Comedy writer Hsiao delivers in high-speed Q&A

Ten minutes isn’t a long period of time, but 10 minutes proved enough for Teresa Hsiao ‘03 to express her love of writing, her thoughts on comedy, the value she places on diversity in storytelling, and the gratitude she feels for her Thayer experience. 

A television and film writer and producer, Hsiao served as the inaugural interviewee for “10 Minutes With … ,” a new feature that will take place periodically during Upper School assemblies this year. Sitting across from Head of School Chris Fortunato P ‘26, ‘28 on the stage of the CFA’s Hale Theater, Hsiao good-naturedly answered a series of questions from Fortunato as the clock ticked away. The interview wrapped up just seconds before the allotted 10 minutes expired. 

Hsiao proved generous with her time and her thoughtful comments and advice for today’s students. 

“I almost failed pottery at one point,” Hsiao told the crowd before explaining how much she appreciates Thayer’s ethos of trying new things, even things one isn’t necessarily good at, in a supportive environment. 

While Hsiao may not have a pottery career in her future, the Harvard graduate has found her wheelhouse in writing — specifically, comedy writing. She has written for such television shows as Family Guy, American Dad, and Fresh Off the Boat. She is co-creator, writer, and executive producer of Awkwafina is Nora From Queens. She also co-wrote the 2023 major motion picture comedy Joy Ride. 

“As a writer, you don’t necessarily have to be funny outwardly,” said Hsiao in response to Fortunato’s question about where her comedy comes from. “But you can be funny on paper.” 

Of course, Hsiao was also funny in person, opining that her some of her comedic sense derived from Thayer math classes. 

“It was actually Mr. Cedrone,” she said. “His dry sense of humor really rubbed off on me.” 

Hsiao noted that she’s associated with comedies that push the envelope in terms of humor and acknowledged that her comedy Joy Ride is R-rated and not intended for a high school audience. But she’s one of the many new voices to find success in Hollywood in recent years, and she applauds the increasing diversity in television and film.

“I think the nicest thing that I’ve seen is just the diversity of faces,” said Hsiao, “so you get to see so many more stories that you didn’t get to see before.”

And, Hsiao told the audience, she always wants her comedy to “swing up” and never “swing down,” as might have been the case with American comedy in decades past. 

“I want to be part of the group where those who used to be the butt of the joke are now telling the joke,” said Hsiao, who also listed comedian Margaret Cho as one of her comedy heroes. 

Hsiao, who currently lives in Los Angeles and New York, currently serves as a member of the Thayer Academy Board of Trustees.