[AA]2 AA E-Zine and PBS A charming conversation with one of the most famous faces in New York

Photo by Huy Huynh

NYC Councilmember John Liu, Flushing Town Hall ED Harvey Seifter, and PBS Channel 13 President William Baker

"William Baker. Oh I know his face - I see it every day," said P. H. Tuan, architect of the Charles B. Wang Center.

And to intellectual New Yorker's, that is so true. PBS President William Baker's face is as well known as the top politicians, new anchors, and hot stars.

And it is because PBS caters to the thinking person that [AA]2 and the E-Zine were invited to Channel 13's exclusive little affair at Flushing Town Hall. The audience was at most 50 and ranged from high powered diplomats - Baker is fluent in Korean by the way - local donors, politicians, community partners, which is what [AA]2 was considered, and the media.

The evening began with a presentation from the city, made by Councilmember John Liu, the first Asian American ever elected in NY, declaring May 4th PBS Due East Day. That was followed by clips from programs for the upcoming month.

It included one very special one - Beijing or Bust. A film about 6 ABC's who return to China to live, its filmmaker, Hao Wu, was arrested by the Chinese government and has been held without charges since early this year. (More on that in another article before the showing.)

The films were followed by a live performance. First, members of the Korean Traditional Music and Dance Institute of NY performed on drums in long flowing robes. They were followed by the Kim Mal Ae Dance Company doing traditional fan dances. Stunning.

Then we got to meet Baker at in intimate reception over wine while waiters served delectable Asian fusion hors d'oeuvres of salmon and such. It turns out he actually is more knowledgeable than most on Asian and Asian American culture and history.
 
We had laughed at being considered in the same ball park as Asia Society Board members but quite honestly, no bragging at all - while PBS needs money "from viewers like you" - and Baker joked about giving out 13's donor 800 272 1313 number - the reality is that with a database of almost 2000 and 11,000 to 15,000 unique hits per month - the AA E-Zine is reaching the perfect audience for PBS' Due East programming in honor of Asian American Heritage Month. And Paul Mondesire on PBS's development staff was smart enough to see that.

And while current Stony Brook University students may not think in terms of Channel 13, most grew up with Sesame Street, and a few years down the line, their children will grow up with Sesame Street too, and they will be watching 13 programs. Why? As parents you want your kids to get the best and that certainly does not come from Fox 5.

Independent Lens, one of the shows to start this month, proved that. Two incredibly good films on growing up Asian in America - Fishbowl, a coming of age story of an 11 year old Japanese American daughter of macadamia nut pickers in Hawaii - and American Made, a Sikh American family stranded on a desert road learning the eldest son has Anglicized his name and the youngest thinks Americans view his turban clad father as a terrorist. Powerful stuff.

The rest of this month has many more. So, college educated, intellectual, English speaking Asian Americans - watch them. They are about you! And although there are 24/7 cable stations - only PBS is free! (Well, at least out here in Nassau / Suffolk. The Big Apple may have more to offer.) Though if you would like to give a donation, William Baker would like that too.

But as good at Channel 13 is, check out the letter from Asian Media Watch included in the article on the Zine's off-campus news site: PBS Cannot Settle for Simply Being Better than the Rest - It Must Be the Best!

And Flushing Town Hall, if you have never been, has been artfully restored into an arts and cultural center with a museum, a small but perfect and well-equipped theatre, reception rooms, cafe, and more. It is a Smithsonian Affiliate and has concerts, lectures, exhibits and such sponsored by the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts. 

Calendar of PBS Channel 13 Due East programs: www.aasquared.org/calendar/calendar.pl?view=Event&event_id=808

PBS Channel 13: www.thirteen.org

Beijing or Bust: www.freehaowu.com

Flushing Town Hall: www.flushingtownhall.org

Photos from the Due East show: www.aa2sbu.org/gallery

by Huy Huynh, SBU AA E-Zine Editor, and Ja Young, [AA]2
Updated 051206