Must-See TV – Causing a Stir with Brian Tong
Back then the show had 4 co-hosts and 2 correspondents – a lot of people running things for just one show – but through that crowd there was one guy whose self-satisfied smirk (and trademark “bed-head” of hair) caught your attention like a magnet.
My immediate, on-the-spot impression of Brian Tong was that he was a smug, self-absorbed class clown who fancied himself quite the chick magnet. Kind of annoying, I thought.
It took me all of about one minute, though, to realize that the self-absorption was self-effacing, the chick magnet mentality a put-on, and the smugness almost charming in its self-mocking of his character. The class clown personality and bed-head were intentional. And by the show’s end, I realized this was one awesome guy.
Now I’m not only happy to call Brian Tong my friend, I’m actually proud. This busy, hardworking Chinese-American 25-year-old (originally from Mountain View, California) has a very full plate … and things are only going to get busier.
The son of teachers, Brian grew up with two things going for him right away – a love for television, and a rebellious streak. Both led to an internship with a local television station while Brian was still in high school.
Brian’s parents, knowing that trying to stop their son from doing what he wanted was completely pointless, tried to keep their concerns to a minimum as their son spent five years of nearly every spare hour he had at the station … all of it unpaid.
But broadcast journalism was Brian’s passion – his dream – and it was going to happen, no matter what. Nearly 2 years of job searching – sometimes in areas so remote, TV was still seen as a fad – and a chance remark by a friend led Brian to send his resume reel to KTSF, a local station in San Francisco that was putting together a “youth culture” show.
Out of over 400 applicants, Brian Tong made the various cuts to be chosen as one of the 4 co-hosts of a show that would change his life forever … make him one busy guy … and put him on the first real rung of the dream he’d had since childhood: owning his own TV station geared toward the Asian-American community.
Creating a Stir
At 25, the guy who had once spent nearly ever free hour working free in a TV studio was suddenly flying all over the world, interviewing celebrities like Jackie Chan and covering the arts scene throughout Asia.
Brian himself defines Stir as “a magazine-style show with Asian-American forces or phenomenon. It’s a window into the Asian-American community in a ‘normal’ context – without the stereotypes of kung fu, effeminate men, or eroticized girls … just normal people.” When asked who he’d most like to interview for the show – or even just in general – Brian cites Usher, who he’s seen in concert and would really like to meet (a big fan of R&B and hip-hop himself, Brian has been labeled by some as the “Asian Usher” … and sure enough, from the nose down he’s a look-alike to the R&B superstar.
Brian also has a real desire to meet television moguls Robert Johnson and Ted Turner; Johnson for his work in creating BET, a mega-network geared toward a minority group, and Turner for forging the path to 24-hour television when all the other networks laughed at the goal.
Other Tong favorites include Morgan Freeman … and Brian mentions Lucy Liu twice, adding “she’s hot” as possibly the real reason he’d like to meet her!
Though Brian is thrilled by the positive feedback he gets about “Stir” from people of all races, he’s particularly proud that the show is the first of its kind to cover the Asian-American community on a national level. Brian points out its importance within the culture:
“Watch shows like ‘ER,’ you’ll see maybe one Asian doctor. ‘Survivor’ – with 10 seasons and over 160 faces – has had only two Asians. It doesn’t bother me, but as an Asian-American you feel like ‘my face isn’t represented’ … what you see on TV is usually what some CEO thinks Middle Americans can stomach, as opposed to reality. That goes for Asians, Latinos, Blacks – all races.”
He asserts that TV today is not representative of American culture — that “it might be just TV, but it’s still what people – especially young people – see.” As the same time, he stresses that Asian performers shouldn’t make such an effort to always be representing the Asian community, as much as the point is just to “be yourself in a normal context; those watching can take it as they want.”
When asked about things like fame and autograph requests, Brian laughs a nervous, almost embarrassed laugh. He talks about his “small scale” fame – and how yes, of course it’s flattering to be asked for an autograph. But his goal isn’t to be famous – Brian Tong’s goal is the same as it’s been for years: to do what he loves, and love what he does.
It’s also his advice to others in pursuing their career, whatever it may be:
“In all honesty? If you truly love what you’re doing, you’ll get there.” Brian’s constantly watching his own work, taking notes and critiquing himself, always seeking improvement and pushing himself to get better. He says it best himself: “Be passionate about what you do.”
And for the Asian Usher, it seems to be working; “Stir” only grows bigger and bigger, has recently re-formatted to 2 hosts and 4 correspondents (with Brian still one of the co-hosts), and Brian is also in the beginning stages of writing his own music, with possible producing and recording plans in the future.
He also plans to take acting lessons, and as buzz is already getting around L.A. that this young TV show co-host is someone to watch, it’s not out of the realm of possibly that you just might see Brian Tong in front of a TV camera soon in a whole new light.
Meanwhile, the 5-foot, 5-and-a-half inch ball of energy that is Brian Tong is also single and hiding a true romantic inside that goofy class clown you see on his show. “I’m definitely into all that cheesy stuff,” he says, including writing romantic songs for his lady. He “dates if there’s time,” but currently there’s no one special.
Stir can be seen on cable’s International Channel, Wednesday nights at 11pm Eastern, 8pm Pacific. It’s also shown in local markets in Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City; check your local listings, and by all means take a look at this energetic, informative and entertaining show (you can also go to www.stirtv.com for more info)!
And you can reach Brian at www.briantong.com — and be sure, again, to catch him on Stir. Chances are, this talented, intelligent, funny, articulate, handsome, hardworking, charming, and truly modest guy will win you over in time; from experience, I’d say about five minutes.
