The wife and I met Garrett Wang

[digger]

So while we were in Las Vegas this past August for the Trek Convention, we also attended Robert Picardo's 2nd Annual Charity Auction Benefit Dinner. It was a very nice event. Bob Picardo was auctioning off some of his trek and non-trek memorbelia. And Garrett Wang had shown up to help out with the auction.

Anyway, as my wife and I were leaving (it was held at the Palace Station), we saw Garrett talking to some woman in the hallway. (It more looked like he was trying to get away from this woman, but she was being very invasive--grabbing on to him, stepping in his way, etc.--she was obviously very drunk) So as much as I wanted to go up to him to say "hi" or ask for a picture, I am of the belief that celebrities want their privacy just as much as anyone else, so I just continued to walk past him and let him be.

My wife and I made it to the escalator, which led down to the casino floor. Entirely covering the wall in front of the escalator is a mirror. As we're about half way down, I see Garrett get on the escalator behind me. Still, I didn't want to bother him, so I didn't say anything. But he yells down to us, "So, did you win anything?" [at the auction].

I said no, that we had made a few bids, but ended up not winning anything. Then, as he gets off the escalator, I say to him, "Thanks for putting up with all us Trek fans." Because, let's face it, people who meet celebrities (Trek fans as well), can be very invasive...as is evidenced by the woman I described before.

He said how it was no trouble at all, etc. And then--get this--he stops and talks to me and my wife for about 15 minutes at the bottom of the escalator. And it wasn't like we were keeping him from leaving. He was the one who was leading the conversation, talking about some other cast members, or other people he met in the business, and what it was like growing up Asian in America.

He also relayed a funny story about how, even though he (Wang) was Chinese, he was under the impression that his character (Kim) was Korean because "Kim" is the most common Korean name. So he found it odd when the writers would give him lines to say to Paris about "an old Chinese saying." So he went to the writers one day to ask about it, and they told him Kim wasn't Korean but rather Chinese.

Anyway, it was a very comfortable encounter. He even lit up a cigarette in front of us, which was fine with me, because I was dying for one, so seeing him light up made me feel better about lighting up in front of him.

After about 15 minutes of just a normal conversation, we said to him that we should probably get going because we were sure he was tired (it was the same night that he had appeared at the convention), but we asked if it would be possible to take just one picture.

And he said yes and was just so very cool about it.

I'm not going to lie and say that Kim was always my favorite Voyager character. He wasn't. In fact, he was probably one of my least favorite (though that's probably more the fault of the writers than the actor). But after this encounter with Wang, I can't look at Kim in the same way, and I definitely like him a lot more.

So my wife and I walk to the parking lot to get into our car, just so excited about what just happened. And who do we see walking out, but Garrett, getting into a normal car in the same parking lot we were in.

It was just so very cool to see a celebrity who is a regular guy. You know, it's not like he's in a limo or anything. It was a very great moment that I will always remember.

Anyway, here's the pic we took:

P.S.-- I also had a missed opportunity of meeting Walter Koenig (sp?). At the convention, I went to the "welcome room" to get something to eat. I sit down, and who is having a cup of coffee at the table next to me, but Walter Koenig. I so wanted to go over there to ask for a picture, but no one was bothering him and he had just gotten done speaking on the stage, so I figured he didn't want to be bothered.

 

[2 of 10]

VERY COOL, I have always liked Harry Kim, he is the prototype Ensine eager, yet a bit causious. Thanks for sharing this enconter with us....

 

[jgdst]

Wow, that's AWESOME I'm excited for you that you got to meet him, which sounds odd, but it's true.

Great picture too. Thanks for sharing

(oh, and I'm glad you thanked him on behalf of the fans... I can only imagine some of the weird and wonderful people he gets cornered by. They need to know we're not all going to kidnap them a la Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons!)

 

[Lucy of Nine]

That's great! What a lovely photo!

I'm in Australia so I doubt I'll ever meet someone from ST... LOL!

 

[JNG]

Yeah, Garrett Wang is a pretty cool guy*. He is not full of himself at all.




*http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Pretty_cool_guy

 

[Akiraprise]

Sounds like a cool guy.
I always cringe when I read stories of the actors getting mobbed by some crazed fans.

To all of the actors reading this: Most of us are just normal people who want to bullshit for a bit. Really, it's true.

 

[freak]

WOW! Thanks for sharing that and the picture. He's so buff..DANG! I'd feel like a cow compared to him! He must work out alot! I would give ANYTHING to meet a fellow Voyager actor and would absolutely either A) faint or B) make a fool of myself and blush like a teenager(if it was Beltran, Wang, or McNeil). I'd if it was Beltran though. :P

 

[Lucy of Nine]

WOW! Thanks for sharing that and the picture. He's so buff..DANG! I'd feel like a cow compared to him! He must work out alot! I would give ANYTHING to meet a fellow Voyager actor and would absolutely either A) faint or B) make a fool of myself and blush like a teenager(if it was Beltran, Wang, or McNeil). I'd if it was Beltran though. :P

He looks buff? What picture are YOU looking at? Lol

 

[Good Will Riker]

He was the one who was leading the conversation, talking about some other cast members, or other people he met in the business, and what it was like growing up Asian in America.

I can relate.

I am sure he had stories to tell you about how Asian Americans who grew up in the United States dislike being perceived as being "foreign" by certain ignorant members of our population.

He also relayed a funny story about how, even though he (Wang) was Chinese, he was under the impression that his character (Kim) was Korean because "Kim" is the most common Korean name. So he found it odd when the writers would give him lines to say to Paris about "an old Chinese saying." So he went to the writers one day to ask about it, and they told him Kim wasn't Korean but rather Chinese.

I am Korean American, so whatever sentiments Garrett felt in regards to this matter of "Hollywood politics," I agree with him wholeheartedly.

It reminds me of the time when Brannon Braga flipped through a phone book and came across the name "Hoshi Sato" and assigned it to Linda Park's character on "Enterprise." Although Linda Park is Korean American who is portraying a westernized Japanese character on the show, no one on that show bothered to check on the fact that "Hoshi" is a guy's name in Japan.

Some people would say "Whatever" or "Who cares?"

I say "We do."

 

[Boy Wonder]

Harry Kim was okay, but Wang was a bit of a douche. Clinging to the race card at every available opportunity to bemoan how his life has turned out by being subjected to Hollywood racism. He should have just accepted responsibility for his own actions behind the scenes.

I'm surprised he didn't moan about his experiences on the show and that he actually came across as somewhat decent.

A question though, why do fat, unsuccesful men always have to have long hair?

 

[jgdst]

^ That's Beltran and Wang that you've laid the smackdown on now... I'm getting the impression you might not like Voyager actors in general

 

[voyagerfan]

Way cool, I just meet football people on my travels

 

[Good Will Riker]

Harry Kim was okay, but Wang was a bit of a douche. Clinging to the race card at every available opportunity to bemoan how his life has turned out by being subjected to Hollywood racism. He should have just accepted responsibility for his own actions behind the scenes.

I'm surprised he didn't moan about his experiences on the show and that he actually came across as somewhat decent.

A question though, why do fat, unsuccesful men always have to have long hair?

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.

 

[propita]

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.

I thought that, like other characters, Harry was underused. Even if he wasn't going to star in the show, Rom on DS9 (also a minor character) got way more lines--which is one thing I really liked about DS9: enough background on even the minor characters, showing that it was possible.

Anyway, back on topic.

I've been curious about that money thing: Do the actors from Trek get a lot in residuals? What is "a lot"? Obviously, some of the cast continue to work an various series (Picardo, Ryan) or direct (McNeil, Dawson)--do they "need to" financially or just "want to" because they enjoy it?

 

[Gil T.Azell]

He'd never fit that uniform to day, looks like he put on 50lbs or more.

 

[freak]

WOW! Thanks for sharing that and the picture. He's so buff..DANG! I'd feel like a cow compared to him! He must work out alot! I would give ANYTHING to meet a fellow Voyager actor and would absolutely either A) faint or B) make a fool of myself and blush like a teenager(if it was Beltran, Wang, or McNeil). I'd if it was Beltran though. :P

He looks buff? What picture are YOU looking at? Lol

LOL! Well he does to me anyway. maybe a little heavier than when Voyager started..but big deal..we all put on weight at some point!

 

[freak]

Harry Kim was okay, but Wang was a bit of a douche. Clinging to the race card at every available opportunity to bemoan how his life has turned out by being subjected to Hollywood racism. He should have just accepted responsibility for his own actions behind the scenes.

I'm surprised he didn't moan about his experiences on the show and that he actually came across as somewhat decent.

A question though, why do fat, unsuccesful men always have to have long hair?

No offense, but what is it with you dissing the Voyager men?! What do you have against them in general? Are you jealous of their accomplishments? They're not THAT fat..good lord..you act like they've put on 100 lbs or something! We ALL put on weight when we get older..geessh!

 

[Boy Wonder]

Harry Kim was okay, but Wang was a bit of a douche. Clinging to the race card at every available opportunity to bemoan how his life has turned out by being subjected to Hollywood racism. He should have just accepted responsibility for his own actions behind the scenes.

I'm surprised he didn't moan about his experiences on the show and that he actually came across as somewhat decent.

A question though, why do fat, unsuccesful men always have to have long hair?

No offense, but what is it with you dissing the Voyager men?! What do you have against them in general? Are you jealous of their accomplishments? They're not THAT fat..good lord..you act like they've put on 100 lbs or something! We ALL put on weight when we get older..geessh!

I have dissed two of them because they are arrogant jerks that think things should be handed to them on a platter. I have not said anything bad about Phillips, Picardo, Russ or McNeill as an actor.

I guess you view accomplishments different to what I do. Playing a token character due to your ethnicity is not an accomplishment.

Harry Kim was okay, but Wang was a bit of a douche. Clinging to the race card at every available opportunity to bemoan how his life has turned out by being subjected to Hollywood racism. He should have just accepted responsibility for his own actions behind the scenes.

I'm surprised he didn't moan about his experiences on the show and that he actually came across as somewhat decent.

A question though, why do fat, unsuccesful men always have to have long hair?

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.

Agree, I just wish he knew that. No doubt his ethnicity plays some part, but when you are not willing to put the hard yards in or be dilligent at your job you have no one to blame bar yourself.

 

[Triskelion]

At least his role was as an equal. Foreigners playing in roles in other countries usually have the other burden of playing a negatively-portrayed outside threat or other less-dignified character.

I always liked Garrett and wish him success. I also think it's cool he and Russ and others participate in Star Trek Phase II.

 

[spoonunseptium]

Three of my friends had lunch with Beltran, and they said he was pretty nice.


I think it's cool in general to meet actors, especially being normal. Heck, I get excited when I meet the stage actors at my highschool. There's just something about someone who's able to get on stage or film and act out a part- especially to someone like who has stage fright.