photo by Austin Young
Call & Response with Margaret Cho
Issue #36
On the eve of a TV comeback, the comedian talks about sex, sewing, and politics
By Venus Zine Readers
Published: June 3rd, 2008 | 12:47pm
The first half of this reader-generated Q&A with Margaret Cho was originally published in the summer 2008 issue of Venus Zine.
What’s your new VH1 program, The Cho Show, about?— Katie Deal of Chicago
The show debuts in August and is about my life and my family and how we do Hollywood. It’s incredibly fun, and my parents are hilarious. They really steal the show. On the last episode we did, I got a G-shot, which is a shot of collagen in your G-spot. That is the kind of stuff we are doing. Really hardcore.
Obama or Clinton?
— Catherine Cole of Portland, Oregon
I love Hillary Clinton, but I am a Barack Obama campaign surrogate. I think he’s going to be an amazing president. He said that people thought he was too black or not black enough, and that’s exactly what people thought about me — that I was too Asian or not Asian enough. That’s what makes me relate to him.
Sometimes I feel like the only straight male who’s a big fan of yours. Is that normal?
— Ethan Stanislawski
No! I have lots of straight male fans. I am Chris Rock and Woody Allen's favorite comic!
I saw you on Chelsea, Lately, and she stated that she loves ethnic humor. She said it wasn't a big deal to joke about a Black person being lazy and other such stereotypes. I thought you handled it well by saying (more or less) that it was about respect. I am dying to know what was running through your head at that moment.
— Caissa McClinton of Mexico City, Mexico
I really like Chelsea Handler; she’s funny and amazing. I was just commenting about how people get really upset about race because it isn't about the joke, but about everything else leading up to the joke — the lack of respect that would warrant the joke. But I wasn't sure if I got all that out.
There's been a huge resurgence of crafting lately. All the cool kids are doing it. Are you? If so, what kind of crafting?
— Caissa McClinton
I am crafty, but I don't have time to pursue it. I am a really good seamstress and can make complete outfits from discontinued patterns from the ’30s and ’40s. No, really, I am amazing at it, but it takes forever and hurts my eyes and back. Sewing gets me high!
I learned to sew just a few years ago. I taught myself on my mother’s old Singer. She didn’t teach me, though, because she had mostly forgotten how to use it since it has been so long since she sewed.
Do you have any guilty pleasures, or are you proud of all your interests?
— Rachael Sage of New York
I fucking really love Billy Joel. I am proud of it too.
What is the least of your worries?
— Diane Ponder of Oak Park, Illinois
Aging.
—
VENUSZINE.COM EXCLUSIVE
Is it hard being so bold and badass? When you're a leader (which, hello, you totally are), I'd think you'd often feel alone since so much of your success lies on your persona. Does that get exhausting?
— Catherine Cole (this girl’s on a roll)
I don't know if it’s exhausting because I am just being me. I think it might be easier because I don't have to think about getting the character right, or am I doing it authentically because I am just being myself?
What do you do after you perform a show? Do you just want to be alone?
— Catherine Cole
I usually take a bath and go to bed because I have to go to the next city. Touring is hard and not so glamorous.
My schedule is to work on my TV show Monday through Wednesday, then Wednesday night or early Thursday get on a plane to the gig, arrive, sleep two hours, do phone interviews and press stuff all day, go to the venue at 5 p.m., do a sound check, do my vocal exercises, watch Liam do his set, perform my show, do a vocal warmdown, do a meet-and-greet afterward, collapse from exhaustion either on another plane or in the hotel room, get up at 5 a.m. the next day for travel, repeat til Sunday, where I return home to shoot my TV show the next day.
I never have time after a show to do anything. I think my favorite places to play are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York because then I can see my friends.
Are you stoked you have a show that happens in one place? Why VH1?
— Catherine Cole
I am thrilled to be working with VH1 because they give me full creative control to do whatever I want. My show is going to be so awesome because I got to have my real family on it and my true vision uncompromised!
What have been some of your most challenging interactions with fans because of your ever-increasing fame?
— Jenine Bressner
Not having enough time to get to really hang out because of my travel schedule. I wish I could just get to know people better and have fun and hang out. I don’t ever get to enjoy the old friends I have made being a touring artist for so long. I love my fans!
What are your biggest fears about your future?
— Jenine Bressner
Perhaps the eventuality of death, what a bummer!
One of the reasons I so admire you is that you seem to be completely fearless. I love your strong personality and your ability to live freely. Has there ever been a time when you've looked back at a joke, a public statement, or an assertion and felt regret or fear? If so, how did you get over it, or what did you do to correct it?
—Caissa McClinton
Oh, no. I don't regret anything — possibly because I go out of my way not to hurt people and just tell the truth. I am never embarrassed or regretful of the truth. I think it’s really horrible if I hurt people’s feelings, and I never want to hurt anyone with something I’ve said.
Is there any sort of character or role that you really want to play but have never been given the chance to tackle?
— Rachael Sage
Imelda Marcos. I want to make the epic biopic – like Evita but it’s
IMELDA. I think it would be amazing.
What or who do you find intimidating?
— Rachael Sage
Not much anymore! I used to have paralyzing stage fright. I would get sick all day before performances, all my spinal fluid felt like ice water, and I would shake like a little shaky dog!
Does traveling to do stand-up suck, or do you always love it?
— Catherine Cole
I love it, but it is hard. Flying is very tough if you have to do it every day. It also gets really lonely, but I love it so much. I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not working, so it’s good that I am working constantly.
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