Fresh Off the Boat Now Syndicated on UPtv – Historic Milestone for Asian Americans

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. This Fresh Off the Boat post was sponsored by UPtv.

Exciting news! Fresh Off the Boat, the family sitcom featuring leads Constance Wu and Randall Park, is making history. The TV series is the first network show starring Asian Americans to reach syndication! UPtv is airing Fresh Off the Boat on Wednesdays, 8 pm Eastern time.

Let that sink in. In the entire history of TV’s existence, there has never been a syndicated show featuring Asian Americans. In fact, Fresh Off the Boat, which first aired in 2015, is only the second TV series to feature an Asian American family. The first series, All-American Girl starring Margaret Cho, premiered in 1994 — over a two-decade gap.

That’s why I’m thrilled that Fresh Off the Boat has experienced success with ratings, renewals, and now syndication. This comedy series is based on the best-selling memoir by Taiwanese-American chef and TV personality Eddie Huang. The show follows the Huang family as they move to Orlando and start their new lives. Eddie’s parents, played by Constance Wu and Randall Park, open a western-themed restaurant. Eddie (Hudson Yang) and his two brothers (Forrest Wheeler and Ian Chen), learn to navigate through the joys and perils of childhood as the only Asian kids in their schools.

I’ve watched every episode of Fresh Off the Boat. I love that my children can see themselves represented on TV by a family that looks like them. The Huang family does not play to Asian stereotypes. My children are able to view another Asian family living their normal, everyday lives with a mix of American and Chinese culture — just like they do. Not all families may be the same, but all families strive to foster the same things: love, support, and happiness.

The historic syndication of Fresh Off the Boat is taking place at a time when other Asian American milestones are taking place. The hit film Crazy Rich Asians, featuring Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu, has made history as box office’s biggest romantic comedy in six years. Asian Americans are having their moment, and I’m confident this will continue.

 

Keep the momentum going and watch Fresh Off the Boat on UPtv on Wednesdays, 8 pm Eastern time. Click here to find your local UPtv station. For more information, please visit www.uptv.com.