Cho a pioneer for a 2nd time
In the fall of 1994, Cho starred in the ABC sitcom "All-American Girl," which was something never seen before on American TV.
"At that time, we brought the first Asian-American family on television. It was, like, a really very groundbreaking thing. A very difficult thing," Cho said. "And I'm very proud now to bring the second Asian-American family to television. I'm actually No. 1 and No. 2. So that's an achievement."
The big difference is that, this time around, Cho is in control of "The Cho Show," which airs its second episode tonight at 11 p.m. on VH1. The improv/reality show reflects the real Margaret Cho and her sense of humor.
That was not the case on "All-American Girl," which was destroyed when the network took a promising premise and homogenized it into unrecognizability and mediocrity.
Along the way, network executives complained about everything from Cho's weight to her not being "Asian enough."
"Oh, it was unbelievable," said Cho, who recalled "how hard it was" to appear before TV critics in 1994 "to represent a show that I had to work on, that I had so many problems with.... It was very difficult, and one of the things that I remember was after I did my first screen test, one executive freaked out and said, 'Please never, ever, ever show your stomach in public ever again. Never.' So that's why I'm like naked in the show all the time, as you'll see."
She was kidding, of course. "The Cho Show" features the never-shy comedian as herself; her very traditional, Korean-born parents; and her friend/fellow actress/assistant/little person Selene Luna.
It has similarities to a lot of other shows, "but I think that this show is very unique," Cho said. "We have, for the first time, really, truly this Asian-American family and also my wonderful assistant Selene. So I think it's kind of like a cross between Madonna's 'Truth or Dare' and 'Joy Luck Club' and 'Little People, Big World."'
Cho's parents, Young-Hie and Seung-Hoon Cho, were born in Korea.
"My parents immigrated to the United States in 1964 with $25 and this dream: They wanted to live in America. And they wanted to raise a family. And they did it," she said.
And they raised a daughter who's their polar opposite. They're rather shy and retiring, while Margaret is loud, outspoken and outrageous.
So what would prompt them to not only appear in "The Cho Show" but often be sort of the catalysts for the comedy?
"It was this or a home," Margaret Cho joked.
"We participated as parental duty to help you, to tell the truth," Young-Hie said. "And we were not sure what kind of role we were going to play. And the producers do not tell us what's going to happen.... We wanted to help you in any way we can. And consequently, we feel that we contributed to the show. In other words, we gave viewers, your customers, some value."
Comments
- 'Drop Dead Diva' is frothy fun 6:14 p.m.
- Vail's mountain cross inspiring 6:14 p.m.
- Bishop on a mission 6:14 p.m.
- Look for face of God in others 6:14 p.m.
- Religion briefs 6:14 p.m.
- Teachings on adultery after Sanford 6:14 p.m.
- Church camps closing doors 6:14 p.m.
- Religion around the world 6:14 p.m.
- Did daughter not pay for car? 6:13 p.m.
- Ra Ra Riot brings groove to S.L. 6:13 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
137 - LDS seminary principal arrested
135 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
91 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
83 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74
There were some errors in the reporting of the University of Utah's...
Brown is ANOTHER teams property, the jazz can't sign him.
Actually it was Mr. Rush Limbaugh who invented the Internet. Rush knows...
Boozer you deserve a team like Sac, we will take Nocioni and their first...
Hear Hear! Excellent letter from a man with a most excellent name. (Yes,...
What a great organization! Good luck in helping children, families, and...
I think you are ALL missing the obvious. Just skip the middleman portland...
Its a good thing YBU has Heaps, Apo, and Stout to use as recruiting power...
Assuming the charges are truthful, he has done a lot of damage to the...
The jazz need to let sap go for sure. 8+change is just too much, especially...
The letter is oversimplified. But then so is the assertion that CO2 can...




You can be the first to comment on this story.