World’s tallest Chinese baby on the way?

A pop! is a monthly column of all things Asian in pop culture

By Ninette Cheng
Northwest Asian Weekly

Looks like it’s time for another update on your favorite Asian American celebrities! This past month, Tila Tequila made a fool of herself, Yao Ming finds out that he is becoming a father, the Black Eyed Peas head home with three Grammy awards, John Park makes his mark on American Idol, and “Lost” returns. Plus, I have updates on awards, television shows, and movies.

Tila Tequila

Tila Tequila: ever so sensitive

I have said many times that I think Tila Tequila is beyond desperate for attention, but the petite starlet has taken it too far. Socialite Casey Johnson, Tequila’s fiancé, died on Jan. 4, and Tequila is milking it for all it’s worth. She has not only argued with Nicky Hilton and Bijou Phillips over Johnson’s dogs, but rumor has it that Tequila now wants custody of Johnson’s kids as well. At this point, even the reality star’s publicist Jessica Cohen has had enough and quit.

“Some matters need to remain private and away from media attention and due to recent events, I realized that we need to part ways while she deals with the loss of her fiancé,” Cohen wrote in a note.

Remember Tequila’s accusations of then-boyfriend Shawne Merriman hitting her? She lost the first round of that. Then there is her latest pregnancy claim. Tequila claims that musical artist The Game is the father, an accusation he promptly denies.

Woman, stop. Even your publicist quit. It’s getting pathetic.

World’s tallest Chinese baby on the way?

In much better news, congratulations to NBA star Yao Ming and his wife Ye Li! A newspaper reported on Jan. 5 that the couple is expecting their first child in July. The couple, who married in August 2007, does not know the sex of the baby yet. However, there is much talk regarding the height of the child. Yao is 7’6″ and Ye is 6’2″! Talk about a tall family!

Apl.de.ap

The Black Eyed Peas find success at the Grammy Awards

2009 was a good year for the Black Eyed Peas and Fillipino American band member Apl.de.ap. On Jan. 30, at the Grammy Awards, the group took home awards for Best Short Form Music Video, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, and Best Pop Vocal Album. The group also performed their hit, I Gotta Feeling, that night. Congratulations to the Black Eyed Peas and to Apl.de.ap! Here’s hoping that the great music continues in 2010.

John Park makes a splash on “American Idol”

John Park

The final rounds of “American Idol” have just begun. One of the singers creating a stir is none other than 20-year-old contestant John Park from Chicago. Park is a student at Northwestern University and a member of an acapella group, the Northwestern Purple Haze. At the audition, the Korea American performed “I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know.” Shania Twain commented that he had a nice bottom end and beautiful lips.

Err …anyway, best of luck to Park as we keep watching!

Daniel Dae Kim (left) and Yunjin Kim

“Lost” returns for its final season

ABC’s hugely successful show “Lost” returned on Feb. 2 for its highly anticipated final season. The show co-stars Asian actors Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim. My money is on this season being a ratings blockbuster.

Box office and awards watch

A few Asians showed up in this month’s box office and awards panel.

Jackie Chan’s “The Spy Next Door” was critically panned and bombed at the box office. In fact, I’m not sure if I have seen it shown at any of the theaters I’ve visited this month. Hopefully, “The Karate Kid” remake goes better for Chan.

Jackie Chan

Jenna Ushkowitz

Jenna Ushkowitz, on the other hand, is joining her “Glee” co-stars on the train of success. After the show nabbed the Best TV Comedy Series award at the Golden Globes, the cast also scored an award for Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards. Let’s see if the show can ride the wave all the way to the Emmys.

I will also be keeping an eye out for “Star Trek” as a possible Oscar nomination as nominees are announced later this month.

See you next month for that news, Olympic results, and more! ♦

Ninette Cheng can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.