Bowen Yang’s 'Saturday Night Live' rallying cry proves we don’t deserve him

The rise of hate crimes against Asian communities in the United States and Canada -- most notably the mass shooting in Atlanta that left six Asian women dead -- has been on the minds of concerned people everywhere lately, and it is no laughing matter.

On Saturday Night Live, cast member Bowen Yang took to the "Weekend Update" desk to break down the issue, all the while, making sure white supremacy was the butt of every scathing joke, not Asian Americans.

Introduced by desk anchor Colin Jost as, “Asian cast member Bowen Yang,” Bowen slid his chair next to Colin and countered, “Is that my official title, 'Asian Cast Member'?” When Colin reminded him that was the introduction he specifically asked for, Yang joked, “Yeah, I set your ass up, it feels good.”

“So things for Asians in this country have been really bleak for the past two weeks… and all the weeks before that since forever,” Bowen began. “But there's a lot of work to do and I found some posts online with action items that everyone can take to help.” 

When his memes of “Call your senators and demand that they know about the lesbian characters in Sailor Moon!” didn’t seem to land just right, Bowen reminded everyone that, just like the US government, he doesn’t negotiate with terrorists.

“What can I say to help how insanely bad things are? If someone's personality is ‘punch an Asian grandma,’ it’s not a dialogue. I have an Asian grandma, you want to punch her. There ain't no common ground, Mama.”

In the end, his overall message was for everyone to “do more,” than just order local Chinese food or tip their manicurist. “Let me know when you get on your knees and scrub her feet while she looks at your phone. Do more!”

“I’m just a comedian,” he added. “I don’t have the answers. But I’m not just looking for them online, I’m looking around me. The GoFundMe for Xiao Zhen Xie, the grandmother who fought back against her attacker, raised $900,000, which she immediately gave back to the community. That’s where we are as Asians, now come meet us there.”

Explaining that in Mandarin, a popular cheer translates to “fuel up,” Bowen concluded with, “I don’t know what’s helpful to say to everyone, but that’s what I say to myself. Fuel up. Do more. It’s the year of the metal ox, which basically means a car. So everyone, get in, buckle up, it’s no pee breaks. We ride at dawn, grandmas!!”

If that wasn’t a stirring enough call to arms, he then said as the music tried to play him off, “Save Kim’s Convenience!” OMG, he knows about our Canadian shows that have been unceremoniously cancelled! Give this man honourary Canadian citizenship!

Bowen’s amazing rallying cry featured in an episode with some phenomenal skits with former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph returning to host. She opened the show with her iconic portrayal of Vice President Kamala Harris talking about celebrating Passover with her husband Doug Emhoff.

And who walked on stage to play him – none other than Canadian comic legend and another former SNL cast member, Martin Short! Those two definitely got rather cozy for the Seder.

Maya also had a mouth-watering turn as Beyoncé, and we say “mouth-watering” because the skit had her doing an episode of Hot Ones and she just Cannot. Handle. The. Scovilles.

Probably our favourite Maya moment of the night wasn’t a skit, but the bumper photos used to herald a return from a commercial break. Her photo concept? To go as her mom, “Lovin’ You” singer Minnie Riperton, who passed away in 1979 from breast cancer. We love this. 

Even after 45 years, we have to hand it to SNL sometimes for still having its moments.

BEFORE YOU GO: Daniel Dae Kim talks taking action and bringing awareness to Anti-Asian hate crimes

[video_embed id='2156973']BEFORE YOU GO: Daniel Dae Kim talks taking action and bringing awareness to Anti-Asian hate crimes [/video_embed]