Teri Hatcher insults Filipinos
In the Premiere of Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher made a remark about Filipinos - doctors/nurses. She was talking to her doctor and then she said:
“Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Coz I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines.”
Here are the dialogs from On my way home:
MD: Well, everything seems normal. But, you say you’ve been having irregular periods?
Susan: Yeah, you know, one month off, two months on. That happens, right?
MD: Have you ever experienced night sweats? …. (few other lines here)
MD: How about hot flashes?
Susan: OK, whoa. I’m gonna stop you right there. I’m way too young for that, please refer to your chart.
MD: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire…
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines…
To think that there are a lot of Pinoys abroad as doctors and nurses.
Maybe this was brought about by the Nursing scandal. Hmm.. what can our new nurses say about this.
Update: 10/03/07
Update: 10/04/07
[...] to migs for the excerpt. I am sure this episode of Desperate Housewives was alluding to the Nursing Boards [...]
foul!
that’s bad…. they insult the fil am nurses and doctors beside of themm they insult us… i thought the scriptwriterare professional… why do they do that…
That’s just rude…and also so ignorant of those writers to put that line in! It would insult anyone of any nationality.
Maybe her being molested when she was young had a bad effect on her brains. So we’ll just excuse her lame comments
Blatantly irresponsible and foul! I wonder why we watch this kind of TV dumb mouths?
If she thinks we’re going to buy the “I’m too young” boloney (whether on tv or in real life) she really is desperate. As for the derogatory remark, that’s totally irresponsible and inflamatory. It’s just another example of how little television writers and execs. realize their shows can be guilty of perpetuating negative stereotypes. They consistently ignore their ability to alter negative views of people of different cultures.
Sorry guys, I don’t think anyone in the US knows {or at least the writers for Desperate Housewives} about the Nursing Scandal. It is just another aspect of the crappy perception of the Philippines or any Asian country in the US. Never mind, make that any country other than the US or Europe. The writers could have written, Cuba, Mexico, India, China, and it would have meant the same thing to an xenophobic American audience.
Outside of the US medical community and the Fil-Am community, I do not think the Nursing Scandal was big news.
Teri Hatcher DID NOT insult any one! Anyone who is intelligent enough will realize that she is playing a character! Blame the writers of the show, not Teri! Geesh, you guys are so sensitive. Besides, there are med schools in the Philippines that are BAD - and you guys need to acknowledge this instead of attacking Teri.
I agree — let us separate Teri Hatcher from Susan Mayer. The one who made the remark about Philippine med schools is definitely not Teri Hatcher, but her character Susan Mayer. Having said that, we should realize that characters are not free from biases and prejudices — just like real people. She was just playing her usual neurotic, pathetic (and most uninteresting, compared with the others in DH) character.
As a scriptwriter, I understand that bit was put there for a reason — they were reflecting the kind of perception that some people in the US hold about Philippine medical schools, thus Susan reacting in an outburst in that situation. Should things like those not be shown in TV? How would we know that American think that way?
I am not saying that we should just keep mum about it; on the contrary, this is the perfect time to voice out our objections about that remark, and more than that, the attitudes of Americans toward our medical helpers in the US. Ultimately, the issue is not really on propagating an unpopular view of Philippine medial schools or our med people in the States as if they are incompetent and inferior to those who earned their M.D. elsewhere, but that such a notion exists in the first place. That is what we should remedy, first and foremost by looking introspectively and asking if there is any truth in it.
and btw, why are we so furious about this? because we can’t take racism from them?
but that is exactly what we do in our local shows — we are all familiar with the Intsik-beho with the broken Tagalog, the Aetas and dark-skinned people the object of derision and laughter, portraying “ugly” and “stupid” people as comic relief.
is racism different when it comes from another nationality? before we react to the content of their TV shows, maybe we should look into our own too.
That’s just wrong!
Still, the whole staff (or the scriptwriter or teri hatcher or ABC TV) isn’t off the hook. They were careless enough to air an obviously derogatory remark. A remark that was alluding to “The Philippines” (even if the useless “some” qualifier was added to “soften” generalization)and did not name names. And just because some pinoys do use this same line of slur for their own gags here, that does not give ABC or teri hatcher to be that judgmental.
TECHNICAL FOUL!
hope teri hatcher wud not be hospitalized, none of the filipino nurses and doctors will take care of that bit&*!
hey, good post migs. glad to have read about this on your site, it’s a real shame.
i write about asian american issues and news on my site, http://www.theasianamericanmale.wordpress.com, so check it out if you’re interested. (the one listed above is my personal.) thanks, and keep up the good work.
[...] to Migs for posting about this [...]
“Teri Hatcher DID NOT insult any one! Anyone who is intelligent enough will realize that she is playing a character! Blame the writers of the show, not Teri! Geesh, you guys are so sensitive. Besides, there are med schools in the Philippines that are BAD - and you guys need to acknowledge this instead of attacking Teri.
Comment by angela | October 3, 2007″
I don’t think Teri Hatcher intentionally insulted the Filipinos. I mean she’s just playing a role. But, any actor with brain should have still questioned the script. As for the other comment regarding the BAD med schools in the Philippines, yes there bad med schools here but i’m pretty sue that kind of institutions can be seen every country. So why just mention the Philippines? The writer could have just written “I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med schools…”…
[...] responds to Desperate housewives issue The furor over a slur uttered against Philippine medical schools on the premier episode of the fourth season of the A…” has prompted a response from Malacañang [...]
I wondered why some filipinos are so insensitive, the filipino scriptwriter a racist. why did a fellow filipno write something derogatory about his own nation? I just dont get it.
The filipino script writer is an american citizen, he doesnt need to be called a filipino. He is a disgrace. Maybe thats the reason why he has no scripting jobs here in the philippines.
nakakaawa lang kasi di alam ng iba na pinoy din yung writer ng DH. eH dami nila sinsabi na bulow writer, eh di nila alam pinoy din yun.
It’s not from Teri Hatcher herself, Blame the writers for that.
Yeah. Blame the pinoy writer. i-deport!!!
yeah, right. if u ask hatcher to eat her own shit, she wont waste one second doing it. what a microscopic-brained, white-whore.
but what the heck, for as long as the doctor’s money keeps pouring in, they all can say all the crap they want to.
E-mails are going around and blog entries have been posted in reaction to a “racial slur” in an episode of Desperate Housewives. The offensive line is quoted this way: that she (Teri Hatcher’s character) hopes “he’s not a graduate of some Philippine Med School”.
I don’t watch Desperate Housewives so I didn’t know how to react. Then, someone very kindly provided a link to a video clip.
I watched and listened six times and what Teri Hatcher said was: “… before we go any further, can I check those diplomas because I just wanna make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”
The doctor in the episode is Caucasian and it is his diplomas that Teri Hatcher’s character wanted to see as she did, in fact, walk over to the framed documents on the wall. I mean, if anyone’s going to start reacting, better check the facts first. Just note the quotes above — I’ve underscored them. The quote going around in e-mails and some blog entries is NOT accurate.
Is it a racial slur? It may be a jab at Philippine medical schools, not Filipinos in general. Heck, not even Filipino doctors. And some people are already making it out as an insult against Filipino health workers IN GENERAL. My goodness gracious me…
To be quite honest, I take potshots at the Philippine educational system often because I am aware of how wanting it is so I don’t think that negative remarks about our schools are totally off. We have diploma mills left and right, over and under, and we want to pretend that all these schools are churning out qualified professionals? Gee, for all I know, that Desperate Housewives line might even be a reaction to the nursing exams fiasco last year. In that context, I can’t say it’s uncalled for.
It hurts to hear it, yes. It hurts even more when it becomes the butt of jokes. But the sorry state of education in the Philippines is true. And real.
UPDATE on October 3, 2007 @ 8.22 a.m.
You may also want to check out an earlier column, Nursing education and licensure exams
From http://www.sassylawyer.com/2007/10/02/desperate-housewives-on-philippine-med-schools/
You desperate people behind the show are so PATHETIC!!!
Ignorance is not an excuse to insult a beautiful country with beautiful people like the Philippines.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!!!!
Whatever that was said on that show…it will somehow affect the credibility of Filipinos.
Let’s not be so paranoid and insecure about this and go overboard. Sheesh. You’re just jacking up the DH show’s ratings and interest in the show, which is what any network wants. It’s not as if some silly comment on a silly tv show has any true bearing to those Filipino doctors who are brilliant in their practice.
I have a video response on this issue at http://ejpadero.com/
Thanks.
Perhaps the “Desperate Housewives” were so “desperate” of popularity that they use foul dialogue!
[...] Desperate Housewives apologizes The producers of the hit TV series “Desperate Housewives” on Thursday issued an apology for an insulting line that belittled the practitioners of the medical profession in the Philippines. [...]
well, i guess i can not fully blame terry hatcher about this. whoever wrote the script, that person should be blame for it!
We can’t really blame the script writer of the show. Somehow, Susan’s statement(Teri hatcher’s character) was true. I think she’s referring to a certain place in the Philippines where fake documents can be reproduce. So, no need to over react about it because it’s just the whole truth! Also, one great example was the nurse licensure exam last june 2006, to think that it was a national qualifying exam and the Philippines credibility was at stake. Remember, it has been in the news worldwide. Therefore, no need to overly react on this! Just accept the fact, that after that all those world breaking news that the Philippines has been making, the
Philippine’s reputation will never be the same again.
That is messed up.
BOYCOTT Desperate Housewives!
Just wondering why the Filipino community is not doing anything about this or perhaps why this issue has not sparked a national debate on racism? This is just wrong… very very worng
I found an interesting perspective on the subject from another Filipino blog here:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-was-going-to-conclude-ten-letters.html
Some food for thought to digest, certainly.
I’m a fan of their series but I was so hurt to know that they belittle us Filipinos. I’m proud to be a FILIPINO NURSE! Mabuhay tayong mga PILIPINO!
Terry hatcher is as stupid as the scriptwriter and the producer of the show. If she knows what ethical means, she wouldn’t have delivered the line. It is clear bigotry and Terry Hatcher’s stupidity in its highest degree.
A quote from an Inquirer article by Rina Jimenez-David
“In the course of three (?) seasons, “DH” has poked fun at Latinos (larcenous, randy and hypocritically Catholic), African-Americans (criminal-minded), and Chinese (ignorant but grasping). But even as it offended ethnic groups with racial stereotypes, it also didn’t pull any punches with their white characters, who are variously obsessive-compulsive, sexually predatory, murderous or just stupid. As one online commentator said, the producers of “DH” must be tickled pink by all the (warranted, provoked) attention. And just when interest in the show was waning!”
Well. Some people are just… weird, I guess.
This type of derogatory remark is not
only unnecessary and hurtful,
but is also unfounded, considering the
presence of Filipinos and
Filipino Americans in the health care
industry. Filipinos are the
second largest immigrant population in
the United States, with many
entering the U.S. and passing their U.S.
licensing boards as doctors,
nurses, and medical technicians. In
fact, the Philippines produces
more U.S. nurses than any other country
in the world. So, to belittle
the education, experience, or value of
Filipino Americans in health
care is disrespectful and plain and
simply ignorant.
To hell with Teri Hatcher and the creators of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES! They are all indeed DESPERATE in its HIGHEST DEGREE!!!
Whatever has been done cannot be erased from the minds of other people worldwide one example was the world breaking news on that nurse national licensure exam last june 2006, we must accept the fact, the Philippine’s reputation will never be the same again.
Yes, I think I have to agree with what this guy says on his blog:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/final-word-in-desperation.html
———————————————
I will end my commentary on the whole issue by simply asking why we think it is perfectly alright for us to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QusLouQhEfo
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDQJGIFzV1Q&mode=related&search=
and even for one of our most respected politicans to say this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBEuhLlNYTY
but when anyone dares to poke fun at a segment of our population like
this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYB4H0Po0A0
everyone immediately cries racism and discrimination?
terri hatcher has the freedom to eradicate some lines that seems inappropriate for her. Accoding to the pep and some directors it is all up to the actress if she wants to deliver the lines orr not….
hatcher = slut pathetic bitch argh…..putang ina mo!!!!!
nobody should not insult any race: print ad,tv etc….
nobody should insult any race: print ad, tv etc…
Honestly, I don’t watch Desperate Housewives because I don’t have time. I’ve read all the comments in this site and from the others also. Some people are thinking that Filipinos are overreacting about the issue, and the sad thing is, they are also Filipinos. They are even saying this:
“With what we are doing, we are only showing the whole world who we really are…”
Look guys, I know you’re just trying to be “fair”- if that’s the right word, we surely not want other nationalities to think that “we love our own” also… I understand this. But don’t you think we should be one in facing this insult? How many times did they do this already? Remember Mr. Art Bell? The American writer who ones told us that:
“You are JUST Filipinos!- you are nothing!- Don’t associate yourselves to the Chinese, Japanese, and the Koreans… because you are JUST Filipinos!”
Let’s not give these people a chance to laugh at us (again) because we ourselves are not united. I was really hurt with that line from the Desperate Housewives and I keep on defending my being as a Filipino to my Korean students. But I still don’t feel satisfied. It’s so sad to say that some of my co-teachers in the Korean School here in the Philippines are also hearing insults from our Korean students and they can’t defend themselves because it is not permitted (because they’re customers- and they’re the ones paying). Can you imagine that? they are insulting us in our own country… and I just can’t swallow that… even if it’s not permitted, I still do fight with the people who try to insult my being us a Filipino… Maybe outside the Philippines they can do that, but as long as they’re here… to hell with them…
hi teri…
yuor such a hore…..you insulted our country ..you dont have right to do that…..go here in the philippines….i hope that you have background in medical courses if you dont have
..ewwwwwwwwww your so ignorant..and the writters ..watch out ….remember the golden rule…..
Why would get offended? As an American I feel I have the right to pick and chose a doctor.I myself would not want a doctor or nurse from the Philippines…SOrry.You are not American.Stop pretending to be some educated Caucasians…because all you are is a bunch of ugly monkeys who are trying to master the english language to use it as a portal to escape you beloved crappy island country.
choose…excuse my typos.I don’t want you little monkeys jumping on my grammar as if you own the queen’s english.
Everyone in America has been insulted in some way by American humor- black people, white people, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, Jews, Muslims… every small minority in America. This is America, and we have the freedom of speech. This includes censorship as well. If we were to censor all dialogue that may offend any ethnic group in America, then we have compromised the bases of our values. When I saw “the part” within the context of the show, I thought it was funny.
it’s not funny…it’s insulting!
[...] to think we were super insulted by what Terri Hathcer did when she insulted pinoy doctors and nurses in her infamous line: “Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Coz I would [...]
OK.. let’s think about this for a second.
Terri Hatcher didn’t make the remarks, her character did.
And it was scripted by a slew of liberal writers, in a US city where it’s not politically correct to use the word Mexican anymore.
So here it is re-written: (politically INcorrect)
MD: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire…
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re
not from some Mexican med school…
For a television program produced in Los Angeles, CA
a city with 1,091,686 Mexican populace (and who can count illeagals who simply want a better life for their families too) can you just imagine the firestorm THAT would cause?
The Philippines is the 2nd largest exporter of medical professionals to the USA (India is 1st). If there was a poor track record of Filipino mishaps, that profession would clamp down, stop recruiting in the Phils and would go elsewhere.
It’s a matter of simple economics in business.
Just a thought.
-pinoyHP