Hell's Kitchen
HEROES real democracy, real fairness – that would be enough. That's what I would be about.” Born in the late sixties in San Francisco, Cho's childhood wasn’t what you’d describe as traditional. Her mother had resisted an arranged marriage in Korea to marry a joke book writer, and together, they ran an LGBTQ book shop at a time when the fight for gay rights was gathering momentum. “I grew up around people who were supportive of Harvey Milk, people who were getting out and getting very, very into marching, people looking to create awareness around AIDS, and to create a kind of community for surviving. That's the sort of environment that I grew up in, around the people that were really creating change in the '70s, '80s, and ‘90s.” Despite that openness, however, the young Cho still didn’t quite fit in. “I kind of identified as a lesbian at first,” she says, “bisexuality came a little bit later. Being gay around my upbringing was really normal, but bisexuality was really weird, and I think my family’s still kind of freaked out by it. It's always been that way in my life.” But that’s changing for the generation she's paved the way for, and whose voices she’s fought to be heard. “I think it's really happening with a lot of younger people identifying in all the different ways they do. I think that now, also, I'm becoming much more aware of a non-binary community. There are so many different ways to identify nowadays that queerness is becoming much more specified, and therefore somehow we're expanding the notion of who we are by our specific identities. “For me,” she adds, “I think activism has always been about survival. It's the origin of my life as an artist, but
“We were complicit without even realizing, because it was so ingrained in our beings to be silent, to keep these secrets.”
it's something that I think is more important now than ever.” She started telling jokes as a way of escaping constant bullying. “You've got to find the humor in things in order to figure out how to endure them, overcome them,” she argues. “And when you're talking about sexual abuse, rape, sexual predators, this is something where the humor can be life saving. "As a survivor myself, this is something I feel very comfortable talking about it. It’s about being able to let the light in. We've been so secretive for so long about so many things, and so, for me, this is a way to healing. “And I think that's what's so great is that now we have a culture that supports people who speak up, people who use their platforms for change. I remember, even in the '90s, people making excuses for male predatory behavior, or having to endure that culture of silence that Harvey Weinstein really thrived in. That's the kind of show biz that I know. “Now that’s changed and turned around, it’s really incredible. I never thought I’d see that in my lifetime. We
were complicit without even realizing, because it was so ingrained in our beings to be silent, to keep these secrets. Now there’s a big change to the way that we even perceive how we should be treated, and I think it's amazing.” Which is, in essence, what The Golden Probes is celebrating. “It's about trying to get people out to vote for the midterm elections,” says Cho. “But also, it's just a great opportunity to make fun of these really disgusting people and the incredible sexism that goes on on a daily basis in the world." Produced by Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show and co-founder of Lady Parts Justice, the show will include appearances by Jessica Pimentel (Orange Is the New Black), Dan Savage, Jordan Klepper, Kathy Najimy, and Stormy Daniels. “I mean, I just love Lizz anyway, but to be able to do something like this is, I think, really important. It's such a weird time, where people are saying things like, ‘Well, #metoo has slowed down.’ It's in the greatest spirit of real change and feminism and also comedy.” And, on a less woke note, it’ll be an opportunity for the LA-based performer to be back in a city she loves. “Every time I've lived in New York, it's not been for long periods – not more than a year or so – and it's always been attached to work, to a show, or something. But, to me, it's very special, it's still a very hallowed place, a very glamorous place that I really idealize. I'm excited to be back for this.” The Golden Probes is at The Town Hall on October 20 (thetownhall.org), and you can watch the webcast on October 21 at goldenprobes.com.
2015 Co-hosts TLC’s All About
and Jennifer Grey). She’s eliminated in the third round. She also receives a Grammy nomination for Comedy Album of the Year, for Cho Dependent.
SEX late-night call-in show. This year also sees her film a Showtime special/DVD psyCHO at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre.
2011 Stars as Kim Jong-Il in 30
2017 Rolling Stone names her one
Rock, a performance that earns her an Emmy nomination for Best Guest Performance.
of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
2018 Tours with her new
comedy show, Fresh Off The Bloat, which riffs on her getting off drink, drugs, and being free from suicidal thoughts. She’s also set to star alongside Will Smith in Netflix’s Bright, and has two more projects in postproduction.
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DIGITAL EDITION