HARRY Shum Jr. is finally given the chance to shine. PACIFIC RIM PHOTO PRESS
LOS ANGELES – Until its “Asian F” episode this week, “Glee” viewers and fans have wondered when Harry Shum Jr.’s Mike Chang character will ever speak in the show. They’ve seen Harry execute cool dance moves but he’s usually mute, unlike the other Asians in the series like regular cast member Jenna Ushkowitz and guest star Charice.
Well, in the recent episode, not only did Mike Chang finally have dialogue – he even sang and danced in his own number! Viewers also got to know more about Mike and saw for the first time his parents, played by part-Filipina Tamlyn Tomita and Keong Sim. There was a scene between Harry and Tamlyn that ended in a poignant dance between the mother and son.
It was almost too good to be true to see several Asian characters in a mainstream US show. That’s because American television has failed to mirror the racial diversity in the United States.
We were glad to see that even Amber Riley’s Mercedes Jones, who usually gets to perform knockout songs but not much else, finally has a story line going. We thus give the “Asian F” episode a resounding A+ for putting the spotlight on the minorities in the show.
LEA Michele AFP
It’s all part of a concerted effort by “Glee” cocreator and producer Ryan Murphy and his team. Ryan told us last Monday: “‘Asian F’ is the favorite episode we’ve ever done in the history of the show because this year, we’re really going back to the roots of the show which is the underdog aspect. We are highlighting some members whom we haven’t seen very much in terms of singing and dancing. It’s Harry Shum Jr.’s first time to do a solo number. He worked all summer – taking long voice lessons and I think he knocks it out of the park.”
Incidentally, we asked Ryan if Charice’s guest stint on “Glee” is over. Ryan replied that there was no closure to the story line of Charice’s Sunshine Corazon character, so he said that the singer might come back toward the end of the season. He sounded definite about one thing: “I love Charice.”
CORY Montieth AFP
We also interviewed Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch, all of whom we’ll feature in coming columns. In the meantime, we’re publishing their comments on the show’s push for the underdogs this year, especially in the “Asian F” episode, so titled because Mike Chang’s father said that an A-, which his son got, is the equivalent of an Asian F.
Cory Monteith: “It’s great because I was always interested in knowing who those characters were. I was always interested to know about Mike Chang’s parents and their struggles. These contribute to the show as a whole … When you start to know their histories, that’s exciting to me.”
Chris Colfer: “As a friend, I am so proud of Harry that he’s finally getting to show everything that he can do. I am so proud of that episode because I feel like it could have been in season one – the acceptance story line behind it. Oh, my God, that scene with him and his mom! I cried just reading it.
“I am so proud of Harry. Wait till you hear him sing again in another episode. He does have a great voice. He’s a rare talent. You don’t get to meet many people like him who can do everything. I am so glad he’s being showcased. I’m just as happy as Ryan with this episode.”
Matthew Morrison: “Harry and I get to dance together this season with the whole booty camp (mandatory after-school dance class) thing. He and I are leaders of that. It has been such a pleasure watching him. He’s been working really hard at voice lessons … People really love that character so they’re trying to expand it. We’re actually meeting his parents now and stuff.”
Jane Lynch: “The scene with his mother could have been the ‘schlock-iest’ thing in the world. But it was so tastefully done. I love that while he’s dancing with her, there was no music. It was just kind of silent.”
Email the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him athttps://twitter.com/nepalesruben.