Jimmy O. Yang is finally No. 1 on the call sheet with ‘Interior Chinatown’

As I delve into the captivating journey of this remarkable man named Ken Jeong, I am struck by his indomitable spirit and resilience that has propelled him to heights few could ever dream of. Born to immigrant parents and raised in North Carolina, Jeong’s humble beginnings were far removed from the glamorous world of Hollywood, yet he managed to carve out a niche for himself through sheer determination and an unwavering belief in his abilities.

Jimmy O. Yang decided to purchase a second-hand Toyota Corolla, priced at about $1,500, to aid him in getting into character for his role as an unnoticed Asian American everyday person in the TV series “Interior Chinatown.” He then drove this car around Los Angeles.

To put it simply, the car was a real dud: The driver’s side door wouldn’t open, there were no electric windows, and the brakes were so faulty that stopping on time was a challenge, once causing him to bump into a Tesla whose owner was furious – until he recognized Yang and asked for a chance to appear in one of his productions.

However, the most significant interaction, as stated by Yang during a recent Zoom call from his Los Feliz residence, transpired when he arrived at the studio’s gate and the security guard on duty denied him entry onto the property.

The leading actor-writer-comedian shared that he was top-billed on the call sheet but she refused to acknowledge him. She essentially told him to pull over, contact whoever had gotten him there, and if he couldn’t, he needed to leave – her behavior towards him was extremely rude because he was in the car at the time.

The experience gave Yang a sense of how people tend to dismiss Asian Americans, especially those who exist on the economic margins. “It’s sad, and it informed a lot of my decisions on the show,” he said.

In the captivating “Interior Chinatown,” as Yang himself describes it, a blend of “The Twilight Zone” and “Law & Order,” our protagonist, Willis Wu, works at a run-down Chinese restaurant often used for a long-running TV show called “Black & White.” Willis expresses his dissatisfaction with feeling like an extra in someone else’s tale, yearning to be the main character. Yet, he admits, this is difficult when one resembles him. However, after witnessing a crime, he unexpectedly becomes the focus of the story. Starting November 19 on Hulu, this 10-episode series was thoughtfully crafted by Charles Yu and adapted from his National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, offering a poignant, creative critique of Asian stereotypes in popular culture.

Willis’ journey symbolizes the Asian American experience, according to Yang, because we are often portrayed as the model minority yet remain unseen and overlooked. The focus is usually on Black and white individuals, but where do we fit in? People tend not to recognize us for who we truly are. This is illustrated by a British TV host who approached Lisa Su, a billionaire CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, for an interview and inquired if she spoke English, assuming she was a foreigner.

The book “Interior Chinatown” marks a significant milestone in acting for Yang, who is widely recognized for his captivating performances as Jian-Yang, a subtly ominous Chinese app developer in the HBO series “Silicon Valley”, and for comedy specials such as “Good Deal” and “Guess How Much?” on Amazon Prime.

This project is deeply connected to his personal experiences, mirroring many aspects of his life story. As an immigrant from Hong Kong who moved to the U.S. as a teenager, he worked tirelessly in minor roles such as “Chinese Teenager #1” or “Person in Line,” until eventually achieving leading-man status.

Yang expressed that he always resonated with Willis on an emotional level. Simultaneously, he believes the story is universally relatable. He’s never felt like he belonged, not only because he’s Asian but also because he hails from a traditional family who encouraged him to pursue a conventional career, while his dream was to become an artist.

At the tender age of 13, Yang moved to Los Angeles – an already challenging period for most people, especially one who had recently migrated and struggled with English fluency. The cultural difference he encountered was profound.

“I didn’t know what a Super Bowl was,” he said.

In the school’s locker room, he faced ridicule for wearing briefs instead of boxers. His classmates were able to dunk basketballs and sported mustaches; he was only in eighth grade and had barely started puberty. “My aim was simply to blend in so as not to be bullied,” Yang recalled.

Under a false residential location, Yang attended Beverly Hills High School, later finding himself in what he described as “the shabbiest apartment in Beverly Hills,” located on the district’s outskirts. He developed a wide circle of friends and deeply engaged with American popular culture, particularly BET and “The Simpsons.” He had a passion for hip-hop but lacked the ability to rap, so Yang turned to a software program called Fruity Loops to create beats, occasionally blending it with his violin skills.

Even then, just as it is today, he harbored a powerful desire to craft things. “Whenever I’m at a restaurant,” he shared, “I fold up the chopstick wrapper and construct miniature forts using the plates and chopsticks, then use my hands to make various items.

They encouraged him to choose a more pragmatic career path, such as accounting, rather than one in the arts. However, Yang clarified that they weren’t against art at all; his father, if he could have, would have been an actor or musician. In fact, these professions didn’t seem like ‘real jobs’ to him. What he really wanted was for his son to be financially secure and avoid homelessness.

When Jimmy, who was about to graduate from the University of California San Diego and feeling anxious about his future, decided to give stand-up comedy a try at an open-mic night at the Haha Club in North Hollywood, it turned out to be a life-changing experience for him. “It was a real ‘oh my goodness’ moment,” he later said. “My jokes weren’t funny, but I felt more comfortable on stage than off.” From that night on, Jimmy became hooked and made every effort to go back as often as possible. The club owners still remember him fondly as “Open Mic Jimmy.

Stand-up comedy served as an unstructured learning ground for him, encompassing writing, performance, and direction. As he put it, “There’s nothing quite like the education you receive. You can’t find more genuine feedback than the laughter of a live audience — or the silence when it’s absent.

He worked a string of odd jobs, from selling used cars to DJing at a strip club where, according to house rules, every third song had to be “Girls, Girls, Girls” by Mötley Crüe. The sound of revving motorcycles “still haunts me to this day,” he said.

Initially, Yang took on supporting tasks and eventually secured minor speaking parts. Frequently, much like Willis in “Interior Chinatown,” he found himself reminded of his position within Hollywood’s hierarchy. On the set of ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, when he spoke a few lines as the character “Chinese Teenager #1” in an episode taking place in Chinatown, he went to grab a drink from craft services and was halted by a crew member. She said, “I assumed you were one of the background actors,” because he was Asian.

Over time, Yang landed a recurring role in “Silicon Valley,” which was initially intended to be a single appearance. However, his exceptional performance turned this temporary gig into a permanent position on the show. From day one, he took a stereotypical character and transformed it into something more complex and nuanced with his skillful acting.

In an email to The Times, ‘Silicon Valley’ creator Mike Judge noted that Jimmy proved himself to be a fantastic comedic actor almost instantly. He masterfully delivered jokes with a genuine touch and always managed to avoid appearing as if he was forcing humor or striving to be funny.

Yang, who is proficient in three different Chinese dialects – Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Mandarin – concluded that Jian-Yang was most likely from mainland China, given his probable Mandarin accent. “To portray an accent accurately,” he explained, “you need to be precise.

Yu, a TV writer known for “Westworld” and “Legion”, expressed, “I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Who is this?’ when I watched it as a fan.” There were debates, possibly controversies, regarding the character’s portrayal and potential reinforcement of stereotypes. However, what stood out to me was the character’s voice, which reminded me of people I am familiar with.

In Silicon Valley, where Yang honed his skills, he found himself performing alongside experienced improvisers such as Zach Woods and Thomas Middleditch. He admitted that if he didn’t focus on listening and being attentive instead of just planning his next line, he would easily get lost in the act. This proved to be a valuable lesson for him.

The judge found Yang’s composed resilience captivating in his character, providing an excellent counterbalance for the rest of the cast, particularly the flamboyant and sometimes overwhelming Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller). As Judge explained, “Miller often stirred things up and could be quite domineering. However, Jimmy never allowed it to rattle him, which resulted in a fascinating dynamic between them that we began to explore in our writing.” At one point, there were even discussions about creating a spin-off featuring Erlich and Jian-Yang.

More chances quickly arose in due course. In 2018, Yang authored a memoir titled “How to American: An Immigrant’s Guide to Disappointing Your Parents.” During the same year, he portrayed the flamboyant Bernard Tai in the movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” which was significant as it signified a turning point for Asian representation within Hollywood. He stated, “Typically, I was the sole Asian on set, but with everyone so stunning from all corners of the world, it felt like the Asian version of the Avengers! Everyone we met on that set remains our closest friends. We make each other feel acknowledged.

Yang remarked on his persistent, yet uninformed hopefulness about the industry regarding the AAPI community: “Even when I missed an audition, I wouldn’t attribute it to a lack of Asian representation. It didn’t discourage me. However, reflecting back, our choices were quite limited. But since ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ I believe there has been a significant improvement.

Success has meant that Yang has made his father, Richard Ouyang, proud — and even helped him score some acting gigs, including a recent car commercial starring both of them. “They always say ‘nepo baby.’ I like to think he’s the nepo daddy in this family.”

As soon as Yang received a call about trying out for “Interior Chinatown,” he experienced an instant affinity with the part. “It was as if I exclaimed, ‘I simply must land this! It holds immense significance for me,'” he expressed.

In simpler terms, Yu stated that the novel and series were motivated by individuals who possess compelling backstories but don’t get a chance to share them. When it came to selecting Willis for the role, Yang was an interesting pick because he had followed a comparable career trajectory – starting as an extra and eventually rising to fame on ‘Silicon Valley’, where people were frequently quoting his character’s dialogue.

Yu mentioned being taken aback by the intense emotion and tears that Yang showed in his audition. “I wasn’t exactly shocked, as it might imply I didn’t think he’d do well – but it wasn’t something you’d anticipate from a comedian who had been making us laugh for years,” said Yu, who believes there’s a link between Yang’s diverse linguistic and cultural experiences and his innate acting talent.

For Yang, finally being No. 1 on the call sheet was a challenge — albeit a welcome one.

For six months straight, I was deeply involved in filming, appearing in nearly every scene. One day I had to be humorous, the next I was doing kung fu, and another time I needed to cry – it was truly challenging, Yang explained. Yet, he acknowledged its beauty, making it a tale worth sharing. He confesses that there were instances when he envied his friend and fellow actor, Ronny Chieng, who brings laughter as the bumbling busboy character, Fatty Choi.

But for better or worse, Yang’s sidekick days seem to be over.

Beyond working on “Interior Chinatown,” I’m actively nurturing a few projects through our production company, Crab Club, which my partners Jessica Gao (creator of “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”) and Ken Cheng (co-writer of the 2022 film “Easter Sunday”) and I have established. We named it Crab Club in honor of our shared passion for devouring Dungeness crab together. I’m also eager to perform more stand-up comedy at larger venues, such as the Kia Forum in Los Angeles this February.

Currently, his primary aim is centered around emerging victorious in his fantasy football league, which he considers as the foremost objective at this moment.

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2024-09-07 14:16