Line #13 Series/AllAmericanGirl1994


1	[[quoteright:269:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/all_american_girl.jpg]]
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3	''All-American Girl'' was an Creator/{{ABC}} sitcom starring Creator/MargaretCho that aired for only one season in 1994-95. It is notable for being the first American network sitcom to feature an Asian-American family. It featured Margaret Cho (playing Margaret Kim) as a young college student living at home with her Korean family: her father (Creator/ClydeKusatsu), mother (Creator/JodiLong), two brothers (Creator/BDWong and Creator/JBQuon), and grandmother (Creator/AmyHill).
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5	The sitcom pretty much hit on [[ClicheStorm every overused sitcom trope there was]], with a dash of commonly known Asian stereotypes. The show was not well received throughout its run critically or ratings-wise; the only positive reviews were of Cho's acting and charisma and her relationship with her grandmother. Towards the end of the first season, the producers attempted a {{retool}} to turn the show into more of an ensemble show with Cho moving into an apartment with three male roommates (one of whom being played by Creator/DiedrichBader) titled ''Young Americans'', but ABC lost faith in the series and it was then canceled.
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7	The show's promotion and production was not a great experience for Cho, as she had to radically tone down her edgy comedy act and open pansexuality as part of headlining a mainstream sitcom. She also had no creative control over the series, in stark contrast to other female comics to headline ABC shows like Creator/BrettButler, Creator/EllenDeGeneres, and Creator/RoseanneBarr. Lastly, she was "encouraged" to go on a crash diet, which caused her to lose 30 pounds in three weeks which led to kidney failure and years-long health issues. The cancellation of the show caused her to go into a depression, compounded by drugs and alcohol. Fortunately, she got sober and would eventually have a CareerResurrection.
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9	Despite the initial reception of the show, the attempt to even ''have'' a show that primarily focused on an Asian-American family is still respected. And then after 20 years, ABC would try again with ''Series/FreshOffTheBoat'', to considerably more success. Cho acted as an informal consultant during the show's early development; the first season of the show, set in early 1995, pays homage in one episode when the characters are watching ''All-American Girl''.
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11	Also notable for having a ton of RetroactiveRecognition: the show featured Creator/MingNaWen, Creator/DanielDaeKim, Creator/AshleyJohnson, Creator/JackBlack, Creator/MariskaHargitay, and ''[[Creator/QuentinTarantino Quentin' freaking Tarantino]]'' (whom she was dating at the time) in one-time bit part appearances, with ''Creator/OprahWinfrey'' guest starring in one episode.
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13	[[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not related]] to the Creator/MegCabot novel ''Literature/AllAmericanGirlMegCabot'' or Creator/TheCW series ''Series/AllAmerican''.
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15	* AdaptationalSexuality: Margaret in real life is openly pansexual, has been a FagHag since she was a teenager, and queer culture is a huge part of her standup. You wouldn't learn any of this from watching the show. Even though it's loosely based on Cho's actual life and is set in San Francisco of all places, TV!Margaret and her friends are all 100% straight and the show makes no references to the LGBTQ+ community.
16	* PublicExposure: One episode involves a {{sculptor\|s}} offering to create a nude [[{{Sculptures}} statue]] of Margaret. [[SelfDeprecation Aware of her less-than-flattering figure]], Margaret even tells him to "forget accurate — make me ''hot''!"
17	* SpitTake: On an episode, Margaret hears a piece of shocking news, but, being sans anything to spit, calmly walks from the living room into the kitchen, fills a glass of water, walks back to the living room, takes a sip, and determinately spits it out again.
18	* TalkShowAppearance: One episode has Margaret and her family being audience members of ''Series/TheOprahWinfreyShow''.

Context Series / AllAmericanGirl1994