# Least likely ethnic characterization **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412 "2014-08-13T03:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/1 "2014-08-13T03:09:29Z")
I was watching the unreleased pilot episode of “That Girl” recently, and in it the Ted Bessell character was a Cherokee Indian called Donald Blue Sky. They even did a firewater joke! [Because this guy you’d totally buy as a Native American.](http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/789/ThatG219.jpg) What other characters had totally unconvincing racial/ethnic backrounds? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/2 "2014-08-13T03:17:24Z")
There was an episode of _Bosom Buddies_ (I could be wrong), in which the “girls” are at a party hosted by a lovely young Asian-American girl with a very well done but hilarious deep Southern accent. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/3 "2014-08-13T03:20:17Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > There was an episode of _Bosom Buddies_ (I could be wrong), in which the “girls” are at a party hosted by a lovely young Asian-American girl with a very well done but hilarious deep Southern accent. That was also the punchline of an entire _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_ episode. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/4 "2014-08-13T05:21:14Z")
[Jessica Alba as a blue-eyed blonde.](http://loyalkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/jess-6.jpg) It just…didn’t work on her. Like a bad Turner colorizing job. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/5 "2014-08-13T05:27:48Z")
That 70’s Show made a running joke out of the vague ethnic background of the character Fez. he is from an island…that is about as specific as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/6 "2014-08-13T05:50:26Z")
[John Wayne as Genghis Khan](https://img.4plebs.org/boards/pol/image/1392/14/1392143281107.jpg) in _The Conqueror._ 1956 version of _The Ten Commandments_ is loaded with laughable ethnic casting, but [Anne Baxter as Nefertiti](https://www.google.com/search?q=anne+baxter+nefertiti&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n_vqU6O7H5WAygTv_oEQ&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1103&bih=610#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=C5zuDkuEy6RksM%253A%3BL9IZSMBSIVPWmM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-11_0JV7jUJE%252FTgUX1hlPUSI%252FAAAAAAAABU4%252F_6QD86rlf_A%252Fs1600%252Fannebaxter.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.peplumtv.com%252F2011%252F06%252Fphoto-of-day_24.html%3B715%3B473) and [Edward G. Robinson as Dothan](https://www.google.com/search?q=edward+g+robinson+ten+commandments&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=4_vqU76INs2dyAS91IGYBg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1103&bih=610&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ZF_OYSomoyoiMM%253A%3B5bj1e1ab1qqR8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.theiapolis.com%252Fd4%252FhIJ%252Fi1RG3%252Fk4%252Fl1RW2%252FwZJ%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcinema.theiapolis.com%252Fmovie-20AU%252Fthe-ten-commandments%252Fgallery%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments-1081985.html%3B1279%3B667) are especially ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/7 "2014-08-13T06:25:51Z")
Marlon Brando as Sakini in _ **Teahouse of the August Moon** _. It was enough to make me want to commit hara-kiri: [http://zerowoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/marlon-color11.jpg](http://zerowoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/marlon-color11.jpg) Anytime some blond, blue-eyed European-type is cast to play Jesus: [![](http://wp.jeffreyhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KOK29r.jpg) ](http://wp.jeffreyhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KOK29r.jpg) Yes, that’s Captain Christopher Pike, ex-Starfleet. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/8 "2014-08-13T06:32:50Z")
Stanley Adams, aka “Cyrano Jones,” as King Kaliwani on _ **Gilligan’s Island** _: [![](http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080617080750/startrek/images/f/f4/Cyrano_Jones.jpg) ](http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080617080750/startrek/images/f/f4/Cyrano_Jones.jpg) [![](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/762/sa5.jpg) ](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/762/sa5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/9 "2014-08-13T06:36:58Z")
Frank Dekova and Don Diamond as Chief Wild Eagle and Crazy Cat on _ **F Troop** _: [![](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/755/Ftroopwildeagle_TROOP-57.jpg) ](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/755/Ftroopwildeagle_TROOP-57.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/10 "2014-08-13T07:00:04Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > There was an episode of _Bosom Buddies_ (I could be wrong), in which the “girls” are at a party hosted by a lovely young Asian-American girl with a very well done but hilarious deep Southern accent. > [@Flywheel](#): > > That was also the punchline of an entire _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_ episode. An episode of _Pushing Daisies_ also featured an Asian man with a southern accent. This is also pretty much the basis of comedian Henry Cho’s act. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Ca1ozykhJI/hqdefault.jpg "Henry Cho on Ferguson") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ca1ozykhJI) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/11 "2014-08-13T07:45:14Z")
[quote=“Accidental\_Martyr, post:10, topic:695412”] This is also pretty much the basis of comedian Henry Cho’s act. [/QUOTE] Dammit, I wanted to mention Cho in response to that conversational thread. And was going to use almost that exact phrasing. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/12 "2014-08-13T08:37:21Z")
Ricardo Montalban as Khan Noonian Singh, the only Sikh ever to speak with a Mexican accent: [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K\_CBU6yw1rk/TudowQ6KPmI/AAAAAAAAA04/yg822kyNPwA/s1600/Ricardo+Montalban.jpg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_CBU6yw1rk/TudowQ6KPmI/AAAAAAAAA04/yg822kyNPwA/s1600/Ricardo+Montalban.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/13 "2014-08-13T10:16:02Z")
Mickey Rooney in _Breakfast At Tiffany’s_. [/thread] ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/14 "2014-08-13T11:34:26Z")
Mel Brooks as an Indian chief (with a Yiddish accent) in Blazing Saddles. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/15 "2014-08-13T11:55:14Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Mickey Rooney in _Breakfast At Tiffany’s_. > > [/thread] Argh, beat me to this one! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/16 "2014-08-13T13:37:28Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > [John Wayne as Genghis Khan](https://img.4plebs.org/boards/pol/image/1392/14/1392143281107.jpg) in _The Conqueror._ > > 1956 version of _The Ten Commandments_ is loaded with laughable ethnic casting, but [Anne Baxter as Nefertiti](https://www.google.com/search?q=anne+baxter+nefertiti&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n_vqU6O7H5WAygTv_oEQ&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1103&bih=610#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=C5zuDkuEy6RksM%253A%3BL9IZSMBSIVPWmM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-11_0JV7jUJE%252FTgUX1hlPUSI%252FAAAAAAAABU4%252F_6QD86rlf_A%252Fs1600%252Fannebaxter.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.peplumtv.com%252F2011%252F06%252Fphoto-of-day_24.html%3B715%3B473) and [Edward G. Robinson as Dothan](https://www.google.com/search?q=edward+g+robinson+ten+commandments&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=4_vqU76INs2dyAS91IGYBg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1103&bih=610&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ZF_OYSomoyoiMM%253A%3B5bj1e1ab1qqR8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.theiapolis.com%252Fd4%252FhIJ%252Fi1RG3%252Fk4%252Fl1RW2%252FwZJ%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcinema.theiapolis.com%252Fmovie-20AU%252Fthe-ten-commandments%252Fgallery%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments-1081985.html%3B1279%3B667) are especially ridiculous. Actually [Ramses II had red hair](http://books.google.com.tr/books?id=xgo4MpkM8n0C&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=ramesses+ii+red+hair&source=bl&ots=HViTHqlFzk&sig=KDhaNUs4kxM6yhAN5GQC-csf5hk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=K2nrU9StO-LMsQSssICIDQ&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=ramesses%20ii%20red%20hair&f=false), which suggests that tyhe casting of Anne Baxter at least was good, and that of Ramses was off. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/17 "2014-08-13T13:51:26Z")
Kathrine Hepburn as a Chinese peasant in [Dragon Seed](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Seed_%28film%29) ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/18 "2014-08-13T15:03:32Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > 1956 version of _The Ten Commandments_ is loaded with laughable ethnic casting, but [Anne Baxter as Nefertiti](https://www.google.com/search?q=anne+baxter+nefertiti&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n_vqU6O7H5WAygTv_oEQ&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1103&bih=610#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=C5zuDkuEy6RksM%253A%3BL9IZSMBSIVPWmM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-11_0JV7jUJE%252FTgUX1hlPUSI%252FAAAAAAAABU4%252F_6QD86rlf_A%252Fs1600%252Fannebaxter.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.peplumtv.com%252F2011%252F06%252Fphoto-of-day_24.html%3B715%3B473) and [Edward G. Robinson as Dothan](https://www.google.com/search?q=edward+g+robinson+ten+commandments&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS570US570&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=4_vqU76INs2dyAS91IGYBg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1103&bih=610&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ZF_OYSomoyoiMM%253A%3B5bj1e1ab1qqR8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.theiapolis.com%252Fd4%252FhIJ%252Fi1RG3%252Fk4%252Fl1RW2%252FwZJ%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcinema.theiapolis.com%252Fmovie-20AU%252Fthe-ten-commandments%252Fgallery%252Fedward-g-robinson-as-dathan-in-the-ten-commandments-1081985.html%3B1279%3B667) are especially ridiculous. That’s what gives the movie its awesomeness! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/19 "2014-08-13T15:08:04Z")
Khigh Dhiegh as Chinese agent Wo Fat, and as Chinese brain washer Dr. Yen Lo in The Manchurian Candidate. He’s Egyptian/Sudanese, born in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412/20 "2014-08-13T15:12:03Z")
What about [Steve Park’s](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661950/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t24)Great White North accent in [Fargo?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJOwQJsFi9I) Not to mention Leo McKern’s Thuggee chief in The Beatles’ _Help!_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-likely-ethnic-characterization/695412.md?page=2)