Diversity, Authenticity, and Dinuguan: How ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Is Changing TV

by EMIL GUILLERMO (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/diversity-authenticity-dinuguan-how-crazy-ex-girlfriend-changing-tv-n501486)

Vincent Rodriguez III plays Josh Chan opposite Rachel Bloom, who stars in “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” as Rebecca Bunch. Scott Everett White / The CW

When “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” returns from hiatus on Monday night, it does so with a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award for its star and co-executive producer Rachel Bloom.

But since the musical comedy’s premiere in October, it has also established itself as a breakthrough television show for Asian Americans, thanks to the casting of Filipino-American actor Vincent Rodriguez III as Bloom’s character’s object of desire.

“TIMES ARE CHANGING AND IT’S CATCHING ON THAT THE ROLES ON TV AND FILM NEED TO REFLECT ITS DIVERSE VIEWERS.”

As Josh Chan, Rodriguez plays the heartthrob whom Harvard-educated Rebecca Bunch, played by Bloom, leaves her high paying New York legal job to follow to California — West Covina to be exact, one of Southern California’s prominent Filipino enclaves.

The role of Josh Chan has been significant for representation in network television because the role of “love interest” has rarely been written for Asian-American males.

The interracial love story written in “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” has also included episodes that have been noted for its groundbreaking showcase of Filipino family life and for increasing Filipino representation on television (Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will appear in the series’ first season finale).

Born in San Francisco and raised in Daly City, a Filipino enclave located in Northern California, Rodriguez told NBC News he immediately recognized the character of Josh because it was similar to so many of the people he grew up and went to school with.

He just didn’t see those people on TV.

The cast of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Pictured (L-R): Vella Lovell as Heather, Pete Gardner as Darryl, Santino Fontana as Greg, Rachel Bloom as Rebecca, Vincent Rodriguez III as Josh, and Donna Lynne Champlin as Paula. Smallz & Raskind / The CW

Vincent, I’m also a Filipino American born in San Francisco, and when I think of Filipino images on TV, there are some, but not many. What did you think of the absence of Filipinos in TV and movies when you were considering career choices?

I grew up accepting that my nationality was not depicted on TV or film. To be honest it was something I didn’t acknowledge as a kid. But once I realized my love for acting and the possibility of pursuing a career in it, I quickly noticed the absence of Asians in general and thought, “Well, I’m gonna try to change that.”

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What really woke me up to the possibility becoming a reality was seeing who I thought was the first Filipino actor on TV in a starring role and that was Paolo Montalban as Prince Christopher in Disney’s “Cinderella” [the 1997 television film of the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical, starring Brandy]. I immediately thought, “Hey, I’m Filipino too. And I could play that part.” I felt very encouraged shortly after when I auditioned for the role at an all-girls school nearby and got the part.

After a performance, I met the man who would later be my acting coach who helped me get into my acting conservatory. It was apparent to me that there were many others who were in support of me becoming an actor and making a name for myself. I am forever grateful to those teachers and mentors who instead of saying, “Why you?” said, “Why not you?”

Vincent Rodriguez III with Rachel Bloom in an episode of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” on The CW. Greg Gayne / The CW

In “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” you play Josh Chan, a Filipino American. Was there any confusion about that at first? Your own background is also mixed. How strong was the Filipino influence in your family?

I think there was confusion from our audiences’ end since it was something we didn’t put in the writing in the first few episodes. But I was always playing a Filipino character with a Filipino surname, Chan. [The character’s surname was originally “Chang,” but it was later changed.]

My background is also mixed: Filipino, Latino, and Chinese. Both my parents were born in the Philippines. My dad is full Filipino, but my mom looks a little mixed and her mom’s name is Estelita Coquico. I was raised in a dominantly Filipino family. I didn’t know I was “mixed” until I got older and started asking questions about my grandparents, the origins of our middle and last names. We were kind of textbook Pinoys. A lot of the Filipino stereotypes that were joked about by me and my friends rang very true with my family. I never thought I was anything other than full-on Filipino growing up.

In my mind, as an observer of these things for many years, I don’t recall ever seeing a joke about dinuguan [Filipino pork blood stew] made on mainstream TV. In that sense, this is a real breakthrough for Filipinos. How does that make you feel as a Filipino-American actor? Is there a sense that this is different or special? Amy Hill [a Filipino-American actress] as the mom was also on “All American Girl.”

It makes me feel pretty great that I get to be a part of this breakthrough in television history. The fact that it has now been presented to the general public on network television, is huge. Filipino food is not common when compared to your local Chinese food options. It’s cool that now America has this exposure to our native foods and family dynamic.

“All American Girl” was a huge stepping stone back then so I think it’s a about time that shows like ours bring light to my character’s Filipino background. It’s a special time for the Asian community on television. And with the strong presence of shows like “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Master of None,” and “Dr. Ken,” I see television more willing to cast Asians in non-traditional roles, and write more roles specifically for actors of Asian descent.