K-Town

The New York Post

2010-11-30T03:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/jersey_shore_for_asians_79AF3hIhiODbUMHwRZyC1L

Source: The New York Post, April 5, 2010

'Jersey Shore' for Asians

Post staff writer

Last Updated: 3:18 PM, April 5, 2010

Posted: 1:46 AM, April 5, 2010

Casting notices are out this week for an Asian-American version of "Jersey Shore."

This latest twist on the MTV hit series joins at least two other knockoffs -- a Russian-American version set in Brighton Beach and another starring senior citizens at a nursing home.

The formula -- six or eight people with strong personalities and colorful nicknames living away from home -- is proving to be more durable than anyone had guessed when "Jersey Shore" debuted earlier this year.

The information on the latest iteration came out this week in a casting notice posted on Craigslist in LA.

"Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to 'Jersey Shore,' 'Real World,' 'The Hills,' etc. . ." the notice reads.

"We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life."

Casting isn't limited strictly to Asian-Americans either.

"If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain," it said.

The notice did not indicate which production company had posted the notice -- a clue to which networks might be interested.

OK! Magazine

2010-11-29T19:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/07/asian-jersey-shore-a-reality-%E2%80%94-tyrese-producing/

Asian Jersey Shore a Reality — Tyrese Producing

The search is over. The cast is in place and filming has begun on K-Town, a reality “spoof” of the Jersey Shore — featuring Asian-Americans instead of guidos and produced by model/actor Tyrese Gibson. The show is set on the shores of the West coast, in L.A.’s Koreatown.

Peter Le, pictured below, is being coined “the Korean Situation” and the show hasn’t even aired yet.

Le is a body builder and allegedly a porn star, according to Jezebel. The Situation is merely an exotic dancer.

Craigslist posted a casting call back in April that read:

Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore’…We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain.

To see what will be in store, check out K-Town’s Twitter — muscles and booze abound!

The New York Times

2010-11-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/on-television-asians-face-multiple-situations/

'On Television, Asians Face Multiple ‘Situations’'

The seemingly endless train of new semiliterate reality shows following the “Jersey Shore” model — maligning a generally underrepresented ethnic subculture via a careful selection of its most narcissistic elements — chugs along. There’s the Brighton Beach version. A Massachusetts version is reportedly in the works. And, at long last, the cast of “K-Town Reality Show” was announced this week.

Curbed does the requisite character mapping between the new show, which follows a group of heavily coiffed Asian-Americans around Los Angeles, and its New Jersey-based predecessor.

But while the styles may seem the same, there appears to be something different about this show. For example, as the Racialicious writer Arturo R. García observes, the dead ringer to be an Asian “Situation” is a bit more sensible on camera than the original. This fact alone may doom the show. (Who wants to watch a “Sensible Situation”?)

The members of the band Ching Chong Song might have benefited from some of that sensibility when they sat down to name their group. Searching for the worst band name in New York, Sound of the City selected the alliteratively titled duo.

Apart from having a bad band name, the pair, both white Brooklynites, have faced criticism — and even protests before shows at New York University and Bryn Mawr — from Asian-Americans who find the name culturally insensitive and even racist. (It is, quite obviously, based on a derogatory expression.)

The band apologized to Bryn Mawr students after the school canceled a show in 2007, but appears not to have responded to the charges by changing its name. And now that it’s semiofficially the worst in the city, why change at this point?

In Queens, an Asian situation of a different sort has at least one local blogger riled up. It seems that a former Bollywood movie theater in Jackson Heights, shuttered last year during a film producers’ strike in India, will not reopen. At least, not as a cultural institution. It’s slated to be replaced by a Rite Aid pharmacy.

Salon

2010-11-28T01:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.salon.com/news/trending/2010/07/20/mtv_k_town_cast_reel

Source: Salon, July 20, 2010

MTV'S "K-Town" Pilot gets Buzz; "Jersey Shore" with Asians?
Reality series hasn't been picked up by the network yet, but the cast is already making waves Video

By Christine Mathias

"K-Town" Twitter feed

The cast of MTV pilot "K-Town". L-R: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang

As if the world could handle another Snooki, singer-model-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing a show called "K-Town," which TMZ dubbed "Like 'Jersey Shore', but with Asians." The pilot was shot in Los Angeles a week ago and has yet to be picked up by MTV, but if the drinking, muscles and attractiveness of the cast are factored in, it could be a big hit.

The cast is already set up on Twitter, where you can catch bon mots from former exotic dancer Scarlet Chan such as "I love the orgies scene in True Blood.. I wanna hook up with a Vampire so bad." Word. Or try out Peter Le, who runs a softcore website and shames Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino with his rippling abdominals. In fact, Queerty takes up the burning question of Le's straightness, and dubs him "The Situasian."

The Examiner has a rundown of the cast and the early hype, and Best Week Ever remarks that "Guidoism knows no bounds." Blogger MTV Iggy focuses on Asian-American pop culture and has a wealth of information on the show.

The full, uncut cast reel was released to the public after TMZ leaked an earlier version, so check that out here.

Chelsea Lately

2010-11-28T01:16:00.000-08:00

April 5, 2010

Mention on Chelsea Lately, Monday night on April 5th.

Watch it before YouTube takes it down!

TMZ

2010-11-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.tmz.com/2010/07/18/jersey-shore-asians-k-town-reality-show/

'K-Town' -- Like 'Jersey Shore,' But with Asians'

If this video is any indication, the new reality show "K-Town" -- billed as an Asian version of "Jersey Shore" -- will do for Asians what the original "JS" did for Italians. And that's not a good thing.

TMZ has obtained this cast reel for the new show -- which has only shot its pilot and hasn't been picked up by a network yet. There's definitely a Situation or two, a Snooki, a Pauly D type (who is most likely a club promoter, not a DJ) and their version of Jwoww goes by Jwao (kidding).

GTR for life.

TV.com (from TV Guide UK)

2010-11-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.tv.com/oh.-no.-jersey-shore-2/webnews/61348.html

Source: TV.com, April 6, 2010

Oh. No. Jersey Shore #2?

TellyBelle TVGuide.co.uk Blog 04/06/10 07:40 AM

First, MTV launched Jersey Shore - the controversial and unapologetically trashy reality series that follows a group of young Italian-Americans living it up in New Jersey. Now, a US production company is looking to recreate the show with Asian-Americans. *Cringe*

According to the recruitment advert, the company is looking for "attractive Asian-Americans aged 18-30 with lively, strong personalities" to star in a reality show similar to Jersey Shore, The Real World and The Hills. So now they're out to offend a whole other ethnic group by painting Asians in an equally bad light, as they did with the 'Guidos' of Jersey Shore. Great! My favourite part of the advert is the bit that says: "If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain." Yes, please explain why on earth you are obsessed with Asians, 'in some way'. This promises to be some seriously intellectual stuff!

Story Source: http://blog.tvguide.co.uk/?p=854

DISCLAIMER: This posting was submitted by a user of the site, not from TV.com's editorial staff. All users have acknowledged and agreed that the submission of their story and its contents is in compliance with our Terms of Use.

The Daily Beast

2010-11-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-03/the-asian-jersey-shore/

Source: The Daily Beast, August 3, 2010

The Asian 'Jersey Shore'

Has MTV’s hit show become a gateway for ethnic reality TV? Joyce C. Tang talks exclusively to the producers and cast of K-Town about the likelihood of an Asian invasion.

When Jersey Shore ended its winter run on an unexpected high note, making a fantastic turnaround from derogatory exploitation to stroke of entertainment genius, the imitations came fast and furious. There were rumors of a Brighton Beach ripoff and a Persian version; a geriatric version has already made it to air. Second-rate copies of what had originally seemed to many like a second-rate idea—could Jersey Shore, continuing its runaway success in its second season on MTV, have created an entirely new category of identity-based reality television?

Click the Image to View Our Gallery of Jersey Shore vs. K-Town

At least one copycat is getting out of the gate. In April, a posting appeared on Craigslist calling for “interesting, attractive, colorful Asian Americans to cast in a reality show similar to Jersey Shore.” After the producers shot the pilot episode recently, a steady stream of cast photos trickled out, and TMZ leaked an outrageous casting reel that got the Internet buzzing. There’s already an Asian counterpart—dubbed “The Situasian”—to Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, what appears to be an equal devotion to gym time and boozing as the Jersey-ites, and hair-tugging cat fights.

Unsurprisingly, it’s not just Guidos and Guidettes that can party and ‘roid out with the best of them. The bottom line of all this seemed to say, Asians! They’re just like us! Except substitute gym, tan, laundry, for karaoke, designer brands, and taking pictures.

Tentatively titled K-Town and set in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, the show has yet to be picked up by a network, and who knows whether it will be. Not since 1994 have television audiences been confronted with an all-Asian cast. Margaret Cho’s All American Girl aired for one short-lived, turbulent season. Plagued by low ratings, ABC wrangled with Cho about her weight, not being Asian enough, and then being too Asian. By the end of the season, the only Asians left were Cho and co-star Amy Hill.
While the cast of Jersey Shore played into Italian-American stereotypes with unself-conscious zeal, the racial twist of the Asian translation has a different agenda.

“A lot of stereotypes about Asians are good,” said Mike Le, one of the show’s producers. “We’re smart, we play the violin or piano, we’re hard workers, great at math. Our cast is like that, too, except they’re also sexy, stylish, and have swagger. Those are things people don’t think of when they think of Asians in media. They think Asian guys are asexual, girls are docile, repressed.”

To wit, the cast features Peter “The Situasian” Le, a gay porn actor who runs his own erotic website (NSFW!), and ex-stripper Scarlet Chan, who responded to the Craigslist ad by promising to bring in viewers “through my many mischievous and slutty episodes.” Chan, 24 and originally from Hong Kong, acknowledges that her lifestyle “doesn’t fit the traditional norm of what a nice Chinese daughter is supposed to do,” but says the point of the show will be to break down old stereotypes and create new ones. Even on the cast’s conservative end, Violet Kim, who is already being billed as the show’s Snooki because of her petite stature, doesn’t fit the “model minority” mold. Kim, an aspiring actress, doesn’t have a college degree. College was “never something I thought about accomplishing until I got divorced,” she says. She’s now a single mother at 27. It goes without saying that the show is already causing anxiety among certain Asian groups, a culture that prizes achievement and honor and shudders at anything that would bring shame or disgrace.

Produced by a team of three Asian men under actor/model/rapper Tyrese Gibson’s production company, the show, at least in its preview form, is intent on breaking down stereotypes, especially that of the desexualized Asian male. Its pack of four over-muscled gym rats seem more than ready to bare all for the cameras.

“Why can’t you see the Asian man get the girl?” Eugene Choi, one of the producers, recently asked rhetorically over the phone to The Daily Beast. He cites the ending of Romeo Must Die, in which Jet Li plays Romeo to Aaliyah’s Juliet. Despite the movie’s romantic buildup, it ends with a G-rated hug. The original ending with a kiss was re-written when it was ill-received by “urban audiences.”

Chan says the men on the show won’t face that problem. “The guys are super cocky, really good-looking. They have game and know how to pick up girls,” she says. “They’re going to get so much pussy, it’s ridiculous.”

But is the mission to replace one set of stereotypes with its literal opposite too, well, literal?

Asian Americans have been making their way onto the small and big screen for decades, and are now being cast alongside their white counterparts in roles that have nothing to do with being Asian. There’s B.D. Wong, Ming Na, and Lindsey Price, and among those who have been cast beyond ancillary, supporting roles, Sandra Oh, John Cho, Daniel Dae Kim, and Lucy Liu.

“The guys are super cocky, really good-looking. They have game and know how to pick up girls,” says cast member Scarlet Chan.

Despite such inroads, Asians still represent only 1 to 3 percent of the television population, with that 1 percent accounting for recurring characters. Simply casting Asians alongside white actors “isn’t really effective,” says Vincent Pham, co-author of Asian Americans and the Media. And it goes without saying that while the spectacle of over-the-top, in-your-face Asians could be good for ratings, it’s not necessarily good for the group as a whole, says Dana Mastro, an associate professor of communications at the University of Arizona, Tucson, who studies stereotyping of racial and ethnic minorities on television and in media.

But others disagree. “[I]t’s far more important to see the true variance of Asian Americans on TV, whether we like them or not, than to cherry-pick our chosen representatives in order to cast ourselves, however sparingly, in the best possible light,” Diana Nguyen, co-founder of Disgrasian, a blog devoted to pop culture from an Asian perspective, wrote to The Daily Beast. Besides, as Snooki and shows like Will & Grace have proven, stereotypes aren’t deadly. And it would be unfair to pin the burden of breaking down all stereotypes on to a singular show.

As to whether audiences are ready to embrace Asians on television, just look at the bevy of vote-in competition shows (with white voters, no doubt) in which Asians have dominated: Dat Phan of Last Comic Standing, Harlemm Lee of Fame, the predominantly Asian dance troupe JabbaWockeeZ, which won America’s Best Dance Crew, and Kristy Yamaguchi and Apolo Anton Ohno for Dancing With the Stars.

For the most part, and perhaps due to the unlikely success of Jersey Shore, K-Town is being met with a good deal of eagerness. “I think it will be a train wreck,” said Jen Wang, Nguyen’s co-blogger. “But I think it will be interesting. All reality TV is like this. Everyone’s drunk and tacky, dressed in a certain way. That’s who’s on reality TV…. It’s almost just parity.”

Nguyen agrees: “An all-Asian cast would be just like a cast of Jersey Guidos or randy housewives: idiosyncratic, attention-grubbing, a little hateful, a little wonderful, and funny.”

And if the producers can ride the media buzz, convincing networks that they’re amassing a built-in audience, then K-Town’s likelihood is even better still. “I think something’s there,” Le says. “People are, at the very least, curious.”

If anything, that Asians now qualify for equal-opportunity humiliation isn’t necessarily the worst that could happen.

The Daily Beast

2010-11-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1928/1/?newsmaker=92&redirectURL=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsmaker/sexybeast/#gallery=1928;page=1;item=ps

Source: The Daily Beast

Jersey Shore VS. KTown

The Situation vs. Peter Le: Hardbodies

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

Loving the gym isn't the only thing Jersey Shore star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and K-Town's resident egotist, Peter Le, have in common. Mike was a member of the "All American Male" exotic dancer crew, according to TMZ, showing off his Rambo-like body to hordes of horny bachelorettes. His Asian-American counterpart, Peter, operates his own XXX website, where visitors 18 or older can check out the bodybuilder in all his glory.

JWoww vs. Scarlet Chan: Smackdowns

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

While Jersey Shore star Jenni "JWoww" Farley—not to mention partner-in-crime Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi—isn't even Italian, K-Town's Scarlet Chan is, by all accounts, Asian. That said, the two busty brunettes share tattoos along their ribs and are prone to alcohol-induced fisticuffs—at least judging by JWoww's backhand smack to The Situation's face in Season 1 of Jersey Shore, and Scarlet's frenzied slap-fight at the 1:16 mark of K-Town's promo reel. Both are also entrepreneurs: JWoww has a clothing line called Filthy Couture, and Scarlet is a self-proclaimed model/stripper/hooker.

Sammi Sweetheart vs. Jennifer Field: Pretty Girls

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

With their bikini-ready frames and seductive smiles, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola of Jersey Shore and Jennifer Field of K-Town are the resident pretty girls of the (mad)house, bound to attract the jealousy of their fellow female castmates and break the hearts of the males—which Sammi certainly accomplished in Season 1, with her short-lived Situation/Ronnie love triangle. However, both ladies have racked up some fine accomplishments outside the house: Half-Asian Jennifer was winner of the 2006 Miss Asian America pageant, and Sammi was part of the William Paterson University soccer team that won the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Metro Tournament in November 2009.

Pauly D vs. Young Lee: Blowouts

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio's blowout has become such a phenomenon that the New York Daily News even crafted an instructional video on the 25-minute, gel-heavy process. Then there's Young Lee. The blowout-sporting Guam native and 2003 graduate of New Jersey's John F. Kennedy High School moved to the West Coast to pursue a dancing career. No word yet on how long it takes Young to perfect his soon-to-be patented blowout.

Angelina vs. Jasmine Chang: Drama Queens

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

Every reality-TV show needs a person who'll create a scene. Angelina Pivarnick filled that role during the first season of Jersey Shore, cockblocking her male housemates every chance she got. The Kim Kardashian of Staten Island was eventually booted from the house in the third episode, when she refused to show up for work at the Seaside Heights T-shirt shop. "I feel like this job is beneath me. I'm a bartender… I do, like, great things," were her famous last words. Jasmine Chang, a Tila Tequila-type hairdresser sporting a wacky, platinum blond hairdo, should also bring the drama, and prove the saying that (fake) blondes really are more fun.

Ronnie vs. Steve Kim: Fauxhawks

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

Though Jersey Shore star Ronnie Magro is a bigger gorilla pugilist, knocking out several haters in the first season (including an epic showdown on the boardwalk), he and K-Town's Steve Kim share a hairstyle: the fauxhawk. Steve seems a bit more proud of his, since his Twitter handle is @mohawksteve. Then again, Ronnie wins in the piercings department; he rocks a nipple ring on his left pec. Now, the only question is: Will Steve be the first one to get arrested in the house?

Snooki vs. Violet Kim: Tiny Dancers

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

It was the shot heard 'round the world. With her bright orange tan and infamous pouf—aka "The Snookit"—Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi won the hearts of many when she was sucker-punched by a Queens gym teacher. In addition to popularizing Bumpits, the diminutive Snooki, who is all of 4-foot-9, is a true Guidette patriot, exchanging a flurry of Twitter messages with Sen. John McCain over Obama's tanning tax. Short in stature at 5-foot-3 and sporting long, dark hair, Violet Kim is the Asian heir apparent to Snooki. Look for her to be dancing on bars and stirring up some drama. It's not yet known if she has a food fetish like the pickle-obsessed Snooki, but let's just pray she avoids any and all angry gym teachers.

Vinnie vs. Joe Sugil Cha: The Good Guys

Image: MTV; Courtesy of KTown

Twenty-one-year-old SUNY New Paltz grad and aspiring lawyer Vinnie Guadagnino is the nice guy who's too sensitive and just too much of a real person to steal scenes on Jersey Shore, so he faded into the background of the show's first season, only popping up occasionally to playa hate on The Situation. In a similar vein, K-Town's Joe Sugil Cha is making a play for the title of "comparatively responsible" member of the house, having attended the University of Washington and now living in Los Angeles as co-founder of the nightlife promotion company Whisper Entertainment. No word yet on whether Joe will be stricken with a (terribly exaggerated) case of pinkeye or bang Peter "The Situasian" Le's sister.

TV Week

2010-11-26T22:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2010/04/asian-americans-sought-out-for.php

Source: TV Week, April 6, 2010

Asian-Americans Sought Out for 'Jersey Shore'-Like Show NY Post

Casting notices on Craigslist are looking to create a new "Jersey Shore" type show, but with Asian-Americans, the New York Post reports.

An Asian-American version of the show would join two other knockoffs of the format that are currently being cast, one with Russian-Americans and another with senior citizens.

The ad reads: "Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to 'Jersey Shore,' 'Real World,' 'The Hills,' etc."

The notice specified that respondents should be between 18-30 years of age with interesting life experiences from living in the Koreatown area. The notice added that non-Asians who are interested in Asian culture were also welcome to audition.

The production company or network behind the notice wasn't available.

NBC New York

2010-11-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Another-Jersey-Shore-Spinoff-Persian-Version-90221772.html

Source: NBC New York, April 8, 2010

Another "Jersey Shore" Spinoff: The Persian Version

Calling all youthful-looking, hard-partying Persian-Americans!

By MARIEL SMITH

MTV

Guidos, Russkies, and Asians will have to make room for yet another ethnic group on the reality TV party scene -- the Persians.

In what is starting to sound like a United Nations of club-hopping, guilty pleasure television, the company that brought you the original MTV hit-reality show "Jersey Shore," is creating a spinoff called "The Persian Version," according to Gawker.

Doron Ofir Casting and 495 Productions are seeking "outrageous, outspoken and proud" partying Persian-Americans in Los Angeles who are at least 21 years old and look no older than 30. (Good thing they're looking in LA.)

For those keeping tabs, this is the third spinoff series announced so far.

"Brighton Beach" is scouting the country for attention-loving Russian-Americans ages 21 to 30, who will get their techno music, vodka-fueled party-on in Brooklyn.

Also, singer-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing an Asian-American reality show set in the Los Angeles/Koreatown area. A post on Craigslist said they are "looking for beautiful Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share..."

Even the original "Jersey Shore" is looking for more Italian-Americans to join Snooki, The Situation, and the rest of the gang for the show's second season in Miami.

First Published: Apr 8, 2010 10:53 AM EDT

VH1 Best Week Ever

2010-11-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-07-19/asian-jersey-shore-proves-guidoism-knows-no-racial-bounds/

'Asian Jersey Shore Proces Guidoism Knows No Racial Bounds'

TMZ has leaked the cast reel for K-Town, a so-called “Asian Jersey Shore” set in LA’s Koreatown (not a reboot of Fox’s short-lived Anthony Anderson cop show K-Ville). The show hasn’t been picked up by a network yet, which simultaneously improves and deflates my opinion of network executives.

Either way, it’s a progressive step forward for television to include some other races in its ongoing exploitation of drunk D-bags for our self-aware, superior-feeling amusement. Keepin’ MLK’s dream alive! Click the pic below to watch:

LA Weekly

2010-11-26T02:40:00.000-08:00

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/city-news/asian-guido-casting-reality/

Source: LA Weekly, April 2, 2010

City News

REALITY SHOW ABOUT KOREATOWN SEEKS ASIAN GUIDOS, NICOLAS CAGE-TYPES

By Dennis Romero, Friday, Apr. 2 2010 @ 12:15PM

Comments (6)

Categories: Hollywood, community

richdad.com

Robert Kiyosaki, the original Asian guido.

You might not be The Situation, but we know you're out there: Spikey hair, Orange Crush tan, low-riding BMW M3, chiseled arms (24 Hour Fitness on Wilshire), A/X sleeveless t-shirt, fake Panerai. And you can rap. You're an Asian-American guido. And a reality show about the real Koreatown is looking for you.

According to this Craigslist posting, a production company is " ... looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to JERSEY SHORE, REAL WORLD, THE HILLS, etc. We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life."

And by Koreatown life they mean plenty of green-bottle late nights singing "Bounce With Me" with the homies.

And, hey, all you white-boy, Asian-girl skirt-chasers shouldn't feel left out: There might be a part for you. "If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain," reads the post.

We know just the guy. His name is Nicolas Cage. And, apparently, he could use the gig.

Tags:

Asian-Americans, guidos, Jersey Shore,Koreatown, reality television, The Situation

Examiner

2010-11-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.examiner.com/x-14380-Celebrity-Fitness-and-Health-Examiner~y2010m7d22-Watch-out-Mike-Sorrentino-the-Korean-Situation-has-better-abs-than-you

Source: Examiner, July 22, 2010

Move Over, Jersey Shore, K-Town is in da house (holla!)

Peter Le, who's being described as the 'Korean Situation,' stars in K-Town, an Asian-American version of the hit MTV reality show, the Jersey Shore, which stars Mike 'the Situation' Sorrentino. Both are fitness buffs and trainers. (Photo/OK)

Filming wrapped last week in L.A. on the pilot for K-town, an Asian-American version of the hit MTV reality show, The Jersey Shore.

Jersey Shore, which follows the escapades of its young Italian-American cast as they party, tan and work out in New Jersey, has made household names of its previously unknown stars. Similarly, K-town will chronicle the adventures of young Asian-Americans as they pursue acting, modeling and other entertainment careers and socialize in L.A.'s Koreatown.

On the surface, K-town appears to be an upgrade from Jersey Shore, with an attractive young cast that includes the following (from left to right): Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang.

K-town, which is being produced by actor-rapper Tyrese Gibson (who has appeared in Transformers 3, Four Brothers, 2 Fast 2 Furious) posted the following casting notice in April 2010 on Craigslist:

Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to 'Jersey Shore'…We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain.

While it's unclear what similarities the K-town cast bears to its Jersey Shore counterparts, Peter Le, a buff fitness trainer/model (and rumored porn star?) is being described as the "Korean Situation," or "Situ-Asian." But frankly, Le, a competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer with a rippling six-pack, is an upgrade from Mike Sorrentino, who has a two-pack and resembles Mr. Potato Head with hair gel.

So far, K-town has not been picked up and no air date has been set, but somehow, we suspect it'll be coming to a tv screen near you very soon.

The Detroit News

2010-11-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

http://detnews.com/article/20100414/ENT09/4140372/1402/ENT09

Source: The Detroit News, April 14, 2010

Also...

Actor Tyrese Gibson 's production company, HQ Pictures, is casting an Asian American version of MTV's hit reality show "Jersey Shore." The rip off is the latest in a parade of similar shows in the works. There are also plans for a senior citizens-type "Jersey Shore" and a version that focuses on Russian-Americans. If you are interested in being on the Asian American take, e-mail asianrealityshow@yahoo.com or asianrealityshow@gmail.com and include a photo and contact info.

mmadden@detnews.com (313) 222-2501

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100414/ENT09/4140372/1402/ENT09#ixzz0lDzhOE1T

New York Magazine

2010-11-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/07/watch_the_cast_reel_for_k-town.html

'Watch the Cast Reel for K-Town, the Asian Jersey Shore'

The reel — which isn't an official teaser or trailer, as the show hasn't yet been picked up — starts at the fifteen-second mark, after a clip from last season's SNL. Because trashiness knows no ethnic bounds.

Examiner

2010-11-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.examiner.com/x-37027-NY-TV-Examiner~y2010m8d7-MTVs-Jersey-Shore-started-a-trend-for-ethnic-reality-shows

Source: Examiner, August 7, 2010

MTV's Jersey Shore Started a Trend for Ethnic Reality Shows?

Snooki of "Jersey Shore" started a trend

mtv

Ok...are you ready for second-rate copies of what had originally seemed to many like a second-rate idea?- Is it possible that "Jersey Shore," continuing its runaway success in its second season on MTV, have created an entirely new category of identity-based reality television?

At least one copycat is getting out of the gate. In April, a posting appeared on Craigslist calling for "interesting, attractive, colorful Asian Americans to cast in a reality show similar to 'Jersey Shore.'" After the producers shot the pilot episode recently, a steady stream of cast photos trickled out, and TMZ leaked an outrageous casting reel that got the Internet buzzing. There's already an Asian counterpart —- dubbed "The Situasian" -—to Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, what appears to be an equal devotion to gym time and boozing as the Jersey-ites, and hair-tugging cat fights.

Unsurprisingly, it's not just Guidos and Guidettes that can party and 'roid out with the best of them. The bottom line of all this seemed to say, Asians! They're just like us! Except substitute gym, tan, laundry, for karaoke, designer brands and taking pictures.

Tentatively titled "K-Town" and set in Los Angeles' Koreatown, the show has yet to be picked up by a network, and who knows whether it will be. Not since 1994 have television audiences been confronted with an all-Asian cast. Margaret Cho's "All American Girl" aired for one short-lived, turbulent season. Plagued by low ratings, ABC wrangled with Cho about her weight, not being Asian enough, and then being too Asian. By the end of the season, the only Asians left were Cho and co-star Amy Hill.

Pop Eater

2010-11-25T03:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.popeater.com/2010/04/05/asian-jersey-shore-casting/

Source: PopEater; Linked on AOL.com front page, 4/5/10, April 5, 2010

Now Casting: 'Jersey Shore' for Asian-Americans

4 Comments

By Sarah Crow Posted Apr 5th 2010 11:50AM

'Jersey Shore' has given this world a number of wonderful things, from beating up the beat to Snooki in all of her pouffy-haired glory. Now, it's also providing the inspiration for a number of knock-off reality projects -- focusing on subjects from Russians to retirees.

The New York Post recently came across acasting notice for "interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to 'Jersey Shore'" in the Help Wanted section of the Los Angeles Craigslist. The ad claims to be from HQ Pictures, a production company started by actor-model Tyrese Gibson.

This new series comes hot on the heels of 'Brighton Beach' and 'Sunset Daze,' which have been dubbed 'Jersey Shore' for the Russian-American community and the elderly, respectively.

So when is enough enough?

'Jersey Shore' has proven to be a runaway hit for MTV, but can these counterfeit counterparts possibly live up to the success of the original? While 'Brighton Beach' is still in pre-production, 'Sunset Daze' has already won rave reviews from an initially skeptical public. The geriatric cast of the WE reality show may not get into as many physical altercations as the Jersey kids, but they still dance, drink and bring the drama like their beach house brethren.

Although summer may come and go, romances fizzle and tans fade, 'Jersey Shore,' much like the hair gel that keeps Pauly D so fresh, will stay strong for a long time to come.

Tags: jersey shore, sunset daze

KUBE 93

2010-11-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.kube93.com/main.html

Source: KUBE 93, June 9, 2010

The upcoming Asian-American Reality TV Show was
mentioned on a Seattle radio station, KUBE 93.

Examiner

2010-11-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.examiner.com/x-53529-Baltimore-TV-Examiner~y2010m7d17-Coming-soon-to-a-TV-near-you-The-Asian-Jersey-Shore

'Coming soon to a TV near you: The Asian Jersey Shore'

Ever sat down on your couch, flipped on the tube and said to yourself, "You know what? I kinda feel like watching people practice violin and study calculus this evening"? Apparently Tyrese Gibson has. He is in the process of developing a Jersey Shore-style reality show set in Los Angelos' Koreatown.

The show, called K-Town (not to be confused with K-Ville, the awful Fox drama starring Anthony Anderson) will feature eight Asian-American young people partying, hooking up and inevitably indulging in various ethnic stereotypes.

The show has yet to find a channel to host it but, I can't wait. How awesome would it be to watch the Asian Ronnie karate-chop some punk unconscious on the Venice Pier? "That's one chop, kid!"

"Coming up next week on K-Town: Asian Snookie has too much to drink and throws up bulgogi all over her Armani Exchange top!"

Click here to check out the cast on Twitter.

dlisted

2010-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.dlisted.com/node/38075

'Move Over, Jersey Shore!'

You might want to swallow a Pepcid before watching this mess, or it might leave you with a serious Asian glow. This is the cast reel for K-Town, the Asian-American version of Jersey Shore, that is currently making the rounds to the networks. The pilot, which was produced by Tyrese, was shot in and around Los Angeles' Koreatown last weekend.

This pretty much looks like Jersey Shore with kimchi instead of orange skin. There's an Asian version of Snooks, JWoww, The Situation and Pauly D. Although, K-Town is showing Jersey Shore up, because their Situation is a soft core porn star who can break a grenade in two with his abs.

Here you were thinking that all Asians spend their nights doing math problems for fun and only leave the house to drive their Honda Accord to the 99 Ranch Market to buy bubble tea. Nope, Asians get fucked up and embarrass themselves just like everybody else (Guilty!!).

KMVQ MOVIN 99.7 San Francisco

2010-11-24T17:48:00.000-08:00

http://movin997.radio.com/2010/04/06/cali-shore-asian-cast/#more-16635

Source: KMVQ MOVIN 99.7 San Francisco, April 6, 2010

Cali Shore, Asian Cast?

alexa997

Would you believe that after the success of the Italian-American Jersey Shore cast on the East coast, ”beating the beat” that now somebody wants top rep the West with the Asian-American set? Wait until you hear who is doing the show! None other thanone of the finest boys on the planet, Tyrese Gibson according to Pop Eater ! Here is the ad that The New York Post, reposted:

“Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore,’ ‘Real World,’ ‘The Hills,’ etc. . .” the notice reads.

“We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life.”

Casting isn’t limited strictly to Asian-Americans either.

“If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain,” it said.

Read more: Apparently his production company is the one that listed the posting looking for eager beavers in the Los Angeles area? Are you Asian? Do you think this would perpetuate some sort of stereotype as the current Jersey Shore cast is being pegged? Would you watch? I know I would!

Johnstown Pennsylvania

2010-11-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

http://myjohnstownpa.com/news/us-news/persian-and-asian-versions-of-the-jersey-shore-in-planning-stages/

Source: Johnstown Pennsylvania, April 12, 2010

Persian and Asian Versions Of The Jersey Shore In Planning Stages

Administrator | Apr 12, 2010 | Comments 0

Joanna Mazewski – AHN Entertainment Editor

Hollywood, CA, United States (AHN) – First the country’s top guidos and guidettes made their way on to the Jersey Shore and hate list of every Italian-American society in the country, then their were rumors of a Russian version hitting Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach and now it looks like the Persian and Asian communities are wanting a little slice of the hit MTV show’s success too. Numerous outlets are reporting that there are currently open casting calls for Persian-Americans and Asian-Americans that are willing to bare all and then a little some for two new reality shows.

According to Perez Hilton, the Persian version’s casting call reads: “Los Angeles [-based] proud Persian-Americans who rule the Hollywood nightlife and own Beverly Hills. It’s time to show the world that being Persian-American is a celebration of the American dream.”

It continues: “If your life is ‘all about Gucci- Gabbana, Cavalli and Cristal’ or if buying anything ‘from BMWs and Bugatis, to Mercedes and Movado-money is no object,’ then should apply.”

Meanwhile, the Asian-American casting call is “looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-American to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore,’ ‘Real World.’ ‘The Hills,’ etc.”

The ad also indicated that casting isn’t limited strictly to Asian-Americans either, while it also did not say which production company had posted the notice.

With all these different reality shows being pitched, viewers might need to install translation apps on to their smart phones to keep up with the international lingo and phrases by these fame-hungry casts. We can only imagine how many versions of “The Situation” or a Snooki, audiences will be able to handle.

Popularity: unranked

Half-Asians

2010-11-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

http://half-asians.com/jennifer-field

'Jennifer Field is the half-Korean beauty queen of K-Town (the Asian Jersey Shore)'

Filming has begun on a new reality show modeled after MTV’s Jersey Shore featuring Asian-Americans in L.A.’s Koreatown. Tentatively titled K-Town, the cast was announced via pictures posted on Facebook and Twitter after the shooting of the pilot episode this past weekend. Here is a look at the cast:

The girl standing second to the left is named Jennifer Field, and she instantly set off my hapa-dar. I did a little bit of research and indeed she is half-Korean and half-English/Irish/German. That makes her a member of the hot Korean-Irish club!

This girl hasn’t come out of nowhere. She won the 2006 Miss Asian America pageant and also that year she was named Miss San Jose Grand Prix in her hometown of San Jose. She has also done some acting and modeling.

She is on Twitter @JenniferField (the show also has its own Twitter @KTownRealityTV) and she is on Facebook and Myspace. She also has an official website and profiles on IMDB and ModelMayhem.

Click on a thumbnail to view the full-size image:

AHN- All Headline News

2010-11-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018351276

Source: AHN: All Headline News, April 9, 2010

Persian And Asian Versions Of: "The Jersey Shore" In Planning Stages

Joanna Mazewski - AHN Entertainment Editor

Hollywood, CA, United States (AHN) - First the country’s top guidos and guidettes made their way on to the Jersey Shore and hate list of every Italian-American society in the country, then their were rumors of a Russian version hitting Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach and now it looks like the Persian and Asian communities are wanting a little slice of the hit MTV show’s success too. Numerous outlets are reporting that there are currently open casting calls for Persian-Americans and Asian-Americans that are willing to bare all and then a little some for two new reality shows.

The ad also indicated that casting isn’t limited strictly to Asian-Americans either, while it also did not say which production company had posted the notice.

CNET News

2010-11-19T00:11:00.000-08:00

http://news.cnet.com/crave/?keyword=asian

Source: CNET News- Crave, April 7, 2010

The 404 544: Where Justin and Wilson take a trip to the Jersey Shore (podcast)

by Justin Yu

Post a comment

A 404 sticker in the desert: good for photos, bad for publicity.

(Credit: Derrick Chen/The 404)

Look for me and Wilson at an Ed Hardy store near you! We might just pop up on your television set too, if all goes well with a casting call in L.A. asking for Asian-Americans to audition for a reality show based on "Jersey Shore" and "The Hills."

It's rumored to be set in Koreatown, and we're not putting much faith in the series based on the fact that Jin and this guy are the only two Asians on TV right now. That being said, an Asian-American reality television show would be a real gag...maybe their first order of business will be to help Snookie and the Situation get that elusive GED.

......

Detroit's New 98.7 Amp Radio

2010-11-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

http://wvmv.radio.com/2010/04/06/jersey-shore-knock-offs/

Source: Detroit's New 98.7 Amp Radio, April 8, 2010

Jersey Shore Knock Offs!!!

Shay Shay

What’s up with the Jersey Shore Knock-Offs? Have you heard the latest? Click more to find out!

Soooo….I guess Jersey Shore is so good, that want everyone to be able to relate! Jersey Shore’ has given this world a number of wonderful things, from beating up the beat to Snooki in all of her pouffy-haired glory. Now, it’s also providing the inspiration for a number of knock-off reality projects — focusing on subjects from Russians to retirees.

The New York Post recently came across a casting notice for “interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore’” in the Help Wanted section of the Los Angeles Craigslist. The ad claims to be from HQ Pictures, a production company started by actor-model Tyrese Gibson.

‘Jersey Shore’ has proven to be a runaway hit for MTV, but can these counterfeit counterparts possibly live up to the success of the original? While ‘Brighton Beach’ is still in pre-production, ‘Sunset Daze’ has already won rave reviews from an initially skeptical public. The geriatric cast of the WE reality show may not get into as many physical altercations as the Jersey kids, but they still dance, drink and bring the drama like their beach house brethren.

The Frisky

2010-11-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-are-asian-americans-headed-to-jersey-shore/?eref=RSS

Source: The Frisky, April 6, 2010

Are Asian-Americans Headed To "Jersey Shore"?

Posted by: Annika Harris

A casting call was recently posted to Craigslist in L.A. asking for “interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore,’ ‘The Real World,’ ‘The Hills,’ etc.” An unidentified production company and network are looking to capitalize off the unexpected success of “Jersey Shore,” which debuted last year. This new show will no doubt have bigger-than-life personalities with weird nicknames and unique grooming habits. L.A.‘s Koreatown might be the locale for this reality show since the production company is especially interested in individuals who know about or have experienced that neighborhood. This show could be the third “Jersey Shore”-like spinoff in the works—there’s “Brighton Beach,” which focuses on Russian-Americans, and “Sunset Daze,” starring nursing home residents.

Curbed LA

2010-11-18T00:37:00.000-08:00

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2010/07/the_k-town_shore_reality_show_cast_looks_kind_of_familiar.php

Source: Curbed LA, July 14, 2010

K-Town Shore Reality Show Cast Looks Kind of Familiar

Wednesday, July 14, 2010, by Adrian Glick Kudler

The cast for the K-Town reality show has just been revealed, and here it is, giving us déjà vu for that moment when we first learned what a Snooki was. According to channelAPA, "The pilot episode was shot over the weekend at BCD, Bohemians, and BoBo’s in Koreatown. From what we hear, there was drinking and drama on the set." UPDATE: More photos of the cast.
· Ktown Reality Show Cast revealed [channelAPA, via Figgy & Fatty]
· Here Comes K-Town Shore or the Real K-Town or Something Like That [Curbed LA]

The Cleaveland Leader Newspaper

2010-11-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/13517

Source: The Cleveland Leader newspaper, April 3, 2010

MTV's Jersey Shore Spawns an Asian Knock-Off

Submitted by GossipGirl on April 3, 2010 - 1:31pm.

MTV's hit reality show "Jersey Shore" is most definitely gearing up for a second season, and after a successful first season it has already spawned a number of knock-offs. First we told you about the Russian show"Brighton Beach", and now we have word that there's a new reality show in the works aiming to feature Asian-Americans.

Koreatown will apparently be the site of a new, yet-to-be-named reality show, which will be the first Asian-American based reality show. Tyrese Gibson is reportedly co-producing the series.

According to a Craigslist posting, a production company is:

" looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to JERSEY SHORE, REAL WORLD, THE HILLS, etc. We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life."

Curbed LA

2010-11-16T02:37:00.000-08:00

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2010/04/here_comes_ktown_shore_or_the_real_ktown_or_something_like_that.php

Source: Curbed LA, April 1, 2010

LA REALITY

Here Comes K-Town Shore or the Real K-Town or Something Like That

Thursday, April 1, 2010, by Adrian Glick Kudler

Before you say anything, you should know that this ad was posted on March 9, making it either a deeply-embedded April Fools' joke or serious like a heart attack. So, in the wake of Silver Lake hipster reality show, Valley girls reality show, and Malibu High brought to you by Heidi Montagreality show, here is Koreatown reality show: "Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to JERSEY SHORE, REAL WORLD, THE HILLS, etc.. We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especiallyindividuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain...We will begin casting and filming on-camera interviews in LOS ANGELES or HOLLYWOOD, CA this month so please send in your info ASAP!" You know it almost seems like all these shows have the same plots, just with different looking people.
· Casting Asian Americans for reality show (Los Angeles/Hollywood) [Craigslist, viaangry asian man]

Bob HellMan

2010-11-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

http://bobhellman.com/archives/8341

Source: Bob HellMan, April 3, 2010

Tyrese Gibson is set to Hari-Kari Jersey Shore

Good Friday night found Tyrese Gibson hanging out Karaoke’ing all over Los Angeles’ Koreatown district. And for good reason… Tyrese is planning to co-produce a reality show ala Jersey Shore with real life Koreatown’ites. Having hung out in Koreatown many times I can tell you that it is a total good time. Looking forward to the show.

Tyrese for sure had a Good Friday in K-Town

Tyrese, please remember to cast very hot chicks in your new show & not these Playa’s you dined with last evening….

KIIS FM 102.7

2010-11-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

April 7, 2010

The upcoming Asian-American reality TV show was mentioned on 102.7 KIIS FM around 6 AM, Wednesday morning.

Half Korean

2010-10-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.halfkorean.com/?p=2333

Source: Half Korean, October 27, 2010

K-Town Reality Show Featuring Jennifer Field

By admin | Published: October 27, 2010

Jennifer Field – Miss Asian America 2006
Image courtesy Jennifer Field

Not exactly “new” news, but the K-Town Reality Show (aka “The Asian Jersey Shore”) has created a steady buzz online for the past few months and with good measure. The Tyrese-produced project is the first reality show concept to feature an all Asian-American cast. I had been meaning to post a blog about the show for some time and, in particular, because it so happens that one of the cast members is a fellow mixed Korean (Jennifer Field).

Back in mid-July when the cast was leaked, HalfKorean.com experienced a surge of traffic from searches for actress/model Jennifer Field. It seems that the world wanted to know more about the former Miss Asian America 2006.

Although the K-Town show has not been picked up by a network yet, I’m sure it will at some point soon. I won’t debate if the show’s concept is good or bad (there has been plenty of debate online), but I do want to spotlight the fact that Jennifer landed a spot on the show and to congratulate her. I’m not the biggest “reality TV” fan but I do look forward to seeing Jennifer’s role along with what the show will be all about.
Here is Jennifer’s promo reel that features her work prior to K-Town (including her Miss Asian America victory)

I Am Koream

2010-10-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

http://iamkoream.com/ktown-reality-show-producer-responds-to-concerns/

Source: I Am Koream, September 14, 2010

Ktown Reality Show Producer Responds to Concerns

The cast of the Ktown reality show.

Eddie Kim, one of the producers of the much talked-about Ktown reality show, responded to questions and concerns about the project on Angry Asian Man. He’s been seeing a lot of comments on Facebook, news sites and blogs, and wanted to share with the community where he and his team stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Question #1: What channel will this show be on?
It’s in the works. True story. I’ve had a number of people commenting on facebook with passionate, fuming responses wondering when the F this show is gonna be on TV. And other FB patrons would respond by saying it’ll never be on air. At the same time, others are constantly confusing this with KTown Cowboys. I just met with my good friend Danny Cho from KTown Cowboys the other day, and he told me he gets asked a similar question all the time. All I can say is…it’s in the works. TV shows do not get made overnight. I am just grateful that there is such a huge demand from both yaysayers and naysayers. (Yaysayers…is that even a word?). Having said that, we hope to find out real soon. And when we do, I’ll of course let you know.

Common Question #2: Is this show going to perpetuate negative stereotypes?
This is an interesting question because the Asian American community immediately thought of the worst and made various negative judgments about the show while comparing it to Jersey Shore.
Although I understand the community’s desire to not display anything negative given the history of Hollywood’s portrayal of Asian Americans, I would like to remind the fact that the casting call said that this show would be similar to MTV’s Real World, Jersey Shore, The Hills, and more. The media and the community zoned in on the comparison to Jersey Shore alone. On a side note, I have a question: have you actually seen an episode of Jersey Shore? The guys there are pretty funny. All jokes aside, we are interested in portraying multiple sides to the cast’s personalities, not 1-dimensional characters. I would even argue that Asian male stereotypes might change from nerds to badasses. Hey, it’s possible. By the way, the last time there was an all-Asian cast on television, it was 15 years ago with Margaret Cho’s show, All American Girl. And last month, Margaret Cho stated on TMZ and CNN that she supports and would like to be a cast member of the K-Town reality show.

Common Comment #1: “This show is going to take Asians back 10 years!”
I’ve seen this comment floating around facebook a lot during the months of May and June. In fact, I personally know some of the people who were writing that statement and passing it on to their friends. It’s all good. As Tupac said, “I ain’t mad at cha. Got nothin’ but love for ya.” Let’s consider that comment though. 10 years ago was actually the year 2,000, man. What stereotypes have changed since that year? In the year 2,000, Michael Chang the tennis player won his final top title; Yu-Gi-Oh was a hit; and Yao Ming, the sexiest NBA player ever, was sought after only to join the league in 2002. In a related note, William Hung would enter our consciousness in 2004.
So I ask again, what major stereotypes have changed since the last 10 years? The bucktoothed ninja physicist with slanted eyes…I’m thinking that stereotype is still out there.

Common Comment #2: “This show is gonna be a disgrace to Asians!”
The last time I saw something similar to this kind of a response was during the VTech times of Cho Seung Hui or whenever anybody talked about Michelle Malkin.
Can this actually be a legit or even a logical comparison? But you know what? All of these comments and concerns are actually good. It proves that this show has struck a chord with America. This show has created more debate and discussion than anything in a long while. I’d say since Better Luck Tomorrow.
Overall, I believe this passionate debate is good. All of these clashing concerns are good. It’s been 8 months since the creation of this idea; 7 months since Tyrese Gibson (star of TRANSFORMERS and 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS) got involved; 5 months since casting; 2.5 months since filming the pilot; and 2 months since editing and planning for the show’s future. This show has garnered more press and attention here in America than any K-pop star, actor, or anything Korean since the LA Riots. And all I can say is that we are excited and we really appreciate all of the people who have been following this show! Let the healthy debate continue and please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube where all the updates are. Thank you!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ktownrealityshow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ktownrealitytv
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ktownrealityshow

Entertainment Weekly

2010-10-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/04/08/persian-version-jersey-shore-casting/

Source: Entertainment Weekly, April 8, 2010

'Jersey Shore' Producers Casting 'The Persian Version'

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Casting, Jersey Shore, News, Reality TV, Television, To Care or Not to Care

Speaking of Jersey Shore, with rumored rip-offs of the MTV hit in the works (reality shows revolving around the lifestyles of Asian-Americans and Russian-Americans), I’m experiencing a strange sense of loyalty to 495 Productions, which produces the series and has just announced that it’s casting for a series tentatively titled The Persian Version. It’s odd for a couple of reasons. 1) I’ve never seen an episode of Jersey Shore. 2) I’ve read the casting notice, pasted after the jump.

“Two thousand years ago the Persian Empire ruled the ancient world…but they didn’t have your soundtrack, your style, or your swagger! Today there’s a new Persian empire growing right here in L.A. and it’s ready to conquer the world all over again. It’s a bad-ass new dynasty where exotic beauty and wild style dominates the sexiest nightlife, exclusive venues and hottest beaches the modern world has to offer.
You’ve got the means, the money, and the motivation to cut through the velvet rope and rule the VIP! For you life is all about Gucci, Gabbana, Cavalli and Cristal. From BMWs and Bugatis, to Mercedes and Movado and money is no object.
You live a lifestyle most people only dream of. In your world, nothing is out of reach, and though you are surrounded by the jealous, the posers and the haters, one thing’s for sure…once you go Persian, there is no other version!
Time to show the world that being Persian-American is about living the true American dream…a lifestyle most people only wish they could. So if you are at least 21 years old, appear younger than thirty and are outrageous, outspoken and a proud Persian-American, then Doron Ofir Casting and 495 Productions, the team who brought you Jersey Shore, are looking for you!
Casting is already underway don’t miss your chance to join this A-list.
Do you reign over the most exclusive spots in the city?
Do you use your exotic appeal to get anything or anyone you desire?? Prove it!
Send your NAME, AGE, 2 PICS, PHONE NUMBER and WHY we should pick you to PersianVersionCasting@gmail.com <mailto:PersianVersionCasting@gmail.com>”

Does it sound more or less compelling (if that’s the right word?) than Jersey Shore?

The Fat Brat

2010-09-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

http://thefatbrat.com/entertainment-2/asian-jersey-shore-aka-ktown/

Source: The Fat Brat, July 14, 2010

The Asian Jersey Shore AKA KTown

Asian version of The Jersey Shore? Does it work?
So my boy Tyrese (I don’t actually know him but I assume we’d be on a first name basis) is producing a Jersey Shore like show but with an Asian cast. It takes place in K-Town (that spot in LA, unfortunately not Manhattan, with all the Koreans)…

and pretty much has the same idea as the Jersey Shore. Get some good looking girls some muscular guys and have them live together with alcohol and tempers involved.

The 8 cast members names are as follows Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang., but the whole cast has a twitter to keep you guys updated on their misadventures. So with no further ado here is the cast for MTV’s KTown.

Oh and here are links to two of the cast members websites: Scarlet Chan & Peter Le (warning: I think the Peter Le one is a gay porn site of himself or something, I saw a penis and Xed out real quick… just letting you guys know lol).

props to MTV Iggy for the pics.

I'm Not Obsessed

2010-09-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/07/15/asian-jersey-shore-spoof-is-really-happening

Source: I'm Not Obsessed, July 15, 2010

Asian 'Jersey Shore' Spoof is Really Happening

Model/actor Tyrese Gibson is producing a new reality show called 'K-Town', which is said to be a bit of a "spoof" of 'Jersey Shore', only with an Asian-American cast instead. The show is being filmed in L.A.'s Koreatown (aka K-Town).
They posted a casting call on Craigslist back in April:

Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore’…We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain.

You can have a look at the cast here - they even have a "situation". Oy.
I wonder what the 'Jersey Shore' gang will think? What if people are more amused by the "new" crew and lose interest in the Jersey clan? I'm curious to see if they make it "spoof-like" or if they are just using the general concept behind 'Jersey Shore'?

TV Squad

2010-09-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/26/yet-another-jersey-shore-knockoff-will-be-set-in-the-south/

Source: TV Squad, August 26, 2010

Yet Another 'Jersey Shore' Knockoff will be Set in the South

The producers of 'Jersey Shore' are hoping to find a Situation in the South.

A series tentatively called 'Party Down South,' created by Sally Ann Salsano's 495 Productions of 'Jersey Shore' fame, is presently being shot and will possibly air on Comedy Central, according to a story in the Hollywood Reporter.

The series will reportedly be a comedic variation of 'Jersey Shore,' but set in the South. So does that mean instead of going to the gym for a back and shoulders, the cast will go to NASCAR races?

"It's not 'Redneck Jersey Shore,''' a production insider told The Hollywood Reporter. "We're looking to have viewers laughing with the cast, not at them. We want a cast of funny people with stories to tell.''

The 'Jersey Shore' gang paid a visit to the South on their way to Miami during the first episode of Season 2. Snooki and J-Woww ate fried pickles in a Savannah, Ga. bar and Pauly D and The Situation got stuck in a field in South Carolina while shooting fireworks.

Comedy Central execs will soon make a decision on whether to continue the 'Party Down South' project.

Now that 'Jersey Shore' is a certified hit, expect a few more regional/ethnic reality shows to come forth. Others in development include:

-- 'The Persian Version,' from 495 Productions and Doron Ofir Casting, focuses on Persian-Americans in Los Angeles. The series is in preliminary casting.

-- 'Wicked Summer,' also from 495, is about Boston culture. Production began in July and it's presently being pitched.

-- An untitled Asian-American series produced by Tyrese Gibson's HQ Pictures put out a casting call in the spring looking for Asian-Americans, Blasians (people who are of mixed African and Asian descent) or people obsessed with Asian culture, according to ChannelAPA.com. The intent is to have the series filmed in Los Angeles' Koreatown.

--The producers of 'Brighton Beach,' a Russian-American themed show, put out a call looking for "the Russian Snooki or The Situation'' in the spring. The series will reportedly be filmed in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn.
Are there any regional or ethnic groups left to be 'Jersey Shore'-ified?

107.9 WRNB

2010-08-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

http://rnbphilly.com/entertainment-news/moshay/did-you-know-tyrese-is-producing-a-jersey-shore-like-reality-show-for-asian-americans/#more-276261

Source: 107.9 WRNB: RNB Philly.com, August 13, 2010

Tyrese Producing Asian American Version of "Jersey Shore"

The cast of K-town, the reality show

Tyrese Gibson wants to help Asians get a break in the media and get the same shot as everybody else

But if scriptwriters endeavor to tether their characters to reality, reality shows turn its namesake on its head. Personalities with a penchant for drama go into overdrive in front of the cameras. And often encouraged to do so.

Asked what Gibson wanted out of the show, he answered, “I want sexy, wild, personality, I want hot tubs, sex scenes… at the same time, I want people to know the many different layers and characteristics… I want people to know that Asians have layers… we’ve got insecurities… heartaches… challenges… I want to capture all of that on camera for all the world to see…”
Of course, you can’t squeeze water out of rock. So casting is important. This may be an Asian American reality show but no wallflowers or bookworms need apply.

Photos of the cast were released on Facebook. “And you can already tell who’s supposed to be who,” said Elizabeth at Koream magazine. “There’s the bleach blonde, the bi-sexual pornstar nude model, the aspiring actress, two meatheads, and even a Korean Snooki.”

We’re clueless about the “Snooki” [never watched Jersey Shore] but Peter Le (Vietnamese) appears to be the bisexual pornstar/nude model. And Scarlet Chan (Chinese) is evidently a hooker, or was, according to her site. The self-dubbed “Eurasian” Jennifer Field (Korean, English, Irish and German descent) is the beauty queen/aspiring actress, we presume (actually, they’re all probably aspiring actors). And the meatheads? We’re not sure which two fit that bill.

Are we just ending up with more negative stereotypes? Maybe, but we don’t see a problem with meatheads, blonds or anything else that pretty much go against the established grain. Indeed, it’s the one-sided reinforcement of negative ones that dehumanizes and turn people into caricatures. Thus negative or positive, three-dimensionalizing the Asian American tableau is a good thing, we think.

The motivation
“I don’t wanna make it too heavy, my reasons, my motivations,” Tyrese conveyed, explaining his motivation for the show.

“When it comes to Asian Americans and Asians in general, everyone’s still fighting to get their faces and images in mainstream media… but Asian deserve to be on TV like everybody else… for me, that’s the motivation,” he said, nobly.

“This ain’t for me about making no money, but this is really allowing the people to see Asians, Koreans, showing your character, your personalities, allowing the world to embrace you as they’ve embraced everybody else… African Americans dealt with it forever, we still deal with it on certain levels, but we’ve been able to push through through music and through film… but you know I think it’s about that time for Asians to get their same shot and here we are…”

Rafu Shimpo

2010-08-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

http://rafu.com/news/2010/08/into-the-next-stage-3/

Source: Rafu Shimpo, August 12, 2010

Into the Next Stage: Do We Need a "K-Town" Version of "Jersey Shore"?

By GUY AOKI
(First published in The Rafu Shimpo on August 12, 2010.)
===

It’s been four months since we heard the announcement that R&B singer Tyrese was developing an Asian American version of MTV’s popular “Jersey Shore,” the reality show which focuses on mostly 20-something Italian American underachievers getting drunk, rowdy, and stupid. A pilot for “K-Town” has been shot, but it’s yet to be picked up by any cable channel. This is what we can glean from press notes and the trailer:

Over a high tech, catchy theme song, we’re introduced to blonde hairdresser Jasmine Chang, 23, originally from Hong Kong; Young Lee, 24, originally from Guam, who dresses in suits and walks like a gangster as guys light his cigarette; Jennifer Field, 26, a hapa-hottie who won the 2006 Miss Asian American Pageant; Peter Le, 26, a buff gay porn star who’s seen working out in the gym; the likewise muscle-bound Joey Cha, 25; the scantily clad Scarlet Chan, 24, a stripper/hooker who talks to us while doing her business on the toilet; the bikini-clad single mother Violet Kim, 27; and Steve Kim, 25, who wears a mohawk.

We don’t actually hear most of them talk except for Jasmine Chang and what appears to be Jennifer Field at the end. After screaming a song at a karaoke bar, she exits exclaiming, “I just tore that place up like I tear up every place in K-Town!” She has a remarkably annoying, over-articulated voice (is she a wanna-be newscaster?!) and that one line gave me the impression that she’s totally self-absorbed and for no good reason. Why so defensive? Why was it so important she prove to someone that she could “tear it up?” And really, who cares?

Tyrese put together the production with three Asian Americans who say they want to break stereotypes by showing that we’re just like everyone else. Although many are alarmed at the prospect of seeing loud, outrageous, trashy young people from the community, I’m not that concerned: What’s wrong with seeing buff Asian dudes surrounded by (usually) attractive Asian women? Would we rather see the women surrounded—as usual in TV shows—by white guys?

Left to right: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang

One community’s stereotype is another community’s godsend. While many Italian Americans protested the cast of “Jersey Shore” saying it reinforced stereotypes about their people, Asian American men are stereotyped as quiet, nerdy, and asexual. Showing us at our gaudy best (worst?) would certainly turn that impression on its ear. If nothing else, we’d see some very bold and confident young Asian Americans who—unlike on countless television shows and movies—don’t need to be saved by nor sacrificed in place of Whitey. And hopefully, Asian women who don’t only want to date white men.

Co-producer Eugene Choi asked The Daily Beast, “Why can’t you see the Asian man get the girl?” He pointed to the ending of Romeo Must Die, where Jet Li didn’t get to kiss his Juliet, Aaliyah—just hug her! Choi’s heart seems to be in the right place. Perhaps a more alarming concern is if this series doesn’t get picked up for broadcast. While it could be because it’s a crappy production with uninteresting people, my first guess would be Hollywood assumes not enough people would watch an all (or pretty close to it) Asian American cast. Maybe they’d wanna see more of the ladies and less of the men.

This is what it comes down to: You don’t have to actually like the people in “K-Town” to appreciate the greater good they could do for our community. In much the same way, you won’t catch me dead watching “Grey’s Anatomy.” But I’m glad Sandra Oh’s there being her usual imperfect self reminding viewers that we’re in mainstream positions, don’t all talk with accents, and are just as relatable as any white or black person.

MTV IGGY

2010-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

http://blog.mtviggy.com/2010/08/12/ab-off-k-town-reality-star-peter-le-challenges-the-situation/

Source: MTV IGGY

AB-OFF!! K-Town Reality Star Peter Le Challenges "The Situation"!!

0diggsdigg

BY: Samantha

When we first heard about a reality show starring Asian Americans, we got pretty curious. It was being touted as “the Asian American Jersey Shore” and well, this is MTV! We thought we’d know about it first!

So we investigated further, and covered this new show through the casting process…and WOW. This show looked crazy!! Called K-Town, it’s set in the Korea Town area of Los Angeles and looks like it’s going to shatter every Asian ethnic stereotype imaginable.

Peter Le -- "The Situ-Asian"?

We recently met the cast after they shot the first pilot episode, and followed Peter, Violet, Joey, Jasmine, Violet, Young, Scarlet, Steve, and Jennifer as they worked out, tanned by a pool, and got ready for a night out. The sexy cast invited us to go clubbing with them in K-Town and we brought our cameras along as they danced, karaoked, and got very very drunk. Seriously people, these kids are something else.

So stay tuned…everything you ever wanted to know about this ridiculous, hilarious, eye-popping, jaw-dropping cast will be right here on MTV Iggy very soon!

Don’t believe us? Check out Peter Le, the Vietnamese cast member with a body to die for. TMZ compared his abs to those of The Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino in an ab-off poll.
Peter got 95% of the votes, and when we asked him about it, “the Situ-Asian” talked to our cameras about what the “The Situation” should do to improve that six pack. This Asian’s washboard abs can launder, dry-clean, and press!

Don’t be fooled! The cast might look demure in this photo but they definitely know how to raise hell!

From left to right -- Young, Jennifer, Joey, Scarlett, Violet, Peter, Steve, Jasmine.

I Am Koream

2010-08-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

http://iamkoream.com/meet-the-k-town-reality-show-cast/

Source: I Am Koream, August 10, 2010

Meet The K-Town Reality Show Cast

Whether you’ve panned the show or defended it, chances are you’re more than a little curious about the “stars” of the new K-town reality series
Meet the K-town cast: (from left) Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang

By Elizabeth Eun
Drum roll, please. The cast for the Jersey Shore-esque K-town reality show was unveiled last month, and they are four guys and four gals with names as common as the generic “Steve Kim” to those that inherently scream drama, as in “Scarlet” and “Violet.” The pilot episode was reportedly shot at such familiar Los Angeles Koreatown haunts as BCD Tofu, Bohemians and BoBo’s, so as you can imagine, there was some drinking—and, well, you’ll have to stay tuned. It’s unclear yet who will air the show, but for now, here’s a sneak preview of The Eight.

Jasmine Chang, 23
Ethnicity: Korean
Occupation: hairstylist
Role: “Artsy Party Girl”
As a recent grad of the University of California, Irvine, and Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy, Jasmine is the youngest cast member on the show. She’s probably going to change up her look every episode and end up with no eyebrows. But word on the street is that she only looks wild; she may end up being the most normal one.

Jennifer Field, 26
Ethnicity: Korean and Irish/German
Occupation: bartender, aspiring actress, former beauty queen
Role: “Hapa Trying to Reconnect with her Roots”
She may end up being Jasmine’s foil: Jennifer was the 2006 Miss Asian America, but we have a feeling as soon as her pageant queen veil comes down, the crazy will come out. From what we’ve seen so far, there’s hair pulling and strident proclamations of dominance over K-town. She’s made for TV.

Peter Le, 26
Ethnicity: Vietnamese
Occupation: personal trainer, body builder
Role: “Narcissist/Divo”
Peter’s already been called the “Asian Situation,” thanks to his killer body, and he’s also the one raising the most eyebrows. He’s modeled for Playgirl and has an X-rated website (warning: he
exposes the full monty) that attracts a sizable male following—which doesn’t seem to bother him.

Scarlet Chan, 24
Ethnicity: Chinese
Occupation: census worker, former exotic dancer, model
Role: “Nympho”
After getting sucked into the exotic dancing industry while doing research for a college thesis, Scarlet scrapped the job to become a U.S. Census taker. But don’t think she’s straight-laced now. She may be the female version of Peter; she calls herself “pan-sexual,” and has a penchant for taking risqué modeling photos.

Violet Kim, 24
Ethnicity: Korean
Occupation: bartender
Role: “The Normal One”
She’s been compared to Jersey Shore’s Snooki, mainly because she’s short and well-endowed, but she’s the only one with her Twitter blocked off to the public, which may indicate some normalcy. Her blog does have a content warning, but the actual posts seem pretty tame; it’s mostly about food, her boyfriend and her…son. Oh wait. What? We’re guessing she’ll be the one with a secret past.

Young Lee, 24
Ethnicity: Korean
Occupation: nightclub promoter
Role: “FOB/Korean Dancer”
Originally hailing from Guam, Young was apparently the first Asian nightclub promoter at Tao in Las Vegas, which must mean he has some sort of game. Or more likely, he was hired because he dances really well. Like all the other Asians currently on MTV…

Joe Cha, 25
Ethnicity: Korean
Occupation: entrepreneur
Role: “The Ajushi Who Wants to Be Called Oppa”
Joe is also a club promoter with his own company, Whisper Entertainment, which may explain why he looks so old—all that tanning and drinking has prematurely aged him. He’s clearly fixated on being in the mix of everything; just a few of his monikers: Joe K-Town Cha, Joe Scenario Cha, Joe Whisper Cha.

Steve Kim, 25
Ethnicity: Korean
Occupation: salesperson
Role: “Background Player”
We have a feeling Steve is going to be the one who tries too hard at everything, ends up being too nice to cause any real drama, and ultimately fades into the background. But he is originally from K-town, so he could be the one who takes the lead on things, at least as far figuring out where to go when they inevitably get kicked out of restaurants and bars.

Jezebel

2010-08-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

http://m.jezebel.com/5609199/a-conversation-with-the-situ+asian-from-the-asian-jersey-shore

Source: Jezebel, August 10, 2010

A Conversation With The "Situ-Asian" From The Asian Jersey Shore

By Dodai Stewart, Aug 10, 2010 01:09 PM

Remember the Asian Jersey Shore show? We had a chance to ask Peter Le — a 27-year-old Scorpio who grew up in San Jose, California and has been dubbed "The Situ-Asian" — some questions about what to expect from K-Town.

Peter is a personal trainer and bodybuilder who "only" trains for 45 minutes, 3 times a week. He'd like to travel create online businesses that he can manage from "anywhere in the world" and "semi-retire"; he plans to travel around the world before he's 30. Peter's not Korean; he's Vietnamese. He's coy about his sexuality (although he tags many of his posts #gay), but you can see videos of him jacking off or wearing leather daddy gear on his website. He was once featured in Playgirl, and his sex fantasy involves a threeway with a man and a woman.

On thing is for sure: Peter loves to party. (Recent posts on his Twitter account: "i had 12 shots and im ready to party like i always to[sic]." and: "let the party start. shot shot shot.") When asked what viewers can expect from K-Town, he told us:

K-Town is very different from the other shows because Asian-Americans
know how to party. I believe the Asian-American nightlife is way more fun,
interesting, and adds more life to the nightlife scene.

And:

I can read people quickly; within a few minutes of meeting the cast I knew that certain cast members would clash. People are already picking sides and there is going to be drama, some spiteful commentary, and maybe some hook-ups. Oh, did I mention, you will see how Asian-Americans really party?
We are sexual, outspoken, and interesting people that I know America will love.

Some more questions and answers:

Do you think that Asian women appear in TV shows and in movies more often than Asian men? If so, why do you think that is?
Asian-American women definitely appear in the media more than their male counterparts. That's because Asian men are still typecast into a very small segment, which I plan to change. And when Asian men do play the leading role, they rarely get the girl (that needs to change).

Recently, actor Dev Patel — who was in Slumdog Millionaire — said: "Asian actors tend not to be sent Hollywood scripts that are substantial or challenging. I'm likely to be offered the roles of a terrorist, cab driver and smart geek." Do you agree or disagree?
I have to agree with Dev Patel. A popular Asian-American columnist recently visited a college campus and students told him that they didn't want K-Town airing because it would make Asians looks bad. The columnist asked the students if they could name five Asian stars and they couldn't. He said, once K-Town airs you will know eight. Asian actors are tremendously underrepresented in the media.

Lastly:

In the poll for "better abs," you beat the Situation! What do you have to say about that?
It wasn't really a competition.

[Images by Don Pollard via PeterFever.com]

Angry Asian Man

2010-08-16T13:35:00.001-07:00

http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/07/koreatown-where-shirts-must-come-off.html

Source: Angry Asian Man, July 28, 2010

Koreatown: Where Shirts Must Come Off

Some more K-Town reality show photos. Is it me, or does a night of partying out in Koreatown always result in one or more shirts coming off at some point in the evening? A new Asian male stereotype? Disgrasian might be on to something: K-Town Reality Show Promotes New Stereotype Of Asian Men.

The Campus Socialite

2010-08-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.thecampussocialite.com/watch-your-back-jersey-shore-here-comes-k-town/

Source: The Campus Socialite, July 21, 2010

Watch Your Back Jersey Shore...Here Comes K-Town

By: Travis Harvey (Illinois State University)

Follow Travis on Twitter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH9l-nKa4bg

The cast of Jersey Shore had better watch their back, because something is brewing on the other side of town and I’m not quite sure if Snooki can compete with this one. Singer-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing the Korean version of the popular show, K-Town, will feature eight characters that, from the cast reel, seem to be even more out of control than the Jersey Shore characters we have grown to love.

The show will take place in the Los Angeles Korea town area, which is known for its nightlife and boasts over 1000 nighttime establishments; this alone proves that there are endless possibilities of what can happen in K-Town.

Unfortunately for the world, this isn’t an actual trailer because the greatness that is K-Town hasn’t been picked up yet, but, with the cast of Jersey Shore holding out on the third season because of money, we might be moving to a new side of town, Koreatown that is.

According to celebrity Gossip website TMZ, the producers over at Jersey Shore are thinking about downsizing and only keeping the most interesting characters, Snooki, Pauly D, and The Situation. Those other duds are looking at being put out to the curb… I’m looking at you Sammi “Sweetheart” and Ronnie.

K-Town’s eight person cast includes Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha (the Asian Situation), Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim (Karaoke enthusiast), Peter Le (former porn star), Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang. These eight are already more exciting than the most of the Jersey Shore cast so that leaves the question, is there room for both K-Town and Jersey Shore? Well with a cast reel that exciting, I think the world can make room for the K-Town cast.

Now I’m a Snooki fan until the end (I think it’s because of her cute “WAHHH!” sound she always makes), but from what I can tell I’m already excited to see Jennifer Field tear up Hollywood just like she tears up EVERY PLACE IN K-TOWN.

The Celebrity Cafe

2010-08-10T11:18:00.001-07:00

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/k-town-asian-jersey-shore-07-24-2010

Source: The Celebrity Cafe, July 25, 2010

'K-Town,' the Asian 'Jersey Shore'

'Jersey Shore' spin off is currently being filmed.

Johnsie Donaldson

Singer Tyrese has produced a new show modeled off of MTV’s successful, yet trashy reality show Jersey Shore. It follows the same format, but the show is set in Los Angeles’ Korea Town and has an entirely Korean-American cast.

K-Town has cast eight stars (like the Jersy Shore) and will feature an American subculture (similar to the “Guido/Guidette lifestyle of laundry-tan-gym of the Jersey Shore). When the show was announced producers said that they are, “Going to show Asian Americans like they’ve never been seen before to the rest of the world.”

You can see promotional photos of the cast living normal, well rounded lives here. They were originally posted on the show’s twitter page; if you would like to keep up with the new series, you can follow it http://twitter.com/KTownRealityTV.

The show has yet to be picked up by a network, but it more than likely will. Audiences seem to enjoy their share of reality shows starring young adults being irresponsible.

Hyphen Magazine

2010-08-10T11:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archive/2010/08/doing-bad-all-ourselves

Source: Hyphen Magazine, August 1, 2010

Doing Bad All by Ourselves

The Asian American blogosphere has, over the past couple of weeks, been abuzz over publicity stills for K-Town , dubbed "The Asian Jersey Shore." A lot of folks are afraid it'll make Asian Americans (Korean Americans, in particular) look bad, will introduce another stereotype to the mainstream (you never know, this Asian Men Hate Wearing T-Shirts stereotype might really catch on), and will cause lasting damage to the Asian American image, etc. But I think the general consensus seems to be, "I am fearful but also intrigued."

Point blank, this has never been done before. When have we ever seen that many Asian people together on US television? When have we ever seen Asian characters not rehashing the same five stereotypes in the mainstream (nerd, martial arts master, dragon lady, geisha, bad foreign driver)? How often do you see hot, shirtless Asian men on television? It's rare, and while none of us have actually watched the show and the consequences have yet to be seen, do we really believe that this show is capable of introducing an entirely new stereotype to the mainstream?

Now the only TV shows I've seen in the past two years have been Ni Hao Kai Lan and Yo Gabba Gabba, so I may be a little out of the loop, but the issue I saw with Jersey Shore is that it reinforced a stereotype that already existed in the mainstream, a stereotype people have actively been trying to bust. So is this really as terrible or even in the same ballpark as the public fascination with William Hung? He shot to stardom because he was the actual embodiment of every bad Asian stereotype in existence: He was foreign, a nerd, unattractive, and socially awkward. K-Town seems to me the polar opposite.

All Voices

2010-08-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6326899-peter-fever-and-the-allasian-jersey-shore-cast-nsfw

Source: All Voices, July 16, 2010

Peter Fever and the All-Asian Jersey Shore Cast (NSFW)

K-Town hopes to be the next Jersey Shore, just swap Asian-Americans for “guidos,” Jersey for L.A.’s Koreatown, and one eternally shirtless former stripper for an eternally shirtless former porn star. WAIT, WHAT?!!!! BodybuilderMuscle-fetish nude video star Peter Le, 27, AKA “Peter Fever” has been cast in the Tyrese-produced reality series that has yet to find a network. And his ab-flashing ways makes him out to be the next Mike “The Situation.” Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang round out the cast of eight who plan to humiliate their families.The Situasian’s casting video:

Here’s a casting call Tyrese’s production company posted on Craigslist back in April:Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to ‘Jersey Shore’…We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, e-mail us and please explain.If the show finds a network, expect to see it as early as winter. Take a look at photos from the pilot episode AND NSFW shots of Peter Fever naked after the jump!NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW of Peter Le AKA Peter Fever naked below.

View the uncensored naked images of bodybuilder and nude model Peter Le AKA Peter Fever, new cast member of reality series K-Town.

Pop Crunch

2010-08-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.allvoices.com/s/event-6326899/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb3BjcnVuY2guY29tL2stdG93bi10cmFpbGVyLw==

Source: Pop Crunch, July 19, 2010

"K-Town" - Asian-American "Jersey Shore - Trailer

Jesus Take The Wheel…And Send This Mess Flying Over A Cliff!
Singer-rapper-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing an Asian-American reality show set in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood and inspired by the success of MTV’s controversial sleeper hit, Jersey Shore.

Wait until you get a load of this season’s contestants!

Following an exhaustive search that began with a Craigslist casting call “looking for beautiful Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share”, “Black Ty” has selected eight of the hardest-partying Asian-American twentysomethings in the City of Angels to give Snooki, The Stich, J-Woww and the rest of the well-gelled gang from Seaside Heights, USA a run for their tanning gel.

Meet the eight barflies who have signed up to star in K-Town, an envelope-pushing docu-soap presently being shopped to networks: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang.

There’s even a bulked-up doppleganger for The Situation, a former adult film star.

K-Town is expected to premiere later this year.

Anything Hollywood

2010-08-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

http://anythinghollywood.com/2010/07/ktown-asian-version-jersey-shore-coming/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+anythinghollywood+%28anythinghollywood.com%29

Source: Anything Hollywood, July 19, 2010

KTown, the Asian Version of Jersey Shore, is Coming Soon

19Jul10

KTown, the Asian version of Jersey Shore, is coming soon. There has already been casting and a loose plot thrown together to do for Asians what the Jersey gang has done for Italians. But no network has picked it up yet.

More pictures of after the taping…
Do we need reality shows for every ethnic group now, so as to not make the networks look racist?

There will be 8 people, 4 guys and 4 girls, living in a house and partying together in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The official cast members of KTown are Young Lee, Joe Cha, Peter Le, Steve Kim, Jennifer Field, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, and Jasmine Chang.
The producers say that they are, “going to show Asian Americans like they’ve never been seen before to the rest of the world.”

Oh boy…do you think you can handle another show like this? Will you tune in to see if it is better than the east coast Jersey version?

Asian Walkway

2010-08-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.asianwalkway.com/entertainment/k-town-meets-reality-tv/

Source: Asian Walkway, July 31, 2010

K-Town Meets Reality TV

If you guys have been keeping up with American reality television entertainment (which I usual don’t) you might noticed an upcoming reality show focusing on ASIANS! Yes, that is right Asians in America! It just might be a huge success because it will not be your stereotypical school boy/girl cast of Asians but just the exact opposite, dirty, crazy, drunken Asians. Supposedly the cast was picked up through Craigslist’s ads calling for all attractive Asians to apply.

Also Tyrese Gibson will be co-producing the show. Yes, Tyrese Gibson, the African American R&B singer/rapper, and actor that was in 2 Fast 2 Furious and Transformers. Here was one of the Craigslist posting from earlier this year.

“Tyrese Gibson’s production company HQ Pictures is looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to JERSEY SHORE, REAL WORLD, THE HILLS, etc.. We need beautiful Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life.”

The funny thing is that you do not even need to be Korean or Asian to be a cast member on the show and already more than half of the cast members are not even Korean, supposedly there is only two Koreans in the cast. Now this show has already been deemed as the “Jersey Shores” for Asians and has all the similarities to the original Jersey Shores. So watch out Asian parents and school boys/girls, you might be in for a big surprise of what young Asian Americans do during the late hours of the weekend and during the week in Los Angeles. I would not be surprise to find some people I know running around on this show doing something crazy. Lets hope this gets aired and does not fail like all the other Asian shows before it because it would be just interesting to watch Asian people make a fool of themselves instead of the typical people we always see on Reality TV shows.

News Music Reviews

2010-08-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

http://newmusicreviews.net/an-asian-american-jersey-shore-coming-to-tv-soon/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newmusicreviews+%28Willis+Who%3F+Version+2.0+-+New+Music+Reviews%29

Source: News Music Reviews, August 7, 2010

An Asian American Jersey Shore Coming to TV Soon

An Asian American Jersey Shore Coming To TV Soon

Singer-rapper-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing an Asian-American reality show set in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood and inspired by the success of MTV’s controversial sleeper hit, Jersey Shore.
Wait until you get a load of this season’s contestants!
Following an exhaustive search that began with a Craigslist casting call “looking for beautiful Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share”, “Black Ty” has selected eight of the hardest-partying Asian-American twentysomethings in the City of Angels to give Snooki, The Stich, J-Woww and the rest of the well-gelled gang from Seaside Heights, USA a run for their tanning gel.
Meet the eight barflies who have signed up to star in K-Town, an envelope-pushing docu-soap presently being shopped to networks: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang.
There’s even a bulked-up doppleganger for The Situation, a former adult film star.
K-Town is expected to premiere later this year.

Global Grind

2010-08-10T01:04:00.000-07:00

http://globalgrind.com/channel/culture/content/1690908/tyrese-takes-the-jersey-shore-to-korea-town/?pc=1&pi=0

Source: Global Grind, July 15, 2010

Tyrese Takes The Jersey Shore To Korea Town

If there is one thing that Tyrese knows better than any of us, it has to be abs. What is he up to these days? He's putting abs and Asians together by producing a reality show called "K-Town" which will follow the format of the Jersey Shore to showcase Asians like you've never seen before.

The Jersey Shore is a specific subculture which comes with its own rules, uniform, code of conduct and likewise Korea Town is a removed world which one cannot enter without passing various rites of passages. Following the formula of its predecessor K-Town is cast accordingly.

It may be a surprise to some, but bleach blond over-tanned girls in preppy clothes are more abundant than palm trees on the West Coast. Asian American males trying to fight their emasculated image in mainstream media can often be found drinking too many protein shakes and chasing those blond-wanna-be girls all over Korea Town. Many guys at the casting call claim that they are the Asian Situation or even more corny- Situ-Asian which makes us wonder why the stereotypical Asian American in Hollywood or televison all seem so 'different' from the rest. The producers want to higlight just how much Asian Americans have appropriated mainstream elements into their own subculture which results in a unique intersection of ideologies and aesthetics.

Most are probably wondering how Tyrese will convince bible-study-loving Asians who turn tomato red with one sip of alcohol, to be outrageous enough to gawk at on reality television. But producers and K-Town regulars know that there is little work involved with riling up rowdy Asians. The K-Town bunch are already conditioned with soap operas from birth and lubricated with soju.

'K-Town' will be like a secret agent for outsiders who have no access to what goes on within the few blocks that define "Korea Town". Like a fraternity, they K-Towners remain exclusive within themselves and members must go through an intensive initiation process, and hazing is definitely allowed.

Bowls of soju will be chugged by hopeful K-Town members, then put in the spotlight to perform karaoke songs, become enslaved as a worthless intern to their elders, drink every glass of Johnny Walker poured into the glass, walk through the gauntlet of picking up girls through "booking", and last the entire night until 5 AM to eat ungodly spicy foods before trekking out of Wilshire or Midtown Manhattan in a black cab.
Take a look at an interview with the producers and the cast of "K-Town" who will be dubbed the ultimate Asian-Guido and Snooki.

Now Public

2010-08-10T00:56:00.001-07:00

http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/k-town-tv-show-asian-jersey-shore-cast-list-and-preview-video-2642341.html

Source: Now Public, July 20, 2010

K Town TV Show: Asian Jersey Shore - Cast List and Preview Video

by Amy Judd | July 20, 2010 at 09:20 am

1622 views | 0 Recommendations | add comment

K Town, Produced by Tyrese, is the Asian Answer to the Jersey Shore
Seems like everyone wants to get a piece of Snooki, The Situation, Pauly D, Jwoww, Ronnie, Sammi, Vinny (and maybe Angelina) these days, with Tyrese being the latest to capitalize on the reality show focused on a particular group of young people trend.

This new show, called K Town, so named for the area of Koreatown in New York City, is being billed as the 'Asian version of the Jersey Shore' and it looks like it has the potential to be just as crazy as Jersey's version.

The cast features four boys and four girls living and partying in 'K Town':

Young Lee
Joe Cha
Peter Le
Steve Kim
Jennifer Field
Scarlet Chan
Violet Kim
Jasmine Chang

In this preview video, we are introduced to the cast and there are some obvious comparisons to the cast of the Jersey Shore. Naturally there is some fighting and even some drunken yelling.
What do you think of K Town? Will you watch it?

Buzz Tab

2010-08-08T01:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.buzztab.com/entertainment/meet-the-asian-jersey-shore-k-town/

Source: Buzz Tab, July 20, 2010

Meet the Asian 'Jersey Shore,' K-Town!

We have heard enough about the shenanigans of ‘Jersey Shore’ cast, now is the time to meet the newest ‘Jersey Shore’ of the town. K-Town is the Korean version of Jersey Shore which is inspired from MTV’s hit series.

K-Town is produced by Korean singer/actor Tyrese who created quite a scene by blocking traffic at Michigan Avenue with Shia LeBeouf.

K-Town is featuring 4 boys and 4 girls living (read partying) together in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The cast involves a Snooki, a Situation (or may be two), and a Pauly D type Asians, and I have to admit that K-Town’s cast is way more impressive than the original ‘Jersey Shore’ cast.

One of the cast members, Peter Le, is a body builder and a porn star (at least rumors are saying so). The official cast members of K-Town have definitely more personality and hotter looks than Snooki, Pauly D, and The Situation. Seriously, are they all fashion models? We are hearing a lot about the charming cast members of K-Town, and we can’t just wait to see them on our TV screens.

K-Town is not picked by any network yet but probably it will hit your TV screens soon. We’re just hoping that K-Town won’t offend the Asian-Americans as Jersey Shore had offended Italian-Americans, and that someone sees the potential stars in these new faces just like MTV did in the case of Snooki and Sorrentino.

Hanopolis

2010-08-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

http://hanopolis.com/?articleNo=44720&story/TMZ-sneak-peek-at-K-town

Source: Hanopolis, July 19, 2010

TMZ Sneak Peak at K-Town
TMZ's exclusive reel of K-Town portends a lot of drinking, drama, and yeah, girl fights!

Hanopolis | 4:06pm, Mon, Jul 19, 2010 | Comments (3)

Gossip site TMZ has an exclusive reel of the K-town pilot and the intro augurs some wild and crazy stuff. But Mike Le is apparently not too happy. "FML! Bastards at TMZ leaked our K-TOWN cast reel," he tweeted.

Opinions on the show are expectedly divided. Some user comments on TMZ:

That sounds even more boring. What are they gonna argue about? How much fish sauce to put in the meal?

Please no, don't ruin our asian girl fantasies and makes us despise them like those talantless skank whore italian trampy trolls from the Shores. Those worthless, vapid pieces of **** are hated by all (except for the skanky worthless s*** who wanna be just like them)!
Please no, for the love of god, don't do it!!!

Wow.. hope it doesn't get picked up. Embarrassing for any Asian out there. Somewhat entertaining 2 minute clip to watch as a spoof. Can't imagine a network paying for a show like this.

Reinforcing stereotypes and dumbing-down. On TV? Impossible, surely?

How embarrassing for us Asians in Ktown. Bunch of losers and tools as cast members. this is not how it goes down in Ktown.

This will continue with all races most likely. Until they create a show about afro-americans. They seem to be the only ones who have the NAACP and Jesse Jackson types to stop it.

This is not really my bowl of rice... What a fishy premise for a show!

I think the show looks fun! Nobody knows how crazy Asians can get. Until now.

It's like Jersey Shore but with higher IQs. Honestly, I see the many of the cast members overacting. Asians are way too rational to be over the top.

i hope this show gets picked ,it looks kinda interesting cuz asian people need more mainstream **** in the US besides owning it and making all of its stuff lol (pinoy pride still asian)

Yeah, who wants to watch Asians? Boring. Trying to hard.

well hopefully this will crush all the stereotypes about asians being nerdy and anitsocial LOLOL

This is a huge step backwards for asians. I'm sure only white guys with yellow fever will the only ones watching this.

Prediction: This is going to be exactly like Jersey Shore only hotter and skankier, with more overly-dramatic crazy people and unnecessary BS.

What an ugly cast! They would never even have made it through an audition in Asia looking the way they look. Please! Spare me, networks. Don't pick up this show.

i'm asian but this concept is really dumb. What asian problems are there? are they going to fight over math homework?

The silly sh*t people will do to be on TV! I thought Asian cultures were very conservative and had high standards for showing class. Maybe, Koreans will protest by lynching the cast.

Vancouver Observer

2010-08-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/culture/television/2010/07/27/bieber-csi-wipeout-canada-k-town-and-rogers-communications-four

Source: Vancouver Observer, July 27, 2010

Bieber on CSI, Wipeout Canada, K-Town, and Rogers Communications: The Four Horsemen of Canadian TV

Cast of new reality show K-Town, an Asian version of Jersey Shore.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are coming to Canadian TV. Last week MTV announced a new reality show called K-Town, an Asian version of the super-trashy Jersey Shore. With a cast of eight living and partying together in Koreatown, L.A., K-Town threatens to “show Asian Americans like they’ve never been seen before to the rest of the world.”

The second Horseman arrived July 21st, with Rogers Communications Inc. deciding to cut back the amount of data its Internet subscribers can download each month. The move comes just two days after Netflix announced it would start offering a Canadian version of its popular video streaming service in the fall. Consumer advocates believe Rogers, one of Canada’s largest cable TV and Internet companies, is trying to outfox Netflix by making users less willing and able to stream movies and TV content online.

In the third bit of bad news, call-backs for Wipeout Canada took place on Thursday (July 23rd) at Richmond’s River Rock Resort. About 45,000 people signed up to be contestants, with 260 selected for call-back. The show is a Canadian take on the U.S. game show where contestants humiliate themselves on a ridiculous obstacle course to win $50,000.

And the most ominous sign of all: that same day (July 23rd) CBS announced that prepubescent pop idol Justin Bieber will make his acting debut on the season premiere of CSI on September 23rd. The Stratford, Ontario-born Bieber will play a “troubled teen… faced with a terrible decision regarding his only brother.”

I Am Koream

2010-08-08T01:43:00.000-07:00

http://iamkoream.com/k-town-cast-revealed/

Source: I Am Koream, July 14, 2010

K-Town Cast Revealed...

Author: Elizabeth
Posted: July 14th, 2010
Filed Under: BLOG

…and they’re just as tan and drunk as we thought they’d be.

Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang

Photos of the cast of the Asian American reality show everyone’s been talking about have been released through Facebook, and you can already tell who’s supposed to be who. There’s the bleach blonde, the bi-sexual pornstar nude model, the aspiring actress, two meatheads, and even a Korean Snooki. Surprisingly, all the girls do seem to have eyebrows. For now, at least.
They started shooting around Los Angeles’ Koreatown this week, and according to the cast members’ tweets, the show promises at least some drunken entertainment.

Last night was truly unbelievable.. you take 8 crazy personalities and the result, epic madness! love all the cast! – Steve Kim
Craaaaaaazy night with the cast. Good night! Xoxo. – Jennifer Field
Huuuuuunng ooovvveeerrrr daayum… Talk about some crazyyy night, Welcome to Ktown LA .. Seriously – Young Lee

Welcome to Koreatown indeed. More trashy goodness after the jump.

6 Theory Forums

2010-08-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.6theory.com/forum/index.php/topic/9275-ktown-reality-show-cast-revealed/

Source: 6 Theory Forums, July 13, 2010

Ktown Reality Show Cast Revealed

I don't know if there's already a topic about it but if there is go ahead and redirect me to the right forum or just close this one. So yeah how do you guys feel about it? They did a pilot episode for it already. I don't know how I feel about it but it should definitely be interesting!!

Resized to 86% (was 720 x 478) - Click image to enlarge

more Info about the reality show

So it looks like the shortest girl in the middle has a blog! Violet Kim's Blog
I don't know about ya'll but to me she just seems like a regular Korean American girl in my opinion. Its just that they just come off as trashy or people that parties way too hard. There's also a link to her fb/twitter when you can find the other cast members.
EDIT AGAIN: after reading some of her blog stuff and watching some vids of her on YT she definitely has a diva attitude

Also I've been hearing its true that it might be coming out? I don't know what channel but I'll definitely watch it to see how crazy these ppl are.

Live Citizen

2010-08-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.livecitizen.com/2010/07/watching-ktown-reality-show/

Source: Live Citizen, July 13, 2010

Will You Be Watching the New Ktown Reality Show?

We have seen reality shows from all over this country. From the Jersey Shore to The Real Housewives of Orange County, all of these shows have one thing in common…they are super trashy. Then again, no one knows what this will be like until we start to watch. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Peter Le with his shirt off?

http://www.channelapa.com/2010/07/ktown-reality-show-cast-revealed.html

Racialicious

2010-08-08T01:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.racialicious.com/2010/07/15/coming-attractions-ktown/

Source: Racialicious

Coming Attractions: KTown

By Arturo R. García

Yesterday Channel APA revealed the roster for the debut of Ktown, a reality show that, as you can see, will be unique in casting, if not tone: this bunch of presumably, uh, rambunctious young people is exclusively Asian-American.

From left to right, that’s Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang up top. According to APA, the show’s premiere was filmed at three Koreatown-area bars in Los Angeles, and based on some preview images, hilarity might indeed ensue.

The group even appears to have its’ own potential Situation in Mr. Le, though, thankfully, his casting call interview makes him sound a lot more sensible than his Jersey counterpart.

Le’s mention of “drinking, temper issues, smoking” is probably a reference to some questions that were, as KoreAm’s David Yi reported, part of the cast application:

(8) Are there any nude or other revealing or compromising images of you that are available publicly either through the Internet, video or otherwise? If so, please describe and explain.
(13) Do you drink alcohol? If so, how often do you drink and how much? How do you act when drunk?
(17) Do you have a temper? How often do you lose your temper? What provokes you? How do you deal with anger?
(18) How many fights have you been in? When was the last time (if any) you hit, punched, kicked, or threw something in anger? Please provide details.
(23) How often do you frequent these types of establishments in Koreatown? (i.e. Restaurants, Bars, Night Clubs, Karaoke Rooms, Hostess Bars…)
(25) Have you experienced “booking” at a Korean night club? What are your thoughts on this practice?

No word yet on where or when Ktown might air, but based on these images, you can understand the concerns expressed by Yi’s colleague, Haewon Asfaw, in the wake of being told by producer Eugene Choi, “With any ethnic/racial group, people sometimes just want only ‘rosy’ images featured.”

The potential wide-scale exposure of a historically underrepresented and misrepresented racial group is both exciting and nerve-racking. It could show the public just how human and varied members of Asian/Korean America are, or it could simply replace the model minority stereotype with another: the spoiled brats and hoodlums who karaoke, drink and brawl in the streets of K-town.
I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned.

The Count

2010-08-08T01:28:00.000-07:00

http://thecount.com/2010/07/18/move-over-jersey-shore-hello-k-town/

Source: The Count, July 18, 2010

Move Over Jersey Shore Hello K-Town

by Bert on July 18, 2010

Like Jersey Shore? well you can forgetaboutit, there’s a new TV series in town, K-Town that is.
Produced by Tyrese, so far K-Town has only been released on the internet, however, the reality show, featuring kooky Asian American youngsters is expected to get picked up by a studio any second. The cast consists of 4 girls and 4 guys, and promises to outdo Jersey Shore in all categories, muscles, high hairdos, clubbing and most importantly drama.

Here are some pictures fresh from the set. Okay so were casting agents intentionally trying to mirror Jersey Shore’s look and feel only with a slight slant or what?!

Groove Asia

2010-08-08T01:24:00.001-07:00

http://grooveasia.com/features/4057514139921430116/2010/07/cast-of-la-ktown-reality-show-revealed.html

Source: Groove Asia, July 15, 2010

Cast of LA KTown Reality Show Revealed

Dubbed as the Asian version of "Jersey Shore", the cast of the Tyrese-co-produced Ktown reality show has been revealed!

Here is the cast from left to right in the picture above:

Below are a few more shots from one of the other 3 producers Mike Le's Facebook album (the other 2 producers are Eddie Kim, and Eugene Choi) and as always, it's starts with the Goose:

It ain't a normal night in Ktown if you don't lose your shirt.

HubPages

2010-08-08T01:16:00.000-07:00

http://hubpages.com/hub/K-Town-Reality-Show

Source: HubPages

K-Town Reality Show

By PatOued

K-Town Reality Show Cast

This morning read about the K-Town reality show early controversy is disappointing.

The story states the controversy is tied to the backgrounds of some cast members and the stereotype about Asian Americans maybe doomed to be misrepresented.

If the producers have done a good job selecting the brightest and most talented for the show, which I am convinced they did, then there is no reason for setbacks right it the beginning.

The cast is in fact well diversified with all members from different social backgrounds and that representation fits well for a Reality Show. It is up to the cast to get it together and live up to the challenge proving the stereotypes and misconceptions about American Asians have no place anywhere. If the show sets one of its objectives to be fighting those stereotypes and misconceptions, that in itself is an attraction for the audience. It is the actors and actresses’ responsibility to put their differences aside and be serious about coming together with a common purpose to entertain on TV and appeal to an audience big enough to keep them going and possibly go international.

I am not an expert at any of it, but a story well written and brilliantly executed will always attract a big audience. Complains about how Asians are represented by some backgrounds of the cast are to be overwritten by how the cast put on the show.

Undead Astronauts

2010-08-08T01:13:00.001-07:00

http://undeadastronauts.com/2010/07/13/ktown-reality-cast/

Source: Undead Astronauts, July 13, 2010

KTown Reality Cast

UPDATE 7.15.10: more info on the cast here.

the ktown reality show cast has been revealed, and it’s 8 ppl w/ and even mix of guys and girls. i must say the cast does appear to be following ktown conventions in style, except for the white haired jasmine. here are their names: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang.

the contestants looked full blood asian to me except the obvious jennifer field. i looked her up and she’s a half korean beauty queen. well, i suppose that figures… she’s gorgeous. scarlet chan is also some sort of entertainment industry wannabe from the appearance of her twitter. i can’t tell what violet does, but it couldn’t be very time-consuming considering how much she blogs. jasmine, whose hair sets her apart, is of course a hairdresser. peter le is… something i wish had not come up. go to peterfever.com if u really want to know. i don’t even want to know what the other guys do after looking peter up. the show’s official twitter is here.

there are more pics here of their activities during the pilot episode. this reminded me of the ktown cowboys episodes i didn’t post.

Hanopolis

2010-08-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

http://hanopolis.com/?articleNo=45587&story/The-cast-of-K-town-the-reality-show

Source: Hanopolis, July 16, 2010

The Cast of K-Town, the Reality Show
Tyrese Gibsons wants to help Asians get a break in the media and get the same shot as everybody else

Hanopolis | 6:48am, Fri, Jul 16, 2010 | Comments (11)

The Ktown Cowboys have moved on into the sunset (actually, one bonus episode left, with a cameo by Bobby Lee), but Ktown the Los Angeles enclave continues, this time, in the manifestation of Tyrese Gibson's Asian American version of Jersey Shore named appropriately enough, K-town. The lucky eight have been chosen and filming for the pilot is underway. And if you thought the boys in the fictionalized version was over the top, the reality show promises to make the movie look tame.

But if scriptwriters endeavor to tether their characters to reality, reality shows turn its namesake on its head. Personalities with a penchant for drama go into overdrive in front of the cameras. And often encouraged to do so.

Asked what Gibson wanted out of the show, he answered, "I want sexy, wild, personality, I want hot tubs, sex scenes... at the same time, I want people to know the many different layers and characteristics... I want people to know that Asians have layers... we've got insecurities... heartaches... challenges... I want to capture all of that on camera for all the world to see..."

Of course, you can't squeeze water out of rock. So casting is important. This may be an Asian American reality show but no wallflowers or bookworms need apply.

Photos of the cast were released on Facebook. "And you can already tell who's supposed to be who," said Elizabeth at Koream magazine. "There’s the bleach blonde, the bi-sexual ~~pornstar~~ nude model, the aspiring actress, two meatheads, and even a Korean Snooki."

We're clueless about the "Snooki" [never watched Jersey Shore] but Peter Le (Vietnamese) appears to be the bisexual pornstar/nude model. And Scarlet Chan (Chinese) is evidently a hooker, or was, according to her site. The self-dubbed "Eurasian" Jennifer Field (Korean, English, Irish and German descent) is the beauty queen/aspiring actress, we presume (actually, they're all probably aspiring actors). And the meatheads? We're not sure which two fit that bill.

Are we just ending up with more negative stereotypes? Maybe, but we don't see a problem with meatheads, blonds or anything else that pretty much go against the established grain. Indeed, it's the one-sided reinforcement of negative ones that dehumanizes and turn people into caricatures. Thus negative or positive, three-dimensionalizing the Asian American tableau is a good thing, we think.

The motivation

"I don't wanna make it too heavy, my reasons, my motivations," Tyrese conveyed, explaining his motivation for the show.

"When it comes to Asian Americans and Asians in general, everyone's still fighting to get their faces and images in mainstream media... but Asian deserve to be on TV like everybody else... for me, that's the motivation," he said, nobly.

"This ain't for me about making no money, but this is really allowing the people to see Asians, Koreans, showing your character, your personalities, allowing the world to embrace you as they've embraced everybody else... African Americans dealt with it forever, we still deal with it on certain levels, but we've been able to push through through music and through film... but you know I think it's about that time for Asians to get their same shot and here we are..."

8 Asians

2010-08-08T01:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.8asians.com/2010/07/14/k-town-jersey-shore-cast-revealed-includes-asian-snooki-bisexual-male-adult-model/

Source: 8 Asians, July 14, 2010

K-Town "Jersey Shore" Cast Revealed, Includes Asian Snooki, Bisexual Male Adult Model

By Ernie | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 | 5 Comments and 9 Reactions

So, remember about three months ago, when the plans for “the Asian Jersey Shore” filmed in LA’s Koreantown were announced and the application was leaked? The first series of the cast photos have been released to the Internet, and early results show that the cast will either be hot, a mess, or a complete hot mess, depending on who you are and whether you’re, say, sitting around getting stoned talking shit to your friends or, uhm, writing a weblog about Asian American issues.
You’ve got all sorts of obvious comparisons to Jersey Shore: guys with tight black shirts, dude with fauxhawk, girl with hella blonde hair that makes it look like she has a spray tan and — oh shit — even a Korean Snooki, cuz she’s shorter than everyone else and probably gets into DUIs. But what’s this? A former meth addict, who’s a girl? A bisexual adult model, who’s a dude?! What is this, topsy-turvy world?

Needless to say, early response from weblogs have people mortified — “this is going to be an embarrassment to us Asians!” To which I say: it’ll be an embarrassment, sure, but not to us. This will be an embarrassment to cast members of a reality show who auditioned for a K-Town reality series, knowing full well that they were being filmed for a show that involves drinking and fighting. Asian Americans in the media — this blog included — are a fickle bunch. We freak out when Asians are portrayed in the media as nerds and geeks, we freak out when no Asian males have been cast in The Real World in its 15-year run, presumably because we’re desexualized. So, what are we, the suburban Asian family constantly portrayed in Target commercials? We could be, but if there were a reality show about how Michael and Jenny Chau of Mountain View, California dropped off their kids at swim practice, I would be blogging about how it was the most boring reality show that has ever existed and wished how — just for one episode — Jenny could fly to Vegas with her crew and snort coke off a stripper’s ass.

But that’s just me. What do you think: will we ever see a non-offensive portrayal of Asian Americans on television? And if or when we do, will it really be worth watching?

Audrey Magazine

2010-08-08T00:59:00.000-07:00

http://audreymagazine.com/the-dish-on-the-new-k-town-reality-show/

Source: Audrey Magazine, July 23, 2010

The Dish on the New K-Town Reality Show
Post by Daisy • July 23, 2010 • Post a comment

The cast of the new K-Town reality show.

Love it or hate it, but one thing is left undisputed. Americans love reality television and Jersey Shore was one of the most talked about hits to break out into the airwaves last season. As the upcoming reality television show K-Town, dubbed as the “Asian American Jersey Shore” is currently in production, rumors and gossip are swarming the filming process. From America’s favorite paparazzi site TMZ and journalism powerhouse The New York Times, to cynically critical Asian American bloggers chiming in on K-Town, curiosity over the show is increasing by the minute. To curb my own prying nosiness, I held one of the three producers of the show, Eugene Choi, hostage on the other end of the phone. He addressed some of the swarming rumors, but hesitates to give away too much of what’s to come.

Q: There are so many videos and clips of K-Town circulating online. What’s real and what’s not?

Eugene Choi: That’s the crazy part of all the attention that we’ve been getting over the show — most of the things that are circulating online were not released by the producers or the official production team. Given how connected everyone is through the internet, it’s become so easy to snoop and scoop. We [the production team and cast members] have password protected a lot of the footage to get edited internally, yet somehow it got out of hand real quickly. Now, we’re receiving emails with links from acquaintances with production footage even before it’s edited.

One of the cast members of the new K-Town reality show. Photo courtesy of Ktown Twitter.

Q: So are the photos and videos not accurate representations of the show?

EC: They are not the finalized version. Many of the videos on Youtube are also uploaded by fans and critics outside of the actual production team so it’s not our official material. All this attention is good for publicity, but it’s also misleading since we are still in the filming process and we’ve only shot the pilot episode.

Q: Tell me more of the parody of Ke$ha’s Tik Tok on TMZ starring the cast of K-Town. It says that it’s not an official trailer/teaser, but somehow managed to reach the American public through TMZ of all places!

EC: The quality of the video that was released through TMZ is no way near what you should expect from the upcoming show. The video and the lyrics were actually part of Jasmine Chang’s (one of the cast members) audition process and we were just talking about how it was cute and funny and decided to put the rest of the casts’ auditions into it. About 95 percent of the video is footage cut from the cast members’ audition videos and not actual footage from the show.
As a matter of fact, we ended up selecting the cast members partially based on their audition videos. They were very impressive high quality videos where it was shot and edited by professional videographers.

Q: Are the cast members going to be 2.0 Asian American versions of the Jersey Shore cast?

EC: We are using K-Town as the setting and drawing from what really goes on in Koreatown. The similarity is that both shows will feature a selected group of young adults going through a rite of passage in their [respective] settings. In this case, it’ll be K-town where it’s truly unique with a character of its own.

Q: How do you think that the show will be able to distinguish itself into its own and away from the Jersey Shore?

EC: Well, it’s the very first reality show of its kind with an all Asian American cast, so that’s the selling point and challenge when pitching it to the networks.

Q: Well, the mainstream American media that have reported on it so far have all called it the Jersey Shore — but with Asians. How do you think that’s going to play with the major networks?

EC: The main goal from the beginning was to get the show picked up and aired through a major network and that’s also the real challenge. Networks are in the business to pick up what’s profitable. Last year, Viacom’s biggest moneymaker was MTV, much credit to the popularity of the Jersey Shore. So when approaching the network executives, it’s a selling point to be able to address that, “Look, we have something here that can be successful. The risk you have to take is that the cast will be all Asian American instead of Italian-Americans,” and they’re more willing to listen. The hype and media attention that we are receiving now is an indicator that America is ready and interested enough to watch a reality show with an Asian American cast about their particular subculture within America. The content’s going to be different from the Jersey Shore because the people [cast] are different and the producers are different.

Some of the photos released on KTown Twitter.

Q: So all this attention, even though it’s negative, is essentially good publicity.

EC: It was shocking to receive so much attention from the very beginning. Even from the very first Criagslist ads to the audition process, we’ve been getting a lot of attention and negative criticism. There’s been so much negativity from the beginning from the Asian American community trying to tear us down, but it hasn’t affected us from moving forward with this project. Surprisingly, the public American media, whether it’s Chelsea Lately, CNN or TMZ have not been negative.

Q: So what made you guys place a Craigslist ad looking for Asian American Jersey Shore-types?

EC: I was studying the Jersey Shore and how it’s a simple depiction of a subculture in America, following young people through their rite of passage and thought, “why not in K-town?” Koreatown has so much going on as an enclave for Asian Americans to soak up its own unique lifestyle and nightlife. Some people are complaining over the cast members’ nationalities — on how not every cast member is a Korean American. I think it goes to show that Koreatown, in addition to its namesake that harbors Korean businesses, has been naturalized as a Asian American hang-out spot. The production team is not entirely Korean either, but we [the producers] all want to do what many other Asian Americans in the entertainment industry are working to do, which is to breakdown the stereotype that we [Asian Americans] are not all nerdy or that we can’t be mainstream.

Breaking stereotypes perhaps? Or just a new The Situation? Another photo released by Ktown Twitter.

Q: So is the goal to break the stereotypes and to have a successful reality TV show?

EC: The goal is not to show the rosy picture, but to show that Asian Americans are more multidimensional through the individuals that they’ll meet through the show.

Q: Multidimensional through drunken debauchery in Koreatown?

EC: Well, reality TV is about drama.

Q: I have to agree. Looking at other popular reality TV shows like the Real Housewives or the Real World, it’s all about people and their hot, messy drama. I shall expect to see Asian Americans and their hot, messy drama then.

Shooting for the K-Town reality show is ongoing. Photo courtesy of Ktown Twitter.

EC: Speaking of the Real World, there was an interesting Facebook page that points out how there have been zero Asian American males cast on the show, with only three Asian American female cast members in its long-running history. That says a lot about American television and what this K-Town reality show is trying to do. We have interesting characters and the only difference is that they’re Asian Americans.

Q: Then don’t you think that the critics and haters are almost giving you too much credit with the show? After all, it is only a reality TV show.

EC: I guess I haven’t looked at it that way. But we want to create a good show that is entertaining and to put a different perspective of Asian Americans.
***

What I gathered after our thank-you-and-good-bye was that the producers are in the business of making good reality television as opposed to creating a new set of Asian American role models. It’s reality television — not reality as it is.

Trend Hunter Magazine

2010-08-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/k-town-reality-show

Jersey Shore Spin-Offs - The 'K-Town' Reality Show Represents the Asian Population

We’ve all seen the pop culture phenomenon known as ‘Jersey Shore,’ and now the ‘K-Town’ reality show will show the Asian population partying it up like Snooki. There was an audition calling Asians of all sorts to try out for this new reality show, which Tyrese is going to help produce.
As you might expect, applicants for this show compared themselves to the ‘Jersey Shore’ cast. One even went as far as saying, “I think I am the Asian version of ‘The Situation.’” Do you think the ‘K- Town’ reality show will be the next ‘Jersey Shore’?

Celebuzz

2010-08-08T00:52:00.000-07:00

http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/archive/2010/07/27/peter_lee_the_asian_situation.php

Source: Celebuzz, July 27, 2010

Peter Le: The Asian Situation

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Meet Peter Le, Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang from the cast of MTV's forthcoming K-Town. Featured above is Peter Lee who runs a softcore website called Peter Fever (it's not safe for work). At least he's an pre-stardom entrepreneur. Can The Situation say that?

Pacific Coast News

2010-08-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

http://pacificcoastnewsonline.celebuzz.com/mt/mt-search.fcgi?search=ktown+reality&IncludeBlogs=1&limit=20

Source: Pacific Coast News, July 26, 2010

Exclusive Pictures! The Cast of 'K-Town' Strike a Pose

Posted by Jennifer Haughton

Young, Jennifer, Joey, Scarlett, Peter and Jasmine of K-Town strike a pose or two outside Le Cercle in Koreatown, LA.

K-Town is a new Asian-American reality show, similar to Jersey Shore, produced by Tyrese, that follows the lives of 8 Asian-American twenty-somethings as they reveal what life is like living in Korea Town.

Mochi Mag Blog

2010-08-08T00:45:00.001-07:00

http://mochimag.com/blog/2010/07/k-town-reality-shows-trailer-released/

Source: Mochi Mag Blog

"K-Town" Reality Show's Trailer Released

By Jessica J. Kim ⋅ Post a comment

When we found the release of the ‘Asian “Jersey Shore” reality show cast pictures and names last week, we were anxious to hear more news. Though the new show has not yet been picked up by a network, the pilot was shot barely two weeks ago and lucky for us, TMZ has obtained and shared the cast reel. As reported, all eight cast members—Jasmin Chang, Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Peter Le, Scarlet Chan, Joey Cha, Violet Kim and Steve Kim—are featured. The supposed trailer plays to a version of Ke$ha’s “Tik-Tok,” and it’s complete with drunken antics, an off-tune karaoke session, and a little bit of hair pulling. Judging by the video, the term ‘Asian “Jersey Shore” fits all necessary requirements for a successful reality television show—an attractive cast, drinking, partying and drama. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is picked up by a network soon. The two-and-a-half minute video includes clips from possibly the pilot, as well as from each individual’s casting video.

For those of you who had hoped for a little more from “K-Town Reality TV’s” first trailer, don’t lose hope. With such a colorful cast, there’s sure to be more drama and entertainment in store.

Ningin

2010-08-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

http://blog.ningin.com/2010/07/18/asian-american-reality-show-k-town-reveals-its-cast/

Source: Ningin, July 18, 2010

Tyrese Gibson's Reality Show 'K-Town' Reveals its Cast

ArnoldArteaga on Sunday, July 18, 2010 11:00AM

There were rumors flying around that an Asian-American version of Jersey Shore was in the works. Well, things are turning out to be true now that the reality show - appropriately titled KTown - has revealed photos of the 8 cast members during their first night out. Oh, boy…
The pilot episode was filmed over the weekend in Koreatown (Los Angeles, CA) with the newly revealed cast: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang (pictured above).
The mastermind behind this lovely idea for a reality show is R&B superstar Tyrese Gibson. He’s the producer and from the pics of the group’s first night out, he’s aiming to ignite everyone’s Asian persuasion with a blend of Jersey Shore’s disastrous behavior and a shot of kimchi fried rice here and there for good measure.

Expect drinking, drama, and hot studs abound! You can follow the show on Twitter here for current updates if you just can’t wait for all this to unfold on your TV.
How do you feel about K-Town and its approach to shedding light on the Asian American culture?
Source

AA Theory

2010-08-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

http://aatheory.com/2010/07/k-town-reality-show-cast-unveiled-par-taying-for-the-pilot/

Source: AA Theory, July 14, 2010

K-Town Reality Show Cast Unveiled, Par-taying for the Pilot

Posted on July 14th, 2010 by happyhatts

Not that it looks like there would be ANY leftover soju with this group :ahem:, I still hypothetically sure could use some right about now to deal with the potentially cringe-worthy reality of this reality-show situation.
Meet Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang, the official new cast for the hotly anticipated, Tyrese produced, K-Town Reality Show. The genetically-blessed n’ enhanced group shot scenes for the pilot episode over the weekend, and it looks like they rocked out with their gooks out!
God help us one and all…

More photos to make umma “proud” after the jump!

cr: channelapa.com

Korean Beacon

2010-08-08T00:39:00.001-07:00

http://www.koreanbeacon.com/2010/07/18/the-ktown-reality-show-cast-reel/

Source: Korean Beacon, July 18, 2010

The Ktown Reality Show Cast Reel

Posted on 18 July 2010 by Korean Beacon

Category: Entertainment, News

Tags: Jersey Shore, Ktown Reality Show

This video is hard to digest and it makes me nauseous like after downing soju shots all night long. It’s the Ktown cast reel and even this little 2 minute video makes you cringe. Imagine what a full episode will feel like?! There’s a small snippet at the end of the reel that shows what drama may come our way and it’s obviously overacted by one of the girls. TMZ got a hold of this video and they must’ve been laughing their tails off at their offices. This is going to be a train wreck! UGHHH!!! Damn you attention seeking reality actor wannabes. Why are you screwing it up for the rest of our peeps?
You can check it out at TMZ.com.

Live Journal- ohnotheydidnt

2010-08-08T00:35:00.001-07:00

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/49020736.html

Source: Oh No They Didn't, July 18, 2010

K-Town Reality Show Reel

You might want to swallow a Pepcid before watching this mess, or it might leave you with a serious Asian glow. This is the cast reel for K-Town, the Asian-American version of Jersey Shore, that is currently making the rounds to the networks. The pilot, which was produced by Tyrese, was shot in and around Los Angeles' Koreatown last weekend.

This pretty much looks like Jersey Shore with kimchi instead of orange skin. There's an Asian version of Snooks, JWoww, The Situation and Pauly D. Although, K-Town is showing Jersey Shore up, because their Situation is a soft core porn star who can break a grenade in two with his abs.

Here you were thinking that all Asians spend their nights doing math problems for fun and only leave the house to drive their Honda Accord to the 99 Ranch Market to buy bubble tea. Nope, Asians get fucked up and embarrass themselves just like everybody else (Guilty!!).

Chicago Now

2010-08-08T00:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pop-buzz/2010/07/meet-k-town-the-new-asian-jersey-shore.html

Source: Chicago Now, July 19, 2010

Meet 'K-Town' The New Asian 'Jersey Shore'

LaShonda on 07.19.10 at 8:30 AM | 4 comments

If you haven't heard, a lot of people are completely offended by MTV reality show The Jersey Shore. And by offended, I mean they also want there 15-minutes in the spotlight.
So meet K-Town, the Korean version of MTV's hit series The Jersey Shore. The show is being produced by actor/singer Tyrese who you may have seen lately blocking traffic on Michigan Ave., with some guy named Shia LaBeouf.

The show features 4 boys and 4 girls living and partying together in Koreatown, Los Angeles. And I have to admit that The Situation has nothing on body builder and rumored porn star Peter Le. Seriously, are all these people models?

The official cast members are Young Lee, Joe Cha, Peter Le, Steve Kim, Jennifer Field, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, and Jasmine Chang. Besides the HOT bodies they definitely seem to have more personality and charm than their predecessors. (I was one fist-pump away from killing myself)
And besides the obvious comparisons like Violet Kim is the new Snooki, and numerous references to something called Soju. I'm all on board!

K-Town is currently being shopped to potential networks but probably will be hitting a TV near you in (watch the video below) 3..2..

Reality Blurred

2010-08-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/future_shows/2010_Jul_19_asian_jersey_shore

Source: Reality Blurred, July 19, 2010

Cast for K-Town, the Asian Jersey Shore, Includes "Borderline Gay Porn Star"

by Andy Dehnart / July 19, 2010, 9:42 AM

comment »

K-Town, the Tyrese-produced Asian version of Jersey Shore shot a pilot last weekend, and its eight-person cast includes a relatively famous porn model.
ChannelAPA has photos and reports that “episode was shot over the weekend at BCD, Bohemians, and BoBo’s in Koreatown,” and that the cast member’s names are “Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang.”
One of those, Peter Le, is drawing the most attention, because he does porn. His Peter Fever [very NSFW] has photos, and in an interview, he said, “I try not to label myself” when asked about his sexual orientation, but said, “A lot of people say I’m a borderline gay porn star. I’m kinda a gay porn star but I’m not trying to go in that direction I’m more of a solo, for myself right now.”
On 8 Asians, Ernie has an interesting discussion about the show that notes “early response from weblogs have people mortified” and adds that “Asian Americans in the media — this blog included — are a fickle bunch. We freak out when Asians are portrayed in the media as nerds and geeks, we freak out when no Asian males have been cast in The Real World in its 15-year run, presumably because we’re desexualized.”
If anything, it seems like this show will help to dispel those kinds of stereotypes, perhaps by creating new ones. And as to Ernie’s incredible point: Really, MTV and Bunim-Murray? Not a single Asian male ever on The Real World?

Ology

2010-08-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.ology.com/screen/k-town-coming-jersey-shore

Source: Ology, July 29, 2010

K-Town is coming for Jersey Shore!

By TERRON R. MOORE

<br>

Hey, The Situation. The guy over there juxtaposed next to you goes by the government name of Peter Le. Le, 27, is already being dubbed "The Situasian" for his eerie similarity and buff quality as his counterpart here. According to Peter, he likes drinking, and he's got a bit of anger and smoking issues going on, too. Nice.

And this is just one comparison. Le is headlining a brand-spanking-new cast of party kids ready to GTL, Asian-style. The group is looking to make their show, entitled K-Town, the next big television hit. Set on the opposite shores of New Jersey, the reality series looks to document the party-filled lives of 8 Asian Americans living in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The producers themselves say that they plan to "show Asian Americans like they've never been seen before to the rest of the world."
Let me just say.... there is no way that this can possibly end well. For anyone.

THE DAILY of the University of Washington

2010-08-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

http://dailyuw.com/2010/7/21/jersey-shore-takeoff-comes-k-town/

Source: THE DAILY of the University of Washington, July 21, 2010

Jersey Shore takeoff comes to K-Town

By Allen Wagner July 21, 2010

View this day's paper in PDF

Yep, it’s happening.

An Asian-American version of MTV’s Jersey Shore.

No joke.

The show hasn’t been picked up by MTV yet, but I’m willing to bet the network will give K-Town — yes, it’s based in Los Angeles’ Koreatown — a shot on TV, and soon we’ll probably all be able to see the Asian-American iterations of Snooki and “The Situation” drunk with their friends, with empty soju bottles lined up on the table, all while going through some serious life drama.

You can thank singer-actor-turned-producer Tyrese Gibson, who is taking entertainment to exciting new lows with his K-Town pilot. And while I hate to judge a book by its cover, I’m pretty sure that this is going to be worse in every way than Jersey Shore was.

But when I say worse, I really mean awesome, because in today’s world, the more terrible something is, the more hilarious it becomes.

Yeah, I’m excited to see this, not really because I’m Korean-American, but because this show will be so bad that it will become must-see TV.

I can’t wait to see Saturday Night Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Soup ridicule this latest MTV creation.

And I can’t wait to see the look of horror on the faces of my Korean family as they see the sons and daughters of immigrants to the United States portrayed in such a horrible (awesome) fashion.

But really, is the kind of entertainment that Jersey Shore and now, likely, K-Town provides, really beneficial to anybody?

MTV earned criticism from various Italian-American groups for its portrayal of those young, overly tan vacationers on the Jersey Shore. And I’m sure if MTV picks up K-Town, it’ll get plenty of criticism from Asian-American groups — especially Korean organizations — for its stereotyping of the Koreatown lifestyle.

Meh, who am I kidding?

This show is going to be amazing.

Does it really matter when the show is on MTV — everyone’s favorite channel to make fun of — or if most people will only watch it because the acting is terrible and the situations the cast gets involved in are stupid?

I don’t really think so.

And if the cast reel — featuring heavily tanned and eye-lined Asian women with guys constantly lifting weights — is any indication, K-Town will be every bit as terrible as Jersey Shore, if not more.

Maybe K-Town will become the next cultural phenomenon.

At the very least, Asian-Americans worldwide can be proud that, finally, the full cast of a U.S. television show is Asian.

Just kidding.

Be ashamed. Be very ashamed in this case.

Just be sure to enjoy the show for what it truly is — really stupid.

And by stupid, I mean awesome.

Reach columnist Allen Wagner at opinion@dailyuw.com

The Frisky

2010-08-03T23:36:00.001-07:00

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-introducing-k-town-the-new-jersey-shore-for-asians/?eref=RSS

Source: The Frisky, July 16, 2010

Introducing "K-Town", The New "Jersey Shore" For Asians

Posted by: Jessica Wakeman Filed in: entertainment
12:10PM, Friday July 16th 2010

Comments (5)

Italians, you won’t be the only ones stereotyped on the boob tube: “K-town,” a new “Jersey Shore”-style reality show randomly produced by male model Tyrese, starring party-hearty Asians, has begun filming in Los Angeles’ famed Koreatown. Months ago, “K-town” posted a casting notice on Craigslist for Asian-Americans “with lively, strong and unique personalities” who love “the Koreatown life” — muscles, short skirts and drinking a la Jersey Shore-houses. The cast of “K-town” is four guys and four girls: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang. Bodybuilder and alleged porn star Peter Le is said to be the Asian “Situation,” although his beefcake abs make The Situation look like tofu. Still, isn’t it beautiful how fist-bumping transcends cultural barriers? [Broadcasting Asian America, New York Post, Jezebel]

Ningin

2010-08-03T23:33:00.001-07:00

http://blog.ningin.com/2010/07/19/tyrese-gibsons-k-town-reality-show-aka-asian-jersey-shore-video-reel/

Source: Ningin, July 19, 2010

Tyrese Gibson's K-Town Reality Show aka Asian Jersey Shore video reel

JinraIlustrisimo on Monday, July 19, 2010 7:00AM

Tyrese’s K-Town reality TV show (aka the Asian Jersey Shore) video reel has surfaced on the Internet via TMZ. When it comes to personally judging reality TV shows, I’m something of a TV Goldilocks. Reality TV for me can be not trashy, too trashy or just right. The trashier, the better. Although this reel is just a reel — it doesn’t seem like it’s trashy enough for me.
Having experienced K-Town on many an occasion, I kind feel like there’s nothing really there to exploit as far as reality TV goes. I mean, people don’t even abuse self-tanner in K-Town or use bump-its! If this TV show is trying to serve the purpose of defeating the Model Minority Myth, the stereotype wherein all Asian Americans are model citizens that obey the law and get good grades, then I think we might have something here:

Mash Celeb

2010-08-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.mashceleb.com/2010/07/19/k-town-asian-american-jersey-shore-trailer

Source: Mash Celeb, July 19, 2010

'K-Town' - Asian-American 'Jersey Shore' - Trailer

Jul 19th, 2010 - Pop Crunch
Share

Jesus Take The Wheel…And Send This Mess Flying Over A Cliff!
Singer-rapper-actor Tyrese Gibson is producing an Asian-American reality show set in Los Angeles' Koreatown neighborhood and inspired by the success of MTV's controversial sleeper hit, Jersey Shore.
Wait until you get a load of this season's contestants!

Disgrasian

2010-08-03T00:24:00.000-07:00

http://disgrasian.com/2010/07/k-town-reality-show-promotes-new-stereotype-of-asian-men/

Source: Disgrasian, July 28, 2010July 28th, 2010

K-Town Reality Show Promotes New Stereotype for Asian Men

July 28th, 2010 | 16 comments | Posted by Jen

There’s been a lot of talk about whether the K-Town Reality Show–aka “The Asian Jersey Shore”–will break down or reinforce stereotypes of Asians (check out this comment thread over at channel APA, for example).

But no one’s talking about how the show might create new stereotypes. Like, the stereotype that…

…ASIAN MEN REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HATE SHIRTS.

This stereotype has the potential to be seriously damaging. Think about it.

It could hurt Asian men seeking employment, especially with employers who require shirts to be worn in the workplace, a job sector where Asians have traditionally excelled.

Before you know it, “Asian men hate shirts” will become an internet meme. When people Google “Asian men,” the first suggestion that’ll come up won’t be “hairstyles,” it’ll be “hate shirts.”

Then after that, all you’ll see on TV and in movies will be Asian men with their shirts off.

This stereotype could even haunt Asian men for generations to come, causing those either brave or stupid enough to continue wearing shirts to feel like they’re not Asian enough or, worse, like they don’t exist at all.

[via channel APA]

Examiner

2010-07-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15343-Jacksonville-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m7d18-Meet-the-cast-of-KTown-the-Asian-version-of-Jersey-Shore-coming-soon?cid=publish_twitter:15343

'Meet the cast of K-Town the Asian version of Jersey Shore coming soon'

There is a new reality show coming called K-Town which is the Asian version of MTV's popular show Jersey Shore. The show is being produced by singer/actor Tyrese who recently put out this casting call on Craigslist to find his cast.

There will be 8 people, 4 guys and 4 girls, living in a house and partying together in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The official cast members of KTown are Young Lee, Joe Cha, Peter Le, Steve Kim, Jennifer Field, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, and Jasmine Chang.

The producers say that they are,

“going to show Asian Americans like they’ve never been seen before to the rest of the world.”

TMZ has posted a cast reel for the new show which has only shot its pilot and hasn't been picked up by a network yet. You can view that clip here.

Local Jacksonville resident Mike M. says of the new reality show K-Town,

"I would watch it, I watch Jersey Shore and this K-Town reality show looks equally as entertaining."

K-Town the Asian version of Jersey Shore mentioned on Chelsea Lately

Mochi

2010-07-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

http://mochimag.com/blog/2010/07/asian-jersey-shore-reality-show-cast-finally-revealed/

'Asian 'Jersey Shore' Reality Show Cast Finally Revealed'

It’s happening. Those of you who couldn’t resist your weekly dose of the rowdy, tanned and toned Jersey crowd will soon get a new fix with “K-Town Reality Show.” The rumors of Tyrese producing an Asian American reality show are proven true, and the cast has been revealed via “K-Town Reality Show’s” Twitter page. Following in the footsteps of Snooki, The Situation and co. are four guys and four girls—Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang. Though the show is based in Koreatown, judging by their last names, they seem to be of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese or mixed Asian backgrounds.

The pilot episode was shot over the weekend in LA’s Koreatown, and though no one is quite sure what this new reality show has in store for viewers, the leaked photographs show there’s no denying that it will consist of drinking, partying and you guessed it—drama.

Whether the K-Town Reality Show will become another guilty pleasure or if it will be ridiculed as the poor man’s version of “Jersey Shore,” it’s guaranteed to provide entertainment. Good or bad, the all Asian American cast would be refreshing to see on mainstream television. I don’t know about you, but I know I’ll be tuning in. What are your thoughts?

Kaede + Jun

2010-07-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

http://kaedejun.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/k-town-will-have-its-own-reality-show/

'K-town Will Have Its Own Reality Show'

Anyone ever seen Jersey Shore? If you haven’t, that’s fine – you’re not missing out on much. However, the sensation of that MTV reality show – which follows a group of Italian Americans that like to be super-tanned, super-buff, and super-drunk while super-sexually-active – has started a whole new wave of other wannabe stars in small minority-filled areas. Like Brighton Beach (for Russian Americans) or Korea Town (for Korean Americans).

And so, Korea Town, Los Angeles, California welcomed the reality show this past weekend with its cast of Asian Americans who look good and like to party. Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang all seem to have BIG personalities when you check out their Twitter feeds… and I’ll leave it at that. You can judge their intelligence for yourself (as many have with the cast of Jersey Shore).

Media Bistro

2010-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/show_business/koreatown_reality_show_ktown_underway_in_la_167908.asp

'Koreatown Reality Show 'K-Town' Underway in LA'

The cast of TV's newest (presumably trashy) reality TV show "K-Town" has been finalized. The show, produced by Tyrese and set in LA's Koreatown with an all-Asian cast, has already filmed its pilot episode.

channel apa has more:

This picture was posted on twitter and shows the 8 cast members. 4 guys and 4 girls that will be on the show. With our research, we found that people competing include Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim, and Jasmine Chang. The pilot episode was shot over the weekend at BCD, Bohemians, and BoBo's in Koreatown. From what we hear, there was drinking and drama on the set.

Back in April, Curbed LA spotted the casting call on Craigslist.

"Looking for interesting, attractive, colorful Asian-Americans to cast in a reality show similar to JERSEY SHORE, REAL WORLD, THE HILLS, etc.. We need attractive Asian-Americans with lively, strong, and unique personalities between the ages of 18 to 30 with equally interesting life stories and perspectives to share, especially individuals who know about and/or experienced the Koreatown life. If you are not Asian but are obsessed with Asian culture or people in some way, email us and please explain...We will begin casting and filming on-camera interviews in LOS ANGELES or HOLLYWOOD, CA this month so please send in your info ASAP!"

Angry Asian Man

2010-07-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/07/ktown-reality-show-cast-photos.html

'Ktown Reality Show Cast Photos'

I've been seeing this everywhere now... I think ChannelAPA posted it first. Few topics have generated more buzz on this blog than the Jersey Shore-esque Koreatown reality show that's currently in the works. We recently got to see the first photos of the cast, above.

That's Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, Steve Kim and Jasmine Chang -- your K-town reality show cast! Presumably early in the evening, looking rather sober... for now. Here are some more photos:

What do you think? Train wreck-y enough for you? I have it on good authority that the pilot started shooting over the weekend in locations around Los Angeles' Koreatown. More photos from the pilot shoot can be found here. I guess it's not a proper night in K-town unless someone takes off his shirt.

I'm guessing it's going to be a little while before we actually see any of this airing on television. No word on what channel either. For the record, I won't lie -- I'm extremely curious to see how this all turns out. I will be tuning in.