"Karaoke"

28 April 2025

60s

Did somebody say 'let's sing'?

This marvellous commercial for Panda Express leans hard into tropes about the East Asian diaspora, but does so in a fashion which seems likely to be highly relatable and not in the least bit offensive. Stereotypes are sometimes formed from the outside, and sometimes formed from the inside, and the idea of older East Asians being emotionally unavailable is an example of the latter, and that's what keeps this the right side of the line.

Director Kate Hollowell knows where the line too. Her wonderful execution turns the 'aunties' into a boy band of sorts, allowing them to be the champions of the discourse who are clearly in on the joke. It's a tightrope walk and she makes it to the other side with a skip and a jump.

It also works. This is an American ad, but it nonetheless has DAVID pining for a delivery from the advertised Chinese food supplier... does any of the new fangled delivery services have a 'cross the Atlantic' option yet?

USA

Fast Food Restaurants