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MARGARET CHO

NewNowNext Interview: Margaret Cho Goes Back to Beautiful

It seems like only yesterday that Margaret Cho shimmied our diaphragms into hiccup-inducing, hysterical laughter with her off-Broadway, burlesque-style variety show, The Sensuous Woman. Yet already, the award-winning comedian and laser beam of queer conscience is returning to classic stand-up form with Beautiful, a new one-woman stage assault on the perverse politics of body image, along with other provocative, Cho-centric topics.

Catch a NewNowNext chat with Margaret Cho after the jump!
Whether belly dancing or launching humorous missives that pierce the absurdities of the pop culture establishment, Cho moves swiftly. Earlier this week, NewNowNext caught up with her for a telephone quickie from Los Angeles, where she was preparing for the North American debut of Beautiful in Hawaii on Thursday, just days after its fêted late February premiere in Australia during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. She tantalized us with tidbits about her celebrity experiences Down Under, the hyper-sexual content of her new show, her choice for president, and the occupational hazards of tassel twirling.

Ouch!

NNN: Recently, you traveled to Australia for the premiere of Beautiful, the first ever time you've unveiled a show abroad. How was that?

MC: It was incredible. The show was received phenomenally. I had a really good time. I hung out with Cyndi Lauper and Kathy Griffin and filmed an episode of My Life on the D List. That show is so perfect for her because that’s all Kathy’s ever wanted to do. It‘s really hilarious. I also went to see Cyndi’s show a couple of times. Then I did my show, and I was the honorary chief of parade for Mardi Gras. And I got to see Olivia Newton John!

NNN: What inspired the name of your new stand-up comedy show, Beautiful?

MC: I went on this radio show and the DJ asked me what I would do if one day I woke up and I was beautiful. He asked what I would do if I was blonde, blue-eyed, 5 foot 11 and weighed 100 pounds! I just couldn’t believe that would be his only idea of beauty. I wanted to do a show talking about that. In one way it’s about redefining what beauty means on a physical level, looking beyond magazines or movies and finding beauty that makes you feel good. There’s also loads of graphic sexuality in the show, not just homosexuality, but queer sexuality. It’s really a way to try to sum up my sexuality.

NNN: Does Beautiful offer a special message for the LGBT community?

MC: Especially for the queer community, because we have to take on the world everyday, we have to feel good about ourselves to do that. If you feel good, you feel political. Coming out as beautiful is just as powerful as coming out as queer.

NNN: Speaking of politics, are you still “bi-candidate” in the way you confessed last month in The Huffington Post?

MC: I think I’m more leaning toward Barack Obama. I’m also a campaign surrogate for him. I like him a lot, but I also like Hillary. But I’m coming out as saying that, yes, I have voted for him, and I work for him.

NNN: What is it like to return to stand-up after doing your variety show, The Sensuous Woman?

MC: I have to say that although I loved doing an ensemble show and being with the cast, it wasn’t worth the scars. Now, from twirling those tassels, I have what’s like an alveola but it’s made of scar tissue. It’s horrible. I just have these giant circles around my nipples. I also have this purple circle around my vagina from wearing that prosthetic penis. I look like a Twister!

Posted by Julie Bolcer on March 6, 2008