Awkwafina hosted SNL and honestly, it feels more like a blip than a trend. Sure, for those of us who were already fans and paying attention, it has certainly been the Summer of Awkwafina. She released a new album (reviewed by me here) then showed up in Ocean’s 8 and (of course) Crazy Rich Asians, in which some people say she was a scene-stealer.
I was going to say she’s probably too edgy (musically) for SNL but it had Childish Gambino last season in a highly touted musical guest appearance, so maybe not.
If they’re serious about getting Asian actors, musicians, and comedians, they really don’t have to look too far. I mean, why not George Takei, John Cho, or Randall Park for male actors? Or Ming-Na Wen, Ally Maki, or Sandra Oh for female actors? I think Kimiko Glenn would be great for SNL but she’s probably not mainstream enough yet. Oh! What about Jameela Jamil from The Good Place? I bet she’d be great and she’s on a successful, highly lauded show on network TV.
Obvious musical choices are Kina Grannis (whose audience is right in SNL’s target demo) and M.I.A.
Asian musical guests (after a very quick look):
- Black Eyed Peas (Filipino; 2004, 2009, 2011)
- Smashing Pumpkins (Japanese; 1993, 1995, 1998)
- Metallica (Filipino; 1997)
- Norah Jones (Indian; 2002, 2004)
- the Shins (Japanese, 2007, 2012)
- the Yeah Yeah Yeas (Korean; 2009)
- Bruno Mars (Filipino; 2010, 2014)
- Nicki Minaj (Indian; 2007, 2014, 2018)
That’s better but come on.
From here. Certain words highlighted in case Philosophy Mom drops in. 🙂
- Who or what keeps hanging around?
This incredibly annoying sore knee. I’m pretty certain now that I have to have it looked at, and if they have to immobilize it or do surgery and THEN immobilize it, I’m going to be sad because my new car is a stick. Argh! - When was something most recently injected into you?
The flu shot last year. It was my first in several years but I was at the clinic anyway for something else so I figured I might as well. - What were you most memorably the chair person of?
You know, it feels great not to have been in charge of anything for a long time. I was on the planning committee for our HS class reunion last summer and was put in charge of our Family Feud game, but that’s hardly being the chair. I think I have to go back to my first teaching gig when I was kind of in charge of the technology committee but not really. - When did you last gamble on a decision, and what was at stake?
I make risky decisions all the time. I guess for serious, big decisions the most recent was accepting a layoff in place of someone in my department who was going to be laid off. I didn’t have anything lined up, so I lived on my freelancing gigs, which meant I lost a lot of weight that year. The stakes were not especially high, since I don’t have a family or a mortgage; yet we were talking about a livelihood with insurance. That decision led to my being where I am now, which I am enormously happy with, and my team member is still at the firm I left, so it paid off. - Where will you be heading this weekend?
Def Leppard Friday night. Out for a long walk Saturday. Dinner with the folks Sunday. Pretty mellow weekend in store, except for that concert.