ABSTRACT
When comedian Margaret Cho introduced herself to the American public in the early 1990s, it was the first time most, if not all, Americans had seen a popular Asian American – specifically Korean American – comedian (Rotella 2001). Though outspoken women comedians such as Roseanne Barr, Joan Rivers, and Brett Butler had already entered the typically male-dominated world of stand-up comedy before Cho, not yet had an Asian American man or woman offered a humorous voice to audiences on such a large scale. Unwilling to shy away from a predominantly white male profession, over the past 20 years, Cho has forged an unlikely path within the world of stand-up comedy, commonly discussing specific aspects of her Korean heritage. Whether it is because of or in spite of her minority status, Cho has developed a substantial and loyal following since her first appearances on the stand-up comedy stage and television shows, and was recently named the “Number One Asian American Comedian of All Time” (Fung 2010). She has become best known for her social commentaries about gender, sexuality, and, perhaps most notable, race. Additionally, to discuss such heavy issues, Cho routinely uses aggressive, confident, and unapologetic humor while voicing her opinions (Holden 2000). Though she has parlayed her talents into successful television, movie, and music careers, she began (and continues to be most known for) her work as a stand-up comedian.
