Comic Cho steps out of the bedroom for new 'Revolution'

By David Lindquist
February 28, 2003

The world is creeping into the work of Margaret Cho, the stand-up comic known for frankly dissecting the most personal of topics.

She signals her shifting interests with the poster that promotes her new tour, "Revolution." Its image echoes a famous photograph of Cuban radical Che Guevara. Here's Cho, however, appearing battle-ready under a beret.

"I used to think that what was really dirty and funny was sex," she says in a telephone interview. "But now I realize that what's truly raunchy is politics. What's X-rated is the House of Representatives. That should have a parental advisory sticker."

Frequently described as her generation's answer to Richard Pryor or Lenny Bruce, Cho prides herself on being a bold, unchecked advocate for "invisible" segments of society.

These days, she says, she's distressed that sons and daughters of low-income Americans appear headed to war. At the same time, she downplays the military might of Iraq.

"They've got a slingshot and some Scotch tape," she says. "(U.S. roops) are going to get hit in the head with a dirt clod."

The writing for "Revolution" began shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The tour's opening night is scheduled Saturday in Chicago, to be followed by a Murat Theatre date on Sunday.

The initial run of appearances will end June 1 in Washington, D.C.

AN ANGRY AMERICAN

"The show probably will change as the world changes," Cho says.

Born in San Francisco to South Korean immigrants, 34-year-old Cho says the most she knows about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il is his fascination with Daffy Duck cartoons. She admits to being flustered when people expect her to be an expert on Korean matters.

"That makes me really mad," she says. "Why don't these people consider me an American? I don't walk up to random red-haired people and say, 'What's going on with the IRA?' "

The situation is worse, Cho says, for law-abiding Muslims in America who have been persecuted -- at times violently -- following Sept. 11.

"It's like arresting Emmanuel Lewis because Gary Coleman punched that lady," Cho says. " 'Webster' is not 'What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?' It's so wrong. I want to point this out in the show."

So when tackling certain societal ills, "Revolution" will clear up what's already obvious to many. Especially within Cho's core audience of gays, lesbians and other assorted minority groups.

A GREAT RELEASE

"But to state things in a powerful way that's also entertaining, I think it's a great release for everyone, and a lot of fun," she says.

"Revolution" follows Cho's "Notorious C.H.O." tour, which spawned a concert film and album in 2002, and "I'm the One That I Want," which started as an off-Broadway show and blossomed into a film, album and book in 2000.

On this new trek of America, Cho is planning a backstage documentary a la Madonna's "Truth or Dare." She's apparently willing to reveal any character flaw:

"I'm so cheap, I buy used makeup on eBay."

In addition to Cho, the film will capture the activities of her personal assistant, her opening act, her partner in creating a clothing franchise, her manager and perhaps even her celebrated mother, Young Hie Cho.

At the time of this interview, the elder Cho was in Seoul buying silk and satin for her daughter's fashion prototypes. It's obvious how much Margaret admires the catalyst for so many of her riotous impressions.

ADMIRES HER MOTHER

"My mother is very sophisticated," Cho says. "She speaks several languages and travels the world. She's all that."

If the tour documentary resembles reality TV in the style of "The Anna Nicole Smith Show" or "The Osbournes," Cho has experience, thanks to a cameo on Smith's Christmas special broadcast on cable's E! network.

She crossed paths with the former Playboy model at a holiday party.

"(Smith) was walking around, and she's so beautiful," Cho says. "She had a big mistletoe on her head. She said, 'Who's going to kiss me?'

"So I slammed her against the wall and made out with her."

Despite such a stunt, Cho says she doesn't watch reality programming and dismisses it as a distraction from current events.

"I think the shows are a waste of time because we're not paying attention to what is real," she says. "It's escapism that pretends to be this kind of truth, but it's not reality."