M A R T I A L L A W Historic Asian American Milestone featuring sammo hung & kelly hu
We wanted to take the time to remember the show - "Martial
Law." This CBS show was seen on Saturday nights, in syndication at the
present time, and accomplished many noteworthy achievements. Even though
it wasn't the best acted, well-written and/or had the optimum production
values - it did achieved a great deal that should be appreciated and remembered.
DID
YOU KNOW THAT IN 1999:
FACT
#1: RENEWED FOR A 2ND SEASON
First
Asian / Asian Pacific American show to be renewed for a SECOND SEASON!
There have been other shows by Pat Morita (Mr. O'Hara, Russell Wong (Vanishing
Son) and Margaret Cho (All American Girl) - but they didn't make it past
the first season on network t.v.!
FACT
#2: CHINESE LEAD CHARACTER
Sammo
Hung is the first Chinese/Chinese American lead character in a network
television show.Russell Wong was the lead character in "Vanishing Son,"
but that was a syndicated show that didn't reach the network television
level. (note from the editor: it should have)
FACT #3: FEMALE FEATURED CHARACTERS
Kelly Hu was one of the few featured Asian Pacific American females
on television. In the 2000-2001 season, only Ming-Na in a supporting
role on ER can be found in a prominent character.
FACT
#4: HIGH TV RATINGS
is, and was, the show that attained the highest ratings (avg. 15) for
a show that featured an Asian / Asian Pacific American cast and lead character(s).
FACT #5: Rated the 2nd Best New Cop Show on TV!
The
Mining Company rated "Martial Law" as the 2nd Best New Cop Show on
Television (behind "Brimstone")
SAMMO
HUNG:
Visit
Sammo's Official Website
that provides background information on films that he
has either produced, directed and/or acted in. The site provides an extensive
filmography on Sammo,
gross income from his various films, a biography, related links, the latest
news (sort of up to date!?!), additional pictures and some other interesting
tidbits that teases the spirit.
Find
out about this hard-working
actor who had appeared in MANY MANY films in the Chinese market, worked
with Bruce Lee on various projects,
directed a number of Hong Kong films, produced other successful films
catering to the Chinese martial artsmarkets, while parlaying his success
to "Martial Law" - the high-rated television show in the very competitive
American marketplace. His past working relationships with people such
as Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong provided him the groundwork and opportunities
in the US. In light of Jackie and Stanley's hard-earned success in the
US market in films such as Rush
Hour, Rumble
in the Bronx, Jet Li's Romeo
Must Die and Jackie's Shanghai
Noon have shown that shows like "Martial Law can be a great success!"
KELLY HU:
Check out some
articles commenting on her fast rise to stardom, or about her
soap opera experiences. For specific information on her
Chinese, Hawaiian, and English ancestry background, find out about
her past here.
Discover how her
career was started when she won a contest from her native state of
Hawaii that gave her $75,000, that she used her earnings to live in California,
how she eventually started working in a popular soap opera, to the Don
Johnson's show "Nash Bridges" and ending up as one of the stars of Martial
Law.
HER
ACTING CAREER: Her first acting role was in the television
series Growing Pains. Her television credits include Nash Bridges, guest-starring
roles in Tour of Duty, Melrose Place, Murder One, Martial Law and nearly
20 other series. Her theatrical motion picture credits include The Doors,
Surf Ninjas, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man and No Way Back. See
below for additional info.
If you want more information, check out a brief review at the OREGON LIVE on the show or the possible movie based on the
show that was quoted in the NEW
YORK POST.
For something funny, check out the humor listed HERE. It's funny!
But,
alas, Martial Law got CANCELLED in May 2000 - as stated by E
Online News!
First
Major Break
Kelly Hu landed a guest-starring
role opposite Kirk Cameron on the hit '80s TV show Growing Pains.
Her
Big Break
Although Kelly Hu has
appeared in tons of movie and TV roles, The Scorpion King marks the first
time she's starred as Cassandra (the leading lady opposite “The Rock”) in
a major Hollywood hit movie which the prequel to “The Mummy” and “The Mummy
Returns.”
Latest
Information
In 2003, she can be seen in Cradle
2: The Grave with Jet Li, DMX and others – along with X-Men 2, where
she will star as Yuriko Oyama (aka Lady Deathstryke), opposite Hugh Jackman
and Halle Berry.
Did
You Know
In
1985, she was the first Asian American female to win the title of Miss
Teen USA.
In
1993, she was crowned Miss Hawaii USA, going on to become a finalist
in the Miss USA Pageant.
Her exposure in contests led to modeling assignments, working both in
the U.S. and internationally on accounts such as Ivory Soap and Mary
Kay Cosmetics.
In Italy, Kelly has become a celebrity as the Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Girl, doing eleven commercials over a six-year span.
First
Asian American actress to get on the cover of Maxim magazine in
the US.
Black
belt in Karate
With
her boyfriend, opened a fast food restaurant in Beverly Hills
called Basic Bites.
Guest
star on the popular nighttime soap, Melrose Place.