ABC has renewed the first Asian American family sitcom on broadcast network television in 20 years.
Fresh Off the Boat stars Constance Wu, Randall Park, Hudson Yang, Ian Chen and Forest Wheeler.
It has garnered more publicity than perhaps any show this season even before making its first voyage in mid-season.
The show based on the memoir of celebrity restauranteur and author Eddie Huang withstood tough competition from such strong veteran shows as NBC’s The Voice and CBS’s NCIS. It did better than any other show ABC has put in the Tuesday night 8pm slot in years.
Ahoy! No shipwreck here! Thx @ABCNetwork & #FreshOffTheBoat lovers for Season 2! Ur tidal wave of support is amazing! pic.twitter.com/r8l1XEcG78
— Forrest Wheeler (@wheeler_forrest) May 8, 2015
#FreshOffTheBoat #season2pickup @ABCNetwork @FreshOffABC @HudsonDYang @wheeler_forrest @TheIanChen @ConstanceWu pic.twitter.com/LGHvxGboeH
— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) May 8, 2015
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Many Asian American fans praised the show for plot lines they could relate with. The premiere episode showed the difficulties Huang had adjusting to school in his new home in Orlando. Classmates made fun of his Chinese lunches and one student called him a “chink.” The season closed with the Huangs questioning whether they had become too Americanized.
The real Eddie Huang was the show’s most vocal critic, blasting it for sanitizing his rough family upbringing and for telling a vanilla version of an Asian American story. Others in the community criticized the show’s title which they found offensive and were critical of the accents used on the show.
Ultimately all the talk around Fresh Off the Boat added to the buzz surrounding it and it generated a good following in the important 18-49 age demographic which advertisers love to buy.
The actors on the program generally received positive review and Constance Wu even garnered a nomination for a Critics Choice Award for best actress in a comedy.
Thank you Critics' Choice Awards!!! Thrilled and honored to be nominated with this superb group of women 🙂
Posted by Constance Wu on Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Fans took to social media celebrating Fresh Off the Boat’s renewal.
Yes!!! Season 2 of #freshOffTheBoat !!!
— Riya Masky (@seouldream93) May 8, 2015
Yay! #FreshOffTheBoat is going to have a second season!
— 🙂 (@5sos_sigh) May 8, 2015
Yes yes yes…. #FreshOffTheBoat got Renewed for season 2…. Heck yes
— kenny gross (@Lostprophetwolf) May 8, 2015
Why have I just learned about #FreshOffTheBoat @FreshOffABC now?! FINALLY an Asian hit show – think Asian version of Everybody Hates Chris
— Alex Garlitos (@AlexGarlitos) May 8, 2015
