Know Your Local Asian Newscasters
By Ron - Friday November 11th 2005
In the beginning there was Connie Chung. After breaking out on LA’s local news scene, Connie’s rise to national prominence paved the way for the likes of Tritia Toyota, Wendy Tokuda and Sharon Tay. Today, every local TV news team in Los Angeles enforces a strict two Asian minimum. Let’s get to know our current crop of Asian newscasters…
CBS/KCAL
| Lisa Joyner Entertainment Reporter/ Host  In her bio, Lisa explains that she’s a journalist because it beats working. And her favorite sports team is the Pussycat Dolls. |
Mia Lee Anchor  In the Japanamation flick Kaitou Saint Tail, Mia is the voice of Meimi, a girl who turns into a magical thief at night and steals stuff with the help of a nun in training. |
| Leyna Nguyen Anchor/Reporter  Leyna was 1987’s Miss Asia and often leverages her talents for newscaster roles in shitty films. |
NBC
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Ted Chen Anchor/Reporter  Ted was second assistant director for the vampire thriller Sleepless Nights. Who can forget this film’s classic tagline: Those lips at your throat… may not be your lover’s? |
Gordon Tokumatsu Reporter  It’s common for aspiring White entertainers to Anglocize their names to appeal to a wider audience. But if you’re going to make it as a non-White performer you need to take the opposite approach and market the shit out of your ethnicity. And thus Gordon Gray became Gordon Tokumatsu. |
ABC
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Denise Dador Anchor/Health Specialist  Denise is a health specialist with no formal medical training. Maybe this mean Eyewitness news will accept my application to be their newschopper pilot. |
Rob Fukuzaki Sports  Rob wrote and recorded musical tributes to Tommy Lasorda and former Dodger Raul Mondesi. If anyone has a copy of either of these songs please contact me immediately. |
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Jane Monreal Traffic  Jane was crowned Miss Asian America Florida and was a competitive Latin ballroom and salsa dancer. Unlike former beauty queen Leyna Nguyen, Jane has yet to be cast as a TV news reporter in a shitty film. |
David Ono Anchor  David is a triathlete sponsored by PowerBar’s Team Elite even though he can’t swim nearly as well as he can move on land. |
KTLA
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Cher Calvin Morning Anchor  KTLA didn’t approve of chercalvin.com and instituted a ban on personal Web sites by on-air talent. An early version of the site remains archived so you can still check out Cher’s shout-outs, linkz and her section for webmasterz. |
Janet Choi Reporter  Janet was a cast member on MTV’s Real World Seattle. In one episode she compared sex to avocados and then explained that she’s tried sex but not avocados. |
FOX
| Susan Hirasuna Weekend Anchor/Reporter  Susan is often asked to act as mistress of ceremonies for local community events. She is rarely confused with Elvira, mistress of local dark community events. |
Jane Yamamoto Reporter  Jane is an avid golfer who wants everyone to know her handicap is 9. Everyone wants Jane to know that nobody likes a braggart. |
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Tricia Takasugi Reporter  Tricia doesn’t get a bio. Bios are for closers. |
Maria Quiban Weather  Maria dated Jim Carrey, was a teen mom and plays the ukelele. These three facts are not necessarily related. |
| Tricia Takanawa Reporter  Although based in Quahog, Rhode Island, Tricia Takanawa is perhaps the most popular Asian reporter in Los Angeles. She was once eaten alive by her anchors. |
