Cho finds stronger voice after suffering from silent summer

Judith Salkin
Desert Post Weekly

Losing your voice is frustrating. For a comic, it can be devastating.

Margaret Cho was rendered silent this past summer due to throat problems. It was a situation cured by the comedienne keeping her famously acerbic mouth shut for a couple of months. Interviews, like this one, were kept to electronic communication.

She'll be opening her mouth once again for her show Friday at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

Aside from her comedy gigs, Cho is back on a scripted television show, Lifetime's “Drop Dead Diva.” She describes her character, Teri Lee, as “basically me if I hadn't gone into comedy and worked at a law office,” she said.

And, she's showcasing songs from her soon-to-be-released album, tentatively titled “Guitarded,” featuring guest appearances by Patty Griffin, Jon Brion, Grant Lee Phillips and others.

DESERT POST WEEKLY: First, how's your voice/throat doing?

CHO: It's much better. I had a lot of issues with my voice, which had to do with many things.

I was living in a new place with lots of new pollen and allergies I hadn't known I had. Then I starting to do a lot of different things with my voice when performing, like all the character voices as well, as singing put a big strain on me.

I lost my voice for nearly two months and had to make serious lifestyle changes like no more fried food! It's torture! No chocolate, but I can find some substitutes for that.

My voice sounds very good and strong now, better than before. I emerged from the silence with a few extra high notes I can hit that I couldn't before. And I found that I can do shows without talking at all! It was a potentially a disaster that was diverted by creativity.

After “All-American Girl” (Cho's 1994 ABC sitcom), it seemed like you swore off doing a regular role on a TV show. But now you're playing Teri Lee on “Drop Dead Diva.” What was it about Teri that made you decide to do it?

I really fell in love with Josh Berman, who is the show's creator. He really wanted me for the role, and I thought the script was so great. I was the first person cast in the show.

Do you have any input on the way Teri talks or reacts with Jane? I do have input on the character, but I love Josh's vision so much. I also am very excited about what he comes up with.

How real do you think Teri is? I mean, do you think you'd really run into a Teri in a law office?

I think the character is very real in that it's just basically me if I hadn't gone into comedy and worked at a law office.

There's always someone like Teri getting you coffee and silently judging you.

What are your favorite topics to talk about in your act these days and why?

It's always relationships, whether romantic or friendship or whatever. I feel like everything I do is an exploration of the way we are intimate, and how weird that is, to try to use your body to satisfy some deep soulful need.