TigerBelly - Daniel Dae Kim and the Alien Audition
Episode Date: March 15, 2023We've got some exciting news - TigerBelly is now part of the @WonderyMedia family! We’re having Bobby's twin on, Daniel Dae Kim as a guest – We talk buddy cop films, Bobby not being part ...of the Stop Asian Hate campaigns, Alien invasions, Phsyical 100, K-Dramas, and how Daniel got the part in Lost. #tigerbelly #episode390 @WonderyMediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Hey, I'm Mike Corey the host of Wanderers against the odds in our next season three friends backcountry skiing in Alaska
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We had a whole thing about my easy access pants and before the show Gilbert's like change your pants before he gets here
I'm like
I just also want to say we've had hundreds of guests on the show. We've never had fruit for anybody
This is the first time we've ever had fucking fruit. This is a special Korean and who you got the fruit
I got the fruit from H mark the fucking right across the street man. Yeah. Yeah. Well, this is probably the first time
You've ever had a show with an H mark right across the street
That's so close. That's true
You know how much joy having an H mark close by is it's amazing, isn't it because in LA like even where
Where we live, it's at least I mean there's K-Town. There's one in Glendale
But in the Valley, there's what not 99 ranch. Yeah, it's more Chinese. Yeah
Yeah, I know it's just cool, but it's not the same age. It's not the same. Yeah, John
Can I just say one thing to don't ever wear shorts your legs, man? I don't like them at all
I mean, what is it with a lesions? What what's on your legs, man? That's a DP man. He's on the ground. Oh, you're on your knee
Oh my bad, dude
That's what you don't like about them not like the you see like the girthiness and the overall I think the thickness is very
intimidating
Yeah, right like yeah, it's a strong leg my bad. Yeah, I attacked you
You're right. Is that why do you like chicken legs isn't that you want to wear this or no?
Oh, yeah, you don't have to you don't have to if you don't want them chicken legs isn't as rampant
Amongst Asian men I find just enough from an observation Ken Jeong has chicken legs
Okay, it's so chickeny it's like it's like uniformly chickeny though like he's just thin and slender
That's my yeah, I know that's one thing. That's a thing. It's like he's very North Korean
Korean now, you know, I mean like it famished, you know, and he's got money
I don't know what the fuck the deal is. Yeah, like eat a donut Ken
You know, I mean, I also out of any actor like he I guarantee like I put a million dollars
I would defeat him in any ring. Oh, you can't get a fight. You can't in a fight. Yeah. Oh, I would fucking win
I think I'd like to see that I
Know you would
The referee who are you rooting for who are you rooting for? I wrote I wrote for a good match
You would have to like sprinkle in some puzzles and some IQ games in there, so why it's fighting up
Because you don't have much
You guys have to take the MCAT I mean like there has to be anything but like that has to do with like, you know
Doctoring doctoring and books and shit. He's gonna win. Of course, but in a physical just a man-to-man MMA kind of thing
Yeah, I will destroy him. Oh like MMA anything like that fighting boxing
Okay
Are you there? All right, let's start rolling. Yeah. Anyway, let's go calm down
But I would say you have to make it like a physical 100
Those guys are we could talk about that show. I mean on there. Okay. What is it? What is it? Is that the Korean show?
Yeah, I've never seen it all the big Cavs are on that show. I've never seen this show people have tried to explain it to me
But for from what I hear though, it's not something that I would like to watch
Why because it's like, you know Americans we had American Ninja, whatever the gladiator shows we all that is a competition show
Yeah, yeah, so what's it? What's it?
Well, it's just with Koreans first of all one of the things that's amazing to me about this show
Is that Korea South Korea is the size of Pennsylvania? Yeah
No, you don't think like there are all these jacked bodybuilders, you know, yeah
Yeah, and especially when when you know when I was going back and forth to Korea like bodybuilding wasn't a thing fitness wasn't a thing people were just
You know looking to survive, you know, all right, so now that we went in the 1930s
Korean War what the fuck you're talking about
There's like pre-olympics Korea, and then there's post-olympics Korea
I also learned this thing recently that South Korea is an outlier and with
How much South Koreans have grown in height compared to other races like even I think it's like
There's like a nine-inch like
penis thing
Like that
This one, but they're generally like four to five inches taller than they were
Like I was like only a couple decades ago, which is like not seen in any other population
I don't want to I don't want to talk about how great Koreans are right now because I have feelings about it
And I don't want people to hate me. Okay, so we're going down the road
We're you know me because if we can tout about Koreans all we want and we're very good
We're very good in many ways in art. Okay
Listen look at the art we're good at athletics. We're good at making movies
Why are you talking like it's a secret and no back it because I feel shame about it too, right?
So it's like but everyone's good, you know, I mean, so just let's say everyone's good
But we are growing everyone's good, but physical 100 happens to be a show
All right, so let's introduce and let's start to do the countdown and then we're gonna talk about the physical 100
Three two and a one
I'm your host Bobby Lee and I um, you know, you get it
You feel it. You feel it the energy, you know, I mean you feel the sexuality you feel the
You feel the dynamic, you know, I mean dick power I have but
I have it, you know, I was born in the way I was born and I survived it
I survived all the trauma and my dad and all that stuff, but I came up on top man
And I'm gonna win this I'm gonna win. I'm gonna get you can and in the ring. I'm the one okay
And remember that and movies and TV you're famous. You're doing better. It's fine
But in a fucking physical one-to-one man, and I'm not gonna forget what you did in San Francisco and you
assaulted me
He did assault me in San Francisco at cobs, but was it warranted? Yes, it was warranted. All right every assault that I remember has warranted
Okay, I'm not saying but it happened. Yeah. All right. So anyway, let's we're out here to talk about that guy
Right. I love him. God bless you. Garoni Chang. I love you. Jimmy. Oh, yeah, I love you. Go ahead. Love you boys
They're singing for the record every single one
But so
Yeah, my opinion also, you know, my opinions everyone listening, right? It has nothing to do with the guests
We all have a different opinion. I'm just who I am. Okay
So anyway, um the guests who we have today is somebody I've had what I've wanted on for so long
Listen, like I'm a huge fan of that show lost. Yeah when it first came out
I thought that pilot was the craziest pilot I've ever seen with the fucking plane and
You know, I mean and then you know people running through the forest remember that
You know, I mean, what's that guy's name the white dude jack jack running through the forest, right?
Um, we've had Dominic on our podcast
I love and the reason why I love lawn is because I saw a couple of characters in there where I couldn't I was like, holy fuck
There's Koreans in this and I
I also want to say that
You know, your acting was so good. I literally thought you were a Korean. We didn't know each other back then, did we?
You know, I didn't so like I didn't know you so I'm like, oh, they went to Seoul and they got this guy
Right, but then when you did an interview and you spoke the way you spoke
It blew my mind. I was like, oh my god. He's like fucking
You know what I mean? This guy fucking is an american man
You could speak out. Oh, you know me. He's so good. I don't know what the other lady's name is, but she's great, too
You still talk to her. Uh, we haven't spoken in a little while actually. Yeah, what's her name again?
yinjin kim. Yeah, she's great
But anyway, that show was great and then I got to meet you and you're the nicest guy in the world
Anyway, how about a pleasure daniel day cam?
You know, I'm you know, I'm excited to actually get an intro because the last like few podcasts I watched of yours
You guys just kind of go roll right into it. You know, just like catch it mid conversation
Oh, that's true
But the reason why you're special and we have fruit for you cut fruit. I know that this is an honor. You have to understand, dude
You know, I think that
I know I was in
LA in the 90s and I didn't see people that look like me doing it
And then you know, I mean it started opening it up and you when you were one of those guys where I saw was when it was opening up
Right, you think he looks like you?
You looked on tv and said that guy looks like me. I can make it. What was the thought process?
See what i'm saying though
This is the attack. There's no attack. And this is the way you guys do it, right? This is how you hurt me
There's fruit. No, I never fucking said
I never fucking said me and daniel day cam are going out for the fucking same shit, man
All right, obviously i'm the sidekick. Yeah, obviously i'm the neighbor
You mean obviously i'm the guy that gets the stuff, you know me on the show, whatever, you know me?
But of course, he's the lead, right? But you don't have to do that right now
All right, my bad. My bad. My bad. Sorry. I just I just like watching this. This is this is fun
What i'm saying is is that i'm gonna calm down and be real
What i'm saying to you is is that when they opened out you're like one of those guys that I was like so proud, you know
I mean
And I knew you were Korean because not only were you a good actor, but you're a good-looking guy. Also, you're super nice and
I don't know. It just made me feel and then when I met you, I was just like, oh, this guy's really cool, too
Remember you invited me to your house. Mm-hmm
Like I've never had a Korean dude
Invite me to their house. Why do you think that is? I don't know why I guess he didn't know with me that well
And yet here I am
But I went to your house for you know, here's what's crazy, too
Like I don't know what the Super Bowl is
It's just wild and and I've been invited to a million Super Bowl things. I was like, fuck you
I'm not doing that. But when you invited me, I had to go
I got the respect, you know, I mean with your family and this and that anyway, you've been so nice
I think you're a great actor. He's also um was on choka hawaii five all and he also um
It produces and created the good doctor, right? I didn't create the good doctor
But um, you know, I was one of the people who brought it
Brought it over from korea. Um, so it was probably the first time that a korean show actually
Made it big in america as an adaptation. Oh, so it was an ip you bought then?
Wow
Yeah, there was a k drama that aired in 2013 in korea, and what was it called the good doctor
Riveting questions, so we were super original in our
Are a yeah, and then when you so when you brought it to um, what network was abc? Well
The interesting part about this is that uh, when I first developed it
We shopped it around with uh, Adele limb as the writer
Adele limb from crazy rich asians and we shopped it around to every network and every network passed
And then then I bought back the rights for a second year and you you know about producing a little bit
So you know that that's generally not done once a show makes it around and does its uh, does its rounds around town
It dies
But I really felt like this could be a good show
So I bought back the rights. We did it again
And this time with david shore as a showrunner and then there was a bidding war for it
Wow
So it's really just a testament to perseverance and believing in stuff
So they so one of us because I don't know much about it. I didn't know you could do that
So so I mean my friend peter
Pitch a show to originally abc and then and then they had it for a year and then mbc wanted it
They just said no, right? And then I called my agent. I go
Well, we could just do it again, right? And they go no. So what do I do? Do I buy it back from mbc?
Is it an original idea? Yes. Tell them what the idea is. Yeah
What do you mean?
What the show is it's a sitcom about a korean spa and a korean family is running a korean spa in korea town
It's a three camera sitcom and it's just and it's solely your idea. Yeah me and peter kim's idea. Yeah. Oh, yeah peter
Well, if it's your idea, there's nothing technically or legally stopping you from, you know
Repitching it next season. The problem is if the same executives are there. They're not going to want to hear it a second time
So that's the issue. You know, they um forget that they heard it the first time. Well, the fact is
Year to year, especially in what's been going on recently
The executives are all changing. Yeah, so even, you know, the same show that you tried to pitch two years ago
Yeah, you could go back to the same network to all different people and you might have a different outcome
That's not a guarantee. It's not possible. Yeah, it's interesting. You say that it's changing because I remember, um
I had to do another general meeting at netflix
And because I've always had a bad vibe over there, you know, I mean and so I was like, ah
They hate me this net and then when I went in
It was a love fest because it's just a whole new group of people. Right. Yeah. I like that. Yeah
No, I should change it all the time for sure. And you never know and I'll you never know where your allies are going, right?
Because they move around too. So
Um, so, you know, that's why it's important to really build relationships and do you I mean not to name names
But do you feel some places don't like you? Oh, sure. You do. Yeah, I feel that too. And they think I'm crazy
Yeah, no, you can't be in the business. You can't be in the business as long as we have and not make an enemy or two
It's impossible. It's impossible
But he thinks everyone no, I don't no, I don't
I could I could list on a fuck I can lead just 20 names of people I can guarantee you love me
Just because of their history
Calling me and when they call me for an audition. I know you know what there's love there. They're considering me
They want to see you. You know me my version of this thing, but when it's a completely like we don't want to see you
That's not love. Yeah. Is that love?
You're absolutely right. No, thank you. You really are you really are
And you have to keep track of the people who are not your fans. I'll put it that way
Yeah, I do too
But you have to keep keep better track of the people who are your fans and who are your friends
Because those are the ones that that you want to stay in touch with and you want to foster relationships with
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's because all my people people think that I'm crazy and I just don't think
Yes, I have self-esteem issues
Yes, I'm paranoid
Yes, all these things are true. Okay. I love your honesty your self-awareness is it's one of the best things about this podcast by the way
It is both of you like
When you were going through your breakup and all this you guys were sharing all of this on your podcast
I I was I was astounded by that like just that you would choose to share this and it felt like I was eavesdropping, you know
Yeah, bedroom, you know, let's say living room
I don't know if it's the healthiest thing, but it's like, yeah
This show is sponsored by better help. Hello everybody. My name is Bobby and this is Kalaila getting to know yourself can be a lifelong process
Especially because we're always growing and changing
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Yeah
Life is short and it's full of a lot of interesting questions. What does happiness really mean?
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What really is the best cereal?
These are the questions I seek to resolve on my weekly podcast life is short with justin long
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Uh, I can't really help you but I do believe that we really enrich our experience here by learning from others
And that's why in each episode I like to talk with actors musicians artists
Sciences and many more types of people about how they get the most out of life
We explore how they felt during the highs and sometimes more importantly the lows of their careers
We discuss how they've been able to stay happy during some of the harder times
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No, I just I because I you know, I I don't think that anyone's really listening
So, you know, I know they are but it's like I just feel so comfortable here
And it's a it's a it's a place for me to really kind of explore things with myself
The dangerous part about podcasting is that you forget that there's more than five people listening to you
Really just is in your own home and the comfort of the same chair you've sat in for eight years
So you just forget you forget. Yeah, right. You guys know each other so well and you're doing it week after week after week
Yeah, so it's you know, I'm only on here for like an hour. But yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, but um, I'm okay with it though
Because it's like I can um, I've started some wars on this, you know me accidentally and
Yeah, and also it's taught me not to say certain things. So I'm learning as well
So what I did three years ago, I wouldn't do now
Right, so I kind of edit out and in my mind and then after shows how many times do I have to go?
You have to edit that edit that edit that edit that yeah
But anyway, what I'm saying is is that I am paranoid and there are certain things about but I do know
You know when somebody likes me I feel like you know me and it's like and you know
I also what you just said make comforts me because it's not a personal thing. That's just the way
all businesses go
Right, we happen to be the product in our business and you know, just like when we go shopping on amazon
There are certain things that we're going to say. Oh, I like that one. I don't like that one
You know and it's a kind of cynical way of looking at it. But in in show business. We are the product. Yeah
are there like um
I don't want to you don't have to say anything but um, I just want to ask you if you have
Are there people that even though they're not aware of it that you're in competition with?
Even though they're not aware of it. Well, like somebody that like you kind of go
I'm up for this role and I know it's so-and-so
Oh, somebody that you've been pitted against your whole career. Maybe yeah, I mean there have been
Because you know, especially when we were starting out. There were so few roles like whenever there was a chinatown episode
You know what I mean? Yeah, you and I could have been up for the same. I know
So we could have actually auditioned against one another and when I would see you I'd leave
No way, I want to fucking get this. No, if it was a comedy, trust me, I'd leave so but you know, it's uh
So we'd see the same faces at every audition. You know who they are. Yeah, I know the same ones you came up with in comedy
You know, but you know what's funny? I don't feel a lot of that anymore though because um
I feel like I have my own lane
Because before they they gave us one lane
And they put all of us in one street or whatever. Is that why I don't know how the analogy works
What does lane mean? No, no, you had we had guardrails. So we could only do certain things
Right, right, and we were told to do that one thing all the time right
So I left that and went to a little lane, you know, I mean with a little guard where else but still mine
You know, I mean, and I'm just kind of doing that one on that path. You know, but it feels um because if I haven't
I changed my career so that I don't rely on them
Like what you you did with good doctors like this is my show
You know, I'm pitching it. I'm the boss, right? You make the decisions, right?
And before like in the probably in the 90s, I don't know when you moved to LA
You had to read their thing the one option that they had
Well, I will say this, you know, I'm not I'm not the decision maker on good doctor
We have a showrunner. We have other producers. We have the studio. We have the network
But I will say, you know being an actor
You're always subject to the roles that are out there and like does the casting director like you?
Will the your agent submit you you're waiting at the bottom of like
A stream a trickle down and then then the audition comes to you say I can I can go for this
But as a producer you get to create jobs you get to create universes and it's what you're doing with podcasting
Which is why like you've your reputation has skyrocketed
Because of your work, but also because of your podcast. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but you made that you guys made this out of nothing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and that's the power of creation. That's it. That's so that's the lane that I took, you know
Daniel, I wanted to ask you
something maybe that's a little sensitive for bobby, but um
It's why'd he get so nervous? But it's not don't don't he seems to think he's been intentionally left out of the stop Asian hate movement
I've heard this. I've heard this
He wants to do a PSA and I just want to see like yeah
I want to hear your thoughts on if you think he was left out intentionally and if you think he's not a good face for the campaign
No, what I'm saying what what you're trying to shave and lose
That's it. Yes, Bobby. It's been a whole conspiracy. No, that's not what I'm saying
What I was saying earlier was you know in the past was is that I just don't feel like people would believe me
Like even if I was saying like I remember one time will I am?
Yeah
Will I am goes come over because I'm doing this, you know, I don't know what the fucking cause was and I had to lift up cards
like you know how
Bob Dylan did in that thing, right
And I saw the final thing and I was the only one they cut out
And I remember doing the cars and will I I would just be like it just doesn't feel like you care
You remember what the campaign was. I don't even remember. That's why
But it was a minorities or something. Did you care? Did you care at the time? I was like trying to cry
They're like, what are you doing? I'm
Feeling it. You know, I mean that was your intention to cry
I think he was like, you know, all these people are doing I think Morgan Freeman's do all these people
And they go, it's a real personal thing. I know you're a comedian, but it's real
So give me the cards man. See you you want to see real and after I was done
They're like, yeah, okay. Thank you. And it just they just cut me out
Was a card. Did they have writing on it? Yeah
It's like stop racism now
How did it they automatically work if they cut you out in the middle of a sentence?
They gave him a blank card. He had a blank card. Was yours like the period or something?
No, it was one of those
Well, I think what it was is like, you know, it's they probably saw 30 people
And they cut this thing together into one thing, right? And they just I didn't even get a card or a period or nothing
I was not in it and in my head. I'm like, oh
I'm not, you know, I mean
I
I'm just I'm not that's my thing people are different time though for you because now I mean you're crying a lot
I know but what I'm saying is that if there's a cause for Asians, they're not going to call me is what I'm saying
But there is no bat phone, you know, there's no like signal that goes out to say calling all Asians who care about it
No, there's no
Let me ask let me ask you something, right? Did you do stop asian hate stuff? Yeah, I did. Okay. I know you did, right?
So if there was no bat phone, how'd you get it? I don't know because I just started talking about it
And that's the thing
No one you don't need permission bobby like if people if you start talking about this and it becomes important to you
Like-minded people are going to find you and then they're going to be like I heard bobby talking about this on his podcast
Let's have him be a part of this because I know he feels this
So yeah, you talked about it. It's organic, but no, but you know a good way
I don't think
Yeah, I think I think my point of view was different
Um, there's a part of me that thinks that it's just human nature that you know
I mean violence is human nature and this and that but
There's also a part of me that thinks that uh human beings can evolve and change and um, it doesn't need to be a part of our
That's the thing, right? That's the hope that that's what people like martin luther king
We're we're talking about their entire lives like evolving to a place where we don't let our baser nature win
That's what we have to appeal to that's who we need to talk to because
You have to believe that there's a segment of the population
Who wants the same thing and if we can convince more of them
To to move us forward
Then then we'll be making progress because we can't expect that everyone is going to agree with us
There's gonna let me look at climate change and look at all the other issues facing our country that are existential
Yeah, our world that are existential. Yeah, we can't make movement on it
Yeah, so just goes to show you how powerful the forces on both sides are
Yeah, but it's really companies and ceos and stuff
You mean that you know, I mean when you when they they're when we have lobbyists like that and we have them running the fucking show
They're not gonna, you know, I mean deregulate. They're not gonna they want to make their fucking money, man
Right and so then they they go to a certain segment of people and they lie to them and this is where we are
Yeah, you know, but you know when money's a real powerful motivator like if they say like I'll pay you
You know everything you need to live for the rest of your life if you just say something that you know is not true
right
Man, we talk about like yellow dicks on this show
And buttholes, you know what I mean, but this is like, you know, next level. This is the next level getting real
You know, it's that's why I like Star Trek. I know people make fun of me because why do you like Star Trek next generation so much and?
Because that's the kind of society that I want to live in that's right, right?
I want people that no money, you know, I mean a bunch of people with different kinds of people getting together
Getting on a spaceship and we you know me and exploring and growing and learning
From each other, you know, I mean that's the kind of society. I want to live in you know
I mean like I wouldn't want to be a Ferengi or nothing like that, but my point is is that
Yeah, you know, I'm just you know, I mean but in terms of like that's why I like to show the principles
And the philosophy is behind it is what I want as a society
But when you look out into the world, you kind of go we're just straying away from that, you know, I mean
And you feel powerless Star Trek assumes that everyone on earth is living in harmony
It does earth is one entity and and that's why I've always said now
This is a hot take but I've always said the earth the people of earth will never be united until we confirm
Alien life. Yes, that's his exact. That's exactly how
Do you want change the in star trek in that world? When when did they change when the first contact first contact?
Vulcans
This is a general Korean theory that you guys all share. I don't know. I've never heard this theory
Spoused by anyone other than me. No, he does it. Wow. I've said it. Yeah, you're I that theory I agree with
I take the common but I feel like if an alien race that's hostile
Then it would change us. That's absolutely right. Exactly. I think that's what I'll do because then we'll focus on what unites us
Yeah, exactly divides us, which is what we're focused on right now. We'll realize that no, we're the same species
Yeah, go ahead soft counter argument
There is a section of society that are so deep in conspiracies that even if you were to slap the truth in front of their face
They would somehow justify
um
A different reasoning. Yes, so it's like even that movie that don't look up
There's like a good example of a comment about to get land on the earth
And people still having, you know, two different
Nah, well, you know, I think that even if you were to have some like
aggressive alien in front of some people it'd be like, yeah, that's CGI. I think
Someone is still going to believe it's some type of conspiracy against
I totally agree with you
And you're never going to convince everybody like look at the coming of Jesus, right?
Those who are Christians believe that Jesus is coming back
And there will be is and and so but there will be non-believers
So even the coming of Jesus will be a controversial topic and there'll be people who believe that he's not the he's not the guy
He's not a savior. Yeah, so it's built into our society. It's built into our nature. I think and so I don't think we can hope to convince everybody
But just the majority of people. Yeah, wow
um, your take on the spy balloons. What's is that like
China or is it aliens?
Well, I don't know much about the spy balloons. They shot one down in Canada and Alaska, right? Yeah, right?
Do we know what they look like?
Well, we know that the one that was drifting over South Carolina and all over the u.s. Was a spy balloon
But we don't know what these other things were. Yeah, you know
Because they weren't shaped like the first one. Wow
You know and and the government was strangely silent for a long time
Yeah, but why would aliens send down shit that they could you we just yeah, I don't even gun down. You know, I mean
It's like it's like they're gonna high-tech. It's not high-tech enough for me. You know, man
Yeah, I don't think I don't think it's aliens. Yeah, you know, man
Do you or anybody? I don't know. I just hope you get to do the stop human hate
Or it's just Daniel and everyone
Or stop aliens. Yeah, but you know, I learned let me say this
I learned a value of your lesson today. Yeah, and I honestly and you're gonna not believe me
But I'm saying right now it I think I'm gonna do something
I don't know what it is yet, but I I want it because now I feel like
I do have a voice and I do have my opinion about it
You know, man, and um, and I do love my people that look like me. Are you kidding? Bobby? You have a huge voice
I mean, I don't look at the people who you've had on your podcast. Look at the number of listeners and watchers you have
I do I'm not just pumping you up. It's it's true. It is true. Yeah, you're right and um, we all have fear
I mean, that's a that's a very
That's a very real thing. Yeah, every one of us who's spoken out about this issue has gotten the worst threats online
Yeah, all of us and it sucks to read that stuff and go on to your feet and and hear hate coming from the left
And the right by the way, right? It's both because you're you're standing up for something that you know
23 million of us
Experience, but we're only 10% of the population
So 90% of the population goes I could give a fuck about that, you know, or I don't know about that
So you've got to expect it, but you know when I think about that I think about people like martin luther king jr
Like what must he have experienced when he was going through what was happening in America in the 50s and 60s?
I can imagine and he ultimately gave his life for the cause. Yeah, now. I'm not recommending that everyone go out there
I'm not doing that. But anyway, yeah, I want to live but at my point
But the thing about evolution I think is a really important one because you think about all the
The people who have really made positive change in our cultures and our societies
gondi
king
macklin max
jesus christ
What's the what's the thing that they all have in common?
They were all they all died sacrifice. They all gave their lives in support of this cause. Yeah
So that says take that how you will you can look at that as a positive and or a negative
But it's a fact. It is a fact. Yeah
Wow
Let's switch gears
Wait, I'm curious. Yeah, uh, what was the first time you guys met? Do you remember that interaction? Was that an event?
Uh, just in passing
Do you have an idea? I don't remember the first time. I just remember a general sense of going. Oh, I like that guy
You know what I mean? Yeah, like he him. I've had that with grace to park
Um, I have had that with a lot of them. It's Sandra Ove had, you know
There's only one guy that
And I've mentioned before that I had a problem with that says that was a fucking asshole
Yeah, who's absent to be Korean, you know what I mean?
But other than that, you know, but he's always been like a winner for me, you know, I'm in there's two
There's another one
Yeah
Yeah, but he's not really Korean. He's adopted
Kalaile knows all Kalaile knows everything. Yeah, he's basically white. Yeah, he is
Is he a comic? Yeah, one of them's a comic and then the other one is an actor. What's the third one?
Oh, yeah, but he's he's not Korean. Oh
He's Latina. Yeah, it's if it's a
You know, for me, I'm Korean, right? And it's like when I see other Korean stars, you know, I mean
I just want to have that connection. I mean just
I connect with everyone, you know, I mean, you know, but my point is it's just a special thing when I see dudes
That are my, you know
After this, I don't know what it is. I think they really brothers. Yeah, we relate to each other because you probably
Grew up the way I did all these mini little micro aggressions. They're the racism that's built up
And you know, when I went to rehab last year and you know, they said
Man, you have a lot of rage toward white people. You know, I mean, and I go, yeah, I do but
If they understand I grew up in the, you know, I was born in the early 70s and I
Witness these little mini events and now I have like
This chip on my shoulder, you know, I mean, so it's like
In general, you know, I haven't had any conversations with whites, but I feel like if I did
Right, I would go off. You know what I mean? Because it's like I'm picked up. You know, I mean, we are
I mean him and I got into this thing with a member in Seattle
When we were at a movie theater. Oh god, we were watching a really scary movie called hereditary with Tony Collette
Yeah, how scary right and basically during the jump scares Bobby and I would
Scream and scream and we were told
Like basically to shut the fuck up
That if we knew that we were the type of people who would scream in a horror film that we should just watch it at home
and her and I
Lost her mind. So the credits are going down
They did this during the movie. So once they said that we couldn't watch the movie
Her and I were just
Sitting back at the back looking at the back of their heads waiting for the credits to go down because we're gonna go off
Right and you're just you're just heating up. Oh, I'm and this is 45 minutes. We had to sit there
45 minutes
And then they you know when the credits go people get up and leave they didn't and we didn't
Yeah, then the lights come out in the theater and then they turn around to turn this out even more because and we just
Oh my god, good job. You know, I mean we ripped into them, man. What'd you say? I want to hear more
You fucking talk to me like that you fucking, you know, I mean, I don't know what the fuck
We're you know, I mean, yeah, and I didn't go I didn't go who do you know who I am
Which I wanted to check my IMDB
Check my google my name bitch
One suspicious thing because the movie theater was directly across from the club. He was playing that night
so he wanted to kind of
Make sure
That you're right, you're right the fight took place where they could possibly
Walk by the comedy to see my headshots
And my name, you know on the billboard low-key flex. Yeah, I wanted to do that, right?
So I'm kind of directing them toward the club, you know, I mean like no go this way, bitch
You know I mean, but um, yeah
Yeah, when it comes out it comes out
But I've had like these mini and then being an when I moved to LA in the 90s
And auditioning and just you know, I had age an agent from ICM look at me and go
Like I and he goes um, you're never gonna make it. There's no artwork out there. I can't sign you
There's it's just I your nice kid, you know, you're a funny guy, but
It's not gonna work and I and I remember just feeling so sad
That's a ship. That's the pride of america. I was gonna say is this like the outro are we
It's the Oscars wrap it up guys
No, but so I do have this, you know this rage and it's like
But it's
It's just it's the pride of america that is yeah
Did you feel that though microaggressions going up 100% and I think that's one of the reasons why you know anytime
I see someone especially of our generation in this business, but let's forget that any generation who's asian american
I've I go out of my way to kind of
Say hello kind of make sure they're we all know that we're a part of a community because you know
I don't want to make an exaggerated analogy here, but people who have gone through war together are friends for life
And and I feel that way about people like you and people like ken and people like willion lee
Uh, you know people like ron yuan joel de la fuente who all went through the same thing
We all saw the same auditions. We were all told the same things. I was
In an agent's office an agent that I was with for several years. I'd just done a tv series that was cancelled
And then the following pilot season I got zero auditions
So I went into the office and I said what's happening and the agent said to me daniel you just have to you know
Uh reconcile yourself to the fact that you're never going to be a star
You're just going to be a utility player. You're luck. You should be lucky that you're working and that's all you can consider
and then he pointed to
A poster of this movie that was really popular at the time
And the movie was a b-movie at best and it was led by
Uh, very chiseled white young male lead and he was like, yeah, this guy is a star
This guy is going places you you're just lucky to work
And then what was the feeling did the hon come out? Did you have some inner hon?
But see this is the thing about hon. It's always there, but
We
You guys are the whole you're the thing, but we have to we have to cover it with a fucking smile
This is the part like we have to be like, yes, I understand because I don't know where where that comes in our upbringing that
We're not the ones to say like
Fuck you. I'm gonna tell you you're wrong. Yeah, I feel that inside
But I think my response outwardly was like, thank you for your time
Oh, yeah, but but when you're saying that though, we're different than other people at least for me. I can speak for myself, right?
In my I'm like, okay. Thank you, right? But inside
It's my fucking goal now to prove you wrong. Well, this is the key, right?
Like and this is why I don't like to talk about race politics too much because
Yes, these are the obstacles that we have but they are not an excuse and they are not the reason for failure
They have to be fuel for our success and so we can look back and be on a podcast like Bobby Lee's and and and laugh about these stories
I'm not laughing
Yeah, but that's why that's why they're important to remember not because they're the thing
The point of those stories is not to say look at all these fucking people who like tried to keep us down
The point is these are the challenges that made me appreciate where I am today. Yeah, I had a fucking audition for a ninja
Recently, it was a commercial no line. And I remember Lawrence Har who was a Korean agent that I had Lawrence. Yeah, I love Lawrence
Lawrence says hey, you got to go get a ninja outfit
You got to go and I go I go I know but the thing is is that can't they envision me in a ninja?
I'm not gonna go. No, I don't know where to go the ninja. I don't know where to go, right?
Hardy city. I didn't oh no, no, no. I thank you. The next time I have but
So I showed up and everyone was wearing one and I just I was wearing what are I wearing?
It was our one chance to work all year. You're gonna go, you know to the mat to do it, right?
No, I didn't I didn't wear one a ninja and did you get the job? No, I remember he had them going
Why didn't you wear the thing and I and I went all right?
All right, and I left and I remember going I refuse
That was my line. I got there's no I can't there's another one where we just want you to scream
Is the Godzilla one? Yeah. Yeah, King Kong King Kong, right? I go scream
There's no line. No, just run in a circle and scream
So I was in a room going
In a circle, you know, it's like the worst
Situations, you know mean and that's what that was my audition for the year. Yeah, no, I get it totally get it
I went to an audition once for a commercial where
It called for a bunch of aliens like people from another planet
It's not people from beings for entities from another planet
Yeah, and everyone in the audition waiting room was Asian
Not not an exaggeration, I love everyone
Even though the commercial in the commercial everyone was covered with makeup so that you could not tell the race
Everyone was fucking Asian. I'll never forget that. Did you go in?
Uh, I don't remember. I don't remember whether I went into that audition or not
Because I can't see you I can't see you going in a go
No, see that's the thing like yeah, we've all had those lines that we've had to draw and say like I am not doing this
All right. Yeah, you know and and it's good for all of us to know because as we get older now
It's not so conflicting. You're like when you're when you're younger and you're trying to make it
You're like, well, what if this is my big break? You know, like, what if I say no and my agent yells at me for not going to an audition?
Yeah
All these things swirl in your head. Yeah now it's so I say no
To 95 of it. I really do
No, no, and it's like
It feels like so good because I feel like a human being I feel like somebody like, you know, I feel like an artist
I feel like somebody that's like a credible
Performer right that I can look at a project and go
Yes, not for me, you know, I mean whereas 20 years ago. I would have sucked somebody's dick
Just to even get in the room, right?
It's so so let me ask you something. Do you and because I feel it
Do you feel the change? I feel a change in the last
10 years in Hollywood, right in terms of
They're far more open and I feel more, you know, I mean a part of it
Yeah, 100% and good and you are a part of that the fact that youtube came around and podcast came around
Put more power in the hands of creators. And so there weren't gatekeepers, you know, the way that there were, you know
20 years ago and I think there can be an overcorrection when it comes to that because there's always, you know
The people who cry wolf and things like that that turns into like the crucible, you know, but
Yeah, but yeah, the point is that like there is a like-mindedness that is taking over more of the population now
So we can say names and we can prosecute and we can write articles about them. Yeah
I do feel that man. And I'm so glad I'm so glad that I was around enough old enough and also kind of still
Relevant enough to like at least get some of it, you know, I mean because if it happened 30 years from now, you know
I mean then it would have been fucked, right? So I was able to get some of it, you know, I mean and it feels
I just feel so great. I feel grateful about it mainly, you know, I mean, I really do
I love that. I mean, I'm sure you do you do too, right that a feeling of like finally, you know, I mean
Yeah, no 100% like when you see like even when I saw I remember Joy Luck Club when I saw that movie
I was bawling in the theater not just like tearing up like ugly crying because I'd never seen Asian Americans
They weren't even men all the men were assholes in that movie, but
Yeah, just to see even, you know, all of us presented up there. It was
Monumental and then Crazy Rich Asians the same way, you know and seeing your hearing and seeing your podcast the same way
All of these things are a groundswell. Yeah
Yeah, it's interesting because you know, I'm now, you know, we're occurring on a bunch of shows and this and that and I feel like, you know
When I show up before this is something that happened. I don't know what happened
But 20 years ago, I would show up on a set and I wouldn't talk to the producers
Too scared. Didn't talk to the director, you know, I mean
And I don't know if it's the culture that changed or if I changed
But now when I'm on a show, I I am so comfortable with having
Developing friendships with the producers and the directors and we have dinner and this and that
Before I was so petrified of it all. Yeah, it's both. Yeah, I totally agree. You think so? Okay
I think it's also not outside of you. Just, you know, your own personal growth. I think the culture changing also changed you
Right. It sort of made you less, you know, apprehensive and well, they're asking Nina how I feel about it
So I'll be on set now and a director or a producer will go. So how do you feel about this line or this, you know, the direction this
You know character is going whereas before I wouldn't have an option. Do it like this
And then you're just like, you know, I mean like freaking the fuck out. You know, I mean, because you know
Instinctually you have ideas and things like what about this or what about that?
But you wouldn't ever fucking say it because you're just you don't have the power. Yeah
Take race and culture out of it. It's about power, right? Any young actor who's on set for the first time
Is not going to be like I got a problem with this line right here
You know, you're just happy to be there and you're just going to do whatever they say so that you stay there
Yeah, yeah, so
There's something to be said for success right and experience now
You've been on enough sets where you know that you can be yourself and there's not that terrifying moment of like, holy shit
Here comes the close-up on me. What am I what am I supposed to say?
Because your son
You went to your son's first acting thing, right? Yeah, and was he terrified? He wasn't terrified
But when he was when he was buggy, this was funny. This was a funny part
We were doing an interview about
His experience and during the interview. He was sweating bullets. Oh, yeah scare
No, he he was like answering the questions
But if you so if it was radio, you'd be like, oh, this dude's pretty calm cool and collected
But if you saw when you see him, yeah, he's dripping in sweat because he's so nervous
That's like me. That's like her. Oh, really?
I can I can fake the funk on an audio
I but if you see me, I am visibly dying
And it's beads of sweat and a must like the sweat mustache under on my eyebrows. It's really bad
Yeah, I did that once I played conny chung. Remember when I played conny chung. Oh, that's what you say yourself
and I shit myself because
I was detoxing of a Vicodin because I was a drug addict
And then fox was like you gotta quit doing drugs. So they wrote me this conny chung sketch
And I was day two or three of like detoxing and I was just sick
And they put me in the makeup and I remember being in front of a live audience
And just knowing there's no way I'm going to be able to say these lines
I'm fucked. Yeah
And just one then you went to think that you're defeated the sweat and my knees shaking and I was shitting
And I remember Dick LaSouche walking the executive producer walking up to the
Set while the front of the audience and goes all right. We're done
And they just grabbed me and put me in the oh, it was the most humiliating walk
Of my life and I got sober the next day, baby
Well, that's there you go
Hey, baby, right. Yeah, I learned my lesson, baby. I really like when shit goes down because literally
But yeah, actual shit goes down because it's like this just it's
All the things that go wrong are always like the big highlight
It makes for the highlight reel of our life
Like when things just go right or swimmingly or how they should without a hitch
You kind of just don't remember them. So when like really really, I mean, obviously shitty things happen to you
Like they have such a big impact, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Exactly. That's what I'm saying
Because here you are you are that some of all of your choices
Yeah, but it's also it it makes it, you know, I learned lessons from them
Um, I've failed a lot in this business. I've fallen my ass, you know, I've done so many weird things and it's a lot
A lot of it's my fault, but it's like I I wouldn't get like it's like when I say talk about my childhood
It's like I had a terrible childhood and I tell people I wouldn't change any of it because it made me
Who I am today
Everything that led up to today because I love my life today. I wouldn't change. I have a question unrelated
If you had one day to inhabit daniel's body and have his looks
What would you do what do you mean? What would I do?
Am I am I still my personality? I mean, do I look like him or do it? Can I change some things? It's a freaky friday
Oh, oh friday friday because you've you've been in a lot of sexiest men alive lists, right?
Bobby's been in have you how many sexiest men alive have you been on?
Uh, three or four
Now you and now same question to you
How many no, no, no, let me just ask him some questions about the sexiest man alive
No, just I said that answer quickly
No, what I'm asking though what I'm asking is is that
The first time you were do they call you and go you made the list or does it just come out on the stands?
And then you go, oh, I'm on the list. No, no, they they call I was doing loss at the time
Right, so they called our publicist because I didn't have a publicist because
Even during loss they were like, well, I don't I don't know what we would do with an asian man
Like without you don't there's no publicity for you and that's a whole other thing. Wow
Yeah, publicity was one of the hardest things about loss for me
But uh, they called so they called the the publicist of this for the show and said I was on the I was going to make the list
And they scheduled the photo shoot so that's how it happened
And then how did you feel though? Was it um, were you you bashful about it or?
Honestly, I I and this is going to sound really insincere, but it's the truth. I promise it's the truth
I was like it didn't feel like that big a deal for me
But it did feel like a big deal because I don't remember seeing asian men in that issue before exactly
So I when I thought about that I was like, yeah, this is a fucking big deal
It's a big deal a fucking big deal dude, but it wasn't like oh well
This is going to change my life because it didn't you know, I was still going home and taking out the garbage every night
You know and yeah, yeah, yeah, literally my mom was saw the issue. My mom saw the issue
They were like really?
You yes, you dude
Yes, you man
So what are the chances you think in this lifetime that you're going to be on that list because I think we should vote you in
You can I think so I think that well then if I'm on it then who else will be on it
Hey, Paul Rudd. Paul Rudd is not like, uh, you know the rock. He's not, you know, no, but he is cute
He is very cute and I'm just saying that I have
Mythological elements to my face. That's why it's like, you know
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so if they if they did something like, you know
A shire like the shire had you know, I mean the sexiest, you know, mihabit or whatever I could pump it
But you're shire. Yeah, yeah, I mean though is the definition of beauty is changing. That's what I'm saying
Yeah, that's why Paul Rudd is a handsome sexy man and he is you know, but why couldn't it be someone like you?
Jimmy oh yang you just had on the podcast a while ago and
He was in a romantic comedy and I've never done a romantic comedy
You haven't wow never and so that tells you
You know what people are looking for now and what people consider
Um, did they have I didn't watch that movie. Um, I haven't watched it yet
But did they have actual like kissing scenes and sex scenes with his co-stars?
He was definitely romantic. They did. Okay. I love that because I just watched the jona hill one
With eddie murphy. Yes with eddie murphy
And what I found like the most disappointing is that I all I really wanted to see was him get down with the girl
Like just like they were in bed and then they just cut to the next day, right? Yeah
Well, they could have shot it and didn't work out well
in editing
This looks like shit
Let's cut it. I don't know enough about that project, but I hear what you're saying
I saw that film and it just reminds you of Romeo must die. You guys remember Romeo must die
You're you maybe you're too young gently not kiss gently and I'll you never kissed. Oh, man
It's a Romeo and Juliet story. Yeah, and it was all about those things friends
Who is going to want to see an asian man kiss a black woman?
Yeah, that was the thinking I was like I pitched a show with bobby and mine as one of the characters and um
Dave batista as the other and them being like gay lovers because that's all I wanted to see
I was like, how great would it be to see a Dave batista and a bobby leeches full on like making a
Oh, I would I would I don't look to know. I would love that. Would you do a gay like comedy like that? Yes
Would you have been in fire island? Yes, I know you would I would literally like
Come this close to penis
I'm not kidding for the craft. They'd be like open your mouth and not completely in
And I was like, oh, is this good? But I would keep it. This is I would do this
I might I do it. Maybe tip kiss the tip or something. Yeah. Yeah, I'm willing to do anything
You know me, right? Yeah. Yeah for a movie because I could just go to some movie except an arc except a ninja costume. That's ridiculous
Don't put a penis close to your mouth, but don't put a wear a ninja costume
So when you got lost though, because I'm gonna so were you
So you obviously audition how many times did you audition?
Twice twice and you tested the audition twice and then the third was the was the test
No, there were so few of us that it was one audition and a test. Wow
So you tested and then did they tell you right away that you got it?
There was a lot of drama around the decision because I had another project that my agent
Would not support me taking lost for so that's a whole other story that but um, so but they told me and uh
They told me I guess a week later and instead of being happy. I was really
Torn about it because my agent had already drawn her line in the sand and said you cannot do this job
And and she literally said to me if you do this job, I will no longer be your agent
So I actually wrote JJ Abrams myself and I said JJ you don't know me you just hired me
But uh, I would love to do this show, but I have this other job
Do you think you could adjust your schedule for me all the stuff an agent is supposed to do for you
She didn't she did not lift a finger, but I'll tell you what why when I got lost. She took every commission check
These are all two stories. Oh my you have a similar one right? So, so when I before I got mad tv
No one would sign me as an agent. So I had my manager get me
Um an audition for mad tv because she she represented one of the producers on the show
And they like he's not gonna get it but well as a favor so we can learn the audition
Anyway, I get it. I get to the final right? It's between me and taren killis
And I remember is it really? Yeah, wow. I didn't mean taren. Wow, and he was 17 years old at the time. Oh my and I remember being there
Sitting in their lobby about to go in and I remember my somebody called me and I go he goes. Hey, and I go
Who is this? He's like, I'm your agent
And I go, I don't have an agent
Now you do I negotiate a deal
And so they and then ever since then they got 10 percent of
Everything so they only came after you got the job. Yeah, I had to get the job before they would sign me right? Well
Speaking of jimmy oh yang I was watching the podcast. He was talking about his role on silicon valley. Yeah same same kind of thing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is a very common story among all of us
Which is why I feel this brotherhood and sisterhood with people who are like us because we have very common experiences
And by the way, yeah shout out to JJ Abrams. I'd never would have been on lost had he not changed the shooting schedule
For me I can't say anyone else that would do that, but you killed it on that show. Oh, that's very nice killed it
Thank you. Yeah, but there's there's very there was a very real chance
I never would have done that show but did you because I'm curious when you're shooting the pilot and whatnot
Did you in your head go? This is going to be a hit. No, I didn't because it was so
Unlike anything I'd seen on TV. We were speaking Korean
Had you ever seen that before no never
And like it was truly a multiracial cast in a way that wasn't just lip service, you know
Yeah, it was real. Yeah, and and you know, you're talking about
If you listen if you read the log line, you could be reading Gilligan's island like people get trapped on an island
Yeah, end of story. Where does it go from there? You would have no idea. It's really about the genius of those writers
So so you didn't know any of about the supernatural elements in it
It was just basically an island crash in the first
Pilot and then that's all you knew when we were shooting the pilot
There was this big scene where we're supposed to hear this like roar coming. Yeah, I remember you. Yeah
And we're supposed we're at the plane and we're supposed to look out there
JJ literally said, okay
You're gonna hear something you hear you got to imagine you hear something super loud out there. And we're like, what is it?
Just listen just listen for it. Just listen for it. It's huge. It's massive. It's scary action
And he played it
No
Oh, so you have to re-react to a noise. You're not even gonna fucking know what it is. I think there might have been like a and
There's the noise kind of oh, wow. And you go
Wow
Yeah, so it was a surprise to you too as well then yeah, so and none of us knew what was happening week to week
None of us knew who who was going to die in the next episode. We were it was literally a day by day
Wow
Yeah, I mean number one that show made him right do he is now
And that that was like the first time where I saw TV shows like it's like a movie
You know, I mean like the first time where I watched a network show and I was like, no, this is something like, you know, I mean the first
Addicted show that I ever saw where I was like, I'm gonna watch like, you know me
I don't watch anything. Yeah, but that fucking show man was so awesome if that were on today
You'd be binging it from beginning to end. Yeah, you know, and so, you know, you could you could make the point that it kind of ushered in
The binging era because remember people used to not watch our show because they wanted to wait for the DVD set to come out
Right, and then they just wanted to watch it all together. Wow, but toward the end. Did you think it was getting a little silly or
It was it was tough for me. It was getting a little silly because you know when the island moved
That's it. That's all you have to say
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. When you read that the island moves. What did you I've read it twice?
What do they mean by this? Yeah, what about the time travel? Yeah, so did that weird you out? No, that didn't work
because you know
Lost was one of the first shows to really use flashbacks as a storytelling mechanism
Yeah, yeah, and ever since then you've seen it like used over and over again, right
But the idea of like flashbacks and then flash forwards seemed a natural extension of how they were telling the story
And I think even at that time there was a show that tried to copy loss called like flash forward or something
on abc
But you know success you can measure success by the number of people who want to imitate it, right?
There were so many lost copycats at that time. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Um, so, you know, I just was along for the ride whatever the writers wanted to do. I was game because
They created the show and I had a lot of faith in them. Yeah
so
Even the ending people were you know, busting on the ending and stuff
But I just I knew my personal feelings were you're never going to satisfy everybody like we were talking about before
So I just cared about the characters. I wanted to know that the characters were in a good place
Yeah, and I felt like the ending took care of that people ripped on the game of thrones ending. I liked it
It's hard to end shows. Yeah, it's so hard to end the like a multi chapter book
You know, and you know most of the time the writers aren't even prepared to end it properly
So, you know, sometimes shows don't get endings. They just get cancelled. So
Yeah, I've been on those. Yeah
That's how much it's hard to please everyone. Do you watch a lot of k-dramas? Uh
Uh, I don't know what a lot means, but I watch my share. I fair my fair share, you know, I think
Korean dramas have been doing some things like really in a very different way from American dramas for a long time
And it's great to see the influences of k-drama now on American drama and especially movie movie making
And I feel like Netflix is really like catching on to the fact that like just on a viewership level
Like everyone's obsessed with k-dramas. Let me I know I've never seen one
You've never seen one. Yeah, I've never seen one. So I want to you just sold me. Okay, okay
So I'm a layman. Okay. No, I saw kingdom. Is that the one with the zombies? Yes. Love that show
That's a k-drama. Yeah, that's a k-drama. Oh, yeah, but it's got a new style k-drama
Right. Yeah, but I loved it. Oh, that was amazing. What else have I seen? That's it squid games, but that's not k-drama
Okay, it is that's a kid. Yeah, yeah, but like the the classic k-drama is the love story
Like the boy meets girl. That's why I don't have the love extraordinary
Attorney woo. All right. So give me the top three that I must watch and I will watch it. Okay, so give me the top three
Uh, wow, that's a hard question. I will get I will give you the three that come to mind. I don't know if that's the best
No, no Daniel Daniel check it out. Okay
Okay, give me the ones where you think I'm gonna like it check out itaewon class
I love itaewon. Write it down itaewon class. Is it about classes?
It is it's a it's a revenge story. Yeah, it is. Oh, you'll love that. It's a one. Okay. So that's one
I'm gonna definitely watch it. It's like count of montecristo. Oh, I love I love the count of montecristo
Yeah, so, you know, I love it. It's a great underdog. Yeah
vibe
Is this true in this room? I'm gonna get that other two but in the montecristo the guy
Goes to prison, right?
Leaps prison and he reinvents himself, right?
But is there a love interest that like went with somebody else's enemy or something? Is that in the count of montecristo?
I don't remember that. Okay. Yeah. So the second one. What's the second one? So itaewon class
Um, I think that the the mother of all romantic k-dramas is a really old one, but there's one called winter sonata
And I think it's even going to be hard to find but it
He could deep cuts already. I mean the second. Yeah. Yeah, but what winter sonata. I'm gonna like it
I don't know. See, I don't know if that's your jam, but if you want to know like no, no, listen, okay
I'm sorry talking like that, but you know, I've seen every carousel a movie. I've seen every sergio leone movie
I mean, I'm I love
Dr. Javago like at least long sweeping romantic
I have a long sleeping romantic. So I can so winter soldier
Winter sonata. Oh
That's marvelous. Oh, that's a good though. Is that a romance? I like that. That was the one the first
Uh drama that I saw and this was in my like, I don't want to say like 20s and I was like
What is this? I don't know why what this is, but I want to watch all of it right now
Oh, really and I stayed up like and you cried
Damn straight. I cried like multiple times multiple times
Winter soldier third one. What is it? What's your sonata?
Kalala, what's yours? I've tried to pitch it to landing for you. Crash landing. That one. Yeah, my wife loves crash landing
Do you like crash landing? I did not see that one. I have to admit like yeah, because there was a little
It's heavy on the romance though. It is super heavy on the romance. There's another one that
Wait, wait, you were gonna say something that you could just cut out, right?
And we can cut that out for real life, right? If you want, but I need to know what you were cutting out
You know, there's certain there's certain things that we all watch and there's certain lines that we have where we say
Well, I just wouldn't believe that right that's right things. Oh, I see. So let me guess right
She crashes her plane on the other side of the dmz line. She falls in love with a north korean soldier
He's heard it
And I you don't believe that I'm a little bit like could that really happen
It could never happen. It was just a wind a gust of wind that kind of took her over
Yeah, you've never been there in north korea, have you?
I actually did step foot in north korea because I was at the dmz and so technically there's that area that is
You're in north korea. And is it a special pass you have to get in or like a fast pass like at disneyland or something universal?
You don't you don't just say you don't just say hey, let's go to north korea today
Yeah, it is it is a heavily fortified area
You need to get through lots of guards and you need to have arranged this with
Either the government or some tour special tour group, but you can go what I'm saying is is that this is what I want to ask you
Right, is there any world that daniel d kim and bobby lee gets to go and just go to north korea and visit the sites
I think you're a liability
Yeah, I don't know. I'm a liability. Yeah, why why me you're just general behavior
I'm not gonna spin on a statue
You're a little wild
I would be I wouldn't go with you like I would go with some although I did do this in thailand
You know when you see so in thailand they say don't make fun of the king, right?
Oh, that's a big deal
Right, so I we I saw the very first avengers. I was by myself was doing a movie out there and
So during a movie they do a 10 minute
You know I mean
Montage of the king
So everyone has to stand right?
And I didn't stand is that bad
Well in thailand it is bad. I know but I didn't stand I refuse to stand and then at the park
You're supposed to stand still during the music and I stood in a really weird way, but anyway, um
So I you're right. I asked you
So what's the third movie?
One going back to the love theme
My love from the stars was a really popular one
And that was maybe I want to say like 10 years ago, but that broke a lot of records at the time as well
And it's about love my love from the stars. Is it aliens? It literally is an alien who comes down to
Earth, so you've got to suspend a lot of disbelief. I don't care. I get suspended
Hey, but the alien is korean, man. Everyone's korean
But that's you know, that's one thing that I really think that you know growing up in america
We lost out on like when people were doing hong kong movies in the 80s
You had people kicking ass jet lee jackie chan a chayeon fat
But we were watching in terms of images of ourselves
Was the exact opposite well when I met him he had never watched a single wangar why movie like ever
But now hbo has all of them. They have chunking express
They have in the mood for love fallen angels like all of it. I just think you should use a fucking genius wangar why like
You know and some of the best movies of this era if not all time are from him
And so like there's great cinema everywhere. I can't wait to see like where else we're gonna find amazing movie making and tv
content, you know, because
America does not have a stranglehold on all of it and that's one of the best things about
Netflix and the international globalization of entertainment
Yeah, it's it's we got fucked man
Growing up like there was nothing that I could watch and and relate to the only thing was martial arts
Shit, really, you know, I mean, especially bruce lee. It was bruce lee. Especially the access that I had, you know
You have blockbuster
That's the only reason why I would because I would they would they would have a criterion collection
So I would always go watch, you know, I mean a carousel movie like seven samurai or whatever I might be
So I could have that feeling of like some sort of relation, you know, I mean, but we
Growing up that's why like in high school. I never was asked to satay hawkins dance
You know, I mean, and then when I I remember there was this one girl asked for prom and when I asked her
Will you like go to prom with me? She cried but in a real sad way, you know, I mean good
This is the best I could get. Yeah. Yeah. It was like one of those like she had a single tear, you know, I mean, she's like, all right
You know, I mean and I remember going to and she left when we had to prom. She took off
We what was your prom night like
I went with a friend, you know, and uh
It's the best way to do it, you know, and she was a senior when I was a junior. Oh, there it is. Um, but it was there was nothing
Romantic about it, but that wasn't that was okay because of a lot of the things that you were talking about. Yeah, and
Um, there's always drama around prom, you know, take race out of it
Like who you're gonna who you're gonna ask and who's gonna ask you to prom is a big deal
Yeah, yeah, you know for me. It was just easier to say. Hey, we can have a great time
Oh, yeah, you had that confidence. I had his friends. Yeah. No, no policy
I I told myself because by the time I was a junior, I was like, I'm not gonna say no
To any boy. So the first person who asked I said, yes, too. I'm like, yeah, of course. Sure. I'll go
Really? That's cool. And he was a very good girl though. Yeah, I was he was a very shy boy
I know it took a lot out of him to ask me, but I was like, uh-huh
I'll go it's hard for girls too. Like because you have to be asked. I don't know if it's that way as much anymore
But you're not doing the asking so right you you're like, well, do I hold out for something better?
Am I gonna get asked at all these are these are real questions. I'm sure did you feel any of that?
No, uh-uh
I think that I love the idea of just
Just going alone or going with like just meeting friends there. I never but that's because I didn't grow up with the idea
Of prom because I grew up in a different country
So it wasn't like a big thing in my mind of like, oh my god. It's prom night. I didn't know what the fuck prom night meant
Yeah, well, I grew up in pennsylvania right here. There's uh, you know, the football town and prom was everything
Why did you grow up in pennsylvania? Was there?
Well, because I because I grew up in San Diego. So I was just wondering the degree of racism that you encountered
Was it like blatant where like people would like do this in front of you? I mean, what would yeah
That was that was commonplace for me. Really? Yeah commonplace. Yeah. Yeah, but like I had a
An alternative kind of a journey because when I there were two towns I lived in one was called eastern and when I lived there
Everyone was becoming friends and they were young enough not to be thinking about what color or what your eyes look like
Everyone was just like let's go ride bikes. Let's go skateboard and that town had, you know
People of every race and every religion and we were all friends
And then I moved in sixth grade and when I moved I became the other no one knew who I was
And I was just this oriental kid who was moving into this new school in the middle of the fucking school year
And so everything changed for me then then it was like
Hey chink. I'm sitting there
You know and then and then like, you know, I was always an athletic kid always getting picked last always getting picked last
Wow, even a ping pong
I'll pick you first Daniel first
You know and so I think that shaped a lot of my personality like I always wanted to prove to everybody else that you know
I I I could compete on every level for everything, you know, and so
Um, yeah, so my that was my upbringing. So when I moved to Bethlehem, you know, I found my tight circle of friends
But it was a long time before I felt like
Like I was even equal to anybody
And that's when you're taught. I think like yourself images taught in those years. It was puberty, right?
Yeah, you know hormones are starting to rage and you're being told you're ugly
You're being actively told you're ugly that shapes a lot of how you feel about yourself. Yeah. Yeah
But you know what look at you now
Well, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, that's it's we're the sum of all of our choices of all of our experiences
Do we survive? Yeah, it didn't kill us. So it made us stronger. We're the winners, right?
We did it. Yeah, we fucking did it. But here's the other thing. Yeah, we're not entitled
Me neither. And that's the thing that's all of those things that all of those things are what a little bit
I'm entitled a little bit. Wait, let's talk about that. How you entitled
I also just want to again. Well, what's that bit beeping? So it's phone is going nuts. That was bobby's ear. It's not mine.
Mine's never on. It's gonna be crazy. I won't do not disturb
I have no idea, but it's not mine. It's not mine right here
I heard over in this area. All right. Well, let's just hopefully
What are we at time? Oh, we're like hour 20. Oh god, what the fuck you didn't do a thing
We'll just keep going. Well, no, I'm gonna keep going. I'm not done. But I'm just saying I have a
What's that? Nothing. It's just what I do to stem
Well, that's just okay. George. We'll just finish it. We're wrong. George come back
So what do you mean entitlement? What are you saying? How are you entitled?
I'll tell you how. Well, I because I'm not saying it from
Strictly an actor, right? I'm saying it more as a comedian, right? I feel like my path
was so much harder than other people's
and I feel like, um, you know
Let's just say this when I go to a common clip in LA and I see my photo framed on the wall and this and that
I feel like I earned that. You know what I mean? And I feel like, um, that, um,
There's just certain privileges that I get
That I earned. I think in therapy, um, I think your therapist called it destructive entitlement and I think that the way she explained it
It's a result of always being chosen last. So by the time you get to a place where you want it to be
You have this fear of losing it. So you kind of feel like
It was healthy
I'm not saying it's I think it's it makes sense like I get totally understandable why you feel like no
I need to get what I want
It's it's it doesn't come out unless like we're like one time I was like
Headlining a club. I sold out the shows
I'd already done a couple of shows
I went to the hotel came back and I went when I was walking to the this comedy club with my name on it and my name
Something the doorman comes to me goes just we're sold out get out
Right and I go, what do you mean? He's like we're sold out. What the fuck man? Do you have a ticket?
And he didn't even bother to memorize who was there
You know what I mean? I'm there all week and that's when it comes out. And what did you do?
I left and he just left didn't do the show didn't do the shows
I don't know that that's unhealthy though. I mean you you you work I did the shows
I came back they begged me to come back and I go well
You're gonna have to yell at that guy because that was insane. That was fucking insane. It could have been a teachable moment for that guy, you know
Fire that's the teacher
There are so many ways to approach a situation like that. What would you have done? What would you have done Daniel?
I don't know I'm saying how hard was it to be like? Oh, you must have not checked the fucking marquee. That's me, dude
It's not good enough
You wanted revenge. Yeah, baby. Yes. Now. Here's that's unhealthy though. I feel bad about it. Here's path a
Go ahead. No, I you know, I don't know what the right way is honestly because
there's
The variables about who that person is too, you know, like what are they going to react to?
What are they going to respond to in a positive way or feel threatened by you know, so
You know, I've been in those situations as well where people
Thought that I you know, wasn't part of the talent or a cast or you know part of the team
And so it depends on the day depends on what mood you're in that day
Yeah, the circumstance is a pouring rain outside, you know, he caught me in a bad
We're all we're all human is my okay, you know, and so but when that happens to you, right? It doesn't feel good
No, it definitely that's that's true. That's a true thing, right? And it just depends how
Yeah, have a pineapple, you know
It doesn't feel good and I've had that too where I've like shown up on a show
And I'm a principal and they go oh the extras kids stable is over there
And I always go there that's happened to me several times. Yeah. Yeah, and if but you probably go no, I'm a principal, right?
I don't do that. I go to the extras table and you become an extra in this show
No, I sit there until I did that once where I sat there until I got calls going where are you?
I go well that lady sent me here
So I'm just sitting here when I could have just said I'm a principal and you're proving a point
You're just taking a longer path
It's a very long path. I like that path. It's a good one. Yeah. Yeah, you've had that happen. Oh, yeah. Yeah for sure
Yeah, and what do you do? How do you respond to it?
You know, there have been times where I've just said
Sorry, you're uh, I'm actually one of the actors and
And that's the healthier. Yeah, and they responded like in such a way that made me feel
Good about handling it that way because they were so apologetic
And they were like, I can't believe I made that mistake. I am so so sorry
Uh, you know, I
You know, I really wish that that hadn't happened. Um, you know, give me your name. I will make sure it never happens again
So, so Daniel Lee Kim star
What I mean, come on man
But then there have been other times what there have been other times where I made sure to put a little point on it
You know and because I was having a bad day or I was you know late or something like that
And so, you know, I'm sorry. Can I just say something right now, man? I just I'm sorry. Here's the deal. Okay
Guy my friend. I mean, all right guy is I'm if I'm producing a tv show
Right and I get you on my show and if any anybody
Put you in they're fired
You're Daniel. You can fuck that man. Well, thank you. No, fuck that shit, man. Thank you, Bobby Lee
No, I'll be great. You're a star dude. What the fuck you're talking about
But this is the thing like this is a perception of people that is not often reality
Right, like people look at you. I'm sure and say like you've got so much shit going on
Look how successful you are. Look how many people watch your podcast
But you know what it's like to wake up in the morning and you know, I know, you know, like
Have to make breakfast and like take care of your phone calls and all that stuff
If it doesn't feel that way ever and nor should it we feel I feel like everyone else does but that's the point
That's the point, right? And that's the thing about privilege
Oh, you're right. Okay, you're right. You know, you're right. You know one time I you know after the Walking Dead
We're with Steven Yoon
So I was I had this two lines in a movie audition, right?
And and you know at that time Steven Yoon was like
To me the future
Yeah, I loved him on that show. It's amazing. He's a great actor. Nice guy, you know, and I you know
I was beginning to have a friendship with him
And um, I was sitting there and he sat next to me at this audition for this two lines
After walking dead. Yeah, and I'd never been so angry in my life. I pulled him aside. Remember I said I said
No, dude, your agents have this is not
You're a fucking star, dude. Yeah, this is insane
Right for me at that time. I needed this but that's the point
That's the point like people don't know the day-to-day challenges that we face
And especially as Asian actors like it's you're never guaranteed a role and you're never guaranteed a job
So, you know, I think it's helpful and healthy to just think of ourselves as working actors and never as a star
You're right
You're absolutely right. You're up, you know, and I want to be honest with you
And I'm gonna end with this
Is I've been a lot happier in my life when I didn't this is no longer my number one priority
So variety is my number one priority. I'm really hitting that hard
There's other elements that are far more important to me and as soon as I did that this last year
I've just been so much happier. I just um, I'm blessed
You know, I mean that I get to get have a guy like this on my show to have you guys in my
Life and we get to do this as I really am. I'm so blessed. I'm so lucky. Okay, and you know, um, I learned a lot from you, man
I'm gonna do things differently, man
I'm gonna speak my mind man. You know, I mean, I'm gonna see you know, I mean stop asian hate man
Yeah, don't you know adore man. Don't look I don't you know, I mean don't get people fired for you know
Because yeah, I'm having a bad day
You mean but anyway
I have one more question for you. Um because I've been thinking about it
So never got to the freaky friday stuff. Forget the freaky friday. So let after lost
Did was there a dip or did you just continue to work after that?
Because I remember after mad tv
There was a little bit of a dip where I had to wait a couple of years. Did you feel that or no? Uh, well
No, because I made a concerted. I made a specific choice at that time hawaii 5o was casting right at right as lost was ending
and so at the time where I
Talked to my agent about it all my castmates from lost were thinking oh, I'm gonna go do movies or I'm gonna go take time off
I'm gonna go do this, but to your earlier point
My career stopped being my first priority once I had a family
and once I had a family
I knew that
hawaii 5o which should be my priority for my career because it meant stability for my family
And so it was a very easy decision at the time. And so it was very seamless
Like in fact, I was shooting my death scene on loss when I was shooting the pilot of hawaii 5o at the same time
So I went from one right into the other amazing
But it was never I didn't have a lot of angst about that decision people were telling me like oh, you're going back into tv
Why would you do that? Are you the lead of the show? You're not even the lead of the show
but
I took what I could get because it was another show that's shot in hawaii
Yeah to have two shows shoot back to back in hawaii. It's insane
How rare is that going to be? So I I recognize that and I said well
I'm gonna hop on this train because it means both my kids grew up in hawaii. Wow
Well, you know me and thio van sold the show to fox and set in hawaii
So, um, you know in a couple years if it gets picked up and stuff you better not say no to the offer where I'm going
Hey, man, I would love to work with you something villain or something. We should do that. Would you guys never work together?
No, we'll never work together. This is work. You're you're working longer in hawaii than I am you're more recently
I should say yeah, it's been great. How many episodes you've done now 14 or something. That's amazing. Yeah
I just flew in from new york. I did sex in the city too
Okay, man, and then I also I'm also on reservation dogs on fx. So that's the right on man
Right on have a pineapple for that
I don't know why well really quick question. Go ahead. I gotta kind of goes with claus freaky friday
Uh, everyone here is just asking like about you guys working together like will they ever make a korean version of twins?
Will they ever make a remake a face a face off?
So I like this question from young one ziki said if you two were in a buddy cop movie
What would it be about and who would you guys play?
Well, you know, I've always wanted to be an undeveloped sigmes twin to somebody
Well, there you go. Right. So like I'm underdeveloped. So, you know, they'll put green screen on your stomach
But like half my head and my arms come out like this, right?
You know what I mean? And you have like a turban or something, right?
Or are you people think you're a fat guy because you wear a fat suit, but you're really hiding my head
But you're also a buddy cop. You're also cops
Yeah, maybe like
How about this maybe he's the brains of the operation exactly you're the you're the brawn
Yeah, all right the face of it versus the brains of it or the like how would that work?
Or what if one is the cop and what is the criminal?
What about this? What if I'm the cop?
He's the criminal. Yeah, you're the criminal, right, right?
You're under arrest
It's a one act play in one room
And the movie and the movie yeah, it's a five minute movie, but it's a short yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Are you parasitic?
So basically you would only be nourished if you ate so basically he would he would attempt to starve you out
That's true. Yeah, maybe not a cop movie. Would that be a a movie?
I'm like a like an alien type of movie with both of you
Like I don't know if your brother brother is just something but you're stopping or subject
An alien invasion. I don't I like that. How about this? How about this? I got a one more serious, right?
Um, we were both aliens, right?
But he left our planet, right? Because he because of oppression or he doesn't like it and you maybe you fell in love with the earthling
Right, and I'm like 20 years later. I'm like, I'm gonna find my brother
Right, so I had to come back to earth to find you because mom and dad are dying
That's a sequel to my love from the stars. Yeah part two. I'm gonna watch that very good
I love from the stars part two, right? All right. So what's another question?
Uh, that's it. That's it. Everyone's just really interested in like, how do they not work together? That's like, we will we will
Life is life is like very magical in that way. Yeah. So dan, you is there anything you want to promote right now?
No, no, I didn't come out here to promote anything. I just came out to promote and talk to you guys. I know, I know
But there's just some people, you know
Do you about good doctor still on a good doctor still on watch it on what's a bc a bc
Good doctor. Yeah. Yeah coming out in an animated series called mecca that you based on a boom comic
Uh, and that's on netflix and then wow live-action avatar the last airbender comes out. Uh, no, wait, wait, wait with dallas lu
Yeah, it's dallas. Yeah
Wait, they did a live-action airbender like you thought the shamala was going to end that thing. Yeah, no, that's uh, it's the legit one now
They did it again. They did it again, but with more asians in it all asian
How was your audition?
Oh, okay, if you'd only spoken up about asian, that's what it is. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. I never got one
So you're in that I am I play the Darth Vader character
Oh my god, so um, they did you shot a seasonery? Yeah, and when does that come out?
Uh, we don't know yet, but they're working on the vfx right now. Oh my god. That's exciting
I love that fuck. You know who turned me under that was jordan peel
Oh, yeah when he when the animation was he got to check that out and I saw the whole thing
I loved it. Do you know fire lord ozai? Yeah, that's you. That's me
You're the fire lord the fire fucking lord. Oh my god, dude
That's insane, but we got to have you on season two for sure. You're never gonna do it. Are you kidding me?
There's a soap. There's a lot of comedy in this
Yeah, they're not gonna have it. Why?
I'll tell you actually the first time man. I'm telling you right now. I don't want to be part two now
I'm happy to put in a word. Yeah, put in a word. Yeah
Put in a word. Please put in a word
Yeah, but you know, but don't either, you know, whatever. I will definitely put in a word. Yeah, anyway, I don't promote anything
I was gonna upset me now
So you're really open about this too
But like in a lot of your podcasts you talk about jealousy and envy and you know, you know one, you know
Yeah, I do
You know, but I like that. I think it's healthy that you talk about it
But I you know, I tell people that I'm you know, but it's I know I'm doing well
I am I know I'm doing well
and but you know, I also I like it this
It's this
Platform gives me a chance to kind of be myself and say things that how I feel about things and
And people relate to it. You know, I mean, I'm not I'm not a shiny
Thing I have I'm damaged. That's what's great about the podcast. Yeah, you're human. I'm human
You know and for so often like when people do pr tours
There's nothing human about those, you know, it's like 30 second sound bites that are given to you by a publicist, you know
So, you know, this is this is much deeper than that
Well, you know, thank you so much for doing it. Um, I really do. I think you know, um
You're just one of those guys that I've really looked up to and I'm just so blessed that you did it and thank you so much
I'm super happy to give him a round of applause. Thanks guys. Daniel Daco. Hey
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