“2 Broke Girls.” In Stereotypes, Rich

How do you measure what’s “good” when what’s measured is art or entertainment?

By the amount of people who say it’s good? CBS touted 2 Broke Girls as the highest-graded show this season according those who attended the TCA tour. Was it good because of the show’s pedigree — created by Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King and comedienne Whitney Cummings? Was it good because it had some funny lines and moments? Or maybe it was “good” for some because it abounded with stereotypes, especially of those who aren’t Caucasian American.

Moguls say “We support diversity,” wearing their sentiment like some charity lapel ribbon, then campaign crazily for their movies to get awards using racebending, blackface, and sexism, as in The Social Network … and ultimately succeed in getting nominations. Is it because the “good” outweighs the negative, or is it because awards voters don’t really give a f— about diversity?

In the case of 2 Broke Girls, even API writers are calling it funny and their favorite show. Despite the fact that it has stereotypes.

In February, I sent Phil Yu of Angry Asian Man sides [excerpts used by actors when they audition] of the original pilot for the show. The script contained an offensive depiction of Han Lee, a character who spoke in an indecipherable Korean accent, wore his pants up to his pectorals, and was unfamiliar with American holidays including Christmas. He changed his name to Bryce Lee and because he couldn’t pronounce r’s properly, and the main character couldn’t pronounce b’s properly, he became “Rice Lee.” Racebending.com, MANAA, and other coalitions had meetings with CBS Diversity and the script was modified. Maybe it was a consequence of the meetings, maybe because the script wasn’t funny to begin with.

The aired pilot had less of the character. It also eliminated the camel-toe pants and holiday references and reasons for and disparagement of the name change. The accent remained — although, as delivered by Matthew Moy, it wavered between Korean and Chinese. How original: an accented Asian. Garrett Morris was another wise African American at the diner, and there was a wise-ass Russian cook. The main characters were white, bland, and uninteresting. Yes, there were some funny moments and lines. Those hoping for spice of Sex and the City had leftovers such as a cheap orgasm joke and a lame two-part semen reference.

With shows with more life such as Up All Night and the reinvigorated Two and a Half Men, the only reason for watching is watchdogging, seeing what potential offensiveness is touted as “good” by critics and viewers alike.

– Ken Choy