Screen Test

Immigrants' insightful tales

Asian Comedian Destroys America! has a funny take on the topic while Little America brings depth and nuance

(Above) Ronny Chieng in Asian Comedian Destroys America!. (Left) The eight-part anthology Little America dramatises immigrant stories and includes one about a teenage girl, who is jaded about her future as an undocumented Mexican immigrant, but disco
The eight-part anthology Little America dramatises immigrant stories and includes one about a teenage girl, who is jaded about her future as an undocumented Mexican immigrant, but discovers that her talent for squash changes everything. PHOTO: APPLE TV+, NETFLIX
(Above) Ronny Chieng in Asian Comedian Destroys America!. (Left) The eight-part anthology Little America dramatises immigrant stories and includes one about a teenage girl, who is jaded about her future as an undocumented Mexican immigrant, but disco
(Above) Ronny Chieng in Asian Comedian Destroys America!. PHOTO: APPLE TV+, NETFLIX
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Never one to miss a bandwagon, Hollywood has grown much more receptive to the immigrant experience these days, especially on the small screen.

The award-winning series Master Of None (2015 to now), Ramy (2019) and Fresh Off The Boat (2015 to now) portray Indian, Egyptian and Taiwanese American families respectively. And they do so with humour and insight into the unique cultural space inhabited by first-and second-generation immigrants.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 13, 2020, with the headline Immigrants' insightful tales. Subscribe