COMEDY: Margaret Cho comes to Buffalo

--Paul Lane

September 24, 2009 10:43 am

— She’s a Korean American who was raised by hippies in 1970s San Francisco and built an award-winning stand-up comedy and writing career around that background.
She’s the star of a failed sitcom who’s also now a reality star (sharing space on VH1, the network that also airs Terrell Owens’ reality show) and supporting player on Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.”
She’s a bisexual woman who’s now married to a man and is deputized to perform gay marriages.
So what would a Margaret Cho fan expect her to do next?
Cut an album, of course.
The comedy veteran, who’s coming to Buffalo next week, has recorded several songs for an album that’s due out next year; the working title is “Guitarded,” but Cho indicated that the name will probably change. A lifelong music fan, Cho has gushed on her blog about parody musician Weird Al Yankovic, whom she considers an influence.
“I have said many times before that Weird Al Yankovic is my absolute idol,” she wrote on her Web site. “I worship him and his incredible music. What is also amazing about him is that he gets better as time goes on.”
Cho took a few minutes between shows on her current comedy tour to answer a few questions.
QUESTION: Where did the inspiration come for you to decide to make “Guitarded?” And how would you describe the record’s sound/mood?
ANSWER: I don’t think that its going to be called “Guitarded,” but it’ll be something equally ridiculous. I am going for a cross between Weird Al Yankovic and Liz Phair with a little Loretta Lynn thrown in.
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Q: Why did you decide to delve into music?
A: I have been doing some music in my standup shows for years, so I thought it was time to put it all front and center. Its still standup comedy though, basically.
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Q: How have your experiences with “The Margaret Cho Show” and “Drop Dead Diva” been in comparison to your first TV series? Was returning to television something you had wanted to do, or was it just an opportunity that presented itself?
A: I loved doing the Cho show and am having a wonderful time on “Drop Dead Diva.” Both shows were just things that presented themselves, and I just went for it.
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Q: You’ve broken a lot of ground on a lot of issues over the years through your work. What keeps you going, and what else do you think you have to say?
A: I enjoy my work. I don’t know who I am without touring or living on the road. I’ll always do this. There’s always going to be a lot to say.
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Q: Do you feel as though you’ve had any impact on people’s perception of Asians or homosexuals/bisexuals? Is that something you set out to do through your work?
A: I hope so. I never set out to do anything like that. I just wanted to be a comic and my identity — which is queer and Asian American — needed to be discussed.
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Q: How would you describe your act to people who might not be familiar with your work (at least your work beyond television)?
A: I’m really raunchy.
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Q: As if the new record, tour and second season of “Drop Dead Diva” aren’t enough, is there anything else you’re working on at the moment?
A: I’m learning to play the mountain dulcimer and the mandolin.
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Q: What can the Buffalo audience expect from you when you perform here?
A: I don’t even know what to expect!