Season 4, Ep. 8: Terminal USA

Saturday School Podcast

In this week's episode of Saturday School, we're going back to 1993 to revisit Jon Moritsugu's Terminal USA, his over-the-top, grotesque, drug-filled take on a Japanese American sitcom family. Moritsugu plays dual roles: twins Katsumi, a punk drug dealer, and Marvin, the repressed model minority. Their sister Holly is not as pure as the all-American cheerleader vibe she gives off, the father has some issues with murderous rage, and the mother makes a barter to have sex with the pizza boy, under the condition that he gives her extra cheese bread. Plus, they're waiting for grandpa, who is bed-ridden, to finally kick the bucket so they get a hefty pay-out.

The hour-long film was commissioned by ITVS looking for unique stories about the American family. However, once it was finished, many PBS stations across the US refused to play it. Understandably! Though what's funnier to us, 25 years later, is that many PBS stations DID play it. Moritsugu often makes films that aren't about Asian Americans, so it's a delight to see what he accomplishes once he turned his focus on Asian American stereotypes and identity.