Gearing up for a busy summer, Margaret Cho starts Pride Month performing in KC

Photo Courtesy of Sergio Garcia

Comedian Margaret Cho would like you to know that she’s mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and cosmically preparing for one heckuva busy summer. In fact, she’s kicking off Pride month here in Kansas City with a three-night stint of her new show, “Live & Livid.” The tour, which coincides with Cho’s 40th anniversary in stand-up, swings by The Comedy Club of Kansas City, May 31–June 2. 

The last time we chatted with Cho in 2022, she unabashedly gave hot takes on anything that enraged her, which, as we pointed out, gave her plenty of good material. This go-around, things were a little lighter. We pinged and ponged through plenty of current events and topics—many of which showcased Cho’s omniscient, pop culture savviness.

The Pitch: I love that you’re kicking off Pride month here in Kansas City, sister-friend. What other fun, festive things do you have planned for June?

Margaret Cho: I’m really excited about that. For Pride, I have three films at the Tribeca Film Festival. So, there’s a feature called All That We Love, which is a really beautiful film. And I’m in the history of queer comedy documentary from Netflix. And then I’m in a short, horror film called Family Guide to Hunting, which is really gory and crazy—and that’s just June.

And then, I have a film coming out where it’s my first full-nude scene with Meg Stalter—the amazing Meg Stalter from Hacks. We have a love scene in her film, Cora Bora. And I’m wearing a fake vagina and fake breasts, but they look very real. Very. Real. It’s so hilarious! And I love Meg Statler and I’m excited about it. And then, of course, Pride everywhere! My Pride will be in L.A.

Photo Courtesy of Albert Sanchez

Right! Then I see in July you’re unveiling Mommy: A One Woman Cho in New York. What’s the story there? Are you workshopping it?

Yes, it’s a workshop for the New York Stage and Film Festival. It’s a work in progress, but I’m nearing the end of the writing process. I’ve been working on this play—it’s a one-woman show—and I’ve been working on it for, like, 10 years. It’s a play about my mom. I play her and I play her sisters and myself. It’s very different, but also people who know my stand-up comedy will know I’ve been doing impressions of my mother forever. And she’s excited about it because she can’t hear anything anymore. And she’s not getting a hearing aid. That’s what she said—she was gonna see it, but not listen to it. So, that’s great.

Thanks, Mom! Your material about your mom is always, always, always the icing on the cake in your stand-up. Why do you think she resonates with your fans like she does? Like, I want to meet her.

She’s great. She’s like the voice of my Asian-ness in a way. Also, my mom was an early gay activist. My parents owned a gay bookstore in the ’70s, so they were hyping the gay community from 1978. I think they’re funny and they’re really earthy. They’re also very cantankerous in a really great way, so I think people respond to that. And it’s also part of the immigrant experience. Like, everybody has that immigrant family member who is always coming correct all the time in ways that are unexpected. So, I think that’s what people love about it. 

Photo Courtesy of Sergio Garcia

The Met Gala was earlier this week, so I’m going to put you on the spot—who would design your ethereal Met Gala dress?

Oh, gosh. You know, I think, obviously, Margiela. Margiela and Galliano would be the ultimate. Also, Iris van Herpen! In general, I’m not that into AI, but when it comes to Iris van Herpen, she’s something else. I just really love it. 

I also love—and I don’t know who designed it—but Tyla was the sand from the sands of time. She was just basically covered in sand, and it looked so great. I mean, it’s like the beach did her outfit. It’s just basically a mold of sand. It looks so good. So, she was my favorite. I also loved Barry Keoghan. He looked like somebody from Hamilton. But it was perfect. His look was kind of like the Artful Dodger Goes to the Met Gala. I just love what everybody puts out there. 

I have a little bit of a man crush on Barry Keoghan, but I have a bigger man crush on his Saltburn co-star Jacob Elordi. 

Saltburn was my favorite movie last year. I love that movie so much that I had to watch it again after it was over. The best comment on that movie was on Letterbox—and I did not write this, but I wish I had—it was: ‘Sometimes you have to bottom your way to the top.’

I see what they did there. So, you’re admittedly a legendary Swiftie. So, if the planets align, what are the chances that Taylor, Travis, you, and I can go out for tacos while you’re here?

Photo Courtesy of Sergio Garcia

I would love that. Let’s do it! I’m a longtime Swiftie and I love that she’s got this new man that seems to make her really happy. All I care about for her is I just want her to be happy, you know? And he seems like a really nice man. So, I’m really glad for all this—but, yes, let’s go have tacos. 

Wait, have you met Taylor? Because I’m dying to meet Travis!

I have not. I have not had the honor. I would love to. I have not even been able to go see her live, so I would love to do that, too. So yeah, I’m a huge fan and, hopefully, we’ll get to do that someday.

Sold! I’m in! Hey, I was scouring through a lot of your old talk show appearances. Would you ever have any desire to host a talk show? I mean, you’re kind of a pop culture savant as it is.

Thank you! I would love to. I would absolutely adore that. With the limited experience I’ve had with it—like, I’ve gotten to do a little bit of the red carpet things—I’ve gotten to interview people. I’ve gotten to do podcasting stuff. I’ve gotten to do Fashion Police when Joan Rivers passed away and do some stuff for them. So, I would love to—someday!

Complete sidebar—What show would you absolutely kill to be on right now? Like, if there’s a casting agent reading this, I need them to know that you want to be on this program. 

Well, I’d love to be on Hacks again. I love Hacks. I love the world of Hacks. I was on season 2 as myself and I would love to come back. I would love to be in a K-drama—that’s kind of where I really spend a lot of time. Right now, I’m in the middle of Queen of Tears and it’s just the best. I would love to be in the next season of True Detective. It’s going very lesbian—and I’m here for it!

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that you’re celebrating 40 years of stand-up. So, what would seasoned, 50-something Margaret Cho tell teen ingenue Margaret Cho?

That it’s all gonna go really well. And you just have to have a good time and not worry so much and not be so scared, and not get all upset about things. I think that I wish that I had more fun because I took a lot of things seriously—too seriously, sometimes. I think it just never occurred to me that I could just relax. And I still think, ‘Oh, is it time to just enjoy it?’ I think this tour right now is the time where I’m like, ‘Oh, I can just enjoy this, have a good time, and just really celebrate all that I’ve gotten to do!’

The Roast of Tom Brady just came out and, of course, it’s got a lot of buzz. Have you ever done a roast? Would you do a roast?

Photo Courtesy of Nick Spanos

I haven’t done one for a long time, but definitely, I would! I have done them before—before they were even televised. I was a member of the Friars Club in the ’80s. So, I’ve been to many and attended many. 

Who would be at the top of your list if you could roast anyone?  

I think any of the Kardashians—they would probably be easy. They kind of get roasted even if they’re not part of the roast. So, I would do anybody. 

Okay, finally—You probably don’t remember this, but the last time we talked, you had a gorgeous bouquet of flowers randomly delivered to you right before our interview.  And you were absolutely giddy. So, is your love language gifts?

I like plants. So, you know I’m a big gardener. So, anything that I can put out—and flowers are part of that—it’s anything I could put out in my garden. My love language is basically living things—like, plants and also animals, like cats and dogs. So, I am a big, big lover of life, the living things. So, I have a great variety of plants and animals around. My animals are always doing great. My plants are in varying degrees of health. 

Interview has been edited for content and clarity.