"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."

"Yeah, for value. Right," Margaret Cho said. "Because Koreans like to work together. Whether it's a liquor store or reality show, it doesn't matter."

And, while Margaret Cho often mocks her mother — imitating her accent — in her stand-up act, Mom isn't in the least bit offended.

"I love your impression of me," she said. "Because I'm all the time looking forward to what's going be next. And I really enjoy it."

Although she's a way-out-there comedian who makes her parents a big part of her act, it's obvious Cho loves them.

"I wanted them involved because they really are so beautiful on camera. You can't imagine how fulfilling it is for me," she said. "I've been watching all of the episodes, and every one I cry because it really is so beautiful. We're actually seeing this Asian-American family that we've never seen before.

"And they were very excited. And I think that they love it," she said as her parents nodded in agreement.

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com