Advance screenings have begun for one of the year's most-highly-anticipated shows, "Fresh Off the Boat," premiering on ABC on Wednesday, and despite some early roadblocks, audiences seem to be embracing television's new all-American family.
The sitcom tells the story of the Huang family -- Taiwanese immigrant parents who move their three kids from Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown to the overwhelmingly-white suburbs of Orlando, Florida -- and is being hailed as a unique and bold take, unafraid of confronting tough topics through the lens of humor.
"I thought it was so refreshing," said California Congresswoman Judy Chu after watching an early screening of the program. "It showed a full view of Asian Americans in this country as opposed to a stereotypical image we've had to live with for a long time."
The culture-shock comedy was inspired by New York BaoHaus restaurant owner Eddie Huang's best-selling 2013 memoir of the same title.
In the first episode, a school student calls Eddie a "chink." Eddie reacts violently and is called to the principal's office where his parents threaten to sue.
"To deal with the word 'chink' in the pilot episode of a comedy on network television is borderline genius and insane at the same time," Huang told reporters while promoting the show.
The scene resonated with Asian-American audiences in advance screenings.
"There were actually people crying in the theater. It hit them so much because they've been called that as kids, me too, and now we're tackling it," the comedy's Chinese-American executive producer Melvin Mar said.
IN-DEPTH
- New TV Shows Feature More Diverse Faces, Will They Survive?
- 'Fresh Off the Boat' Promo Tweet Draws Fire on Social Media
- Backlash over 'Fresh Off the Boat' Tweet (MSNBC)
--Reuters & NBC News
