Awkwafina’s Weird Career Arc Has Taken Her to Comedy Central
Getty Images/ Ringer sketch
The Golden Globe-winning actress/ jester/ rapper’s new show is no’ Farewell, ’ but there are some euphoriums to watching it
Midway through the captain escapade of the brand-new Comedy Central stoner-goofball sitcom Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, our superstar and titular ace, who probably should’ve gotten a Best Actress Oscar nomination last week, experiences herself dancing awkwardly in a humiliating red dragon organization on 420 camchicks.com. It’s that kind of show. It’s fine. She is dancing with her friend Chenise( Makeda Declet ), who is dressed like a container majorette and offerings spur: “I don’t know how, but I think they’re liking it, ” she yells, checking her laptop. “Guy from Tasmania only bequeathed a bitcoin.” Ennobled, Nora gets too excited( “I’m gonna come that Bezos money! I’m gonna back up the truck! ” ), lumps into a candle whilst backing up the truck, and unknowingly lamps her dragon fanny on fire.
CHENISE[ fright ]: “Ooooh, you’re lit! ”
NORA[ forgetful ]: “I’m lit! ”
CHENISE: “No , no, you’re on fire! ”
NORA[ still oblivious ]: “I’m on fire! ”
CHENISE: “Your tail! ”
NORA[ no longer oblivious ]: “Whaaaat? ”
Fiery hilarity follows. Well, six seconds’ worth of fiery exhilaration, anyway–Comedy Central ain’t come much of a stunt plan. Still, make that be a lesson to you about the dangers of abusing rap-adjacent slang, although an unusual ingenuity with rap-adjacent slang is a huge part of the same reasons Awkwafina went this gig in the first place.
Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, which entries Wednesday night and is already renewed for Season 2, does indeed tell the quaint, semiautobiographical fib of the young woman of Chinese and Korean American descent born Nora Lum( in Queens) who firstly skyrocketed to viral renown as Awkwafina via the 2012 rap parody “My Vag.” Yes, “My vag prevailed Best Vag, ” rapped the sassy multihyphenate hypebeast who would, eight years later, prevail the 2020 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. “Your vag won Best Supporting Vag.”