Of all the new shows this fall season, one of my favorites is ABC’s Modern Family which tells the story of three inter-related families in a mockumentary style – sort of The Office meets a family sitcom. One of the families is represented by a same sex couple, Mitchell and Cameron, who have adopted a Vietnamese girl, Lily. In the most recent episode, Mitchell accidentally bumps Lily’s head against the ceiling – and being concerned, Mitchell and Cameron take their daughter to see a doctor, who happens to be an Asian American woman who grew up in Denver.
Cameron, being white and feeling he needs to justify the adoption of Lily, makes some inappropriate comments and hilarity ensues.
What next?
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10 Comments to “ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.””
LindaChan wrote:
This is one of my favorite new fall shows too, and I remember this scene.
Why do white people always bow to Asian Americans thinking that isn't weird/uncomfortable to us (well, me, anyway)?
Posted on 04-Nov-09 at 1:32 pm | Permalink
csc3 wrote:
hahaha that's a great clip
Posted on 04-Nov-09 at 3:02 pm | Permalink
Eric wrote:
That's pretty hilarious mocking how typical white Americans view Asian culture. This happens all the time to me. I was asked the other day what my Asian name is. My name is Eric, I'm from New York City haha.
Posted on 04-Nov-09 at 5:23 pm | Permalink
Tristan Dewar wrote:
Ha. I've definitely been bowed to at least once in the workplace.
Posted on 04-Nov-09 at 8:44 pm | Permalink
johnklin wrote:
I've never been bowed to for work (though I did bow a few times while I was in Japan for work). I have been asked if I have a Chinese name. And I've blogged before when I first started work right out of college, an older co-worker asked where I was from, and I said Massachusetts, he asked “Where are you *really* from?” I said my parents were originally from Taiwan.
Posted on 05-Nov-09 at 12:55 am | Permalink
Tristan Dewar wrote:
Also, I hope she wasn't hating on pho!
Posted on 05-Nov-09 at 3:27 pm | Permalink
slinslin wrote:
while i definitely dig that asian americans are getting more representation on tv ('i'm from denver.'), there's still something that sits uncomfortably with me about this scene. beyond “look how ignorant white people are, winkwinknudgenudge”, the white character suffers annoyed looks from his partner while the asian american doctor is still the only one left to deal with this ignorance. there needs to be more asian american characters that directly address this kind of ignorance, whether it be mercilessly clowning, tongue lashing, or going ape sh*t, to drive home the point.
Posted on 06-Nov-09 at 11:20 am | Permalink
Jae Young wrote:
I love how when I told my coworkers that it enrages me when people ask “Where are you from?” because I think it’s racist, they were like “but people make assumptions about white people all the time?” This is of course ignoring the obviously racist assumption that you must not be American. Phaw. It’s making me annoyed just typing this out.
Posted on 07-Nov-09 at 12:54 pm | Permalink
maria wrote:
while I don’t look asian (half) I have been asked a few times where I come from originally and on one occasion (I mentioned this elsewhere on 8asians I think) I got asked if I had a British passport while applying for a summer job during university.
On the reverse I’m still not happy with comments from strangers (whilst visiting family in the Philippines) that my mum is “my maid”.
Posted on 08-Nov-09 at 3:08 am | Permalink
alienman wrote:
Welp. You’ve convinced me to add Modern Family to my Hulu queue.
Posted on 09-Nov-09 at 1:05 pm | Permalink
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