The Virginian-Pilot
©
Comedian and actress Margaret Cho has done stand-up, directed music videos, written a book, started a clothing line and even had her own sitcom, yet she remains - in our view, at least - not the household name she deserves to be. (Case in point: She's doing two shows Friday at The NorVa, and a woman of her talent and pedigree could entertain a full coliseum.)
Cho's inability, so far, to become the next Chris Rock or Jerry Seinfeld might stem in part from things she can't change, like her gender, or maybe because of things she could change, like toning it down. But she never has toned it down, and we suspect she never will.
Cho is unapologetically brash (and funny) when discussing the racism she's endured as a Korean American, delightfully bawdy when detailing her sex life, and affecting when recounting her struggle to overcome drugs and alcohol. To boot, the San Francisco native has long been a cheerleader for gay, lesbian and bisexual people - all of which has bundled her into something of a counter-culture icon who's perhaps a bit too in-your-face for Middle America (wait a second, does that include us?) to swallow.
Nonetheless, Cho is touring the country now and recovering from doctor's orders to shush because of nodes on her vocal cords.
We caught up with Cho just as she'd been instructed to remain silent for a while, so we thought we'd simply get to know her a bit more using the famous Proust Questionnaire popularized by French writer Marcel Proust (and Vanity Fair and "Inside the Actor's Studio"). Of course, with Cho being Cho, we had to shake it up a bit...
The (customized) Proust Questionnaire for Margaret Cho
>> What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A good voice, time to play music, time to make jokes, friends to laugh and make music with, dogs, lots of sleep
>> What is the trait you most deplore in yourself the entertainment industry?
Selfishness, lack of talent, ungenerous souls, the fearful and hateful
>> What is the trait you most deplore in others politicians?
Dishonesty, ignorance
>> Which living person do you most admire?
Jon Brion
>> What do you consider the most overrated virtue sitcom?
I'm not sure, 'cuz I never watch.
>> On what occasion do you lie?
I try never to lie but will sometimes to save a person's feelings
>> What is the quality you most like in a man drag queen?
Originality and humor
>> What is the quality you most like in a woman child?
Sweetness
>> What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband, Al, and my dead dog Ralph
>> When and where were you happiest?
Performing - generally. Anytime I'm working.
>> If you could change one thing about yourself your parents, what would it be?
I'd like us all to have naturally curly hair.
>> Where would you most like to live: a city or the suburbs?
Suburbs!
>> What do you most value in your (gay, lesbian and bisexual) friends?
Love
>> Who are your favorite heroes of fiction R&B divas?
Mary J. Blige, Miss Janet Jackson
>> Which historical figure rapper do you most identify with?
Biggie
>> What are your favorite (ghetto) names?
Champagne and Democtorius
>> What is your greatest (dating) regret?
I have none.
>> What (used to be) your favorite cocktail?
Love that vodka.
Malcolm Venable, (757) 446-2662, malcolm.venable@pilotonline.com
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Deafening sound of crickets chirping in a coliseum
Maybe she's not playing the palace this go-round because too few people find her all that funny?
We all know she's supposed to be funny; all the right people -- celebrities, and experts -- assure us that she IS funny. So, as Malcolm points out in his article, the fault must be with the rubes in "Middle America" for not getting it.
But hey, if she can manage to pull in $25 a pop, take all she can get & more power to her.
People vote with their feet and speak with their pocketbooks. And to paraphrase Yogi Berra, "If people don't want to come out to the (coliseum), nobody's gonna stop 'em."