Breaking: Asian Pacific Americans Underrepresented on TV!

Where are all the Asians?
Despite the fact that CBS's "Two and a Half Men," NBC's "Joey" and "Will & Grace," WB's "Twins," and ABC's "Alias," are set in the heavily APIA-populated cities of L.A., L.A., NYC, San Francisco, and L.A., respectively, the shows fail to include APIA regulars.

It's that time of year again! You know what'm'talkin'bout. Just as you're recovering from all your rage about the last TV season's lack of Asian Pacific Islander American and minority representation, and about to prepare for the upcoming fall season's fresh host of racial injustices, out comes the Asian American Justice Center's annual "Asian Pacific Americans in Prime Time" report. And guess what, kids? 2005 was not much better than 2004! You as surprised as I am?

Here are some fast (and all-too-familiar) facts for you to stew over yet again:

• The appearance of regular Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) characters on primetime network TV has not significantly increased over the last two years
• APIA characters on primetime network TV make up only 2.6% of all regular characters, even though APAs comprise 5% of the U.S. populatoin
• Only 14 out of 102 primetime network programs feature at least one APIA
• Two exemplary programs that feature APIAs as complex, multifaceted characters (i.e., real humans) are ABC's "Lost" featuring Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, and Naveen Andrews, and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" featuring Sandra Oh. However, it should be noted that "Lost" shoots in Hawaii, where APIAs make up more than half the population, and "Grey's Anatomy" is set in Seattle, where APIAs comprise 13.4% of the population.

Hello? Are you there Hollywood? It's us, the "minorities." Maybe you didn't get the memo, so let us be the first to tell you: most of the world is not white...so, uh...maybe...you can stop acting like it is?! Seriously, we're all sick of kvetching about it already.

>> Asian Pacific Americans in Prime Time: Setting the Stage

RELATED POSTS:
>> Kudos to "Lost" on Asian American Representation
>> Actors Get Reality Check
>> "I Have a Dream..."
>> Hollywood Studio System is "Inherently Racist"
>> Morita Was Best Supporting Asian
>> Halting American Cultural Imperialism
>> Minority Writers Get Minor Share of Work
>> Cultural Insensitivity