Fresh Off the Boat is back, only it’s on a new night now. Hopefully you tuned into the season premiere on Friday night, which saw Jessica’s book left in the dust by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Honey had her baby.
Over the summer, the Huang kids, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, and Ian Chen, attended the Television Critics Association press tour and Showbiz Junkies got a moment with them one on three. Fresh off the Boat season five is airing Friday nights at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.
What funny stuff is coming up this season?
Hudson Yang: “I know one thing. Eddie is getting close to the age where he can drive, as am I and I am very excited for that. I myself am getting ready to start learning and getting ready to get my permit so that’s one thing.”
Forrest Wheeler: “Evan and I will become more autonomous. We’re still codependent but we’re figuring ourselves out.”
Ian Chen: “I think Evan remains the naughty boy. His dad, Louis, is trying fit himself into Evan’s time. He’s trying to get close to Evan, getting to know him.”
Hudson Yang: “As any father would. Also, we’re losing one of our cast members, Luna [Blaise]. In the show she’s moving to New York. I’m really proud of her though. She has gotten her own show, so that’s amazing.”
It should be around 1998. That was before your time, but are there any fun 1998 milestones you enjoyed?
Hudson Yang: “There are parts in the show where they kind of kick stuff out. I don’t think any of us really get it because we were never really around. Even just filming with that time in mind, there are so many things we don’t know. I never knew what a Walkman was, so when I first heard of it, I was like, ‘Just like a movie player or something.'”
I loved the joke where you said, “Well, well, well, look who needs their little brother now” and then show up on the bus and say it again. How far apart did you shoot those scenes?
Hudson Yang: “They’re never really that close together. We always film things kind of out of order, but those two things were pretty close. I think it was a different day because we were on location.”
Ian Chen: “Yeah, but it was either the day before or the day after. They were really close too. I remembered how I did that line, so I tried to do the line the same way.”
It was exactly the same. You nailed it.
Ian Chen: “Thank you.”
Is it even harder to live with Jessica now that she’s a published author?
Hudson Yang: “I think it becomes hard because now she expects more.”
Forrest Wheeler: “She’s still our mom though. Moms will do anything for their children. She still loves us.”
Hudson Yang: “Unless there’s a mess in which case we’ve got to work harder.”
Forrest Wheeler: “That’s a problem.”
Is Eddie still working off his debt at Cattleman’s Ranch?
Hudson Yang: “He finally paid off his debt. I think Louis’ restaurant is now steady. Nothing crazy, nothing down, no sad news.”
Did any of you film something during the break?
Ian Chen: “I shot a movie in Toronto called Shazam.”
Hudson Yang: “He’s a star now.”
Ian Chen: “Yeah, a DC superhero movie.”
Are your scenes with Zachary Levi or with the other kids?
Ian Chen: “We’re seen all around so yeah, look out for that.”
Forrest Wheeler: “He can neither confirm nor deny.”
What was it like doing a big movie after doing a TV show?
Ian Chen: “It’s definitely a different experience. I think movies are more hectic I would say because they’re trying to fit so much in a small period of time. With Fresh Off the Boat you get to take your time and get to know these two more. How many days do you think we’ve spent together in total?”
Hudson Yang: “Well, we’ve been growing up together for almost 400 days now. An entire year together nonstop every day for like eight hours straight. So, I feel like I know these boys as well as I know my brothers at home.”
