NORA FROM QUEENS - CATCHING UP WITH BD WONG
/Awkwafina and her dysfunctional family and friends are back for another season of, Nora From Queens.
Creator and writer Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) stars in the hit comedy series inspired by her real-life story of growing up in Queens, NY. Raised by her dad, Wally (BD Wong) and Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) alongside her cousin Edmund (Bowen Yang), Nora Lin leans on her family as she navigates life and young adulthood in outer borough-NYC.
Continuing on the unique, offbeat humor that has defined Nora From Queens, Season 3 pulls out all the stops, with Nora searching for meaning everywhere -- from working at her neighborhood bodega to appearing in a reality competition show to... Iceland?! This season explores themes of identity and success, all while keeping up with the family we've grown to love: Grandma is anxious about getting older, Edmund has a taste of stardom as an actor, and Wally contemplates some big life changes.
This season will feature Jennifer Esposito as a recurring guest and additional guest performances from Michael Bolton, Ronny Chieng, Janeane Garofalo, Gina Gershon, Ken Jeong, Frankie Muniz, and more. Plus, Awkwafina will make her directorial debut in the new season.
Along with directing an episode in season 2, BD Wong appears as Nora's chill Dad, Wally. He recently completed shooting the new HBO Max series, The Girl on the Bus and will be seen in the upcoming Netflix film, Heart of Stone. BD’s films include Bird Box, Mulan (1 & 2), Father of the Bride (1 & 2), and four films in the Jurassic Park franchise, just to name a few.
He appeared as FBI Forensic Psychiatrist George Huang for 11 seasons on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, prison, “Whiterose” in Mr. Robot for which he received Emmy and Critic’s Choice nominations, He received the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, Clarence Derwent, and Tony Awards for his Broadway debut in M. Butterfly—an achievement not yet duplicated by another actor for the same role.
BD is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Following Foo: (the electronic adventures of the Chestnut Man).
Awkwafina is Nora From Queens New Season Premieres Wednesday, April 26th at 10:30PM ET/PT on Comedy Central
I spoke with the multi talented BD Wong about working on Nora From Queens, doing comedy for a change, Asian representation in TV and film and looking back on his ground breaking role in the series, Mr Robot.