“Margaret Cho’s ‘Beautiful’ DVD.” – Concert Review

By Bob Zerull

Margaret Cho has done it all. At forty years of age she’s an actress, fashion designer, author, gay icon, and recording artist. She’s a political activist who has stood up for gay and lesbian rights, specifically the right to marriage. She’s won numerous humanitarian awards for efforts on behalf of women, Asians and the lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) community. First and foremost, Margaret Cho is a comedian and she’s back with her fifth comedy special entitled “Beautiful,” which comes out November 17th.

“Beautiful” was taped just weeks before the 2008 election and there was plenty of election talk. Margaret claims in her special that she was fired from the Obama campaign for her jokes about McCain and Palin. She goes on to say that she’s sick of McCain, because everybody calls him a great soldier. “Well, he was captured, must not have been that good.” Cho is not a fan of Sarah Palin because she tolerates gays. What does that mean? Cho goes on to say she’s torn because she hates Sarah Palin but she really wants to have sex with her (but Cho puts it in a much more profane way).

Cho clearly has found her niche with the LGBT community much like Kathy Griffin or Joan Rivers. She spent a good portion of her show dedicated to Proposition 8 and the legalization of gay marriage. As with any great satirists she spends much of her show focusing on stereotypes and making fun of them. Like the G shot she got on her G spot to help her have better orgasms, because she’s Asian and if there’s extra credit she’s going to do it.

The comedian also discusses her new television show called “The Cho Show” in which she appears naked in every episode. She does this because in 1994 when her break out show “All American Girl” premiered she was wearing a tank top and her producers told her to never wear it again because she looked fat. Cho said she wants to be naked in every episode of “The Cho Show” because those producers can see her ass in every episode and kiss it. During her time on the “All American Girl” she starved herself several weeks, rapidly losing weight. By the time the pilot premiered she experienced serious kidney failure.

What’s good? If you fall within Cho’s niche you’ll love every second of this special. Additionally, if you’re a normal, open-minded human being you’ll find “Beautiful” very entertaining.

What’s bad? If you’re a close minded conservative who’s uncomfortable with X-rated humor involving numerous “controversial” topics such as homosexuality then you’ll probably be turned off. If I just described you I challenge you to watch her special. You might just learn something.