can i order specific Seinfeld episodes on tape?

	(please include <alt.tanaka-tomoyuki> in the followup,
	if you want me to read it.  it is my personal newsgroup.)

can i order specific Seinfeld episodes on tape?

there are a few especially racist episodes i want to keep for my records.

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Subject: NBC "Seinfeld" ridicules Japanese men, Thurs, Nov 7., 1996

    >
    > Tomoyuki,
    >      I just saw "Seinfeld" on NBC (9 PM EST).  It should
    > be on at 9 your time too.  There are 3 Japanese tourists
    > portrayed.  All small, barely understandable, bowing every
    > 10 seconds, and at one point, reside with Kramer and sleep
    > in his dresser drawers.  Very patronizing, let me know what
    > you think of it if you get a chance to see it.
    >

i watched it, by chance. i found it utterly disgusting.

my main observations. ...

1.  general popular American understanding of Japan has not
	advanced/changed since the 1960s, from the time
	of "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

• the Japz-Am guy in Fargo was much less offensive because it wasn't the same old stereotype.

the interesting question is, ...
	WHY would "Seinfeld" NEVER ridicule Africans, blacks (black
	Americans), Latinos, Chicanos, Japanese-Americans,
	Chinese-Americans, Frenchmen, German men, ...  the way
	"Seinfeld" ridiculed Japanese men in that episode?

Tomoyuki Tanaka wrote in message ...

I just saw the Donna Chang episode...

is that the one where a blonde woman has a Chinese last name?

Say, were you upset by "The Usual Suspects" where the obviously white guy had a Japanese last name, Kobayashi, had a put on accent, and no other character thought it peculiar?

Eric Takabayashi Fukuyama, Japan

In article , [email] wrote:

**** As a Japanese-American, did YOU find that scene offensive, Eric? I've never seen "The Usual Suspects"....so I can't comment on it ( but I've had two different people tell me that it's a good movie that they thought I'd enjoy.)

Perhaps the worst/racist immitation of a Japanese has to be Mickey Rooney in Breakfast in Tiffany's. Wow. That was real insulting. My wife loves A. Hepburn. So a couple years ago we rented that movie. The scene with Mickey Rooney upset her a bit. (Interestingly, in The Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story there's a scene where he views that same scene with his white girlfriend/wife... it's pretty uncomfortable viewing.)

BTW, I heard Mickey Rooney once on a radio talk show. He's a real asshole in real life. He has a strong anti-Japanese streak; he was bragging about going to a geisha house and "banging" a few Japanese girls, etc.

[email] wrote: <snip> Perhaps the worst/racist immitation of a Japanese has to be Mickey Rooney in

<snip> I sure agree with you - That was a discusting portrayal. But that was then - it would not be supported today. Most people are much more aware of the pain a movie like that

would cause.

i thought that (mockery of the Japanese in) the Seinfeld episode and Breakfast at Tiffany's were very similar in flavor --- 1960s-type stereotypes.

so you think the Seinfeld episode was much better?

Tomoyuki Tanaka wrote:

Well, they used real Japanese actors and the silliness was only part of the theme unlike B at T. (I certainly agree that B at T was a discusting portrayal by Micky Roonie)

But in Seinfeld they balanced that with a positive image of Japanese businessmen who displayed leadership, dignity, and power.

So I cannot see how you interpret the entire show or Jerry as racist. That is too outrageous to be taken seriously.

You may have felt uncomfortable - gee tha's too bad. Jerry also has his father constantly trying to save money. Some might consider that a stereotype as well. But it's not. It is just funny. Lighten up and enjoy life a little.

The windmills really are not evil!

In article ,

no, the Seinfeld episode didn't use "real Japanese actors". the episode featured (Asian) Americans playing silly Jp roles.

do you all see the diff. between "real Japanese" and "Asian American"?

How about that white guy from Toronto, Canada that plays Babu the Pakistani restauranteur, or the blonde woman who everyone thinks is Chinese, or the Christian guy who changes to Judaism just so that he can make Jewish jokes?

Gee, do you see a pattern here? Seinfeld does not pinpoint a race and poke fun at them only.... This is done to all races and religions (including Jerry's) and it's all done in good fun and meant to be taken lightly.

This is part of the reason that the show is so well-loved -- that it pushes the envelope a little and does things that you won't see on "this week's episode of Family Matters."

If you don't like it and are a bit "sensitive" here's a tip --- TURN THE DAMN TV OFF!

yep. I not only understand it - I think it should be clearly understood by everyone. If this distinction was made in 1939 in Canada and 1941 in the USA a lot of people would not have had their lives destroyed in internment camps.

I was sloppy in my description and will try to make the distinction from now on. But that does not make it 'racist'.

Tomoyuki Tanaka wrote

**** Mr. Tanaka, I think it's because the scene in Breakfast in Tiffany's was so *gratuitous*. It stuck out like a sore thumb--obviously placed in there by someone with an anti-Japanese agenda. Nowhere else in Breakfast in Tiffany's is there any "humor" (and I didn't find it humorous) of a similar brand; the Mickey Rooney insulting imitation had no connection to the rest of the movie. The scene was disgusting! As for Seinfeld, I think you do need to see the scene in context of the overall "Seinfeld world view" (quirky, dark humor--poking fun at all people). For that reason, I frankly didn't *think* of it as racist when *I* saw it at the time. But if you or other Asian-Amerians found it offensive, then I do not automatically discount your opinion simply because I didn't find it so offensive. We all have different sensibilities and need to listen to each other's opinions.

Hey, don't forget Seinfeld is prejudice against condo association presidents too. How dare he!!!!

Yeah, that's the one Tanaka. The one where they make Oriental people look like absolute fools. No wait, that's what you're doing.

On Sat, 11 Apr 1998, C-mod wrote:

They're in syndication. Just tape it next time it comes on. K-Bar

Get a grip.

In article ,

PEEPLE PLEASE INGORE THIS JONITHAN GRAGM GUY HES JUST A MEAN CANADIEN CROSSPOSTING TROLL SO THERE. HES BEEN MEAN TO ME AND LOTS OF OTHERS TOO SO ITS NOT JUST ME. HE SHOULD BE GEROGES BOSS ON SENFELT HES SO MEAN AND PLUS HE CALLS ME DUMN. WE BAILED THEMOUT OF WWI AND WWII AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET CAUSE MY GRAMPA STORMED THE BEACHES AT NORMANDY SO THERE.

HE SHUD HAVE MOORE RESPECT FOR ME BUT INSTEAD HE DO'NT.

GIRLS IM NOT DATING ANYONE AND AM DISEASE FREE I JUSTHAVE A LERNING DISABILITEY AND SOME EMOTINAL PROBLIMS BUT IM OK.

YOUR PAL DAVID H.

In article ,

PEEPLE PLEASE INGORE THIS JONITHAN GRAGM GUY HES JUST A MEAN CANADIEN CROSSPOSTING TROLL SO THERE. HES BEEN MEAN TO ME AND LOTS OF OTHERS TOO SO ITS NOT JUST ME. HE SHOULD BE GEROGES BOSS ON SENFELT HES SO MEAN AND PLUS HE CALLS ME DUMN. WE BAILED THEMOUT OF WWI AND WWII AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET CAUSE MY GRAMPA STORMED THE BEACHES AT NORMANDY SO THERE.

HE SHUD HAVE MOORE RESPECT FOR ME BUT INSTEAD HE DO'NT.

GIRLS IM NOT DATING ANYONE AND AM DISEASE FREE I JUSTHAVE A LERNING DISABILITEY AND SOME EMOTINAL PROBLIMS BUT IM OK.

YOUR PAL DAVID H.

Tomoyuki Tanaka wrote:

<snip>

Here you go again. Enough people have told you that Seinfeld is a COMEDY show - it pokes fun at everyone. So out of 9 years, after showing Japanese men as businessmen and powerful leaders in at least two episodes you disregard those and pick on the one where three japanese men join the silly side. And, of your list of ethnic groups, he HAS poked fun at all other groups.

Put it to rest you Kreep. It may inflate your little ego to attack a number one show but lets see you attack some real racism in society.

PS. Columbia TriStar is owned by SONY - have you yet complained to them about Seinfeld? Check out their page:

Yeah, and just remember that those Chinese guys agreed to play the parts; they were not forced.

Mike Colucci wrote:

Now, wait a minute - while the former is true - & yes,so is your statement- you are (unintentionally, I'm sure) blaming the victim. This is easily paralleled to the early days of Blacks in American films. They took any job they could get not just to get work, but to get their feet in the door & work their way up. Just because they took the jobs doesn't mean that they are mostly responsible for them.

Susan Cohen wrote:>

Ha...they took the jobs but are not responsible. What a joke. If the Japanese men thought the show was degrading, they wouldn't have taken the jobs.

We don't know if the japanese men thought the jobs were degrading or not. But these are actors, they need the money. Just because they took the job doesn't mean they don't find the role degrading.

In article , [email] wrote:

statement-

job

work

**** I agree, Eng. One summer I got a job to help pay for my college through the State of Ohio Employment Services. They take all the *shitty* jobs that nobody wants to do and farm them out to po' folks. Some big fat lady sitting behind a desk handed me some info--"give them a call." I ended being a porter, mopping up restrooms at 3 am after drunks peed all over the floor. That was pretty degrading. But I did it cause I needed the money.

--Woodyee

Ive seen a lot of actors refuse parts if they were degrading the actors know what they aree getting into before they take the part and besides what is degrading to some may not be to others [email] wrote:

Get over it.....

Get a life. Sensitive minorities piss me off more than anything.

In article , [email] wrote:

***** "Sensitive minorities piss me off more than anything"...wow... I'm trying to think what kind of brain-dead loser could possibly make a statement like that. They piss you off MORE than racist jerks? Piss you off more than having someone grab you by your ankles and bounce your head off the pavement a few times? More than ANYTHING?

What? You prefer *insensitive* minorities, then?

The stupidity of your post has put you in front-running spot for idiot-of-the-week.

BIG CLUE: You didn't have to agree with his contention that the episode is offensive... NOR did you have to be so insulting and show the world how stupid *you* are. Now go to your room and think about what you did.

On Mon, 13 Apr 1998 [email] wrote:

It has, but not by much.

Black Americans have. There was one episode where George made his boss (who incidentally was black) look, lazy, irresponsible and apathetic. Those are pretty strong stereo-types...but then again I suppose if he did the same thing to a white boss (like Stienbrenner on numenrous occasions) it wouldn't be so bad.

Theres nothing wrong with being sensitive provided you have a real reason for it.

I wouldn't call him an idiot. Hypersensitivity doesn't make a man stupid. K-Bar

long duk dong king kong with rice

K-Bar wrote:

Yes..actually...More than anything.

I prefer them to quit complaining about every fucking thing.

A real reason. Not some little ribbing from a Seinfeld episode.Geez, put your resources to helping someone else. (ie homeless, sick, etc)

By your standards, I guess so. But I guess that doesn't mean alot, coming from you.

No..it just makes the minority in question look like a real thinskinned-can't-take-a-joke-asshole.

  You're correct. I don't agree with him. But I do believe he stated his
opinion; so did I. And it wasn't stupid. Why do people think that if an
opinion doesn't go with popular opinion, it's wrong, or stupid?
    I'm grow tired of hearing an "oppressed" people or a minority group
bitching and moaning if something doesn't go their way. They don't want
to compromise at all. It's their way or no way. Then it goes to court;
the tool of the minority.
    I'm in my room. And thanks for your opinion.

In article , [email] wrote:

I hope we keep doing it then. Hope the whine drives you blow yer head off.

Your preferences are noted. And rejected. Go blow yourself. We'll keep doing whatever the hell we damn well please. No redneck-non-PC-in-yer-face crap is going to stop it, just 'cause it pisses you off. Your preferences are irrelevant, and probably instrumental for this sort of thing continuing.

And what have you done for the world lately, pray tell? What are your "worthy" causes, and what have you done for 'em? Provide resume here, so they and you can be soundly ridiculed.

<<snipey loser-crap deleted>>

Yeah. And you're sounding pretty assholic right now as well. a rednecked-rabidly-non-PC-boneheaded-asshole. Both ends of the spectrum covered then. Takes all kinds in this world.

<<attempts at being reasonable deleted>>

Take your redneck non-PC rant, grab yer beer and yer Dennis Leary tape and watch "Married With Children" then. And mind your own fucking business. It's not like I sympathize with "activism" like this, but the bitching and moaning from backlashey-fervently-non-PC-whiners like yourself, so-called "decent reglur folk", makes me want to vomit.

And you think you're helping?

He thinks he is. He thinks he's making a harsh point. He thinks I'm a 'redneck', which is the furthest from the truth. (which he mentions several times; he must have a 'redneck' fetish.) Point is, why are my 'points' not valid, but he thinks his PC-pinko opinions are? Hmmm?

In article , [email] wrote:

called "decent reglur folk", makes me want to vomit.

I found this in an activism search, and I need activists to volunteer for the
biggest protest in the history of newsgroups.
     I found that neo-nazis have made a group called alt.fan.adolf-hitler,
and so they can spread their message of hate even further than it already has
spread, like sticky maple syrup slowly spilling off the edge of a flat
pancake!
     If there already is a protest, I am recruiting!
     If there WAS a protest, but it died down, I say we should "throw
gasoline on the dying fire" and start it up again, only with bigger mass.
     IF YOU GUYS DON'T AGREE, I KNOW HACKERS WHO WILL PROBABLY LEND A HAND IN
TAKING OUT THESE GUYS ONCE AND FOR ALL--ONLY WITHOUT THE LEGAL PROTEST!
     I DON'T WANT TO BREAK ANY FEDERAL LAWS JUST TO TAKE OUT SCUMBAGS LIKE
THESE, SO THINK IT OVER CAREFULLY!

Sheriff Lobo

**** More than *anything*? More than starving children in Africa? More than being in a movie theatre, reaching your hand absent-mindedly under the seat, and getting it all sticky with gooey, wet chewing gum? More than having a pack of wild weasels rip your flesh?

**** Do you mean you wish minorities to stop complaining about anything whatsoever to do with fucking? Or to just limit their complaints to the same things that piss you off--like don't you hate it when you scrape your knuckles on the sidewalk when you walk?

**** Aren't you sick of all the whining from them homeless folks too? Know who's the *worst*, bubba? Minority homeless people. Hate 'em. Hate 'em. Hate 'em. You too? They're probably all grouchy like that cause they don't have TVs and can't watch Seinfeld.

**** Actually the "Woodyee Idiot Post of the Week" *is* a highly coveted honor. You're doing very well!!! Keep up the good work--a nation is counting on you, son.

***** Yeah. Some minorities just don't git it, Gomer. Heh-heh-heh-heh. Glad you can take a joke though... gee, *you're* not coming off a bit defensive and sensitive yourself here! ;)

**** Okay, but you're still grounded mister. Mother will be up later to bring you some pudding.

--Woodyee

Karrot wrote:

The real problem is that when an outsider tells a minority that "it's just a joke," it's usuallysomething that a heck of a lot more offensive to the oppressed minority than it is to the comfortably established outsider.

Susan

Really? Tell me about the outraged Mexicans who are protesting the Taco bell Chihuahua. How thin skinned can people be while still expecting the world to sanitize itself to their tastes?

On Fri, 24 Apr 1998 07:31:21 -0400, Dave wrote:

Hey, that's easy. What if there weren't any more white people on TV, other than for caricatured, stereotyped comic relief? Yeah, get over it, then. If it were in reverse, I'd bet there'd be a civil war.

As overused as the following sentiment has become, it still makes sense.

Change the channel. Read a book. Shut your damned mouths or find something legitimate to complain about.

Dave wrote:

Proof in point. Thanks, Dave.

What is alt.tanaka-tomoyuki about?Why would anyone want to create their own newsgroup? Does anyone's news-server actually have alt.tanaka-tomoyuki?

I went there...all it is is this asshole blabbering on the border of racism and bigotry. And it's his own Q & A tech support. He's asking all the questions.....a real idiot.