Señor Chang Bites: Community 1×02 Recap

Ken Jeong stars/support-casts as Senor Chang, professor to the Spanish class that’s got the Study Group so wired on NBC’s Thursday-night comedy Community. First episode appearance: In “Spanish 101,” Senor Chang dishes out a pretty hefty monologue before giving the class their partnered assignments. And I actually watch this show, so–

First impressions: Well, I’m sure we all recognized him from Knocked Up. His face is memorable enough. It kind of reminds you of a peeled potato, dressed up with chipmunk cheeks and a saucy sweepover. I really admire Ken Jeong for having the ability to give such a lasting impression, not only for being a notable Asian American character, but for being, like, barely on the right side of crazy. What other words are  appropriately normal for nearly all of his characters? Neurotic? High strung? Whatever the case, good use of funneling those personality traits into what results as the effectiveness of Senor Chang’s teaching abilities. He swoops in, he terrifies, he breathes all over your face. He captures your attention. Impressive, and Asian-efficient!

Monologue analysis: Way to stick it, Senor! Stick it to them cynic critics who think that Asian-Americans are only defined by their Asianness. Like we can’t rise above the B-list martial arts films and greasy paper bags of takeout. No soy sauce for you, man, not when you’ve got all that salsa. Give it to them, “le tigre” style, claws and teeth and all, no prisoners! And the tiger, I mean, that’s a whopper of a characterizing animal: the mythical beast, fierce and  powerful, indigenous to the continent of–of. Asia. Huh.

The last thing I have to wonder about is his name. Is he Chinese? His last name would indicated that he most likely is. I don’t quite understand that about Hollywood scriptwriters, when you have a Korean American actor playing a Chinese American character (like Rex Lee from Entourage); why can’t the character just be Korean? I mean, is that cool? Or is that kind of weird? Are we that post-race? Or are we that more glossed-over stereotypical? Or is it just a really stealthy use of product placement from American-owned China Bistro P.F. Chang’s, so that next time you drive by your nearest mall you’ll be like, hey, it’s “Chang” like “Senor Chang” from Community! And end up going to the Don Pablo’s next door.

Next up: In ”Advanced Criminal Law,” Senor Chang is determined to find out who cheated on his Spanish test. Watch le tigre unleashed (episode aired last Thursday, October 15th, 8/7c).