Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading man

[Good Will Riker]

The character of Harry Kim is about as unpopular as the character of Wesley Crusher, there is no denying that.

Garrett Wang, unfortunately, is not cut-out to be a leading man. At least not in a multi-million dollar Hollywood production. He can audition for supporting roles, but he just doesn't have "it" that draws people to charismatic men like moths to a flame.

He was brought into fill a minor supporting role on "Star Trek: Voyager," and that's pretty much the only use Hollywood had for him. Just to be a token Asian prop on the UPN flagship show in a failed attempt to bring in or retain a percentage of the Asian American demographic (A lot of Asian Americans just do not watch much or if any of the post-TNG shows, sorry to say...). But, since the show is over, his presence is no longer wanted by the industry. There are hundreds, if not thousands of Asian American actors that have joined SAG since then. There's nothing special about him that distinguishes him from the pack. Virtually all of his acting income comes from VOY-residuals and convention appearances. With that alone, he never has to work another day for the rest of his life.

Right now, John Cho is a better shot at the brass ring. And, a lot of Asian Americans want him to succeed with films like Better Luck Tomorrow and Harold and Kumar. I wish him the best.

 

[sbk1234]

I'll be honest. I've never understood the animosity toward Garret Wang. Or is it toward Harry Kim? Be that as it may, I've never had a problem with his performance on Voyager. Is he the greatest actor ever? No. I wouldn't say so. Somewhere in the doable range of average. But I never had a problem with him on the show. I personally don't have strong feelings toward him one way or the other, but I just wish him good luck in his future endeavors. If his acting skills truly are lacking, I hope he'll take the opportunity to work on his craft, and that the audience, and PTB will give him a chance in the future.
At least that's my two cents worth.

 

[cylkoth]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

What the heck brought this on? I don't get it? Was there an interview or something where he stated he should be in major studio, big budget opuses, and didn't understand why he wasn't?

Color me confuzzeled...

 

[MaxBingman]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

Yeah, what did you really expect from the guy? I thought he was okay. His character was never meant to be a lead and he did a decent job. I believed in him.

 

[Orac]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I didn't realise Harry Kim was as unpopular as Wesley Crusher. I don't really expect to see any actors from Star Trek starring in high budget Hollywood films unless they're Star Trek films, perhaps with the exception of Patrick Stewart.

 

[James Bond]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I didn't realize people hated Harry Kim (or possibly Garret Wang). I, for one, like both the character and the actor. :thumbsup:

 

[Good Will Riker]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

Checkout this hilarious interview with "the Wanger." He's got this whole Margaret Cho "thang" going :


interview: http://www.modamag.com/garrettwanginterview2.htm

 

[od0_ital]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

^

Got anything more recent than a five year old interview?

Seems to me the guy just wants a good role, like any other actor, not necessarily to be the star of a major production.

 

[Good Will Riker]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I just Netflixed Garrett Wang's independent film made on a shoestring budget called "Hundred Percent," which he co-starred with Dustin Nguyen ("21 Jump Street") and Tamlyn Tomita ("The Karate Kid, Part II") back in 1994.

Garrett always complained about this film never being completed and released, but here it is finally on DVD, available since last year.

I'll post a review of this film in this forum hopefully by the end of this week.

 

[I Love Chakotay]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I really like Garrett as a person (from what I've personally seen of him at a UK con, and in interviews etc anyway) and I always enjoyed what he did with Harry Kim. I would have liked to have seen more from him than the young, green ensign who always chose the wrong girl. Certain eps gave me that, and I was always impressed. ::Shrug::

Is Harry as bad a wunderkind as TNG's Wesley? No way. I'd say Seven was Voyager's Wesley Crusher if anyone was what with her all-singing-all-dancing-fix anything nano-probes and collective memory

Layoff my Harry

 

[exodus]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

^^Lay off Seven.

 

[Scoobysnacks]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

exodus said:
^^Lay off Seven.

Hey now, nobody's getting laid on a thread about Harry Kim so no need to worry.

 

[exodus]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

Scoobysnacks said:

exodus said:
^^Lay off Seven.

Hey now, nobody's getting laid on a thread about Harry Kim so no need to worry.

Hey, at least Harry got laid.

Wesley never did.

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

exodus said:
Hey, at least Harry got laid.

Wesley never did.

That's debatable - in the episode where Picard helps the young rebel who was taken by aliens but actually human, Wesley was very 'friendly' with him.

 

[benny]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

^ If you're referring to "Suddenly Human," Chad Allen (who played Jono) has MUCH better taste than Wil Wheaton. He went into business with Robert Gant...proof positive.

 

[homoaffectional]

Good Will Riker said:
The character of Harry Kim is about as unpopular as the character of Wesley Crusher, there is no denying that.

Garrett Wang, unfortunately, is not cut-out to be a leading man. At least not in a multi-million dollar Hollywood production. He can audition for supporting roles, but he just doesn't have "it" that draws people to charismatic men like moths to a flame.

Although I'm inclined to agree, I think Garrett's acting excelled, at least once, in the episode "The Disease".

 

[Akiraprise]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

Garret Wang and Harry Kim are ok in my book. :thumbsup:
His acting was fine given the part he was playing.

 

[homoaffectional]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

od0_ital said:
^

Got anything more recent than a five year old interview?

Seems to me the guy just wants a good role, like any other actor, not necessarily to be the star of a major production.

Indeed, although the interview in question can't be much more than three years old, since in Part One, it mentions "Nip/Tuck" and says that it's "three years after the end of Voyager". It does piss me off, though, that elsewhere in the interview it mentions how the ever vindictive Rick Berman denied Wang an opportunity to direct. Thank god that SOB is off Trek for good... karma, is what I'm talking about...

 

[stj]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I'm pretty sure that Garrett Wang is not a male ingenue, which Harry Kim most certainly was. That looks like acting to me.

 

[ancient]

Re: Garrett Wang,unfortunately,isn't cut-out to be a leading

I must pop in and say that while VGR had its fair share of issues, Harry Kim wasn't one of them. I think people let their opinions of Garrett himself color their views of his fictional persona.

I've watched plenty of VGR in the day and never noticed Harry being subpar or annoying. Certainly no where near Wesley territory. (And even Wesley was usually tolerable, it's just Season 1 Wesley that's annoying, for the most part.)

Perhaps a few examples of Kim's annoying-ness...?