The Cho Show
Encyclopedia
The Cho Show is a reality
-sitcom
starring comedienne Margaret Cho
which premiered on VH1
on August 21, 2008. The series follows Cho as she interacts with her family and friends, including her mother and her assistant Selene Luna
. Sandra Bernhard
, Wanda Sykes
, Michelle Rodriguez
, Kat Von D
, Nina Hartley
and Joan Rivers
make appearances during the show's first season. The premiere episode, titled "Korean of the Year", was available for download from the U.S. iTunes Store
for free. The DVD of the show is planned for release in Australia, on 4 March 2009.
Margaret announces to her parents that she is being honored as the "Korean of the Year." Although her parents are excited, Margaret is hesitant to accept the award as it dredges up old memories of the Korean community's less-than-stellar response to her career. Already stressed, Margaret's parents surprise her with a baby outfit in their ongoing attempt for grandchildren. Meanwhile, Charlie and Stapleton battle to give Margaret the perfect dress for the event. On the night of the award show, Margaret nervously performs to a surprisingly adoring Korean crowd and finally gains the acceptance that had eluded her.
After struggling throughout their lives to meet society's expectations of conventional beauty, Margaret and Selene decide to hold their own mother-daughter beauty pageant. Acting on the advice of a pageant queen, the women explore the worlds of spray tanning and ventriloquism as they prepare for the big day. The Cho-Universe Pageant is a huge success celebrating Margaret's dream of embracing all kinds of beauty.Celebrity judges included Michelle Rodriguez
, Alec Mapa
, and Chenese Lewis
. Margaret's talent for the pageant was dressing up like Sherrie Lewis and her assistant was Lambchop in a hilarious rendition of the old show "Lambchop". The pageant ends in a draw amongst all the contestants as Margaret and the judges felt they were all beautiful in their own way and should be accepted as they are.
Interested in exploring the green movement, Margaret decides to take the gang into the wilderness in order to disconnect themselves with today's modern luxuries. The group begins to fight with each other as they are forced to live in a tent and forage for food. After days of living "off the grid," Margaret finally allows the group to eat real food. During the meal, the Chos relate stories of their struggles during the Korean War giving the group a newfound appreciation of their lives. Guest appearance by Gary Busey.
In a quest to explore the world of paparazzi-obsessed celebrity, Margaret decides to make a pop single and a mock sex tape. While she is busy with her new careers, Margaret enlists the help of Selene to keep her parents distracted. Although her song turns out well, she realizes that she has taken things too far with the sex tape and decides to redirect her focus on the thing that has brought her success - her comedy.
With her 40th birthday quickly approaching, Margaret starts to consider the process of aging in Hollywood. After exploring various anti-aging methods such as plastic surgery and anal bleaching, Margaret finds her own ways to age gracefully; being a well-tattooed cougar.
After being told by a psychic that a ghost was living in her vagina, Margaret starts to experience writer's block. Worried that the ghost might be causing it, Margaret tries various ways to remedy the situation. In an effort to help Margaret, Selene tries her hand at comedy writing and seeks guidance from the Cho's. With the help of her friends Margaret has a creative breakthrough and is able to make peace with her haunted vagina and perform.
After receiving news that she will be honored by having a day named after her, Margaret returns to her hometown of San Francisco. Eager to re-connect with people from her past, Margaret and her parents hope to see Forbes, their elusive family friend that helped raise Margaret. After a whirlwind trip through San Francisco filled with both fun and emotion, Margaret finally gets her day and decides that Margaret Cho Day will be known as a holiday that accepts everyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
-sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
starring comedienne Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho is an American comedian, fashion designer, actress, author, and recording artist. Cho is best known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social and political problems, especially those pertaining to race and sexuality. She has also directed and appeared in music...
which premiered on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
on August 21, 2008. The series follows Cho as she interacts with her family and friends, including her mother and her assistant Selene Luna
Selene Luna
Selene Luna is an actress, comedienne, burlesque star, and model known for her roles on comedian Margaret Cho's reality TV series The Cho Show and in such films as My Bloody Valentine 3D...
. Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
, Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes is an American writer, stand-up comedian, actress, and voice artist. She earned the 1999 Emmy Award for her writing on The Chris Rock Show. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America...
, Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
, Kat Von D
Kat Von D
Katherine Drachenberg , known professionally as Kat Von D and who has given her name as Katherine von Drachenberg in two German interviews is an American tattoo artist and television personality...
, Nina Hartley
Nina Hartley
Nina Hartley is an American pornographic actress, pornographic film director, sex educator, feminist, and author.-Early life:...
and Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
make appearances during the show's first season. The premiere episode, titled "Korean of the Year", was available for download from the U.S. iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
for free. The DVD of the show is planned for release in Australia, on 4 March 2009.
Korean of the Year
First aired August 21, 2008Margaret announces to her parents that she is being honored as the "Korean of the Year." Although her parents are excited, Margaret is hesitant to accept the award as it dredges up old memories of the Korean community's less-than-stellar response to her career. Already stressed, Margaret's parents surprise her with a baby outfit in their ongoing attempt for grandchildren. Meanwhile, Charlie and Stapleton battle to give Margaret the perfect dress for the event. On the night of the award show, Margaret nervously performs to a surprisingly adoring Korean crowd and finally gains the acceptance that had eluded her.
Cho-Universe Pageant
First aired August 28, 2008After struggling throughout their lives to meet society's expectations of conventional beauty, Margaret and Selene decide to hold their own mother-daughter beauty pageant. Acting on the advice of a pageant queen, the women explore the worlds of spray tanning and ventriloquism as they prepare for the big day. The Cho-Universe Pageant is a huge success celebrating Margaret's dream of embracing all kinds of beauty.Celebrity judges included Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
, Alec Mapa
Alec Mapa
-Personal life:Mapa, a Filipino American, was born in San Francisco and attended George Washington High School . Mapa is openly gay and lends his support to various projects supporting the gay, lesbian, and Asian American communities...
, and Chenese Lewis
Chenese Lewis
Chenese Tharis Lewis born November 14 from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is an American actress, plus-size model, and a positive body image and self esteem advocate. Lewis was an actress on the first season of the BET series Hell Date and made history by being the first woman crowned Miss Plus America.-...
. Margaret's talent for the pageant was dressing up like Sherrie Lewis and her assistant was Lambchop in a hilarious rendition of the old show "Lambchop". The pageant ends in a draw amongst all the contestants as Margaret and the judges felt they were all beautiful in their own way and should be accepted as they are.
Off the Grid
First aired September 4, 2008Interested in exploring the green movement, Margaret decides to take the gang into the wilderness in order to disconnect themselves with today's modern luxuries. The group begins to fight with each other as they are forced to live in a tent and forage for food. After days of living "off the grid," Margaret finally allows the group to eat real food. During the meal, the Chos relate stories of their struggles during the Korean War giving the group a newfound appreciation of their lives. Guest appearance by Gary Busey.
Two Chos, One Cup
First aired September 11, 2008In a quest to explore the world of paparazzi-obsessed celebrity, Margaret decides to make a pop single and a mock sex tape. While she is busy with her new careers, Margaret enlists the help of Selene to keep her parents distracted. Although her song turns out well, she realizes that she has taken things too far with the sex tape and decides to redirect her focus on the thing that has brought her success - her comedy.
Dr. 9021-Cho
First aired September 18, 2008With her 40th birthday quickly approaching, Margaret starts to consider the process of aging in Hollywood. After exploring various anti-aging methods such as plastic surgery and anal bleaching, Margaret finds her own ways to age gracefully; being a well-tattooed cougar.
Haunt-Gina
First aired September 25, 2008After being told by a psychic that a ghost was living in her vagina, Margaret starts to experience writer's block. Worried that the ghost might be causing it, Margaret tries various ways to remedy the situation. In an effort to help Margaret, Selene tries her hand at comedy writing and seeks guidance from the Cho's. With the help of her friends Margaret has a creative breakthrough and is able to make peace with her haunted vagina and perform.
Cho Place Like Home
First aired September 25, 2008 (season finale)After receiving news that she will be honored by having a day named after her, Margaret returns to her hometown of San Francisco. Eager to re-connect with people from her past, Margaret and her parents hope to see Forbes, their elusive family friend that helped raise Margaret. After a whirlwind trip through San Francisco filled with both fun and emotion, Margaret finally gets her day and decides that Margaret Cho Day will be known as a holiday that accepts everyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
External links
- The Cho Show at the VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
website - Margaret Cho Photos at the VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
website