Fox and executive producer Seth MacFarlane’s Dads pilot is getting extra media attention, since critics have called the show racist and an Asian-American media watchdog group has asked the network to reshoot scenes. Fox has finally responded to the group, and said that it will not change the episode. Instead, they asked for patience as the show develops.
Last week, Media Action Network for Asian Americans said that it was not receiving a response from Fox after sending the network a letter calling out the show, which stars Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi. The two play video game developers who cannot get rid of their fathers, played by Martin Mull and Peter Riegert. In the pilot, Brenda Song’s character is seen wearing a stereotypical Asian schoolgirl outfit, while Mull calls Asians “Orientals.”
MANAA asked that these scenes be reshot and even brought up the fact that TV critics had also called out the show during the Television Critics Association press tour last month.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, on Tuesday, Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly and COO Joe Earley finally responded, but said nothing about reshoots. Instead, they asked MANAA for patience.
“You will see that Brenda Song’s character is a strong, intelligent, empowered young woman who basically runs the company, and who almost always gets the upper hand on the guys,” they said in a joint statement. “This is a show that will be evocative and will poke fun at stereotypes and bigotries – sometimes through over-the-top, ridiculous situations.”
They noted that the show is based on the executive producers’ lives, but admits that the comedy may not be for everyone. Still, they pointed out that some of MANAA’s complaints will be taken care of in future episodes.
MANAA president Guy Aoki asked that they be sent copies of future episodes to see if Song’s character really develops as the network promises.
image: Fox