August 13, 2008
Cho Business
Those who’ve seen her stand-up act know that Margaret Cho and television can be a toxic mix. After all, her first brush with primetime glory, the ill-fated sitcom All-American Girl, triggered bouts of depression and drug addiction. But Cho may have finally found a good fit with VH1’s The Cho Show: a slice-of-L.A.-life reality series that lets the comedian act as Asian and/or as American as she wants to be.
You know the deal: Cameras trail Cho and her Fellini-esque posse (her parents, two stylists, little-person assistant) as they face daily dramas, like what should Cho wear to accept a “Korean of the Year” award. For a performer who’s long-resented getting pegged as “the Asian,” Cho and her stylists seem all too willing to play “the Diva" and "Worshipful Gay Boys." But looking for multi-dimensions in a VH1 series is like kvetching about eating right while lunching at McDonald’s.
Stick with it, though, and The Cho Show reveals itself as a rare breed: a reality program that actually feels real. When Cho’s mother gives her a baby outfit as a (hopeful) gift, Cho attempts to explain how she doesn’t have time to have kids. The camera lingers. They say goodnight in silence, and you almost feel guilty for watching.
The Cho Show premieres on VH1 on August 21 at 11 PM.
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