How To Write Funny Episode 40 | Margaret Cho
Apr 30, 2020
Margaret Cho, a veteran stand-up comic, writer, and actress, shares her experiences in the comedy industry. Topics discussed include her start in the 80s comedy boom, thoughts on writing and performing stand-up, the challenges faced by women in comedy, the disappearance of a renowned comedian, and the art of writing for plays.
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Early Start And Club Classroom
- Margaret Cho started doing stand-up at 14 and learned most by bombing and watching established comics in San Francisco clubs.
- She credits clubs like the Holy City Zoo and watching Robin Williams for teaching her stage craft and risk-taking.
Teenage Opening Slots
- As a teenager Cho did open mics and opened for headliners like Brett Butler and Ellen DeGeneres.
- She performed with a high-school comedy partner (Sam Rockwell) and took on real paying gigs early on.
The Comedy Condo Scene
- Comedians often shared cheap communal housing on tour; Cho recalls grimy 'comedy condos' with shocking decor.
- She describes a shared apartment whose wall collage included pornography and unsanitary residue, reflecting the male-dominated scene.