Watching television is usually a solitary activity - done alone at home, or even in small groups. But last night's “Fresh off the Boat" premiere was most definitely a community event, in person and online.
Fans braved long lines and standing-room-only to gather at organized viewing parties from New York to Los Angeles. They also showed their excitement with tweets and Facebook updates during the double-episode premiere, trending #FreshOffTheBoat.
Even before the show aired, anticipation was high for the first Asian-American sitcom on network television in over 20 years, since Margaret Cho's "All-American Girl" in 1994.
Echoed again and again in audience response was the issue of identity. The characters, plot lines, and references they saw on the screen, for many, reflected their own personal experiences.
And like any good script must these days, last night's shows provided plenty of quotable moments.
Even after all the laughs and Lunchable-jokes had passed, the significance of the show wasn't lost on the people who gathered to celebrate it.
