By Rodney Ho

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/05/2008
FIVE YEARS AGO when Margaret Cho spoke to accessAtlanta, she was a bit loud, a bit profane and a bit angry. "I don't give a [bleep]," she said in 2003. "I have my own company. I have the freedom to say what I want."

Cho in 2008 is mellower, happier, but still very much into the dirty stuff for her show June 7 at the Tabernacle.

"This is the most raunchy show I've ever done," she said in a recent phone interview. "But I called it the 'Beautiful' tour because I want to show how important it is to feel beautiful. That's a very political choice." Here's what she had to say on:

Her upcoming new reality show on VH1: "I pitched it. It will blend elements of reality and other stuff. It's a hybrid. It may be similar to a show like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' "

Her memories of her role as host last year for the Cyndi Lauper "True Colors" tour at Chastain: "I had a wonderful time. It was outdoors and I remember people bringing their candelabras. It was such a great concert, great show. I'm going to do a couple more dates this year. I admire Cyndi so deeply!"

Why broadcast networks have shied away from doing a show with an Asian-American cast since her sitcom "All American Girl" bombed in 1994: "It's not surprising. The kind of racism that I deal with doesn't have to do with blatant racial slurs. It's simply non-inclusion. We don't exist. That's what's really troubling."

The "Harold & Kumar" films: "I'm good friends with both John Cho and Kal Penn. They're like my spiritual children. I look at them and comedian Bobby Lee (on Fox TV's "Mad TV"). They all saw me when they were younger. They realized they could do what I do. We don't have many beacons or role models. It's exciting when you see one. They really are wonderful. I'm inspired by them."

MTV and Internet star Tila Tequila: "I love her! I think she's amazing. She's a queer who's Asian-American. It's a brilliant TV show having straight men and lesbians fighting. I love her. She's really fun. And funny."