Last week, I had a chance to go with my friend Adam to the Warfield to see Margaret Cho’s latest comedy tour, Beautiful. Margaret Cho has been on my radar for years - first as one of the first visible Asian American comics out there with her own television sitcom, then using her comedy as a way to assert herself and a positive attitude in I’m The One That I Want, then become the raunchy comedienne for queer people, of which I am one. When her second book was released, I finally got the chance to meet her at a book signing and tell her, “oh hey, I’m Ernie, and you link to my blog from yours. Hi.”
But I digress.
So here’s my thing about Margaret Cho - I LOVE it when she makes Asian jokes. I make Asian jokes. But I don’t like my comedy political; I don’t like my comedy angry, either - I can’t stand Bill Maher, and Stephen Colbert initially made me wince. So when I sat down and tried to read her book I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, I couldn’t finish reading the first chapter: it didn’t make me laugh, it made me angry. And I don’t watch stand-up comedy to make me angry, anyway. There are still political elements in her newest show, and I wonder how truly effectual she is when she’s essentially preaching to a very gay choir that already agrees with everything she says.
But all of that being said, I LOVE how she keeps things real and transparent. She’s crass, explicit and unapologetic. She rallies the crowd to the idea that everyone is beautiful and important despite the forces in life saying otherwise. And to this day, she’s still one of the most visible Asian American comediennes out there.
(Flickr photo credit: knightbefore_99)
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YvesPaul wrote:
I’ve been to her “Assassin” show and her “I’m The One I Want” Show. Love her. I wonder what happened to the movie she produced, “Bam Bam and Celeste”, is it?
Posted on 21-Mar-08 at 1:08 pm | Permalink
jennifer wrote:
I *heart* margaret.
i really like her “I’m the One that I want” DVD the best
i have it memorized.
Posted on 21-Mar-08 at 1:20 pm | Permalink
Julie wrote:
I agree with you, both on wanting my comedy anger-free AND on how awesome Margaret Cho is. She says things that need to be said.
Posted on 22-Mar-08 at 11:03 pm | Permalink
Sophia wrote:
I love Margaret for so many reasons - Asian-Am, woman, blunt. and for her politics.
Many comedians fear touching politics, but she doesn’t. She realizes that she has some power to make people think and bringing up issues and then making jokes about them is great! for example, I remember at her last show, she brought up a very serious topic, and we were all almost sad, then she lightened things up with a big laugh!
otherwise, I think many younger people would never think about politics… so, I think she is doing a service. and making do with what power she has. I admire that.
Posted on 24-Mar-08 at 6:10 pm | Permalink