By Jeff Kuo
Special to ModelMinority.com
July 15, 2003

PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE WIDELY!

Asian Americans have had a long history of suffering discrimination and persecution because of the widespread misperception that all ethnic Asians are socially and culturally un-American. Stereotypical media portrayals of manic, socially awkward Asian men with thick glasses and thicker accents reinforce this misperception, as does the near-total absence of countervailing portrayals of Asian Americans functioning as recognizable members of American society.

The FOX television network's decision to broadcast and promote the TV show "Banzai" shows a blatant disregard for the consequences and power of racial media stereotypes. Asian American children are especially susceptible to the taunts and ostracism of their peers, who are likely to be entertained by the show's simplistic comedy premises and fast pace, but are unlikely to have developed the critical facilities necessary to reject the stereotypes presented.

More generally, to date there has been no indication that FOX ever intended the viewers of "Banzai" to question the portrayals of Asian men that constitute the show's signature images. To the contrary, as a patently mindless entertainment vehicle, "Banzai" is not intended for viewing with a socially critical eye.

Some defenders of "Banzai" have suggested that the show doesn't promote stereotypes, but rather makes fun of them. The cartoon at http://www.modelminority.com/images/postcards/banzai.gif illustrates the absurdity of this premise.

Still other supporters of the show point out that it is based on game shows that were created in Japan. Of course, the show's creative history does not alter the fact that the portrayals in FOX's show are demeaning stereotypes when seen from an American audience's perspective. Nor does it mitigate the consequences of the widespread viewing of these portrayals for Asian Americans, especially our children. Finally, it does not disqualify Asian Americans from criticizing the show, because Asian Americans are no more responsible for Japanese television productions than the Japanese American World War II internees were responsible for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Other defenders of "Banzai" have expressed outrage that Asian Americans should find cause for complaint about anything having to do with race relations in the United States. The voices of Asian Americans are so rarely heard in the mainstream media, and the history of Asian Americans in the United States is so rarely taught, that the relevance of race to the experiences of Asian Americans comes as a surprise to many people.

Many Americans are heavily invested in the stereotype of Asian Americans as "honorary whites" for whom race no longer creates a social stigma. They desperately cling to any anecdotal evidence they can find that will support this investment: the complicity of a few Asian actors in the production of "Banzai" or a few Asian friends who don't find the show offensive. As we bear witness in contradiction of these views, we expect to reap a whirlwind of outrage from those we have surprised with our rejection of the title of "honorary white."

We, the Undersigned, will boycott all FOX Broadcasting Company properties, including FOX, FX, FOX News Channel, FOX Movie Channel, National Geographic Channel, Fox Sports Net, Fox Sports World, and Speed Channel, for a period of two (2) months for each week that "Banzai" remains on the air. We will also support a boycott of prominent sponsors of FOX and Banzai.

For more information on the boycott, visit

http://www.modelminority.com/article464.html

FOX currently plans to air six episodes of "Banzai." This would call for a one-year boycott of FOX properties. FOX can shorten the boycott period only by canceling the show. Why two months per episode? As a marginalized minority group, we are forced to make up in intensity what we lack in numbers. Based on ratings for the first episode, the number of people we need to commit to this boycott in order to make it unprofitable for FOX to continue showing "Banzai" is between 10,000 and 25,000. Help make it happen by sending the petition to your friends and listservs. You can begin the boycott now by manually removing FOX stations from the channels received by your TV. (If you're looking for something to do instead of watching FOX shows, how about learning more about Asian American empowerment?)

Contact Addresses for Letters of Protest

FOX:

Fox Viewers Comment Line:
310-369-3066

Dial this number, WAIT until the message is over, then place your comment after the beep.

askfox@foxinc.com

Gail Berman, President, Fox Entertainment:
1-800-369-6848 (ask for Ms. Berman)
GailB@fox.com

Week 1 Sponsors

The Smirnoff Co.

1-800-733-4382

http://www.smirnoffice.com/faq/#submit

Smirnoff Ice Marketing Department
c/o Diageo North America North America, Inc.
6 Landmark Square
Stamford, CT 06901

Sony Pictures:

http://www.sonypictures.com/spe/help_feedback_index.html

Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO
Sony Corporation of America
550 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10022 USA

Sprint PCS:

http://www2.sprintpcs.com/learn/form_public_question.asp

World headquarters:
(800) 829-0965

Sprint World Headquarters
6200 Sprint Parkway
Overland Park, KS 66251

National Media, Financial, Corporate Issues
Dan Wilinsky
Director, Media Relations
913-762-7017
DWILIN01@sprintspectrum.com

AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WA
Robert Kelley
Director of Public Relations
602-745-7752
rkelle01@mail.sprintpcs.com

AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Mary Nell Westbrook
Director of Public Relations
972-405-3257
mwestb01@mail.sprintpcs.com

IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI
Mark McHale
Director of Public Relations
847-384-6523
mmchal01@mail.sprintpcs.com

CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, W/VA
Larry McDonnell
Director of Public Relations
301-214-9290
lmcdon02@mail.sprintpcs.com

SBC:

SBC Public Affairs
Selim Bingol
Phone: (210) 351-3991
sb1537@corp.sbc.com

Week 2 Sponsors:

Web:  https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/contact/email.jsp

Phone:  1-800-922-0204 (611 from your mobile phone)

Dennis F. Strigl
President and CEO
Verizon Wireless
Attn: Executive Relations
777 Big Timber Road
Elgin, IL 60123

Universal Pictures

Web:  http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/contact_form.cgi?email_id=21

Phone: 818-777-1000
Fax: 818-866-3600

Rick Finkelstein
President and CEO
Universal Pictures
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Web:  http://64.213.197.19/forms/irpt_Comments.asp (inside the U.S.)
Web:  http://www.kfc.com/int_comments.htm (international/Canada)

Phone:  1-800-CALL-KFC (1-800-225-5532)

KFC Corporate Office
1441 Gardiner Lane
Louisville KY 40213

Mountain Dew (a Pepsi company)

webmaster@mountaindew.com

Phone:  1-800-433-2652 (PepsiCo)

Steven S. Reinemund
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
PepsiCo., Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 253-2000

Pizza Hut (Weeks 1 & 2):

Web:  http://www.pizzahut.com/contact_feedback.asp

Phone: 1-800-948-8488

Pizza Hut Corporate Office
14841 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, TX 75254

Yum! Brands Inc. (formerly Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc.) is the parent company for both Pizza Hut and KFC
1900 Colonel Sanders Lane
Louisville, KY 40213
Phone: (502) 874-2543
Fax:  (502) 874-8790

Media and Public Relations for Yum! Brands
Amy Sherwood
Vice President
Public Relations
1441 Gardiner Lane
Louisville, KY 40213
Phone:  (502) 874-8200
(888) 2YUMYUM (1-888-298-6986)
yum.investor @ yum.com

Subway

asksubway@subway.com

Web: http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/Applications/CustServ/frmCustomerService.aspx

Phone:  1-800-888-4848

Fred DeLuca, President
Subway Franchise Headquarters
325 Bic Drive
Milford, CT 06460 USA
Phone:  (203) 877-4281

Dimension Films

Web:  http://www.dimensionfilms.com/

Dimension Films
c/o Miramax Films
375 Greenwich St.
New York NY 10013
Phone:  (212) 941-3800
(213) 951-4200

Quizno's Subs

http://www.quiznos.com/contactus0.asp?id=8

Quiznos Corporate Office
1475 Lawrence Street, Suite 400
Denver, Colorado 80202

Phone: (720) 359-3300
Fax: (720) 359-3399

Hyundai North America

Phone: 1-800-633-5151

Hyundai Motor America
10550 Talbert Avenue
P.O. Box 20850
Fountain Valley, CA 92728-0850

Chili's Restaurants

http://www.chilis.com/contact/

Phone:  1-800-983-4637

Ronald A. McDougall, CEO
6820 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, TX 75240
Phone:  (972) 980-9917

General Motors

Web:  http://www.gm.com/gmcomjsp/contactus/emailus_comment_advertisement.html

Email:  info@gm.com

General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
P.O. Box 300
Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
Phone: (313) 556-5000

Protest "Banzai" in Person

The Problem With "Banzai"

MANAA's stance on the BANZAI issue has always been consistent. We believe that the British game show acquired by Fox in the context of American culture has strong racists elements attached to it. The show stands to reinforce the negative image of the geeky Japanese man whose manic expressions and loud voice serves to entertain as the Asian "Sambo" of today.

MANAA understands that humor is subjective and is primarily based on one's artistic interpretation. However in this instance the blatant disregard for the sensitivities of the Asian American community serves to show how Asian American voices are once again marginalized. We feel that the current lack of positive images of Asian Americans in the media does not allow for any sort of counterbalance to this show. The disproportionately exaggerated portrayals once again create a disservice to the Asian American communities who have been fighting these negative stereotypes all their lives.

We just want to send the message to these executives that "Banzai" cannot fly.

The last positive reoccurring Asian American talent that Fox had on primetime was Eddie Shin on "That 80's Show," which lasted only a few episodes. The network continues to showcase Asian males as faceless criminals (as seen on "Fast Lane") or strange foreigners. And the only positive Asian person on Fox's primetime schedule is a cartoon character ("King of the Hill").

Talks with Fox have been futile, even after a public screening of "Banzai" in Koreatown was greeted with boos. After countless phone conversations and meetings, we suggested Fox find an Asian American comedian to replace the off-camera host, get rid of the accented voiceovers and gongs, and promote the game competitions and not the stereotypes. Those suggestions have been ignored. We believe that Fox still does not understand the ramifications of supporting such a show and the negative "trickle down effect" it will have on the Asian American community.

We implore you to help MANAA support and stage a protest against Fox and "Banzai."

For more information how you can help eliminate this show from being aired in your community, visit the MANAA web site.

An Open Letter to Fox

By Jay Mung
Fox's Banzai Message Board
July 13, 2003

Careful not to make any judgment about "Banzai" before familiarizing myself with the program in question, I spent the last half hour viewing its season premiere before writing this letter. Having done so, I must agree with many of the comments and criticisms already in place. Banzai, and shows like it, hinder and even reverse any progress that is being made towards so-called "racial equity" in America today. When it comes to mass-media exposure, Asian-Americans and Asians represent a small, struggling group. Consequences of the elements employed to provide "Banzai" with its intended theme only reinforce racist stereotypes that objectify and denigrate both Asians abroad and especially Asian-Americans on these shores.

Before you might form conclusions about me, please hear me out. On more than one occasion, my views have been prematurely deemed 'invalid' by those who say "Its not racist...Don't take it so seriously, its just entertainment...Asians are doing well regardless..." I especially hope those people who have employed these spurious rebuttals in the past may read my views with an open mind.

As the growing trend in televised entertainment is so-called "reality television", I admit that I have had a few guilty, brainless laughs while watching shows like Jackass, Joe Millionaire, or American Idol. I understand that many of these successful concepts are based on shows that originated outside of the United States. Therefore, the "trend-savvy" decision to air a show based on concept tried and true outside of the US does not surprise me.

To parody a game show from Japan is relatively innocent, and the writers of "Banzai" could have accomplished these means easily, without the exclusive use of Asian faced actors and actresses, broken pidgin English speaking announcers, traditionally costumed martial artists, inept scientists or even "take-out" style fonts. However, damage already having been done, "Banzai" is no longer merely a parody of a game show. It is, in its plainest form, a parody of an entire sub-culture, an ethnicity, and a race of human beings.

Along with other ethnic minorities, Asian-Americans have had to struggle with gross injustices such as internment camps and suspicion as threats to national security. As these dark parts of this nation's history become sorely forgotten, little has been done to educate the American public of the struggles and accomplishments of Asian-Americans.

It strikes me with utter disgust that the only show on television featuring Asian people is a show as unintelligent, tasteless, and derogatory as "Banzai".

As I am sure, this is neither the first nor the last of the complaints you will receive regarding "Banzai". It has already aired to the American public. At this point, I can only suggest that you comply with the demands set forth by any advocacy groups that will probably be contacting you shortly. Needless to say, this series should be pulled from the air immediately.

I look forward to the day when this type of complaint will be unnecessary. Thank you for your time and consideration.