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Margaret Cho: High Priestess of the Underrepresented
by Jody Beth Rosen

published 3/29/99

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Jody Beth Rosen is a contributor to LeisureSuit.net based in Brooklyn.



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Flip through the info-tainment magazine or semiotics book of your choice; it appears women have made it. They've made it, in that they've created air-tight communities, and festivals, and television networks "for women," and meanwhile, men have had a giggle at the touchy-feely insularity of it and then run off to the latest hockey match, or Tom Clancy book signing, or Ted Nugent concert. Equality my ass. Men can't simply be told about female genius. They've heard it all before, seen all the "women in ___" articles at their local Barnes and Noble, and frankly, Jewel is no Einstein. When true talent comes along, tits and all, men must be shown.

The evidence is a thirty-year-old Korean-American comedian named Margaret Cho, who recently spoke with me for an exclusive LeisureSuit.net interview. Cho's all things to all people: women, Asians, gays, insecure Jewish girls with big butts, Drew Carey. Back in her sitcom days, she had to be fewer things to all people (ABC made Cho lose a great deal of weight in a dangerously short time and insisted upon toning down "All-American Girl"'s ethnicity), and the show was ultimately cancelled. But Cho is still an incredible presence in the comedy world. Turn on Comedy Central. She's on. Try to get a ticket to one of her stand-up dates. It's difficult. Set up an interview with her, and her manager e-mails you names of people who can "attest to Margaret's drawing power."

Cho's current project is a live sketch-comedy show called "The People Tree." She co-wrote it with her friend Karen Kilgariff, who also appears in the play-cum-collection of vignettes. It's already had four performances ("Standing Room Only," according to a press release for "The People Tree") at LA's Improv, and will be restaged at Santa Monica's Highways club in April.

By Cho's own admission, she's sort of a Bette Midler for the '90s, hearkening back to Bette's days as a loud, brassy diva of the gay bathhouses, or as Ms. Cho says, "the raunchy bitch on the barstool."

"I have a lot of identity problems. For a really long time I thought that I was Jewish. I actually made all my friends call me Naomi. I was like--the Ori-yenta???" -- Margaret Cho, on Rosie O' Donnell's "Stand-Up Spotlight" (1992)

She grew up in San Francisco and studied drama at the city's High School of Performing Arts, where she was in awe of the "cool" kids in the music department and the "mysterious" visual arts majors. She says many afternoons were spent in front of the television, eating (the bacon & peanut butter sandwich was one of her favorites.) Nights were for "Rocky Horror" (luckily, she "knew the score" and never had to admit her Rocky virginity, as it were.)

A young worshipper of Steve Martin and Robin Williams, Cho started performing comedy routines with her friends at San Francisco's Other Cafe (an early haunt of Paula Poundstone and Bobcat Goldthwaite.) She soon ventured into open-mike territory, and frequently was seen on stage at The Rose and Thistle, a club upstairs from the Polk St. bookstore her parents owned. She says she doesn't remember her old material.

Audiences responded well to Cho's mostly-improvised rants, and fame snowballed from there (an article in "The Seattle Times" briefly notes an appearance on "Star Search.") She was the only truly noticeable, outspoken, funny, proud Asian woman making a mark on show biz, and she still is. In 1997, she had a breakthrough film role in John Woo's Face/Off.

Since then, she's had parts in a number of independent films (a visit to the Internet Movie Database brings up the little-discussed McClintock's Peach and Can't Stop Dancing.) She made her last high-profile television appearance when Drew Carey was roasted by the Friar's Club (Cho is a Friar, but feels the powers that be are only using her name to bring youth to the organization of aged comedians. She was publicly insulted, not in the warm, brotherly spirit of the Friar's Roast, by one bitter jokester.)

"As you know by now, I'm Korean . . . I don't have a store or anything (well, not anymore) . . . I have very typically Korean features--I look like one of those girls that you would see in a Korean grocery store, on a calendar, holding a box of soy milk . . . 'Dreenk Vitasoy. Eees good for you!'"--from "HBO Comedy Half Hour: Margaret Cho" (1994)

Since hers became a name heard in dorm lounges and trendy bars (i.e., maybe not quite household yet), she says there has been a desire to control her image. Because she's the only real spokesperson Korean-Americans have, ("There are so few images to compare me to," says Cho), her supporters seem to want to mold her into a "role model" by their definition of the title. When she does anything contradictory to the responsibilities they've created for her in their minds, Cho says there is a "weird dissent." When she gave a talk at Columbia University about Asians in comedy, one audience member was upset because Cho spoke of discrimination (the woman is quoted as saying "Is that all [Asians] think or talk about?") and neglected to promote the "great voter registration" among Asians.

Discrimination is still a problem for Cho, and role model or no, she needn't apologize for lecturing about it. She mentions one incident in a comedy club green room, where a picture of her was defaced (the culprit scrawled the word "fat" on it, among other things.) The club was apologetic, but didn't remove the picture. No other picture received the same juvenile treatment, and she attributes the gesture to someone "threatened by" all the traits Cho doesn't possess: whiteness, maleness, a blonde head, a match-thin body, and a closed mouth. "Accept it or get embittered," she says wearily.

She considers herself a feminist ("a feminist knows we are far from our goal," Cho says, adding the words "warrior" and "difficult war" to the personal significance the term "feminist" has for her.

What do men still need to learn about women? "Everything," Cho says. "[Women are] lying when we say we shouldn't be aggressive and forceful . . . I don't surrender my success to anyone; I've got no room for anyone else. My career has always come first." The combination of sexism and racism Cho encounters is "upsetting and subtle." Last year, she fired her then-manager because of a comment that would go unjustified by him: "The Asian thing puts people off." She admits it's hard to get film and television work, because even in a world where there are more than two colors of skin and more than one female body type, there's just no room in Hollywood for any role less demeaning than the "best friend."

Cho says her fan base is comprised of people not often represented by the media (gay men, Asians.) "I've got a supportive, loving audience who'll follow me anywhere," she says, bragging slightly. One fan, a Korean who grew up in Virginia, told Cho how much she identified with Cho's feelings of alienation. She's gotten similar vibes from other fans. One of the highlights of the short-lived "All-American Girl," aside from the money, the clothes she stole from the wardrobe banks, and the consistent hours, was getting to come out before the show and introduce herself to the throngs of visibly-excited Asian girls there to see the taping.

"When I was a little girl and I grow up on the rice paddy, we don't have any food, because this was before Sally Struther."--one of many downloadable Cho sound files on a fan's web site

Go to the "Some Emails To Margaret" page on Margaret Cho's official web site. The addressees' names include "Eric", "Todd", "Jonathan", "Doug", and "Bob." Watch her TV specials--the largest laughs in the audience are from men. They wonder when she's coming to their town, or if she has a boyfriend (she recently broke up with someone), or they just want to let her know how much she "rocks."

One Mark Simmons writes:

HI Margaret!! I was just reading some of your fan-email and couldn’t resist leaving you a message and telling you how hilarious I think you are. You are one of the greatest comics of all time. I mean way up there with Lucy and Gilda Radner.

From the mouth of Homer Simpson, when asked if he was some kind of comedian: "Well, I'm no Margaret Cho, but . . . ."

(Cho is a "Simpsons" fanatic and friend to Matt Groening. Lisa--"typical gifted child"--is her favorite character.)

John Johnson, owner of the Improv in Washington DC, describes Cho's ability to pack the club as "big time."

It's easy to see: Cho's got the jokes. She's got an appealing look (she swears she just dyed her shiny, black hair pink.) She's had her vices (alcohol, pills, sex), and admits to being in recovery from the worst ones. Her new routines are less bitter than they used to be, she says, and her days are more predictable now.

She wakes up at 5:30 a.m., has breakfast, walks her dog Ralph (pronounced "Rafe," as in Fiennes--Cho says, "He belongs to 'Adult Dogs of Alcoholics.'"), writes and rehearses. She often does charity work at Aviva House (a halfway house for teens, many of whom are running away from alcoholic parents) and Covenant House. She enjoys spinning (the hot fitness craze before Tae Bo hit it big, although Cho did buy the Billy Blanks Tae Bo tapes advertised on late-night TV.) She's adjusting, finally.

"The People Tree"'s press release asks "Could it be that there's a hunger for comedy without misogyny?" Well, it's hard to believe the hunger is coming from the male stomach-at-large, but with Cho's barrier-breaking career continuing to fuck with stereotypes of all kinds, the proof is in the pudding.


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Name: Martin
Subject: top online casino
-- Mar 18, 2006 at 5:59PM
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Name: top online casino
Subject: online casino
-- Mar 18, 2006 at 1:32PM
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Name: PantsHat
Subject: jennie blows
-- Feb 3, 2006 at 2:31AM
Jennie is a moron.

Cho did not blog in her hbo special. I don't even think blogging existed back then. Shows how little you know.

George Carlin is not black. Shows how little you know.

Cho is not a lesbian. Shows how little you know.

Oh, and learn how to spell.

Name: jennie
Subject: margret blow cho
-- Dec 28, 2005 at 1:53PM
I watched margret cho on the hbo sepcial, she was not only unfunny, but all she did was blog about how the liberals were going to rise up and take over the world. she is not only stupidly idealistic, she has not read any history to see why george carlin is so black, It didn't work then and it will not work now, George Bush has the white house because of idiots like cho, It is the middel of the road people in this country that make elections swing left or right, and we were sick of clintonista telling us what guns we can and cant own, what churchs it was ok to burn down, and we are sick of the bushes telling us we need to move closer to god and why porn is bad. But cho is the type of person that does the democratic party no good, her base is already motivated, all her type does is to turn off the people that could electe a democrat in. You could have a cockapo on stage saying bush is bad and the libral audiance would rave in the editorals the next morning of how on target this dog was, cho is that dog. Ya Ya we all know she is a lesbo, who cares, she and her type help elect in a republican government that is against the very nature of what she wants to do. look at E, Degenerous, she and her show were doing good till she started to yap about being a lesbo, no one cared till she could not open her pie hole and not have something come out about whos pussy hole she was licking. then her show and everything else went in the dumper till she shut the hell up. cho is not doing so well, yes she has a core bunch of idiots that will follow this idiot where ever, but she is by no means on top, and will never get there playing to the liberal idiots of the world.

Name: Iryna
Subject: excited
-- May 9, 2005 at 12:14PM
She is coming to Melbourne! I am so so so excited! Since the first time I saw her, I always wanted to go to her concert... YEAY!!!

Name: Sung
Subject: Ugh
-- Mar 2, 2005 at 9:54PM
Could any comedian/comedienne be less funny? Yes, I'm Korean, and I find her schtick incredibly banal--really, how many lame 'Korean mom' jokes can one person make? I also had to roll my eyes at this line in the article: "Because she's the only real spokesperson Korean-Americans have, ("There are so few images to compare me to," says Cho)... ." Please. Spokesperson? I didn't think Korean-Americans were really on the look-out for a "Spokesperson.& quot;

Name: Stacey
Subject: Stick it In!
-- Jan 27, 2005 at 2:40AM
Margaret is one of the most fresh, original, passionate comedians out there... oh and she is fucking hilarious. If I was Asian I would be Margaret Cho. I personally think she should be President. She makes me proud to be a woman and basically a human being. Laughter is a gift and she's got it. On a personal note... I would go gay for Margaret Cho, there I've said it now I think I can move on with my life.

Name: Lan0s
Subject: Come down UNDa!
-- Oct 26, 2004 at 5:04AM
Hey my name is Lan.. i'm one of her major fans down here in Melbourne.. i've just recently bought her Notorius C.H.O on Dvd. I've converted so many of my gay friends into loving her by teh minute.. to us she is a Absolutely Diva of COmmedy. Please Margaret CHo come down here..you that ur famous down here down in teh gay community

Name: angel
Subject: what is her biography?
-- Aug 19, 2004 at 12:03PM
i have to write a report on margeet cho and i can not find her biography ne where i think she should put on out there

Name: zoea123
Subject: Faghags
-- Jan 1, 2004 at 1:28PM
I just got thru watching the Notorius C.H.O.. God was it hilarious. As a straight guy who is a male version of a faghag, I find Ms. Cho's comedy perceptive, cutting, and just plain funny.

Name: Daisy
Subject: What's Margaret Cho's Ethos?
-- Oct 23, 2003 at 1:26PM
Hey All,

Well a friend and I are doing a 6 page paper about Margaret Cho and our first duty is to find out some information about her "ethos" in her work like, what's the tone of her comedies? And we would like to know where we could find some good information about her ratings, fans, and controversies. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Name: stacey
Subject: she's helped my bestfriend so much!
-- Sep 10, 2003 at 2:28PM
margaret helped my bestfriend, Allen come out to many people. he nows feels more comfortable around his peers, and we both find her extremely hilarious

Name: summer
Subject: cho is my woman!
-- Sep 9, 2003 at 3:58PM
Dude iam doing a report on margret cho for my careers class, i love this woman!!

Name: Edgar
Subject: GO CHO!
-- Jun 1, 2003 at 12:02PM
I just got back from Margaret Cho's Revolution tour in DC last night. She's so funny! Bruce is also funny, can't you tell?

Name: Celticpriestess
Subject: Re: We love you at the Univ. of South FL
-- Apr 7, 2003 at 7:07AM
Hey I can relate to that.I'm from FL.I prefer FSU though,sorry.Hey it could be worse I could be a Gator fan.YUK!

Name: Ryan
Subject: We love you at the Univ. of South FL
-- Apr 6, 2003 at 12:25AM
You go Cho !! We love you!! Keep up the gay jokes !! Thanks for comming to the Tampa area soon !!! You've got more fags that will praise you forever than you know :) Love you ! - Ryan

Name: Pauline
Subject: Margaret Cho: High Priestess of the Underrepresented
-- Feb 14, 2003 at 3:06PM
Hi!!!! I like your
comedy because there are a lot of things that I
can relate to. I'm
proud of you, keep
fighting these "know-
it-all- wannabes", and
just give them hell!!!!
( I guess I got a bit carried away-oh-oh!!!)
Anyway, keep up the good work, my dear!!!

Name: Lee Han Guk
Subject: When?
-- Dec 15, 2002 at 11:12AM
Will you be doing a show in Seoul, Daegu or Busan? The Korean people need to hear you! But maybe a prophet is never accepted in her own home.... Hope you can do some dates in the Motherland....She needs you.

Name: keith
Subject: ur soo funny!
-- Dec 10, 2002 at 6:13PM
margaret im one of ur fans on long island in ny and id like to say that ur a courages person for being who u are doing what u do and that ur so damn funny!

Name: Bob
Subject: Funny
-- Nov 30, 2002 at 11:04AM
I Also download 45 minutes of your stuff to find the things that are funny.

Name: Madz
Subject: margaret--what else
-- Nov 20, 2002 at 4:06PM
margaret--u rock! Youre so hilarious--I have 45 minutes of your standup downloaded and I listen to it all the time. I think u should host snl. that would be awesome.

Name: Anna
Subject: interesting.
-- Oct 16, 2002 at 1:36AM
A friend of mine recommended that I download some of Margaret Cho's material - 45 minutes worth of it. I was dubious, but now I'm eternally grateful to her for telling me about this hilarious comedienne!

Name: Patricia
Subject: the lovely and talented Miss Cho
-- Sep 6, 2002 at 12:07PM
I have been with you since the beginning, and have spread the word about your honest, and extremely funny work! I am proud to do so. Everyone (including myself) love you to pieces!!

Name: Emory
Subject: Who else? margaret cho of course
-- Feb 26, 2002 at 12:28PM
well i've certainly heard of you, but i never really got a chance to listen to any of your material until i saw you on Comedy Central.(god bless college for having cable) needless to say, i laughed so hard i choked on my pen that i was biting on. anyhow, i was curious if you could tell me of any other tv appearances that you may have coming up. in the meantime, i plan on reading your book and anything else i can get about you. Your a great comedian!

Name: Melodie
Subject: Cho's T.V. Show
-- Feb 15, 2002 at 4:06PM
Just like Kathy, I'm not Asian but I loved that show and I watched it every week as well. I just enjoy seeing actors
of different races because it's a reflection of America. And being an African American woman I really
enjoyed seeing Margaret's show (she was the star!)and I look forward to her stand up everysingle time it comes on HBO or Comedy Central!

Name: Kathy
Subject: Cho's show
-- Dec 2, 2001 at 8:38PM
I am not Asian, but I watched your show every week. I enjoyed every minute of it. Looking forward to seeing you in person.

Name: Deanna
Subject: Asian people
-- Oct 14, 2001 at 7:05PM
You are the only comediane that I feel I can relate to. You know what it is like to be Asian and American, which I've had problems with for years. Thank you for being Margaret. Thank you for also making me laugh so hard, I almost pee my pants.

Name: kelela
Subject: Is that you?
-- Oct 10, 2001 at 9:47AM
I've never really knew about you until recently.
One evening while cooking dinner the kids insisted
that the lady on TV looked like me. "MOM THE LADY ON TV LOOKS
LIKE YOU!" I stopped to watch for awhile. I ended up watching the
whole show! We never laugh so much togerher! You remind me of the
great times I had in Hawaii with my grandparents! All those little things,
cultural things, etc. From chopsticks and rice to spiking my hair when I
was a teenager and my grandma about passed out when she saw me! YOU'RE GREAT!

Name: Kevin
Subject: The reigining queen of comedy
-- Aug 28, 2001 at 2:02PM
I was always a fan of yours and it had nothing to do with ethinicity. I believe that you are incredible, and very talented. Hope to get to see Notorious C.H.O. when it debuts. It always keeps me in stitches when I hear your routines. Why dont you make a comedy album, and if you have where can I get it. I play it until I wear it out.

Name: Laurie
Subject: oh Margaret
-- Aug 26, 2001 at 1:21AM
Margaret Cho-I'm in love with you. I've followed your career since the early days so I was so happy when I saw your book come out. I read the whole thing in two days-well a day and a half really. I just couldn't put it down. It's amazing all you have survived and you still manage to be the open, caring person that you are. I am going to see your show in New Orleans on Sep lst and i can't wait. I'll be right there in the pitt screaming. I think you are beautiful, sexy, intelligent, and best of all uproariously funny even in the face of adversity. You amaze me and you've made a lifetime fan.

Name: Rich
Subject: We need more Margaret Cho's..she's the BEST!
-- Aug 11, 2001 at 6:57PM
Margaret, I'm reading your book...word for word. Honey, when you're on the television...fingers can be broken if anyone considers changing the channel. Margaret rules. You make the reality of this world less serious and comical. Thanks for everything, and making many people laugh.....one of many of your fans.

Name: Shashing
Subject: Margaret Who?
-- May 18, 2001 at 11:35PM
Sike, what planet r u from.. lolz.. Margaret, Im lovin your Book right now " Im the One that I want" doing the pose right now.. n e wayz..u dont even know how much I love you. I can totally relate to all that stuff you have to go through..(spell check) whatever.. but ne wayz.. u need to do a stand up or even ..just show up and let all your cute gay boiz.. know that ur coming,, cuz.. im so. ugh uh you dont even know how much I brag about you to all my friends. I saw you at Rutgers Camden like 3 yrs ago. Urgh. u need to stop playin ok. but n e wayz.. I dont wanna be all corny n stuff. I really am one of your loyal fan/friend that you dont know about yet.. definitely not a stalker.. no no. gay boiz cant be rockin that look right now.. u know wut im sayin.. alrite. luV ya.. Shashing.. my email is j0dashing@aol.com u know .. 0-zero XO

Name: Carla
Subject: Margaret kicks ass!
-- Apr 20, 2001 at 1:12AM
Margaret I love you. You are an awesome example for Asian American women everywhere. I am writing a paper about you for my Modern Korean history class. Thanx for the inspiration.

Name: Richard Payne
Subject: I love you Margaret Cho
-- Mar 13, 2001 at 11:15AM
I just wanted to drop a line to let you know how much I enjoy your comedy and quick wit. I think you're a remarkable person. I hope to see you in another movie real soon. Peace!

Name: Jason Harman
Subject: Love Margaret Cho
-- Mar 12, 2001 at 11:14PM
I have watched all of your specials whenever I get a chance. You are my ultimate favorite comedian. I LOVE MARGARET CHO!! She represents so much!

Name: GRANT DOC HOPKINS
Subject: yer funny in Great Way
-- Mar 2, 2001 at 11:21PM
think I saw you on PBS awhile ago at neighbor's appartment "she thought you funny!I Think You're Great looking too!"

Name: Cat
Subject: new fan
-- Feb 14, 2001 at 9:54PM
one of my friends burned me a copy of one of her cds, and whoa, it's hilarious. *lol* can't wait to see the movie and all that other good stuff!

Name: John
Subject: please
-- Jan 1, 2001 at 10:48AM
Korean Feminist please..

When you get as old as me you might realize that life is to short to go around being pissed off all the time.

Name: joel milder
Subject: where is cho?
-- Jul 21, 2000 at 3:25PM
When is she performing in SantaBarbara and point south to SanDiego. Where can I buy her cd.

Name: An LS.n Reader
Subject: Margaret Cho: High Priestess of the Underrepresented
-- Jun 12, 2000 at 12:23PM
Where is Cho performing during the period from June 30 to July 8? Any chance of anywhere in NYC?

Cho fan

Name: Brian
Subject: margaret is the best!!
-- May 11, 2000 at 3:26PM
I love Margaret Cho so much. Her brand of humor is unique and funny. I agree with the title of this article; she seems to speak for groups that are largely underrepresented in America. True, she is vulgar, but if you can't handle it, don't listen to her!! I think heterosexual men might be threatned by her because she is so honest....I especially like her imitation of her mother!!

Your ass-master,

B.

Name: The Editors Respond
Subject: Re: Cho
-- May 6, 2000 at 2:13PM
Most of the editors of LSn wish they could use the Washington Monument as a strap-on

Name: Jim
Subject: Cho
-- May 2, 2000 at 7:50AM
Not because she's a woman, because she's just as vulgar as Howard Stern, himself reprehensible.
Grow up, ladies and gentlemen.
Vulgar is just that, vulgar.

Name: mgotlib
Subject: Margaret Cho
-- May 1, 2000 at 10:24PM
Now, here's a no non-sense woman who is not afraid of being herself and couldnt give a flying rat's ass about what you and other
'Jims' think of her. Howard Stern became a national icon speaking that very same 'vulgar' language. Yet, when the same words are pronounced by a woman, all of a sudden they become 'reprehensible'.

Name: Jim
Subject: Margaret Cho
-- May 1, 2000 at 8:04PM
Vulgar. Proud of saying she wanted to use the Washington Monument as a strap-on dildo.
Good luck to all who find her "fantastic."
I'd tell her myself if I could contact her.
Truly reprehensible.

Name: Tamara
Subject: Margaret Cho Article
-- Feb 29, 2000 at 4:20PM
Too bad I found this article a year late. It's fantastic. Fast-paced, in depth and honest. Truth is, there just isn't enough info about Margaret Cho out there, and I'm glad I found this article.


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