If the Pope could get John Boehner to resign, couldn’t he use his special powers to bring back Nancy Pelosi? It would be an answer to my prayers.
#KateClinton
The stars, rainbows, fog banks and queer angels must have been in magical alignment on December 5, 1968, when Margaret Cho entered the world right here in San Francisco. The three-time Grammy and Emmy-nominated comedian, actress, singer, author and more is truly one of our city’s greats. There’s no I in team, but there’s a Cho in Chosen One.
Cho’s parents, Young-Hie and Seung-Hoon Cho, ran the influential bookstore Paperback Traffic on Polk Street, which was then at the heart of the city’s LGBT community. She describes the diverse neighborhood in which she grew up in the 1970s as consisting of “old hippies, ex-druggies, burn-outs from the ‘60s, drag queens, Chinese people, and Koreans. To say it was a melting pot—that’s the least of it. It was a really confusing, enlightening, wonderful time.”
That description is so Cho, with the humorous undertones flowing non-stop from her directness, honesty, and thoughtful perceptiveness. It goes without saying that she is absolutely brilliant, both on and off stage. Her range is extraordinary, encompassing everything from the raunchiest silly moments to astute observations about San Francisco’s most pressing current challenges. We were smitten with her from our first meetings many years ago. We were therefore delighted to catch up with Cho ahead of her two Castro Theatre performances of “The PsyCHO Tour.”
San Francisco Bay Times: Do you have groupies? We could easily fall into that category.
Margaret Cho: I don’t have groupies! I haven’t ever really! I mean, it’s something that I would enjoy, but I think that my touring schedule doesn’t really allow for it. I am usually leaving very early the following morning for the next tour stop, and since I am doing so many shows in such a short period of time, I can’t really party ever! But thank you, and if you are the kind of groupies who like to drink Sleepytea and go right to sleep, then you are absolutely welcome!
San Francisco Bay Times: At least we have you for two performances on October 15 at the Castro Theatre. What memories–past or more recent–come to mind when you think of this landmark theater in the heart of the Castro?
Margaret Cho: I have performed there for the gay porn awards, serenading Ricky Sinz with a song I had written about his very large penis appropriately titled “Your Dick,” which was spectacular.
I attended with Janice Dickinson and we went to the Armory afterwards to celebrate with Violet Blue and Peter Acworth and Princess Donna. The Castro has long been my very favorite movie theatre, and I have enjoyed many screenings of All about Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? there. It really lends itself to Bette Davis movies, and she is my idol!
San Francisco Bay Times: Paper- back Traffic deserves greater cre-dit, in our view, for strengthening LGBT power of the press back in the day. Did you ever read the San Francisco Bay Times then, and who were some influential gay people that you met in those early years? We’re not so much interested in their names, but what affect they and the community then had on you.
Margaret Cho: Yes, of course! We carried the Bay Times in our front window and Armistead Maupin would do book signings at the store. The legendary Jerome Caja was an employee, and there were many drag queens and artists–diverse stars from Brian Eno to Robin Williams–who would come in and connect there. It was an incredible time and place to grow up!
San Francisco Bay Times: What do you like to do, and where do you like to go, when you’re back in your hometown of San Francisco?
Margaret Cho: I love to eat—this is the most important thing to do. From Mission Street burritos (Taqueria La Cumbre, which is actually on Valencia) to the House of Prime Rib to dim sum to Kate’s Kitchen and Cafe International down in the Lower Haight to my favorite pizza ‘You Say Potato’ slice at Escape from New York Pizza in the Upper Haight—I can eat my way through the 7×7 happily.
San Francisco Bay Times: What has the response been like so far for the “Marry Me, Margaret” contest (where couples vie for a chance to be wed for real by Cho on stage during a performance), and are you good at matchmaking?
We are guessing you are, given your insightful nature.
Margaret Cho: It’s been great, and I will be marrying some good friends at the Castro show! It’s such an honor and a privilege to do something like that, so I am very grateful! I am not such a good matchmaker really, but I can officiate a wedding ceremony very well!
San Francisco Bay Times: So much of what you say resonates, especially about desiring “emotional monogamy.” Yes!!! What other qualities do you look for in a partner?
Margaret Cho: I think I look for humor most of all—someone I can laugh with and who makes me look at things in a new way. Also, someone who loves to eat and cook, and talk about food, and make food the center of our existence. This is very important! Chefs are the sexiest people always! Sommeliers too!
San Francisco Bay Times: You recently participated in a fantastic new documentary, “The Women’s List,” featuring Madel- ine Albright, Nancy Pelosi, pilot Nia Wordlaw and other notable women. You mention that “often times the women who are successful in comedy are women who don’t care what men think.” Why do you believe that’s so?
Margaret Cho: I think it’s because men have such a solid sense of community and camaraderie in comedy, and that is not true of women on the scene because there are so few of us, so it’s about having a sense of security and not needing validation from men, because that is not available to female comedians. Comedy is often considered a male pastime: a traditional boys’ club where women are not welcome. That is why women in comedy are always exceptional—they’ve had to come up virtually alone and unsupported and really, only an extraordinary talent is capable of that. (Editor’s Note: We agree, and have to add that Cho is also very humble and self-deprecating in person. Outside of interviews, she rarely talks about herself, and instead has an intense curiosity about other people concerning what they do and what makes them tick.)
San Francisco Bay Times: Do you think the U.S. will have a woman President in our lifetime?
Why do you think we haven’t had one so far?
Margaret Cho: I would love to see a woman President—and I think Hillary Clinton had a lot of power in the Clinton administration—so we can look at it as if she has already been President for 8 years. There’s so much sexism still, and this is why we haven’t had one really yet. I mean, it’s hard to get a woman on late night TV; how do we get a woman in the White House?
San Francisco Bay Times: We can’t wait to see your show! Any chance that you’ll ever move back to San Francisco? Somehow just knowing that you are in town, like when you busked to help others last year, improved our spirits.
Margaret Cho: I gave up my place in an art commune in San Francisco a few months ago, mostly because I wasn’t in town enough to appreciate it, and I really want to keep low cost housing available for artists who can actually live in the city, so I sacrificed my place to allow another artist to live there. I return to the city often, but now I am just staying in hotels and with friends! I’d really love to come back and do more busking for the homeless. I am concerned about the Super Bowl and what that means for homeless people in the city. Everything has gotten so expensive; it’s a real struggle for everyone!
Margaret Cho performs “The PsyCHO Tour” tonight, October 15, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The 8 pm show quickly sold out, so a second performance at 10:30 pm was added. As of this writing, some seats are still available for the second show, so see this comic genius and San Francisco treasure if you can! http://margaretcho.com/2015/05/11/fall-tour-announcement-the-psycho-tour/
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