8Asians.com - Latest Comments in ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

smlyc — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:23:36 -0000

ITA. What I hate most about it though is that it's usually accompanied by a leer...and so my race is being used as an excuse to generate an artificial bond with me. Sorry, but you saying 'hello' to me (in a language that I may or may not speak, btw) is not going to get me to drop my pants.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

hungrynovelist — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:05:00 -0000

I love this clip - loved Eric Stonestreet's timing on the lines about pho. "Is that how you pronounce it ... phuh?" Loved the doctor character's echoed timing with the pause on her response too. And I think she totally and cleverly did retaliate a) by acting like she's never heard of pho and pronouncing it the same stupid way he does and b) by making the Mitchell character hit his head (twice!) against the wall. So funny and so satisfying.

How about when I show my passport to the guy at the airport who checks you in at security and he says Konnichewa or Arigato on the strength of my surname despite the fact the passport lists my place of birth as Toronto? Hate that.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

alienman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:05:16 -0000

Welp. You've convinced me to add Modern Family to my Hulu queue.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

maria — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:08:41 -0000

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".

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

Jae Young — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:54:26 -0000

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.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

slinslin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:32 -0000

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.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

Evildoer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:27:28 -0000

Also, I hope she wasn't hating on pho!

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

johnklin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:55:04 -0000

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.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

Evildoer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:44:38 -0000

Ha. I've definitely been bowed to at least once in the workplace.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

Eric Chow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:23:53 -0000

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.

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

csc3 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:02:28 -0000

hahaha that's a great clip

Re: ABC’s Modern Family: “I’m from Denver.”

LindaChan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:32:12 -0000

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)?