Interview: Margaret Cho

Interviewed for GLAM Magazine

She’s on the television series Drop Dead Diva, which just finished its fifth season, she co-hosts the weekly podcast Monsters of Talk with Jim Short, and now she’s hitting the road with her new tour, Mother.
 
Margaret Cho started her career doing stand up in clubs in San Francisco. Her big break came when she was cast in a small role on the Golden Girls spin-off The Golden Palace, where she was mentored by the late Rue McClanahan.
 
After winning the American Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian, a sitcom was created for Cho, called All American Girl, based on Cho's stand-up routine.
 
After the show was cancelled, Cho faced struggles in her career and personal life, which she then used as material for her first one-woman show, I'm the One That I Want. She later developed that material into an autobiography of the same name, which recounted her difficulties breaking into show business because of her ethnicity and weight, and her subsequent struggle with and victory over body image issues and addiction.
 
Since then, Cho has continued to spin her life experiences into gold, carving out a place for herself in our hearts, and showing us that being yourself is truly GLAM.
 
I recently caught up with Margaret to talk about her new tour, the future, and how to get in bed with her.
 
GLAM: I have had the opportunity to meet you a few different times through the years, at a Bam Bam and Celeste screening in San Francisco, a rally against Prop 8 in Sacramento, and a Girl in a Coma show at SXSW, and have seen you in parades and rallies at various times. You have really become a champion for the queer community, and I have witnessed your influence firsthand, so I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for being a voice for many of us.
 
Margaret: Thank you!
 
G: That being said, as the self-proclaimed "Prime Minister of the Gays," and as someone who has been outspoken regarding equal rights, and also body image, you have become a role model for many, contributing to increased acceptance for an array of people. Who are some of your role models?
 
M: I take a lot of inspiration from Harvey Milk, who I saw in the very beginning, and whose brilliant career was cut short so tragically. I see a lot of amazing work from Chely Wright, who is trying to build an LGBT Center in Kansas City – so I have role models from my past, and role models who are with me right now.
 
G: You have your new tour Mother, but you also recently recorded a musical comedy album. Are the two projects separate or are you incorporating the album into the tour?
 
M: The projects are separate, but I may do one song from [the album] on tour, I haven’t decided yet. It’s a lot of fun to do, and it’s always great to do a sing-a-long!
 
G: What is your album called how can we get our hands on it?
 
M: It’s called “Unholy Love” and I will put it out early next year!
 
G: You also have a new web series called In Transition, about 3 women recently released from prison. There has been a lot of buzz for another recent drama about female inmates. Do you feel they are stealing your thunder? Or that it will compliment your series?
 
M: I think it complements our series! And our show is focused on the journey out, back into society, so it’s really different in its own way!
 
G: If you were to be convicted in real life, what would be your crime? Who would you choose to be your prison wifey?
 
M: It would probably be something I don’t understand like insider trading and I would have to try to find someone who could take care of me! I am way more wifey!
 
G: On that note, you were recently in bed with Joan Rivers. What do I have to do to get you in my bed?
 
M: Just ask! I love Joan, and all she had to do was ask! So yes!
 
G: You recently came out as Chinese. How did your family and friends take it? Did anyone try to tell you that it was just a phase or that they had suspected it?
 
M: We all found out at the same time, which made it a little less of a scandal, but it was scandalous all the same! Actually, the whole point of it is that national borders mean less to ethnic identity than we think, and that in a sense, we are all from the same race – we are all connected.
 
G: I agree. You recently dressed as Catwoman to show your interest in being a host on The View. You've also expressed interest in doing a show with [redacted] Have you tried dressing as Catwoman for him?
 
M: I have not dressed as Catwoman for [redacted], but [...] The View found [it] hilarious. I would love to be on The View! And on [redacted]!
 
G: What musical artists are on your radar recently?
 
M: I am all about joining Wilco – I want to be a one woman tribute band to them, “Wilcho”, which has been approved by Jeff Tweedy. I love them so much.
 
G: Now that you have done stage, television, movies, music, and radio- is there any area of the business that you haven't done and would like to do?
 
M: I just love stand up comedy. I will always do it. That is the only thing I really need to do for my sanity and my life.
 
G: What about a soap opera? Do you have a favorite one?
 
M: Maybe General Hospital? That was a great one! They even had a song!
 
G: Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
 
M: I can’t wait to get out on tour – it has been too long, and I love this life, this is where I am at my finest, my happiest.
 
So she’s back on tour, doing what started her career, and who doesn’t love a girl who stays true to her roots, herself, and what makes her happy? We certainly Margaret Cho for it!
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Update September 2019: The name of a comedian was redacted from the interview due to the discovery of their inappropriate behavior with several women since the publication of this interview.

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