed, emasculated, heavily accented Asian men. I won't even go into how Asian women are treated by the media.

I don't want to be a white apologist and there are too many of us Asians who put up with racist nonsense and garbage and not make a big Stink about it. The Abercrombie & Fitch fight is over, now we proceed with fighting Banzai. We'll see what this show is like when it airs, but trust me, it's not going to be about stereotyping those Japanese variety type shows. It's going to be a free-for-all indiscriminate mock-fest of East Asian people. That Japanese business man on the Fox website is funny ONLY when we have cool-looking and highly admired Asian Americans to counterbalance this image. Otherwise, the public perception is that ALL Asians are laughable in appearance, and that should not sit well with anyone here.

Green_Circle

07-11-2003, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by rakovlam@Jun 17 2003, 11:26 PM

I think so, but just because it's some of the funniest content ever doesn't mean it is going to last (see Family Guy).
I think they'd do well to show some Jewish folks kibbittzing around and kvetsing like they do. Now that would definitely be a laugh not to mention quite rare indeed.

Shuriken

07-12-2003, 07:03 PM

Please Circulate to Interested Parties

A CALL TO ACTION

WHAT: Protest Fox at the annual Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour.

WHERE: The Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland, 1755 North Highland. Hollywood.
For directions: http://www.renaissancehollywood.com/directions.asp

WHEN: Thursday, July 17, from 8-10 a.m.

WHY: Express your disapproval at the new Fox Television Show, "Banzai."

Background: In March of 2003, when the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) learned that Fox was acquiring the rights to the British gameshow "BANZAI," we wrote letters and made phone calls to Fox executives expressing a serious concern over the blatantly racial stereotypes portrayed in the show.
Our communications were ignored until the following month when Fox agreed to sponsor a Comedy Night for Lodestone (a Los Angeles Asian American theatre organization), where they showed clips of "Banzai" between comedy acts at their fundraising event on May 10th.

The clips were met with resounding boos from the 300 or so attendees and Fox executives were on hand to see the negative reaction to "Banzai." Most agreed that the offbeat game show, while perhaps humorous for its quirky contests (e.g. how many helium balloons does it take to get a chicken airborne?), also included unnecessary racial elements. The cast includes a heavily Japanese accented voice-over host along with a geeky Asian man in business attire and A bald martial arts character named "Cheeky Chappy." The two appear on screen to
mock and goad viewers into playing the games while repeatedly shouting "Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!" See for yourself at Fox’s website:

http://www.fox.com/banzai/, and then go to http://www.fox.com/community/askfox/index.htm

and tell them what you think.

Despite the obvious disappointment over "Banzai," Fox has decided to ignore the wishes of the Asian American community and will begin airing this summer replacement series on Sunday, July 13th after "The Simpsons" at 8:30 p.m./7C. In an attempt to modify the offensive elements of this program, the chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, Karen Narasaki, and the President of MANAA, Aki Aleong, met separately with Fox officials, but none of the minuscule changes the network made to"Banzai" had changed its basic nature.

MANAA, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Search to Involve Pilpino Americans (SIPA) Korean Immigrants Workers Advocates (KIWA), Korean Resource Center (KRC), Northwest Asian American Students United, East Coast Asian American Students Union (ECAASU), Midwest Asian American Students Union (MAASU), and National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCON) are asking you to show your disapproval at Fox’s program by joining US Thursday, July 17th, at a protest outside the Renaissance Hotel--- where media from around the world will be gathered to hear FOX network’s hype about their upcoming television season.

If you are interested in joining our cause, please contact us for further information at manaaletters@hotmail.com or call us at (213) 486-4433 or 1-888-90-MANAA.

We will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday, July 15th at 7 p.m. at the JACL offices located at 244 S. San Pedro Street, Room 406, in Downtown Los Angeles. Anyone interested in the protest is urged to join us to help plan and send the message out to Fox that we will not tolerate this kind of programming.

Please spread the word. And make your voice count.

Since 1992, MANAA has been the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and advocating balanced, sensitive, and positive depiction and coverage of Asian Americans.

Shuriken

07-12-2003, 07:03 PM

mr. x

07-12-2003, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by yoMAMA@Jul 7 2003, 09:22 AM
you can boycotting it simply by not watching it:

there's plenty of channels to surf on :D
nobody here is planning on enjoying it

the point is that white people WILL and thats the issue at hand

stunninglyAsian

07-13-2003, 10:33 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (janqb @ Jul 10 2003, 10:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Do Asians have a "persecution complex"? I mean, millions of Asians were not gassed at concentration camps or enslaved for hundreds of years by whites. But yeah, I have a persecution complex. Just because we haven't taken the brunt of the white man's anger doesn't mean we don't feel persecuted by it.

I so wish there were more of us in this country. If there were more Asian Americans then we'd be a much more politically formidable force. It isn't OK to mock black people like the way the media mocks Asians, Jewish people have somehow fallen into the "white" category, but Asians are still forced to look at hundred-year-old stereotypes of buck-toothed, emasculated, heavily accented Asian men. I won't even go into how Asian women are treated by the media.[/b][/quote]
I have to disagree with you...

Asians have taken the brunt of the white man's anger- in the 80s the rise of Japan economically was seen by many Americans, especially auto workers, as the economic equivalent of Pearl Harbor- we were gonna buy America, one day the Japanese flag would be waving majestically in the air over the White House. Throughout history, we've been the enemy- WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and China as a Communist state during the cold war. Even today, we're seen as a threat to white people in the academic world (admissions to colleges) and in the working world (the highly educated Asian and the cheap laborer in Asia). Society still sees us as the enemy, I think it's safe to say that most of us here have been the brunt of some kind of war-related racism. Look at Asian women, the image of the "Me so horny" Vietnamese prostitute during the war is as strong as ever.

There may not be as many Asians, but we have more money and status in society- if we were all to unite and actively pursue our own self-interests, we could become a powerful political force. Our numbers have nothing to do with us not being a more powerful force in America. The problem is that most Asians would rather work within the system and accept the limitations set by the status quo rather than to "rock the boat" and rebel against the system to acheive our goals. I think it partially stems from our culture and somehow we as a people have decided that not trying to upset the status quo and trying to blend in is the best way to succeed in this country. This is why when an Asian person decides to rebel against the system, he or she is quickly put down because the typical reaction is to scold that person for trying to cause trouble, from the Asian community and the rest of society. But if a black person stands up for something that is wrong, the black community unites to fight the injustice.

mr. x

07-13-2003, 02:26 PM

whats messed up is i read on angryasianman that the fox people said that the people in the audience were booing the comedians, not the ads

mr. x

07-13-2003, 02:30 PM

anyway, from what ive heard, it might not work out cuz to me the shows more annoying than offensive (from an objective standpoint). i mean you can only take hearing "BANZAI BANZAI" so much

Jenny

07-13-2003, 05:41 PM

This show will be on my boycott list if someone comes up to me saying "BANZAIIIIII!!!!!!!!!" :rolleyes:

dijitaru

07-13-2003, 06:35 PM

Regardless of whether she pushed the show or not, Wenda Fong is:

a. the VP of Creative Diversity Development at FOX
b. Asian American

Should have done (and should still do) everything she could to get this show off the air (by the way, we watched it tonight on the east coast -- it was terrible).

Please call her office and let her know how you feel: 310-369-4110 (phone number pulled from http://www.disabilityemployment.org/janmaonews.pdf).

<edit>This is the phone number for her office, not her home phone.</edit>

Steve

AliBabaIncorporated

07-13-2003, 06:52 PM

Yes, brilliant idea, harass the poor lady at work because she promotes free speech with which you disagree ...

dijitaru

07-13-2003, 07:27 PM

I don't think I'm advocating harassment at all. And normally I wouldn't call up some random person to complain about something, especially if they were someone who's job title indicated that they had done a good deal to promote diversity in American media.

But I don't remember ever seeing a TV show and being so offended. This reminds me of Bamboozled with Asian culture instead of African American culture. We watched this with our son in the room -- he's only a baby now, so thankfully he had no idea what he's going on, but what if this show is on in three or four years and he sees it?

Because of this, I decided to call the VP of Diversity Programming at FOX and let her know how I feel. I posted her phone number (which was easy to find on Google anyway) so anyone else who is as disgusted by this show as I am can do the same thing.

rakovlam

07-13-2003, 08:15 PM

but Asians are still forced to look at hundred-year-old stereotypes of buck-toothed, emasculated, heavily accented Asian men. I won't even go into how Asian women are treated by the media.

I don't know about you, but I look pretty good in the mirror. :D

Please, that show is like the primetime version of Jackass. It will cancel quickly.

achtungbaby

07-14-2003, 01:36 AM

I'm getting into this a little late and don't know if it's already been brought up, but has the idea of boycotting the show's sponsors been discussed yet?

maxdacat

07-14-2003, 03:17 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dijitaru @ Jul 13 2003, 06:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> We watched this with our son in the room -- he's only a baby now, so thankfully he had no idea what he's going on, but what if this show is on in three or four years and he sees it?
[/b][/quote]
What if he sees it in 3 or 4 years.....he probably wouldn't be able to function in normal society so run for the freakin' hills then!

MattSansom

07-14-2003, 06:45 AM

I'm British and I have to say that I can't believe what some people have typed here. When Banzai was broadcast in Great Britain, the viewers saw it for what it was, a light hearted "spoof" of the hyperactive gameshows which are broadcast in Japan. If you ever visit Japan as I have, just switch on the TV and just watch the many over-the-top shows of this genre.

It is what we British call "satire". The fact that the show was accepted in my country (by all races) shows that we are comfortable with race. It is very single minded to think that a comedy satire featuring Japanese characters is automatically racist. Many different groups of people are laughed at. Many individuals are laughed at. Just look at the stereotypes of various white characters in shows such as Friends and Will & Grace. It's called COMEDY.

As for the "fake" Asian accents, I can assure you that all of the characters (including the announcer) which feature in Banzai are genuine Japanese actors.

You should also be aware that Banzai is shown in Japan as a comedy show, and has been very popular.

Oh, and dijitaru, by being afraid for your child to see this, you are proving that you are uncomfortable with race and are trying to teach your child the same thing.

BigLew

07-14-2003, 08:25 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (achtungbaby @ Jul 14 2003, 12:36 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I'm getting into this a little late and don't know if it's already been brought up, but has the idea of boycotting the show's sponsors been discussed yet? [/b][/quote]
Angryasianman website listed the advertizements that aired during the show, not that they will realy give a rat's ass but here they are.

Underworld
Smirnoff Ice
Nike
Pizza Hut
Sprint PCS
SBC
Carls Jr.
Shanghai Knights DVD
Taco Bell
Bad Boys II

Also did anyone actually watch this last night? For those that did what do you think?

YuheiCarreau

07-14-2003, 09:36 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 14 2003, 09:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I'm British and I have to say that I can't believe what some people have typed here. When Banzai was broadcast in Great Britain, the viewers saw it for what it was, a light hearted "spoof" of the hyperactive gameshows which are broadcast in Japan. If you ever visit Japan as I have, just switch on the TV and just watch the many over-the-top shows of this genre. [/b][/quote]
That's not the impression I got while living in England. And there's a huge difference between Japanese people acting goofy for a Japanese audience and Japanese people acting goofy for a western audience.

It is what we British call "satire".  The fact that the show was accepted in my country (by all races) shows that we are comfortable with race.  It is very single minded to think that a comedy satire featuring Japanese characters is automatically racist.  Many different groups of people are laughed at.  Many individuals are laughed at.  Just look at the stereotypes of various white characters in shows such as Friends and Will & Grace.  It's called COMEDY.
OK, now I have to laugh at that. British people are comfortable with race? British people have no experience with race. There are so few racial minorities in Britain that red-headed children get mocked and abused.

When Britain has a significant population of ethnic Japanese they can tell you if the show offends them, but it's not now and it never will be for you to decide.

As for the "fake" Asian accents, I can assure you that all of the characters (including the announcer) which feature in Banzai are genuine Japanese actors. 

You should also be aware that Banzai is shown in Japan as a comedy show, and has been very popular.
This show is part of the "fantasyland Japan" mentality, the same one that causes people to believe that Japan is full of Iron Chefs, giant mecha, ninja warriors, etc. I doubt that many Japanese in Japan understand that.

Ultimately, however, it doesn't matter how the show is received by the Japanese in Japan, because most of its viewers are in the US and Britain, and we are talking about how it affects Asian Americans (no British Asians on YW, as far as I know, so we haven't talked about them). Japanese in Japan don't have to live their lives putting up with the silly stereotypes of Japan and Asian people that Whites come up with.

coagulated fat

07-14-2003, 10:00 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 14 2003, 05:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Oh, and dijitaru, by being afraid for your child to see this, you are proving that you are uncomfortable with race and are trying to teach your child the same thing. [/b][/quote]
Debate all you want, but don't punctuate your point with the old "We're not racist, YOU'RE racist for even THINKING that" switch. It's so lame.

MattSansom

07-14-2003, 10:41 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YuheiCarreau @ Jul 14 2003, 08:36 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> OK, now I have to laugh at that. British people are comfortable with race? British people have no experience with race. [/b][/quote]
What??? How can you say this? Britain is a multi-cultural society with millions of non-whites. That's not including the various regional difference between the nations which make up the UK (Wales, Scotland, England etc). The BBC has dedicated Asian services and programming, including a radio station, soap opera and comedy programmes (The Kumaars At No 42, Goodness Gracious Me have all been an incredible success). These services reach millions of people every week.

There's also a growing Asian movie industry within the UK, producing classics such as East Is East and Bend It Like Beckham.

Even if this wasn't the case, the Independent Television Commission acts against racism on television even if one complaint is made.

In Britain, race is not the issue with Banzai. It's a programme which pokes fun at the stereotypical Japanese gameshow, but does not make viewers think that the Japanese act like that. If the programme is taken differently in the states, that says a lot more about America than it does about Banzai.

And believe me, I would never usually defend Fox.

achtungbaby

07-14-2003, 11:15 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BigLew @ Jul 14 2003, 08:25 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Angryasianman website listed the advertizements that aired during the show, not that they will realy give a rat's ass but here they are.

Underworld
Smirnoff Ice
Nike
Pizza Hut
Sprint PCS
SBC
Carls Jr.
Shanghai Knights DVD
Taco Bell
Bad Boys II

Also did anyone actually watch this last night? For those that did what do you think? [/b][/quote]
Oh how wrong you are:)

$5 says that FOX will piss in everyone's face when it comes to us bitching about the show, but if we're able to seriously demonstrate we have a ton of nationwide support and threaten to boycott the show's sponsors, let's see what happens then.

Television...movies...they don't give a shit about you, or me or anyone. Let's just establish this so we can move on: they are a business like any other and I don't necessarily fault them for trying to maximize their profits in that sense.

And like dealing with any other business, you have to bring something to the table to threaten them.

BigLew

07-14-2003, 12:07 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (achtungbaby @ Jul 14 2003, 10:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BigLew @ Jul 14 2003, 08:25 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Angryasianman website listed the advertizements that aired during the show, not that they will realy give a rat's ass but here they are.

Underworld
Smirnoff Ice
Nike
Pizza Hut
Sprint PCS
SBC
Carls Jr.
Shanghai Knights DVD
Taco Bell
Bad Boys II

Also did anyone actually watch this last night?  For those that did what do you think? [/b][/quote]
Oh how wrong you are:)

$5 says that FOX will piss in everyone's face when it comes to us bitching about the show, but if we're able to seriously demonstrate we have a ton of nationwide support and threaten to boycott the show's sponsors, let's see what happens then.

Television...movies...they don't give a shit about you, or me or anyone. Let's just establish this so we can move on: they are a business like any other and I don't necessarily fault them for trying to maximize their profits in that sense.

And like dealing with any other business, you have to bring something to the table to threaten them. [/b][/quote]
I see your point and I hope your right. At the same time do you realy think there will or can be a unified front against businesses that advertise during Banzai airtime?

YuheiCarreau

07-14-2003, 12:57 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 14 2003, 01:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> What???  How can you say this?  Britain is a multi-cultural society with millions of non-whites.  That's not including the various regional difference between the nations which make up the UK (Wales, Scotland, England etc).  The BBC has dedicated Asian services and programming, including a radio station, soap opera and comedy programmes (The Kumaars At No 42, Goodness Gracious Me have all been an incredible success).  These services reach millions of people every week. [/b][/quote]
Britain is something like 97% White. Although there are many nationalities represented within that 97%, it is far easier for them to blend in with the rest of the British population, and thus far easier for them to escape racism. America is around 70% White; compared to us, your country is practically monoracial. I'm not saying that to be cruel or snotty, only to point out that the British idea of a multiracial society is far different from the American one.

There's also a growing Asian movie industry within the UK, producing classics such as East Is East and Bend It Like Beckham.
I liked both of those movies, but I think there needs to be more than a handful of films to make it an 'industry', especially when the British film industry as a whole is so small. By that logic the Joy Luck Club and Better Luck Tomorrow constitute an AA film industry.

Even if this wasn't the case, the Independent Television Commission acts against racism on television even if one complaint is made.

In Britain, race is not the issue with Banzai. It's a programme which pokes fun at the stereotypical Japanese gameshow, but does not make viewers think that the Japanese act like that. If the programme is taken differently in the states, that says a lot more about America than it does about Banzai.
I think not. While I was in England I was asked a number of times whether the Japanese really act like that. Although people understand that the show is over-the-top, they're still not certain how much of it is real. And anyway, that's not the point: the basic intention of the show is, "Look at these crazy Japanese people, let's laugh at all the silly things they do!" Making fun of another culture is making fun of another culture.

stunninglyAsian

07-14-2003, 07:08 PM

The problem with these shows is that the majority of white people don't know Asian people or culture personally- they get their image of an Asian person from the kung fu movie, the Vietnam war movie, and other media images that are less than flattering. So when something like this comes along, they don't know any better and it just reinforces their image of, say the nerdy Asian.

On the other hand, if America was like 40% Asian, with Asians being represented as sports stars, high ranking business and politicians, A-list actors and actresses, and generally seen as normal people, then I think most people wouldn't have a problem with Banzai, because in this situation, there is no stereotypical Asian, so everybody can just laugh at it and leave it at that. I know white guys who have lived/worked in Japan for 10 years. They watch it, laugh at it, and that's that because they know Japanese people aren't like that. They don't go mouthing off to a random Asian person, "Banzai!" or "Show me your red panties, geisha!"

This is why people can make fun of white people like the TV show Friends, how white people talk like, "Gosh, I hope today is a sunny day!", or a funny comedy bit about hillbillies. Everybody knows white people, all kinds of different white people. So when you see a white guy acting like a idiot hillbilly, you don't think, "Damn, I guess all white people are inbred country folk," you know that not all white people are like that because you know them on a personal level.

It sounds ridiculously straightforward, but it's amazing how stupid us humans can be as a society.

MattSansom

07-15-2003, 03:51 AM

Banzai is not racist. It is satire. Despite not being the only type of show which they make, Japanese television DOES make these quirky gameshows every now and again.

The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons). The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.

However, maybe to create a balance, there should be a lot more shows on American television which show the rest of Japanese culture. Channel 4 (the British station which comissioned Banzai) is a government created minorities network and initially launched Banzai with a highly successful "Japan Season" which looked at all aspects of Japanese culture. This included a travel documentary, a series of independently produced Japanese movies (none of them included any fighting) and a programme looking at Japanese history.

MattSansom

07-15-2003, 04:52 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YuheiCarreau @ Jul 14 2003, 11:57 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Britain is something like 97% White. [/b][/quote]
It is actually 89%.

maxdacat

07-15-2003, 09:05 AM

here are the definitive stats

2001 uk census (http://www.swro.info/census/bulletin/documents/Ethnicity%20bulletin_v2.pdf)

it says the number of white british in the uk is about 91%.

My Name Is...

07-15-2003, 09:11 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 15 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Banzai is not racist. It is satire. Despite not being the only type of show which they make, Japanese television DOES make these quirky gameshows every now and again.

The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons). The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.

However, maybe to create a balance, there should be a lot more shows on American television which show the rest of Japanese culture. Channel 4 (the British station which comissioned Banzai) is a government created minorities network and initially launched Banzai with a highly successful "Japan Season" which looked at all aspects of Japanese culture. This included a travel documentary, a series of independently produced Japanese movies (none of them included any fighting) and a programme looking at Japanese history. [/b][/quote]
Fine, MattSansom. It's not racist. It just showcases a lot of the stereotypes that make many Asian Americans cringe. I've seen one of the old episodes - and I was pretty pissed off afterward. I sure as hell didn't see the satire in that.

Just because these kinds of game shows are made in Japan doesn't mean they'll translate well in American society. Lotta people in America cannot seem to distinguish between an Asian and an Asian-American, and I don't think this show is making it any better.

Do you see at ALL how it could be the teensiest bit racist?

Should I stop being a whining minority? Should I just lighten up? :angry:

YuheiCarreau

07-15-2003, 09:17 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 15 2003, 06:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Banzai is not racist. It is satire. Despite not being the only type of show which they make, Japanese television DOES make these quirky gameshows every now and again.

The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons). The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.

However, maybe to create a balance, there should be a lot more shows on American television which show the rest of Japanese culture. Channel 4 (the British station which comissioned Banzai) is a government created minorities network and initially launched Banzai with a highly successful "Japan Season" which looked at all aspects of Japanese culture. This included a travel documentary, a series of independently produced Japanese movies (none of them included any fighting) and a programme looking at Japanese history. [/b][/quote]
I agree that Banzai is intended as a satire. However, it is not a satire of Japanese TV shows created for a Japanese audience, it is a satire of Japanese TV shows specifically created for a non-Japanese audience. A Japanese audience watches Banzai and sees in it many elements of their own TV game shows; a non-Japanese audience does not. The Japanese audience is laughing at the behavior of their own people, but the non-Japanese audience is not. I don't want my culture being examined and made fun of by people who don't have an emotional attachment to it and don't really care if someone takes the joke too far. The show is already dangerously close to being as Asian Minstrel Show as it is. If the show really was a Japanese creation, the MC and the other recurring characters would all speak fluent Japanese - but because it's a British creation, they speak heavily accented English. The protest that "they really do speak English with accents!" is irrelevant, because it doesn't change the fact that ethnically Japanese people are only being presented to Britons and Americans as foreigners, and moreover as foreigners who cannot master the English language.

YuheiCarreau

07-15-2003, 09:22 AM

Just to clarify, I got the 97% number from the CIA World Factbook.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo...ok/geos/uk.html (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html)
Ethnic Groups
English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

sOKaLiBoY

07-15-2003, 09:28 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (My Name Is... @ Jul 15 2003, 09:11 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 15 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Banzai is not racist.  It is satire. Despite not being the only type of show which they make, Japanese television DOES make these quirky gameshows every now and again. 

The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons).  The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.

However, maybe to create a balance, there should be a lot more shows on American television which show the rest of Japanese culture.  Channel 4 (the British station which comissioned Banzai) is a government created minorities network and initially launched Banzai with a highly successful "Japan Season" which looked at all aspects of Japanese culture.  This included a travel documentary, a series of independently produced Japanese movies (none of them included any fighting) and a programme looking at Japanese history. [/b][/quote]
Fine, MattSansom. It's not racist. It just showcases a lot of the stereotypes that make many Asian Americans cringe. I've seen one of the old episodes - and I was pretty pissed off afterward. I sure as hell didn't see the satire in that.

Just because these kinds of game shows are made in Japan doesn't mean they'll translate well in American society. Lotta people in America cannot seem to distinguish between an Asian and an Asian-American, and I don't think this show is making it any better.

Do you see at ALL how it could be the teensiest bit racist?

Should I stop being a whining minority? Should I just lighten up? :angry: [/b][/quote]
you can have your opinion and matt can have his. there is nothing wrong with you seeing the show being racist. and there is nothing wrong with matt's view of the show. as for me....i really don't care about the show.

mr. x

07-15-2003, 09:33 PM

kaki

07-16-2003, 11:22 AM

you know, i hang out at a bunch of different boards and i'm starting to see a trend. there seem to be a lot of british guys invading asian american boards telling us we shouldn't be offended by banzai... i wonder if he's not employed by, or working in alliance with the makers of the tv show?

kaki

07-16-2003, 11:23 AM

trend number two: people claiming to be "japanese" who have seen the show in the uk and are now glad banzai is being aired here.

i really think these people are trolls...

mr. x

07-16-2003, 12:15 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kaki @ Jul 16 2003, 10:22 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> you know, i hang out at a bunch of different boards and i'm starting to see a trend. there seem to be a lot of british guys invading asian american boards telling us we shouldn't be offended by banzai... i wonder if he's not employed by, or working in alliance with the makers of the tv show? [/b][/quote]
really? other boards too huh?

well considering matty matt just dissed Simpsons i doubt he works for Fox (though i dont doubt his argument is backwards)

anyway ive always wondered why whites come post here and then leave.

kasia

07-16-2003, 12:37 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mr. x @ Jul 16 2003, 11:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> really? other boards too huh?

well considering matty matt just dissed Simpsons i doubt he works for Fox (though i dont doubt his argument is backwards)

anyway ive always wondered why whites come post here and then leave. [/b][/quote]
same reason why some guys go into the women's forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave. or some straight people go into the gay forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave.

nobody likes to have their privilege questioned.

AliBabaIncorporated

07-16-2003, 05:32 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kasia @ Jul 16 2003, 02:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mr. x @ Jul 16 2003, 11:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> really? other boards too huh?

well considering matty matt just dissed Simpsons i doubt he works for Fox (though i dont doubt his argument is backwards)

anyway ive always wondered why whites come post here and then leave. [/b][/quote]
same reason why some guys go into the women's forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave. or some straight people go into the gay forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave.

nobody likes to have their privilege questioned. [/b][/quote]
would that be the same reason why koreans go on white nationalist sites (http://forums.yellowworld.org/index.php?showtopic=9837)?

Seriously, you're probably reading too much into it. There are disappearing trolls on everyone's sites. It's the Internet. People of all viewpoints are running around. A certain proportion of them will be assholes. And YW has had less of a problem with white people coming here and posting than y'all imply. Most of them seem to be at least sticking around for debate even when everyone is jumping all over their positions (MattSamson up there, Reinhard H was always fairly civil up until he posted that Council of Conservative Citizens link and disappeared, etc.).

The only instances of trolls I can remember recently are GarrettSmith (and he wasn't so much racist as just horny) and some old dude who came on Hello Hapas and started blaming hapas for racial divisions or something.

kasia

07-16-2003, 05:45 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (AliBabaIncorporated @ Jul 16 2003, 04:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kasia @ Jul 16 2003, 02:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mr. x @ Jul 16 2003, 11:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> really? other boards too huh?

well considering matty matt just dissed Simpsons i doubt he works for Fox (though i dont doubt his argument is backwards)

anyway ive always wondered why whites come post here and then leave. [/b][/quote]
same reason why some guys go into the women's forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave. or some straight people go into the gay forum and make sarcastic comments, then leave.

nobody likes to have their privilege questioned. [/b][/quote]
would that be the same reason why koreans go on white nationalist sites (http://forums.yellowworld.org/index.php?showtopic=9837)?

Seriously, you're probably reading too much into it. There are disappearing trolls on everyone's sites. It's the Internet. People of all viewpoints are running around. A certain proportion of them will be assholes. And YW has had less of a problem with white people coming here and posting than y'all imply. Most of them seem to be at least sticking around for debate even when everyone is jumping all over their positions (MattSamson up there, Reinhard H was always fairly civil up until he posted that Council of Conservative Citizens link and disappeared, etc.).

The only instances of trolls I can remember recently are GarrettSmith (and he wasn't so much racist as just horny) and some old dude who came on Hello Hapas and started blaming hapas for racial divisions or something. [/b][/quote]
he was specifically talking about white members that make brief sarcastic members, then leave. not the ones who stick around for debate.

MattSansom

07-17-2003, 09:01 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mr. x @ Jul 15 2003, 08:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 15 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons).  The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.
[/b][/quote]
i hate to break it to you matt but your argument is flawed. whether or not you truly feel simpsons has "racist" portrayals is not my point (though i think you're misguided on that) i dont see how you can say that it does while being an apologist at the same time for Banzai which is blatantly annoying. [/b][/quote]
Because The Simpsons shows Japanese people acting completely over the top, but in their usual surroundings. For example, in the Mr. Sparkles episode, it is the factory workers who are shown behaving over-the-top.

However, the Japanese actors in Banzai are acting over the top within the concept of the gameshow. The Simpsons suggests that the Japanese act like that in real life. Banzai just suggests that there are some Japanese TV shows where the hosts act like that, which is true. There is no disputing that it it is true that such shows exist.

I'm sorry to anyone who has been offended by my opinion, but I thought that's what a forum was all about. Obviously the nature of this forum means that this is not a balanced discussion, and I am a lone voice.

Also, I do work for British TV, but have never worked for RDF Media, Channel 4 or Fox.

Faithless

07-17-2003, 09:10 AM

I got a response back from CAPE:

Thank you for your email and concern.  Wenda Fong is the Chair and co-Founder of CAPE.

I did pass your email along to her.  First, Wenda is not involved with the production of Banzai.  She is an executive representing FOX's interest.  Both she and Quan Phung (Fox Broadcasting - Development) are fans of the show.  Banzai is a UK import of a take-off on the Japanese TV shows.  The hosts are not putting on fake accents; this is how they speak according to Wenda and Quan.

They suggest you watch the show first before criticizing or protesting.

What do you think? Is she blowing-off Asian concerns or does she have a point?

Tao

07-17-2003, 09:21 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ChottoMatte @ Jul 17 2003, 12:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I got a response back from CAPE:

Thank you for your email and concern. Wenda Fong is the Chair and co-Founder of CAPE.

I did pass your email along to her. First, Wenda is not involved with the production of Banzai. She is an executive representing FOX's interest. Both she and Quan Phung (Fox Broadcasting - Development) are fans of the show. Banzai is a UK import of a take-off on the Japanese TV shows. The hosts are not putting on fake accents; this is how they speak according to Wenda and Quan.

They suggest you watch the show first before criticizing or protesting.

What do you think? Is she blowing-off Asian concerns or does she have a point? [/b][/quote]
maybe both?

If you did watch the show then you have a right to voice your opinion on this. But the response does seem like they are blowing you off.

YuheiCarreau

07-17-2003, 10:11 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 17 2003, 12:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mr. x @ Jul 15 2003, 08:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 15 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
The characters in Banzai are not shown acting over the top going about their everyday lives (such as the various quite racist portrayals in The Simpsons). The mad behaviour is all kept within the concept of the gameshow, therefore making the gameshow the joke, and not the race.
[/b][/quote]
i hate to break it to you matt but your argument is flawed. whether or not you truly feel simpsons has "racist" portrayals is not my point (though i think you're misguided on that) i dont see how you can say that it does while being an apologist at the same time for Banzai which is blatantly annoying. [/b][/quote]
Because The Simpsons shows Japanese people acting completely over the top, but in their usual surroundings.  For example, in the Mr. Sparkles episode, it is the factory workers who are shown behaving over-the-top.

However, the Japanese actors in Banzai are acting over the top within the concept of the gameshow.  The Simpsons suggests that the Japanese act like that in real life.  Banzai just suggests that there are some Japanese TV shows where the hosts act like that, which is true.  There is no disputing that it it is true that such shows exist. [/b][/quote]
Both of you, please stick to Banzai. I don't think debating episodes of the Simpsons will further either of your arguments regarding Banzai.

I'm sorry to anyone who has been offended by my opinion, but I thought that's what a forum was all about.  Obviously the nature of this forum means that this is not a balanced discussion, and I am a lone voice.

:blink:  Did you actually just say that? "the nature of this forum means that this is not a balanced discussion..."

The nature of this forum is that it's a place for Asians and Asian Americans to gather and discuss political and social issues. The nature of this forum is that it's full of the people most likely to be offended by Banzai, because we've got more ties to the culture it mocks, and are most likely to be on the receiving end of ignorant humor inspired by the show. Not to toot my own horn here, but I think I gave you a very intelligent and compassionate explanation as to why I find the show offensive - an explanation which you have not replied. And now you're playing the "poor me, I'm a minority on YW so no one will listen to me" card? Please. You cannot tell me why I, as an Asian person, shouldn't find a show like Banzai offensive. As a non-Asian you have no frikkin' right.

Sorry if I offended you as a White person there. Sorry if I made it clear to you that your opinion doesn't matter when Asians are talking about what they personally find offensive. Sorry if you're the minority on YW and that makes it difficult for people to come around to your logical way of thinking. Sorry.

BigLew

07-17-2003, 11:55 AM

As a non-Asian you have no frikkin' right.

That realy is the thing with most issues such as this, people to whom the offense is not aimed at thinking they can have a leg to stand on when taking a stance at whether or not something should be deemed offensive.

MattSansom

07-18-2003, 03:51 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YuheiCarreau @ Jul 17 2003, 09:11 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> :blink: Did you actually just say that? "the nature of this forum means that this is not a balanced discussion..."

The nature of this forum is that it's a place for Asians and Asian Americans to gather and discuss political and social issues. [/b][/quote]
This thread was started by saying "Banzai is racist", to which the majority said "oh yes I agree". 

I wouldn't usually post here, in fact I only discovered it after searching for Banzai related sites.  However, I felt it was right to provide an alternative argument in an attempt to balance the discussion.

I instantly got the impression that I was "the white guy who knows nothing about this", and shouldn't have bothered posting, despite the fact that I know and work with many British-Japanese people, all of whom find Banzai very funny.

tapestrybabe

07-18-2003, 05:50 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 06:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I instantly got the impression that I was "the white guy who knows nothing about this", and shouldn't have bothered posting, despite the fact that I know and work with many British-Japanese people, all of whom find Banzai very funny. [/b][/quote]
i know a lot of asians and non asians who dont find this show offensive... quite a few ppl have the perception that its just seen as a joke, a comedy... and while that type of point of view is valid... i THINK ppl should ALSO be aware the large group of ppl who ACTUALLY ARE offended by it and not just totally disregard those groups of ppl... and in the end... while i feel ppl can question it all... so they can get a better understanding as to why ppl feel the way they do.... i dont think ppl should end up being in the postion of actually telling others... what ppl should and should not be offended by...

YuheiCarreau

07-18-2003, 07:49 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 06:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YuheiCarreau @ Jul 17 2003, 09:11 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> :blink: Did you actually just say that? "the nature of this forum means that this is not a balanced discussion..."

The nature of this forum is that it's a place for Asians and Asian Americans to gather and discuss political and social issues. [/b][/quote]
This thread was started by saying "Banzai is racist", to which the majority said "oh yes I agree".

I wouldn't usually post here, in fact I only discovered it after searching for Banzai related sites. However, I felt it was right to provide an alternative argument in an attempt to balance the discussion.

I instantly got the impression that I was "the white guy who knows nothing about this", and shouldn't have bothered posting, despite the fact that I know and work with many British-Japanese people, all of whom find Banzai very funny. [/b][/quote]
No, you're just "the White guy who won't listen to anybody else". Your co-workers don't mind Banzai? Fine, I guess that makes their lives a little less stressful. But just because they think that way, doesn't mean I think that way. I don't claim to speak for all Japanese; I've just been telling you why I, as a Japanese person, find the show offensive. Yet you insist that because no one in Britain finds it offensive (which is your experience, but definitely not mine) it must not actually be offensive. And that we're all a bunch of uptight Americans for thinking otherwise. So treat your peers with a little more respect if you expect respect to be given, OK?

MattSansom

07-18-2003, 09:24 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YuheiCarreau @ Jul 18 2003, 06:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I've just been telling you why I, as a Japanese person, find the show offensive. [/b][/quote]
Please note that my argument is not with you personally YuheiCarreau, but with the general opinion on this thread.

I respect your opinion, and see that you find it offensive, whilst respecting alternative opinions.  However, there are posters on this thread who are trying to get the show taken off air.  That is not respecting the views of others who like Banzai.

I don't have anything else to say.  I've added my opinion and defended Banzai, so I don't need to post here anymore.

tapestrybabe

07-18-2003, 10:31 AM

sOKaLiBoY

07-18-2003, 10:42 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 09:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> However, there are posters on this thread who are trying to get the show taken off air. That is not respecting the views of others who like Banzai. [/b][/quote]
well said. this is the way i see it. if you don't like the show, don't watch it. if you like the show, watch it. simple enough isn't it.

YuheiCarreau

07-18-2003, 11:13 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 12:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Please note that my argument is not with you personally YuheiCarreau, but with the general opinion on this thread.

I respect your opinion, and see that you find it offensive, whilst respecting alternative opinions. However, there are posters on this thread who are trying to get the show taken off air. That is not respecting the views of others who like Banzai.

I don't have anything else to say. I've added my opinion and defended Banzai, so I don't need to post here anymore. [/b][/quote]
If someone finds Banzai offensive, why shouldn't they want to get it taken off the air? I personally can see nothing positive coming from this show, so I don't really see a reason for it to be on. Even if I didn't find it offensive, it's still not a very entertaining show - but it is offensive, and I believe it has the potential to do damage if it stays on the air. It's not a matter of respecting the people who like Banzai, even the Asian ones; it's a matter of doing what you feel is right. I have a right to not have to worry that when I change the channel to Fox, I might be confronted with a screaming bald Japanese man surrounded by flashing colors. The people who like Banzai don't have a right to continue having the show on the air if there are others who find it to be gravely offensive.

Good riddance.

Shuriken

07-18-2003, 12:13 PM

If they want to do Banzai, why is absolutely necessary to do it with the mocking Japanese accent and the strange-looking Asian men in the wrap-arounds (message: Asian people look and talk funny)?  They are not integral to the show.  Why couldn't they have a rapid-fire narrator with a plain American accent? 

The lack of abundant, well-rounded portrayals of Asian Americans in the media is the real censorship, in my book.  The airwaves belong to the people (at least in theory).  Until we see more and fairer representations of Asians in the media, cries of censorship are lost on me. 

Faithless

07-18-2003, 01:08 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Shuriken @ Jul 18 2003, 11:13 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> If they want to do Banzai, why is absolutely necessary to do it with the mocking Japanese accent and the strange-looking Asian men in the wrap-arounds (message: Asian people look and talk funny)? They are not integral to the show. Why couldn't they have a rapid-fire narrator with a plain American accent?

The lack of abundant, well-rounded portrayals of Asian Americans in the media is the real censorship, in my book. The airwaves belong to the people (at least in theory). Until we see more and fairer representations of Asians in the media, cries of censorship are lost on me. [/b][/quote]
Did you see the response I got back from Ms. Fong?

She claims the accents are real as far as I know.

The follow-up I had for that was, "does that really matter".  It's the bafoonish portrayal, as you indicate, that should be the real issue.

teaz0r

07-18-2003, 03:55 PM

banzai's hilarious. i used to watch it
all the time in england. banzai and
the ali g show.

ya man.

i used to do all the stupid drinking games.

kasia

07-18-2003, 07:51 PM

every time an asian is a victim of a hate crime in the u.s. as a result of a stereotype that has been assigned to asian people, how many of you stop and ponder the origin of the stereotype?

if you're not in the u.s., maybe you shouldn't comment, because you don't have an idea of what sort of racism goes on here.

and it's not just about us not wanting to watch it. that's a highly simplistic way of looking at the situation. of course we can just turn off our televisions. but what about the nonasian kids who watch the show - and go to school to tease their asian classmates the next day? or the ignorant adults in managerial positions who watch the show - and base their decision not to interview a person with an asian last name on his resume because he might have a funky accent? stereotypes are more pervasive than y'all may think.

Tao

07-18-2003, 07:53 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kasia @ Jul 18 2003, 10:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> every time an asian is a victim of a hate crime in the u.s. as a result of a stereotype that has been assigned to asian people, how many of you stop and ponder the origin of the stereotype?

if you're not in the u.s., maybe you shouldn't comment, because you don't have an idea of what sort of racism goes on here.

and it's not just about us not wanting to watch it. that's a highly simplistic way of looking at the situation. of course we can just turn off our televisions. but what about the nonasian kids who watch the show - and go to school to tease their asian classmates the next day? or the ignorant adults in managerial positions who watch the show - and base their decision not to interview a person with an asian last name on his resume because he might have a funky accent? stereotypes are more pervasive than y'all may think. [/b][/quote]
damn straight

kasia

07-18-2003, 08:10 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> This thread was started by saying "Banzai is racist", to which the majority said "oh yes I agree".

I wouldn't usually post here, in fact I only discovered it after searching for Banzai related sites. However, I felt it was right to provide an alternative argument in an attempt to balance the discussion.

I instantly got the impression that I was "the white guy who knows nothing about this", and shouldn't have bothered posting, despite the fact that I know and work with many British-Japanese people, all of whom find Banzai very funny. [/b][/quote]
you know, this other guy wrote a letter to bananaman that was published in the most recent issue of koream that made points similar to the ones you are making.

bananaman's response:

"Oh jeez, could you be any whiter? Just because you have a case of yellow fever doesn't mean you understand or will ever understand what it's like to be Asian.

If someone makes an anti-Asian joke around you, I'll bet you'll laugh and tell your asian [friends] to "lighten up, it's only a joke." They may smile, but they're hurting inside. You're an ass.

Perspective? You have none. I can't count the number of times a white person told me to "lighten up". The biggest group of anti-PC people around are white. Why? Because they're tired of hiding their racist feelings under a white hood in some dank basement."

just a brief response. but i think bananaman spoke for a lot of us.

kasia

07-18-2003, 08:21 PM

Banzai sparks US protests

Banzai was first shown on E4
An Asian-American group has protested over the Channel 4 comedy programme Banzai, following its first showing in the United States on Sunday.
The lobby group, Media Action Network for Asian-Americans, said the programme, which parodies Japanese game shows, demeans and stereotypes Asian people.

About 20 members of the group carried signs and shouted slogans outside a presentation by the Fox network to TV critics in Hollywood.

"It's just all the backward images of Asian-American people," Guy Aoki, co-founder of the group, said.

'Asian minstrel'

Banzai is a spoof betting show in which audiences are invited to guess the outcome of a series of stunts.

"This is like an Asian minstrel show," Mr Aoki said. "Can you imagine the black version of Banzai?"

Ealier this month Fox pulled a season of classic Charlie Chan mystery movies has following complaints that the films were racially "insensitive".

The 23 restored films were showing on the Fox Movie Channel on cable TV.

But a notice on the channel website said they were stopped after the potentially "sensitive" nature of the films was pointed out by viewers.

Fox has defended Banzai saying they had received comments praising the programme.

'Satire'

"We've received an entire range of comments on the show, both pro and con," Fox spokesman Scott Grogin said.

"It's a satire, a parody of Japanese game shows. It's very tongue-in-cheek and should not be viewed as anything but."

Mr Aoki said his group had held two meetings with the network about Banzai, asking that it not be broadcast.

He said that Fox had indicated that if Banzai were to come back for a second series, they could add a disclaimer at the beginning of the show.

But Mr Aoki said a disclaimer was not enough to assuage his group's concerns.

He said they wanted the show to be canceled and for Fox to apologize for showing it in the first place.

DragonKnight

07-18-2003, 08:46 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kasia @ Jul 18 2003, 07:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> just a brief response. but i think bananaman spoke for a lot of us. [/b][/quote]
*nods head in approval*

Here, here.

rakovlam

07-18-2003, 10:21 PM

Like I said, it's a crappy show.  Let the magic of Neilsen bring it down in a week or two.

mr. x

07-19-2003, 01:02 AM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 08:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Please note that my argument is not with you personally YuheiCarreau, but with the general opinion on this thread.

I respect your opinion, and see that you find it offensive, whilst respecting alternative opinions. However, there are posters on this thread who are trying to get the show taken off air. That is not respecting the views of others who like Banzai.

I don't have anything else to say. I've added my opinion and defended Banzai, so I don't need to post here anymore. [/b][/quote]
wham, bam, thank you mam

Shuriken

07-19-2003, 01:55 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kasia @ Jul 19 2003, 03:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MattSansom @ Jul 18 2003, 02:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> This thread was started by saying "Banzai is racist", to which the majority said "oh yes I agree".

I wouldn't usually post here, in fact I only discovered it after searching for Banzai related sites. However, I felt it was right to provide an alternative argument in an attempt to balance the discussion.

I instantly got the impression that I was "the white guy who knows nothing about this", and shouldn't have bothered posting, despite the fact that I know and work with many British-Japanese people, all of whom find Banzai very funny. [/b][/quote]
you know, this other guy wrote a letter to bananaman that was published in the most recent issue of koream that made points similar to the ones you are making.

bananaman's response:

"Oh jeez, could you be any whiter? Just because you have a case of yellow fever doesn't mean you understand or will ever understand what it's like to be Asian.

If someone makes an anti-Asian joke around you, I'll bet you'll laugh and tell your asian [friends] to "lighten up, it's only a joke." They may smile, but they're hurting inside. You're an ass.

Perspective? You have none. I can't count the number of times a white person told me to "lighten up". The biggest group of anti-PC people around are white. Why? Because they're tired of hiding their racist feelings under a white hood in some dank basement."

just a brief response. but i think bananaman spoke for a lot of us.[/b][/quote]
Although I agree with the gist of what "Bananaman" is saying — and even though I haven't read the correspondence to which he was responding — I think that his comments are hostile and inappropriate.  For one thing, Bananaman seems to presume too much.  Does the writer indeed have "a case of yellow fever"?  How does Bananaman know this?  Is it because the writer has an Asian girlfriend?  If so, does that necessarily mean that the writer is only attracted to Asian women, and for reasons that dehumanize these women?  How does Bananaman know what the writer's reactions would be in a given situation?  All of this is very unconstructive, and it's not going to win over anyone to our cause. 

A lot of us are upset by Fox's decision to broadcast Banzai, and a lot of us feel frustrated by the industry's apparent intransigence regarding Asian portrayals.  So, naturally, there are those who want to vent this rage against those who neither understand these issues nor demonstrate any willingness to do so.  But I refuse to lower myself to the level of those who do nothing but spit venom. 

I was very put off when Yolk magazine's Yakkity Yolk responded in print to my thought-out post on their James Bond article by calling me a "crybaby."  Just this past week, a hostile e-mailer responded via the MANAA Web site to something I had written by telling me to go back where I came from.  (I'm originally from the Washington D.C. area — and I'm not going back till W. leaves.)  These remarks really pissed me off, but I'm not going to respond in kind.  The tone of our cultural discourse is diminished enough by all this schoolyard petulance. 

So, don't be too quick to pat Bananaman on the back for his presumtuous, ill-humored comments.  Lowering ourselves to the level of the name-callers and know-nothings is not going to get this cause anywhere.  If the Asian American organizations had addressed the Fox Movie Channel in the manner of Bananaman, I doubt that the station would have suspended their Charlie Chan film festival.

kasia

07-19-2003, 05:51 PM

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Shuriken @ Jul 19 2003, 12:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Although I agree with the gist of what "Bananaman" is saying — and even though I haven't read the correspondence to which he was responding — I think that his comments are hostile and inappropriate. For one thing, Bananaman seems to presume too much. Does the writer indeed have "a case of yellow fever"? How does Bananaman know this? Is it because the writer has an Asian girlfriend? If so, does that necessarily mean that the writer is only attracted to Asian women, and for reasons that dehumanize these women? How does Bananaman know what the writer's reactions would be in a given situation? All of this is very unconstructive, and it's not going to win over anyone to our cause.

A lot of us are upset by Fox's decision to broadcast Banzai, and a lot of us feel frustrated by the industry's apparent intransigence regarding Asian portrayals. So, naturally, there are those who want to vent this rage against those who neither understand these issues nor demonstrate any willingness to do so. But I refuse to lower myself to the level of those who do nothing but spit venom. [/b][/quote]
shuriken, i hear what you're saying. however, i also think that you have the benefit of being objective because you won't view it as a personal attack. because, for you, it's not. you may recognize that it's wrong and be disgusted because you think it's racist, but you won't feel it as a personal attack on you.

bananaman's response may be unconstructive, but it's also what very many of us feel inside when we hear nonasians telling us to get over it. btw, the writer started off his letter by saying he has an asian wife & her family does not find any of this offensive.

Faithless

07-19-2003, 06:25 PM

More comments from CAPE -- Ms. Fong's media group:

I'll pass on your comments. They're valid and if there's a segment of the population with this concern, they need to hear it.

There was a character in 1970s TV called JJ (sidekick was re-run)...his personality was comedic (buffoon...to some extent), but his ratings did much to further the presence of African Americans on TV. For that matter, there's Vinnie Barbarino (an Italian stud buffoon)....regardless, I do think we may be a bit sensitive, but we also still need to keep in mind that some people have that personality.

Keep in touch,
Cindy Sison

Can you equate JJ from That's My Momma and Vinne from Welcome Back Kotter to the Banzai host? Vinnie, maybe, but not necessarily JJ.

That's My Momma was a situation comedy that dealt with a whole host of issues -- some social, some just plain inane, but always with a respect for African Americans.

Vinnie was more the dumb, lower class, high school kid from Welcome Back Kotter, than some dumb Italian kid, I think.

From what I understand of Banzai, the show banks on this silly Asian guy's goofy personality and accent.