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We go heavy with Jessica Jones and a sneaky story that uses the superhero trope to get TV viewers to confront a difficult topic--abuse, abusers, and their victims. Next, the Holtzclaw abuse case forces us to confront problems that are mostly swept under the rug--the vulnerability of black women in America and the twisted relationship between Asian American men and American masculinity. Also, is the relationship between Asian men and black women actually broken? We talk about how our show will transition. It's an administrative meeting, ya' all! As always, we each highlight something that "Makes America Beautiful" for us this week and Trey tells a joke. (1:27) We compare Jessica Jones to Luther and whether there should be a minority Bechtel test. We reel in the variety of female relationships on the show and avoiding the pitfalls of Smubrfette syndrome. Killgrave is Melvyn's favorite Marvel villain.  We explore what'd happen if he he visited a Chinese restaurant. How does the show confront abuse in general (not just for the hero and villains)? How is the character of Simpson an archetypal misguided white knight and mansplainer? How does the show also talk about how men deal as abuse victims? (26:44) Sadly, we turn to a recurring problem: the vulnerable position of black women in America. It's the horror of the Daniel Holtzclaw and his abuse of black women when he was a police officer. He's half white and half Asian (Japanese). Is this case symptomatic of the relationship between Asian men and black women? How do some Asian American men hyper compensate for the stereotype of the emasculated Asian stereotype? We explore colorism and status within minority groups, Black women and femininity, and Asian men and manliness. Mervyn walks a perilous line and describes what he's seen (or not seen) in the relationship between Asian American men and black American women--he admits he may be totally wrong. Trey talks about what many want out of the Asian American community in this case and the general lack of support for black women, generally. (50:40) Extra extra! We're moving! And changing names! It's the most exciting administrative meeting you've had ever (maybe). (53:56) What's beautiful in America for Trey this week is this

It's a just-in-time Christmas special! Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash talk Christmas movies. First, a trip with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," a truly punk/hippie/LSD Christmas movie. Next, the surprisingly subversive, edgy, and delightful "Miracle on 34th Street." Of course, there's a tangle with the biggest movie of the year, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Does it matter that it's a girl and a black guy in the hero roles? Is Rey a Mary Sue? It's a SPOILER FILLED exploration into a modern American myth. (0:10) We start with a dive into the bonkers Rudolph movie from 1964. "Man, I had an idea in my head that I'd seen this movie. Mervyn, I had not seen this movie." --Trey "I felt like I was on drugs." --Mervyn (23:43) Trey had never seen "Miracle on 34th Street" from 1947, so Mervyn made him do it. "It manages to be sort of corny and idealistic, but super cynical at the same time. . .The miracle in this movie is social engineering." --Trey "[These movies] were not created for people like us." --Mervyn, expressing his love for the movie (41:35) Okay. Here's the "The Force Awakens" dive. It has SPOILERS. You have been warned. We talk about whether Rey is a "Mary Sue" and whether it matters that Finn is black. Also, Kylo Ren's voice and Asians, because now they exist. (1:12:20) In this week's "What Makes America Beautiful" Trey talks about Jews in America. First a song and second the relationship between Jews, Chinese, and Christmas. Mervyn shouts out a man obsessed with NBA tattoos. Then, Trey tells a spicy joke. Some deep dive links from this week's show: * Last week's show:

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash duel with "Into the Badlands," the ultimate Bruce Lee corrective. Plus, then marvel over "Totally Awesome Hulk" and his alter ego, Korean American super genius Amadeus Cho. What happens when a "model minority" gets angry? As always, there’s What Makes America Beautiful and Mervyn tries to guess the punchline to Trey’s joke. (1:01) "Into the Badlands" tries to rectify the sins committed against Bruce Lee. But does it even matter that the lead in this show is Asian American? How does the plantation/slave/master dynamic effect how we watch the show? Why does it seem like this show's able to toe a racial/cultural/appropriation line that many shows have crossed? The guys talk future accents, cogs, and Chinese people in the future. (18:55) What is Marvel's "Totally Awesome Hulk"? The guys talk the backstory of Korean American super genius Amadeus Cho. How is he different from Bruce Banner? Is Amadeus a model minority? The guys explore why it's important to let an Asian American character get angry. The guys claim they have Korean friends and that they've seen Korean movies, so they bravely wade into descriptions of Korean culture. This includes the perilous concept of han, which Mervyn surely screwed up. The guys talk Korean movies, being turned into supersoldiers, She-Hulk, monster punching, and eating ridiculous amounts of food to save the world. (34:52) In this week's "What Makes America Beautiful" Trey recommends you try out the Interactive Rapper Skit where you can be a: Thug Rapper, Hipster Rapper, Real Hip Hop Rapper, and Pop Rapper, all from Dormtainment. Mervyn points to a video series that rewrites the Star Wars prequels and makes your nerd life 100x better, PLUS  two Christmas songs Mervyn learned from a nice, white and Latina family: "Donde Esta Santa Claus" and the very silly "Santa Lost a Ho." Then,

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash get in the ring with Creed, then reflect on terrorism in their hometown of San Bernardino. As always, there's What Makes America Beautiful and Mervyn tries to guess the punchline to Trey's joke. (1:01) We dive into Creed. We imagine a world where bankers box and the Rocky franchise is French. Is having cancer really a battle? Why won't Adonis let Rocky die? (22:14) Last week the guys recorded only 12 hours after the shootings in San Bernardino, the town where Trey and Mervyn grew up. It was raw, so this week they reflect on how things have changed now that terrorism has literally hit home. What makes the San Bernardino Valley unique? Would we have noticed the terrorists if we'd run into them on the street? The conversation ranges far and wide, including the tenuousness of one's American-ness if you're a minority and the surprising level of offensiveness of internment camps compared to the "n" word. Why should we not think of the killers as monsters and work hard to remember why they're a lot like us? (47:35) In this week's "What Makes America Beautiful" Mervyn's shouts out Otaku Gang's production "Life After Death Star" and Trey recommends an article on Jack Parsons and a founder of the Jet Propulsion Lab. Then, Trey tells a joke about religion. Links from this week's show: * Last week's show - the very raw episode, Murder in Our Home Town of San Bernardino * Episode #055 - Rachel Dolezal and real blackness + the agony of the Charleston church massacre * Episode #066 - Blackish and the "n" word + Fresh Off the Boat and vacations + Empire is Scarface * Episode #035

We talk about the San Bernardino mass shooting because it literally hits close to home. Trey and I both went to high school less than a mile from the shooting. Our parents still live nearby. This week, we couldn't talk about anything else. This conversation happened less than 12 hours after the incident. It's us trying to process a tragedy that happened in a place we know so well. What makes San Bernardino unique? How does this happening in our backyard make us feel different compared to our reactions to Colorado Springs, Sandy Hook, and other stuff we see on the news? Why aren't we any more fearful about visiting our home town? It's a raw, messy conversation. We'll get back to the something less heavy next week. This week, though, this is what we've got. Some links that you might find helpful. * A piece by Marketplace's Dave Weinberg on crime in the recently bankrupt city of San Bernardino * Digg's summary of what we know about the shootings so far * More on the man who committed the shooting * Trey finds the beauty in America this week in an article about inspiring teachers * Mervyn cleanses with a Key and Peele sketch about Power Falcons and a sneezing baby

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash dish on Master of None episode 4, Indians on TV. Why is it like nothing you've seen on television, guaranteed? Why is Short Circuit 2 both an stealthily horrifying movie when it comes to Indians in popular media? Next, a new segment called "Field Notes" where the guys talk about things they found interesting, but couldn't justify a full segment. This week, Mervyn has dreams for Randall Park and Trey gives unironic love to Jaden Smith. (Yes, this is possible.) The guys turn to Paris and wonder what we might take from the saddening events. As ever, there's "What Makes America Beautiful" and Trey tells joke. (0:52) The guys get cooking with Master of None and it's fourth episode  "Indians on TV," a singular piece of television. They discuss how the episode itself blows up all the Indian stereotypes. Mervyn points to a must read GQ article, "You May Know Me As Terrorist #4" where 7 Muslim-American talk about trying to be actors in Hollywood. The guys talk savvy Black mentors, the Magical White Guy, and out of touch activism. What does the show get right about how minorities talk about race? Mervyn talks about his recent Short Circuit 2 event, the latest episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Oh the ecstasy; oh the (mini) agony. This leads to a conversation about a towering Hollywood figure: Dante Basco. (Seriously.) Once again, Trey revels in the relative wealth of African Americans in media. He explains why A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Public Enemy showed him a new way to be be Black in America. (30:43) Next up, "Field Notes" where the guys talk about tidbits they've stumbled upon. Mervyn imagines Randall Park pulling a Bryan Cranston. Trey explores the wonder of Jaden Smith giving interviews. Somehow Don Lemon weasels

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash take aim at Spectre and Bond this week. Why do women make or break a Bond movie? What makes Bond culturally British and un-American? What could Idris Elba bring to the table and could he do for others what Daniel Craig did for blondes? Next, the boys explain why you should watch Master of None, the new show from Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, and Netflix. What does this show have to do with burgers, "ethnic" food, and cake? The guys talk token white friends how how they relate to their families' immigrant. As always there's "What Makes America Beautiful" and Trey's joke. Time stamps and more detailed synopses from this week's show: (0:15) Ah, James Bond. Women seem to be the key to a Bond movie's quality (see, the best of the Daniel Craig run: Casino Royale). What makes Eva Green's character in that movie work better than Lea Seydoux's character in this one? The guys talk The Quiet American,  Sicario, Mission: Impossible, and Bond's dogged connection to The Crown. Could James Bond be the original brand conscious hero--the perfect protagonist for the consumerist age? Then Mervyn forgets how to speak English. The guys hypothesize what Idris Elba would bring to a Bond role. That means they rope in Luther, Beasts of No Nation, and Dr. Who. What does it mean to be British? Or an agent of an imperial. . .errr. . .empirical. . .uh, imperical. . .era. Whatever. Also, are we post-hair? (26:45) Next up, Mervyn continues to have difficulty with his native language. That doesn't stop the guys from discussing Master of None, a show from Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, and Netflix. Why should you watch this? To make their point, the guys make innovative use of a verbal semicolon and dash. The guys go culinary and compare this show's place in the TV landscapte to eating burgers (Mervyn) and cake (Trey). This works surprisingly well. How heavily do we rely on TV to fill in our cultural gaps? In a bold move, Mervyn takes time to miss white people. The guys laser in on episode 2 called "Parents," a show about the gap between two American born Asian kids and their

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash make the case that Rick and Morty is easily one of the best sci-fi things, ever. How does the show transcend the cynical cartoon genre of The Simpsons / Futurama / Family Guy and explore a deeply sincere, yet hilarious place. Sorta Ikiru,  2001: A Space Odyssey, and Kierkegaard mixed in with ball jokes.  (Seriously, this show's a must watch.) Next, the guys watched the indie web movie Awesome Asian Bad Guys, a production from the guys at the National Film Society. Who are Trey and Mervyn's favorite Asian baddies? (0:14) Rick and Morty seems like a cartoon version of a twisted Doc Brown and Marty from Back to the Future mixed with Dr. Who, but why is it that and so much more? The guys struggle to describe part of an episode called "Mortynight Run," specifically the B plot about Jerry in daycare. They talk about feeling like you're the super intelligent grandfather Rick, fearing that you're the loser dad Jerry, and how our best hope is that we're the well intentioned but overwhelmed grandson Morty. Trey and Mervyn discuss about how being a cartoon lets the show to push the jokes further than any other show and explore a place that's more real and sincere than you'd ever expect. The conversation covers competence porn, fart aliens, portal guns, pizza, multiverses, walking first world problems, and Star Trek. Did we mention this is a madcap TV show? (21:51) Next up, it's the movie Awesome Asian Bad Guys. The guys talk about their favorite Asian baddies and the 80's. Mervyn spends some time on an Asian-y soapbox. (Would you expect anything less?) The guys talk walls, anchor babies, the Klan, and why World War II and the Korean War might have helped America be a little less racist. Also, why does Bruce Lee matter even more than you think? Then, Mervyn admits he used to subscribe to Yello

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash watched Alex Gibney's documentary "Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine" and the Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle movie "Steve Jobs." Guess what they're talking about this week? Yup. Steve Jobs is an icon, but why? What do we want to see in him that we wish were in us? Next, the guys were disappointed in the "Supergirl" upfront trailer (ugh), BUT the show itself may actually be okay and could get good. Why is there hope? What happens when "Super" gets girly and Jimmy Olsen decides to go by "James?" (0:16) Trey and Mervyn recount their history with Apple/Jobs (is there a difference?). Trey reveals the depth of his hipster relationship and Mervyn shows he's a grumpy luddite. Turns out the biopic and the documentary stir up some thoughts. Surprise. The guys talk about how Steve Jobs tried to give us enlightenment through our products. Why do nerds/smart people/perfectionists worship at the alter of Jobs? Is he just an excuse for smart people to be emotionally clueless jerks? Why have we elevated Jobs to an icon? Why might we all be the worst parts of Steve Jobs (seriously, we are all Jobs)? Most importantly, who should we blame for al this? (28:33) And then up and away the guys go to "Supergirl" (the not Black Widow TV show). Even though they're men, the guys refuse to hold their opinions. They do, though, proceed with caution. Trey explains why he loves that little Kara wasn't afraid, but is now unsure of her heroism. Mervyn marvels at Jimmy/James Olsen, maybe little bit too much. Why might this be better than the guys had hoped for? (46:29) In this week's "What Makes America Beautiful," Trey was delighted by the tumblr calle

Trey and Mervyn of Culture Slash examine the TV show "Dr. Ken," its status as the "other Asian American comedy." Who is this show for anyway? Next, the boys join up with "Beasts of No Nation," the challenging, powerful Netflix movie on child soldiers. Did the African-ness of the movie help or hinder connecting with the story? Is this an American story of Africa in disguise? We also have question from a listener about evil black hackers which leads the guys to discuss evil black hacker patient zero: Theo from "Die Hard." (0:14) The guys visit "Dr. Ken" and compare it to "Fresh Off the Boat." What kind of person would enjoy this show? Then, Mervyn unironically uses the phrase "lean in," for which he is not forever shamed. Where do the guys wish the show would go? How might this show make the world a better place, even if it gets cancelled after only a season? Why might mediocrity be key to Asian American survival on TV? (15:02) Trey and Mervyn go a little heavy with Netflix's "Beasts of No Nation." Trey talks about watching a story like this. Mervyn talks about the surprising way he connected with the story. The guys wonder if white Americans would connect more with a movies about European child soldiers. What are we supposed to take away from a story like this? (40:10) The guys answer a listener question for "Ask A Minority." This weeks' question: "When I see a black guy portrayed as an evil hacker, should I be happy or sad? Does it break or perpetuate stereotypes?" This leads the guys to talk the patient zero of black hackers: Theo from "Die Hard." How was he more than a token character (at the time)? (See contrast, "True Lies.") Trey discovers he knows more fictional black hackers than he realized. He also talks the black mechanic trope, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. Du Bois and the talented tenth. Talk about dorky. Mervyn shares with Trey how