I am not a fan of many of the big TV network shows. They do not do it for me in terms of comedy or drama; but ABC’s newest comedy, “Fresh Off the Boat,” has become the exception.
The show, set in the ’90s, is about 12-year-old Eddie Huang and his family as they move from Chinatown in Washington, D.C., to Orlando, Florida, and the challenges they overcome trying to obtain the “American dream.”
Some of these challenges include Eddie’s dad’s (Louis Huang) old west restaurant is not doing well, which was the whole reason the family moved to Orlando. A challenge for Eddie is that his mother, Jessica Huang, is what many would call a “tiger mom.” She is overbearing and expects the absolute best from her children.
However, the plot itself is not why I love the show so much. It is the fact that it plays into all the stereotypes affecting race. When the audience is introduced to the Huang’s neighborhood, it is the stereotypical “white housewives” that greet the family.
These women are dressed in roller skating gear and the leader is a typical blonde, who is way too perky and has an incredibly annoying voice. They introduce themselves dressed in the terrible fashion of the ’90s.
This was one of the funniest parts, in my opinion, because of how much it played into the “white” stereotype. In a scene where Jessica tries to skate with the rest of the group, the women with stereotypical white names seemed like complete airheads talking about a soap opera.
Another scene, from the second episode, showed how much a “tiger mom” Jessica was. Since her oldest son was getting straight A’s, she thought school was too easy, so she began tutoring her sons afterschool to prevent them from falling behind.
Just as I love how much the show plays into the differences we see portrayed in the media, I also love how it plays into the similarities every family faces. In one episode, family members from Washington, D.C., visit and the two families try to outdo each other.
While it is fun to laugh at the stereotypes, it was also nice to see how relatable the show could be. As the show progressed, I could connect with the characters and laughed more than expected.
After only a few episodes, I was thoroughly impressed and excited to see where this series will go. New episodes premier every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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