Random Pix
30
Mar, 2014
Hi. I'm Back.
Hi There Everyone Reading This (all 3 of you)!
My blog has been woefully neglected. Now that Modern Family is on hiatus I thought I’d try to fill that void with some writing. One of the main reasons I haven’t been contributing to my blog is because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about. When I started this blog, many moons ago, Aubrey was just a little baby and I was a newly, struggling single mom. I could bitch and vent without the worry of affecting her reputation or (WHAT?) career. Yeah. As a comedian, I felt the freedom to express my opinions on anything from breast feeding to horrible parenting.
My how life has changed! Fast forward 6 years and Aubrey is a television star, we live in a mansion and I’m driving a Maserati. OK, well maybe the last couple things aren’t true, the rented town house and Toyota Prius C are fine for now, but life took a very unexpected turn in 2011 which really left me not sure what to write about. Finding the balance between privacy and promotion has been a tricky task and the struggle to maintain (let alone grow) my own 17 year acting and comedy career has been frustrating, to say the least.
But one big, fat lesson I’ve learned in the last three years of my foray into the head-spinning world of Hollywood stage-momming is that motherhood is still the same. No matter how famous or wealthy my 6 yr old becomes, I still want all the same things for her. We are still “real” people. I still want to protect her. I still want to brag about her. I want her to thrive and learn to be a good, healthy person. I still want her to eat SOME of the broccoli, not just the pasta. I want her to be happy, but not a spoiled brat. If she weren’t on a hit tv show, this list would still pretty much be the same. I’m dealing with the same mom/kid issues, just sometimes in different venues – No, you many not have anymore donuts from craft services. Yes, you have to behave at The Emmys. No, you may not wear high heels to your friend’s house even if Sofia Vergara bought them for you. Seriously.
I guess what I’m trying to say is we are “real” people living in extraordinary scenarios and I hope we can always remain this way. Real. The youth “affluenza” epidemic in our current American society is shameful enough, so needless to say, it is out of control in much of the entertainment industry. I have been saddled with the task of combatting this creepy virus and I’ll be damned if I let the Hollywood machine take my kid down like so many before her.
I also want people to know there’s a lot more to our lives – MY life – than being “Lily’s mom”. You know I’ve actually had many people want to take my picture just because I’m “Lily’s mom”? Geez, people. Come on. In short, my dining room table is a mess, my dog still likes to shit on my bathmat after $2500 worth of training and I’m totally over dating. Dating as an Asian American, 40-something single mom of a child star should be its own reality show (with someone else as the star please).
So here’s to a new chapter in the FunnyYellowMom blog. I’m still Funny. Still a mom. Still yellow, too! I hope I can share a slice of our lives that is honest and interesting and hopefully fun.
The next topic on the chopping block: HOME SCHOOLING or Does This Mean I Have To Wear A Fanny Pack?
04
Jul, 2013
Tonto? More Like No-No.
OK, so that was a pretty lame post title, but I haven’t had coffee yet.
Not to be a big Debbie Downer on the 4th, but someone recently asked me if I think it’s offensive that Johnny Depp is playing a native Indian in the new Lone Ranger movie.
(And btw, I’m going to use the word “Indian” referring to Native Americans, Indigenous People, First People… because the Indians I know tell me they use the term Indian. Really. Straight from the Indians’ mouths.)
My two cents? Acting is acting and I think the best person should get the job but it only makes sense that that should probably be within that part’s specific race if it’s designated as such. I.e. Denzel Washington is never going to slather himself in white makeup and play George Washington. Can you imagine? People would riot!! WTF white people?!
I think if an actor of Japanese descent plays a Korean character, so what? An Italian guy plays a Jewish character, Mexican American plays a Colombian American (heeeyyy Manny Delgado!), ok but a blue eyed caucasian playing an Asian character is just stupid and racist and Johnny Depp playing Tonto is gross. Asians and Indians seem to get screwed the worst in this arena as enough people finally realized it was racist to do it to a black role and Latino roles are coming along, but they still get screwed too. Anyway, here’s something to chew on:
10 TIMES WHITE ACTORS PLAYED PEOPLE OF COLOR
I’m a tech moron so I don’t know how to put this link on here in a fancier way, but it is a small sampling. There are many, many more examples out there.
On a cheerier note… HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! As an immigrant to this country, my adoptive country and the only home I’ve known (I came here as a 5 month old) I am so proud to be an American. (please don’t sing that song) I am so grateful to live in a country where anything is possible, where I can stand on stage with a microphone and say anything I want – about religion, politics, sex, drugs, children, animals – ANYTHING. And then get paid for it! I’m grateful to live in a country where I am valued and was educated and where I know my daughter can achieve whatever she wants. I’m grateful to live in a country that supports me as a single mother. I’m truly living the American dream and there is no place else I would want to call home. This is my country.
Have a safe and happy 4th!
Tags: 4th Of July • acting • Amy Anderson • Independence Day • Johnny Depp • movies • racism • The Lone Ranger
12
May, 2013
I'll Take It
I haven’t posted anything on my blog in quite a while. Busy busy busy, currently without any regular child care help and my mind has been all over the place. It has been a productive and happy time, but nuts. Today, being Mother’s Day, I thought it would be a good night to gather some thoughts before I commence my cookie eating/tv watching binge. (Mad Men awaits!)
So I’ll share this… Something that I REALLY wanted to happen this weekend, didn’t happen. On Friday afternoon, I was informed that “The Newsroom” (HBO) might be bringing back my character from an episode I shot a co-star role for back in March. I was told it would work on Monday and maybe again the beginning of June and I’d hear over the weekend. Well, on Saturday, I found out they decided to cut the role from the script.
BUMMER!! I wasn’t pissed off, but I had a mini-mope fest, and then moved on. Too much other stuff to think about anyway. Who has time to waste feeling sorry for oneself? That’s one of the perks of being a single-mother/working actor: even when things are slow, it’s insanely busy, so one must move the fuck on, like a big girl.
Being a mom has also taught me a lot about appreciating what I have at the moment. Moms know that moments in life can be alarmingly brief, phases come and go and there’s something completely different looking you in the face in what feels like the blink of an eye. Sometimes not getting what you want can be the best thing that ever happens to you. And yeah, sometimes it just sucks balls, but life is such a great adventure when we learn to love what is happening at the moment. What other choice is there? It will be gone in an instant, so embrace it.
Here is my bright side of getting axed from The Newsroom:
– I was informed there’s always the possibility the character could come back in a future episode (there’s one more left to shoot in their season, so…)
– More importantly, Aaron Sorkin thought enough of me to write more scenes for me – and then chop them – but how cool is that?! I’ll take it. Honestly, it’s one of the most exciting indirect compliments I’ve ever received as an actor. Would it be totally gauche to put that on my resume?
“Aaron Sorkin digs me so much, he writes deletable lines for me”
I had a unique and memorable Mother’s Day weekend. I hope those of you who celebrated felt loved and appreciated.
To all the strong, beautiful, fun, hard-working, thoughtful, vibrant, intelligent, caring, compassionate, supportive, exhausted, talented, generous, selfless, stubborn, creative, loving, nurturing, driven, wise, wise-ass moms out there… HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! You make a difference in this world every day. You matter and you’re awesome. All the crappy moms can take a flying leap. You know who you are.
Tags: acting • Amy Anderson • Mother's Day • motherhood • single mom • The Newsroom • working mom
