Red carpet glamour, inspiring speeches and a shirtless, hip-hop dancing Bobby Lee? 

Now, that’s an awards show.

 

The 2008 JCPenny Asian Excellence Awards, taped live on May 23 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, brought together the most sought-after Asian celebrities, from k-pop superstar Se7en to funnyman Russell Peters to Olympic figure skating icon Kristi Yamaguchi. Hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba (“Dancing with the Stars”) and Bobby Lee (“MADtv”), who faced off with dance crews Kaba Modern and JabbaWockeeZ, the star-studded event lauded the achievements of Asian Americans in the arts and entertainment industry. 

Quentin Tarantino, who presented the cheeky Half Asian Award to SNL alum Rob Schneider, noted the strides Asians have made at the box office.

 

“I remember when Miramax and I released ‘Iron Monkey’ on over 1,000 screens and at the time it was a record opening weekend for a subtitled film,” Tarantino remarked. “Now that record has been left in the dust.” 

 

The show aired on E! on May 1.

 

 

Outstanding Film: “Lust, Caution,” directed by Ang Lee  

Outstanding Film Actor: Tony Leung, “Lust, Caution”

Outstanding Film Actress: Sharon Leal, “This Christmas”  

Outstanding Television Actor: B.D. Wong, “Law & Order SVU”

Outstanding Television Actress: Lindsay Price, “Lipstick Jungle” 

Supporting Television Actress: Sonja Sohn, “The Wire” 

Supporting Television Actor: Rex Lee, “Entourage”  

Favorite TV Personality: Cheryl Burke, “Dancing with the Stars”

Favorite Reality Star:  JabbaWockeeZ, “America’s Best Dance Crew”