So I had this idea. One night during summer, I tried to think of a project for my digital art class because I'm an over--achiever (to a point). This was also during the time I was watching an interview of Queen Latfiah on "The Late Late Show With James Corden." She was talking about her days on "Living Single" and how it later inspired a little show called "Friends."
And that sparked my idea-- a show centering a group of Asian American friends and their lives in adulthood. I mean we have shows like "Fresh Off The Boat" and "Dr. Ken," which center around Asian Americans so why not. Okay, it's a show that was technically inspired by "Living Single" through "Friends." However, because how popular "Friends" is, I think it would be fair to format my idea of a comedy TV show like the 90s classic.
Rachel...
She would be named as Emily Reyes
Emily is a Filipino American girl who loves, loves fashion. She is always up-to-date with the latest trends even though some of them can be questionable. Emily has expensive taste and loves to gossip especially about very good-looking men. She is also fascinated of the idea of living a luxurious life. Like Rachel, she may come off as rude and arrogant to the point where Alice and her bud heads and make fun of each other. However, Emily has a heart of gold and does care about her friends and loved ones. As for the actress playing her, I can see someone like Tia Carrie or Shay Mitchell taking this role and explore Emily's high-class life but also get in touch with her Filipino heritage.
Monica...
She would be named as Yuri Suzuki
Yuri is the mother of the group. She takes care of her friends and is very close to her family. In fact, she dreams and made plans of taking over her family's Japanese restaurant when they retire. Though she has to convince them since she is the second child of six children in her family and usually the eldest son will inherit first. Yuri is the one who is very organized, always plans ahead and the first person to go to for advise. She has been Chelsea and Emily's friend since high school. An actress like Karen Fukuhara or Kimiko Glenn can pull off a mature, mother-like and "I-actually-know-how-to-adult" character like Yuri.
Phoebe...
She would be named as Chelsea Lee
Chelsea is such a fun character! She is the most laid-back, outgoing and mysterious one out of this group. Think Sam from iCarly and you got Chelsea. She can be really silly that some people might think she is the youngest (Chelsea is actually the second oldest of the group. Yuri is the oldest and Emily is the youngest.) However, Chelsea does have her moments when things get serious. She works as a DJ at a gay bar, but she hopes to become a famous record producer like her idol, Timbaland, while trying to go through life as a mixed, asexual Korean American. Luckily, she has her friends/roommates to help her as well as tolerate with her shenanigans. If an actress like Arden Cho or Jamie Chung can act a very silly to a point Chelsea, I think she will become everyone's favorite cinnamon roll who they want to hang out with.
Ross...
He would be named as Alice Williams
Okay, Ross' equivalent is not a man. But, Alice Williams is just as smart as him. Alice is an adopted child from China and has no memory of her biological parents. So meeting her parents from China is up in the air because how close she got to her adopted family. She works as a nurse at a hospital and enjoys working with doctors and taking care of patients. Unlike Chelsea, she acts more mature in public and in front of co-workers that people mistake her for being older while making sassy comebacks at Emily. In other words, Alice is a BOSS. While I think Anna Akana can pull off playing a Chinese American character like Alice, it will be interesting to see someone like Jessica Lu to tackle this role.
Chandler...
He would be named as Benji Huang
Chelsea's childhood best friend and Alice's potential love interest. Benji is a very down-to-earth Taiwanese American guy who is attending graduate school to become a teacher. He stays in an apartment with his roommate and good friend Sai. He acts like an ambivert when he's around friends and people in general. However, when people meet him for the first time, Benji might come off as introvert because he can be quiet or shy. Unless he's with Chelsea then they will hear them shouting "Duck face" and "Booger" as each other. Not only that, he is a romantic and a good listener. Plus, he's the only male feminist in a group full of feminists. What more could you ask for. If this is a real show, Kenny Leu or Harry Shum Jr. (especially Harry Shum Jr.) will bring this character to life and make everyone wish they could have a soulmate like Benji.
Joey...
He would be named as Sai Rai
Benji's roommate! Sai is a player in the group. He tries to make very girl swoon with his pick-up lines and cheesy dance moves. Sure, Sai is very good-looking and can be picky like Emily when it comes to finer things in life. He does have his moments of reaching out to friends who need help or comfort. Unlike Joey, he is following his dream of being an accountant and managing finances (or reporter. It might change.) Like Joey, he is a ladies' man. Since both Raymond Ablack and Dev Patel have experience acting on TV, either of them won't have a problem playing a character like Sai who goes through life as an Indian American man.
Their Hangout(s)...
Since the characters live in an apartment and are floor neighbors, it would make sense for the crew to chill at the girls' place since all four of them are roommates. I see the setting will in Los Angeles or some place with a large Asian American community. They would hang out at the girls' loft like this:
Or this because it would be more roomy:
However, if they don't want to stay in there homes for a long period of time, they can always go to the cafe like Central Perk. I would go for the gay bar Chelsea works at but that would mean taking away a place for LGBTQ+ community to hang out. So if they want to hang out and talk about love, work, or adopting a cat, coffee shop or boba tea whichever they prefer like Sancha Bar, is a go!
So now you know my plan for my digtial art class and a new dream of mine. I haven't added anymore Asian American characters like Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian and so much more. Not only that adding characters who are part of LGBTQ+ community or any non-Asian friends. Maybe you might find them on Season 2?
Let's hope a show like mine will come true!
