Actor Randall Park Says 'Fresh Off The Boat' Is Comedy Without The Cliché

Transcript

TERRY GROSS, HOST:

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Our guest, Randall Park, stars in the ABC sitcom "Fresh Off The Boat," the first TV program in two decades to center around an Asian-American family. The story is told from the point of view of an American-born boy whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan. Randall Park plays the father, Louis. At the start of the series, Louis decided to move the family from their home in Washington, D.C.'s, Chinatown to a predominantly white neighborhood in Orlando, Fla., where he's bought a cowboy-themed restaurant. The series is loosely adapted from a memoir by chef Eddie Huang, who has since distanced himself from the series. Randall Park takes the responsibility of portraying one of the few Asian-American characters on TV very seriously. And he thought long and hard before accepting the role as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un in last year's Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy, "The Interview." Park spoke with FRESH AIR producer Ann Marie Baldonado. "Fresh Off The Boat" is now in its second season. Let's hear a clip from the first episode of the show. The father, Louis, played by Randall Park, is speaking with his wife, Jessica, played by Constance Wu. They're talking about their new restaurant.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FRESH OFF THE BOAT")

RANDALL PARK: (As Louis Huang) I was blow-drying my hair, and I figured it out, how the restaurant can attract bigger crowds.

CONSTANCE WU: (As Jessica Huang) Well, how?

PARK: (As Louis Huang) I need to hire a white host. Instead of people coming in and seeing a Chinese face and saying, huh, I thought this was an all-white steak house, they see a white face and say, oh, hello, white friend. I am comfortable. See? Exactly, not welcoming - that's why no to your face and yes to the white face - nice, happy white face, like Bill Pullman.

ANN MARIE BALDONADO, BYLINE: Randall Park, welcome to FRESH AIR.

PARK: Thank you for having me.

BALDONADO: Now, you're connected to "Fresh Off The Boat" fairly early in the process. A lot has been made about the fact that "Fresh Off The Boat" is the first TV show in, you know, 20 years - two decades - that centers around an Asian-American family. Can you talk about that, like, kind of the burden of being, you know, one of the only examples out there of an Asian-American characters?

PARK: Yeah. I mean, when the show was announced, before the show even came out, everyone in the community seemed to know about it and were really excited about it, but also really worried about the show because there were so few examples of Asian or Asian-American lead characters on American TV or even in the movies. And the ones that have existed for so long were either stereotypical or offensive in some way or just not reflective of the lives of people in the community. And for me, you know, I have a background in Asian-American studies, so it was important to me, too, that the show do good by the community. But at the same time, the community is not monolithic, you know? There's so many different kinds of people and different kinds of perspective in the community, and everyone, it seemed for a while, wanted their perspective to be represented. And, you know, you can't do that with one show. And me, being a people-pleaser, you know, of course I wanted everybody in the community to love the show, and I wanted everybody outside of the community to love the show. But, you know, we could only do our best with what we had, and I think we really stayed true, you know, to our story and what we wanted to tell. And thankfully, a lot of people in the community ended up really embracing it and loving it, and I'm just so glad with how it all turned out.

BALDONADO: Now, of course, "Fresh Off The Boat," it's a sitcom, so I'm sure you and everybody involved wanted it to be, you know, funny.

PARK: Yeah.

BALDONADO: And I was wondering what you wanted to make sure that you did or didn't do to keep the show grounded and funny, you know, this is kind of a simplistic way to put it, but to make sure that people are laughing with you and not at you.

PARK: Right.

BALDONADO: I'm just sure that it's just something you all have to think about very seriously.

PARK: Yeah, for sure. I mean, ultimately, just having the goal of making sure that, first and foremost, the show is funny and, really, I mean, not going there in terms of the stereotypical jokes, the easy jokes, the racist jokes, that was easy for us to avoid because, to us, that's not funny.

BALDONADO: Now, I read that you don't like to do accents. And Louis, the father you play on the show, he has an accent. And I'm just thinking that sometimes accent ends up being something that's park of the joke, you know, the stereotypical joke. And I was just wondering - accents for parts or using an accent in an audition, that must be something that you've dealt with throughout your career.

PARK: Yeah, for sure. When I first started acting, I just wouldn't do it, no matter what. I didn't even think of, like, the character or the story being told. It was just, as soon as there was an accent, I was like, no, I'm not going to do it because I just used to characters - whenever there was an accent, it always felt one-note. It always felt like the butt of the joke most of the time. But over time, throughout my career, you know, I kind of learned to differentiate more when characters were making fun of the accent or making the accent a part of the joke as opposed to just a part of who the person is. And I felt like with Louis and other characters that I've played, the accents were more a part - organic to who the person was. I mean, my parents speak with accents, and a lot of immigrants do. And that's just the reality. And so to have that be a part of the character wasn't a problem for me.

BALDONADO: Now, there's a scene that I want to play from that first episode from that first season, the pilot. And I want to play it because, when I saw it originally, it made me think, you know, this series - it's going be different. I don't know if it's going to be subversive, but it's going to show a different perspective. Eddie, the oldest son of the family, is having a tough time at school, and it's a predominantly white school. And he gets into a fight with the only other kid of color in his class, an African-American kid who's also kind of on the lower-tier of the social hierarchy, so much so that his only friend is an adult. He doesn't have any friends in school. And so, instead of sort of bonding and being different, the two kids of color actually get into a fight. And I think that's something pretty nuanced and pretty interesting thing to look at in a school with a lack of diversity. And so the African-American student ends up calling Eddie a racial slur, and then Eddie gets into a fight. Eddie actually ends up fighting back, and the principal then calls the parents into his office. So the parents, Louis, played by you, Randall Park, and Jessica, play by Constance Wu, are talking to the principal in his - in the principal's office. And the principal is played by David Goldman. Let's take a listen.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FRESH OFF THE BOAT")

DAVID GOLDMAN: (As Principal Hunter) And according to the lunch monitor, he kicked him in the groinal area, shoved pudding in his face and unleashed a stream of obscenities I can't repeat because God is listening. There were some words he used that I've never heard before, and I grew up in Boston. This is a very serious offense, Mr. and Mrs. Huang.

WU: (As Jessica Huang) Yes, it is. We are very upset that you didn't do anything to defend Eddie.

GOLDMAN: (As Principal Hunter) Excuse me?

PARK: (As Louis Huang) That boy called our son a [expletive]. You think that's OK? Why didn't you do anything about that?

WU: (As Jessica Huang) How come only Eddie's out there? How come that boy's not also out there? Where are his parents?

PARK: (As Louis Huang) Or his 40-year-old best friend? And why aren't we talking about the fact that he has a...

PARK AND WU: (As Louis and Jessica Huang, in unison) ...40-year-old best friend?

PARK: (As Louis Huang) The school's fine with that?

WU: (As Jessica Huang) Fishy.

GOLDMAN: (As Principal Hunter) I don't think you understand. We're talking about possible suspension.

WU: (As Jessica Huang) If you try to suspend our son because of this, we will sue everyone in this school.

PARK: (As Louis Huang) So fast it'll make your head spin. Hey, it's the American way, right?

WU: (As Jessica Huang) You know about that.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDONADO: That's a scene from the first episode of "Fresh Off The Boat." Now, you are playing an Asian-American dad in the show who owns a business. And your dad, I think, was also a business owner. Are there similarities between your dad and Louis, the character you play?

PARK: Totally. My dad - well, I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and my dad, for a good stretch, had a one-hour photo store in Santa Monica. And I would go over there and help him on the weekends. And, you know, it was a real struggle, especially as the digital age kind of dawned on us. People stopped going to get their film developed at these one-hour photo stores. So I could really see my dad's kind of struggle to kind of keep this business going and to keep it alive and to support his family. And it's definitely something that Louis, my character, goes through with his steakhouse. But also, I was always surprised because my dad was more reserved at home, but whenever I'd visit him on the weekends at his little store in Santa Monica, I'd notice that everybody in that community loved him. Like, he was really almost a different person out there - just really jovial and talkative. And all the neighboring business owners would come by and they'd laugh it up. I mean, my dad was a real man of the people, and this was something I never really got to see at home. And that's something that is really reflective of Louis, the character I play, too, because he's just like that. He's this guy who just loves people. And it was really helpful in terms of playing Louis and my approach to him, just remembering how my dad was.

GROSS: We're listening to the interview FRESH AIR contributor Ann Marie Baldonado recorded with Randall Park, the start of the ABC sitcom, "Fresh Off The Boat." We'll hear more after a break. This is FRESH AIR.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Let's get back to the interview Ann Marie Baldonado, a FRESH AIR producer, recorded with Randall Park, the star of the ABC sitcom "Fresh Off The Boat." He also co-starred in last year's movie comedy "The Interview."

BALDONADO: So I do have to ask you about "The Interview." And it seems funny that I guess it's just 9 or 10 months ago when this all happened. But...

PARK: Yeah...

BALDONADO: Yeah.

PARK: ...It's, like, crazy - gosh.

BALDONADO: Yeah, so I have to ask you about "The Interview." The film stars James Franco and Seth Rogen, and you played Kim Jong-un, the dictator of North Korea, or at least a version of him.

PARK: Yeah.

BALDONADO: And just to remind people, you know, "The Interview" was scheduled to come out last Christmas, but Sony canceled the majority of the release after distributors decided not to show it because they were getting bomb threats from a group...

PARK: Yeah.

BALDONADO: ...called Guardians of Peace, supposedly connected to North Korea.

PARK: Yeah.

BALDONADO: But James Franco plays a talk show host who secures an interview with Kim Jong-un, and the U.S. government tries to get the host and his producer, played by Seth Rogen, to assassinate the dictator. And I'm going to play a clip from the film. It turns out Kim Jong-un is a big fan of the James Franco character. And after they first meet, they realize they have a lot in common, and they have this fun - they have a meet cute, they have a fun date together.

PARK: (Laughter) Yeah.

BALDONADO: And this scene takes place in a tank.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE INTERVIEW")

JAMES FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Katy Perry?

PARK: (As President Kim) Oh (laughter), you know, my wife must have put that in there 'cause I've never heard this before in my life.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) I love Katy Perry. (Singing) Baby, you're a firework. Come on, show them what you're worth. I love - I mean, I have this on - I listen to this all the time.

PARK: (As President Kim) Really?

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) I love her. You know why I really like her? Because she has such a strong message for young women and girls across the planet.

PARK: (As President Kim) She's a - it's so empowering.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Yeah.

PARK: (As President Kim) You know, Dave, sometimes I feel like a plastic bag.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Drifting through the wind?

PARK: (As President Kim) Wanting to start again.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) (Singing) Oh, oh.

PARK: (As President Kim) (Singing) As you shoot across the sky, sky, sky.

(LAUGHTER)

PARK: (As President Kim) Good times.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Yeah.

PARK: (As President Kim) Yeah, Dave? Do you think that margaritas are gay because they are so sweet?

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Did someone tell you that - that margaritas are gay?

PARK: (As President Kim) No, it's just a question I have.

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) If liking Katy Perry and drinking margaritas is gay, then who wants to be straight?

PARK: (As President Kim) Not me (laughter).

FRANCO: (As Dave Skylark) Boring. Margaritas are great, and whoever planted that into your head is crazy.

PARK: (As President Kim) (Laughter).

BALDONADO: That's a scene from "The Interview." You do a really good job in the film of making him a - kind of a full character, making him, at times, relatable but also, you know, super evil and a crazy person. Can you...

PARK: Yeah (laughter).

BALDONADO: ...Talk about striking that balance 'cause, you know, it's not like you're playing just an average bad guy, you know?

PARK: I did a lot of research, as much as I could. You know, there's not that much information out there on him because they are just so secretive, and you never know what, you know, what's propaganda and what's real. But there were pieces of information out there on him that I really identified with. There were accounts of him in international school just kind of sitting there at his desk doodling pictures of Michael Jordan and his obsession with the NBA and with American movies. I mean, these were all things that I could definitely identify with. Also, you know, him being kind of chubby and awkward and, you know, those were all things that I could really identify with. And so those were things that I could - I felt like I could bring into the character, make him definitely more insecure and sensitive at times.

BALDONADO: Yeah, and then you do become quite scary. That's a good...

PARK: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, he's Kim Jong-un...

BALDONADO: Yeah (laughter).

PARK: ...You know (laughter)?

BALDONADO: And you said for a long time you were doing the acting and comedy on the side kind of like a hobby. You've said that you kind of called it a hobby. And was part of the reason you think you weren't going to pursue acting as a career your parents?

PARK: Yeah, for sure. My parents were definitely not supportive of me pursuing acting. And, you know, I totally understand why. I mean, coming here from Korea as immigrants, it's, like, a story of sacrifice. Like most immigrant stories, it's about sacrifice. They come here, they leave their family behind, their friends and all the comforts of home. And they come here knowing that life is not going to be easy. It's going to be an adjustment. But they do it so that their kids can have opportunities that they didn't have and so that their kids could find success and happiness. You know, statistically, most actors, most comedians, aspiring comedians, aspiring actors, they don't, quote, unquote, "make it," you know. And my parents knew that, so they were really, really against me even trying 'cause that's not why they made this journey. And it took me a while to understand that because at the beginning, it was like, why don't you support me? You know, I have so many friends who are trying it - non-Asian friends who are, you know, throwing their hat in the ring and their parents are, like, cheering them on. And here I had no support. But now that I'm older and I have a kid, I totally understand where they were coming from.

BALDONADO: Do you remember the first time your parents saw you perform - also the first time they saw your work and thought, it's OK if you do this as a career? This is what you should be doing.

PARK: One of the first jobs I did was a local commercial on the Chinese channel here in Los Angeles. The whole thing was in Cantonese, I think, and I didn't have any lines, but I was kind of the focus of the commercial. It was for these liver pills. And my character played this dad who comes home super tired and he's yawning, and he doesn't have enough energy to play with his kid. And then his kid grabs these liver pills and gives them to his dad, and all of a sudden, he's awake. And that was, like, the first job I ever booked. And I thought it was going to change my life. I thought it was such a big deal. And I remember showing it to my parents and my mom immediately saying, you have to quit right now. You are a really bad actor.

(LAUGHTER)

PARK: And I look back at that commercial, and I was so bad. I was really bad. But at the time, I was really hurt. So my plan from there on out was, you know, I'm just not going to tell them anything. But eventually, they start seeing me in commercials, and I wouldn't have even told them about these commercials. And then I'd hear from my parents' friends and co-workers that they were, like, so proud of me. And they would never say this to my face. But eventually, it became something that I started sharing with them, like, the news of my career, and they started being really enthusiastic about it. And now, like, they're, like, my biggest fans, and it's so cool that they could be a part of everything including "The Interview." They were, like, really psyched about that.

BALDONADO: Oh, that was sad then...

PARK: So it's been great.

BALDONADO: Well, that was sad then because "The Interview" didn't have, like, a premier or anything, right? They canceled all that stuff...

PARK: Yeah, yeah.

BALDONADO: ...After all the controversy came out.

PARK: Yeah, yeah.

BALDONADO: So you couldn't share that premier moment or something.

PARK: Yeah, yeah. But, you know, I mean, one - hopefully I'll get a nice role, a lead role in a film and you'll see me walking the red carpet with my mom and dad.

BALDONADO: Well, Randall Park, thank you so much.

PARK: Thank you, Ann Marie.

GROSS: Randall Park spoke with FRESH AIR producer Ann Marie Baldonado. His TV show "Fresh Off The Boat" airs Tuesdays on ABC. After we take a short break, rock critic Ken Tucker will review a new album by songwriter and musician Donnie Fritts. This is FRESH AIR. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.