Why did All-American Girl fail for ABC? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Hawkee · 12-21-2022, 03:32 AM

I remember when ABC promoted All-American Girl like crazy when it debuted and when I first saw it I thought it was cute and made Margaret Cho a superstar but for some reason ABC cancelled it with no warning but at least Margaret Cho became a huge successful comedienne that is making audiences laugh
Bestie

Yong Fang · 12-21-2022, 06:48 AM

I think maybe that Asians and Chinese people were too small of a minority for most Americans to really understand or relate to. Yes, there was a show called "Fresh off the Boat" which was somewhat a similar program, but this was about twenty years later when America and Americans were more open to inclusiveness than they were back then. It probably was a moderate hit with the Chinese and Korean community, but they only represented maybe 5% of the population, too small of a demographic to keep the program on.

Margaret Cho to me isnt that funny, she is ultra left liberal for me. I think back then however, Cho was not that well known to the public (she still isnt now). From looking her up now, she seemingly does comedy tours but has "fallen off the radar" from doing much in TV or films. I have not seen or heard from her in years. I think maybe she hasnt been more famous perhaps is because she goes against the perception of Americans of what an East Asian woman is. Just a perspective.

There was a show a couple of years ago called "Sullivan and Son" where a White American man (Dan Lauria) who was married to a Korean woman played by Jodi Long. I didnt like the show very much outside Lauria and Long and the guy who played the son (who was actually half Korean and half White), but I LOVED the Long character. That is an East Asian woman, 100 percent. But this show also (sort of, lasted about two years) failed also. Maybe the "Fresh off the Boat" show was the break through of East Asians. It lasted five seasons.

BestTVever · 08-22-2023, 12:13 PM

It was so over-produced. Margarette was a cutting edge comedian yet they made her so sterile. She was Korean and had Chinese actors play her parents. It was very Brady Bunch like. If the show as really based on her parents and upbringing and let her write some scripts, it would have been hysterical. ABC wanted a thin Asian girl at the time they were giving sitcoms to every successful comedian. It was so corny and I remember being so disappointed when it aired.

12-21-2022, 03:32 AM	#1
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,868	Why did All-American Girl fail for ABC? I remember when ABC promoted All-American Girl like crazy when it debuted and when I first saw it I thought it was cute and made Margaret Cho a superstar but for some reason ABC cancelled it with no warning but at least Margaret Cho became a huge successful comedienne that is making audiences laugh Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

12-21-2022, 06:48 AM	#2
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	I think maybe that Asians and Chinese people were too small of a minority for most Americans to really understand or relate to. Yes, there was a show called "Fresh off the Boat" which was somewhat a similar program, but this was about twenty years later when America and Americans were more open to inclusiveness than they were back then. It probably was a moderate hit with the Chinese and Korean community, but they only represented maybe 5% of the population, too small of a demographic to keep the program on. Margaret Cho to me isnt that funny, she is ultra left liberal for me. I think back then however, Cho was not that well known to the public (she still isnt now). From looking her up now, she seemingly does comedy tours but has "fallen off the radar" from doing much in TV or films. I have not seen or heard from her in years. I think maybe she hasnt been more famous perhaps is because she goes against the perception of Americans of what an East Asian woman is. Just a perspective. There was a show a couple of years ago called "Sullivan and Son" where a White American man (Dan Lauria) who was married to a Korean woman played by Jodi Long. I didnt like the show very much outside Lauria and Long and the guy who played the son (who was actually half Korean and half White), but I LOVED the Long character. That is an East Asian woman, 100 percent. But this show also (sort of, lasted about two years) failed also. Maybe the "Fresh off the Boat" show was the break through of East Asians. It lasted five seasons.

08-22-2023, 12:13 PM	#3
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,948	It was so over-produced. Margarette was a cutting edge comedian yet they made her so sterile. She was Korean and had Chinese actors play her parents. It was very Brady Bunch like. If the show as really based on her parents and upbringing and let her write some scripts, it would have been hysterical. ABC wanted a thin Asian girl at the time they were giving sitcoms to every successful comedian. It was so corny and I remember being so disappointed when it aired.