[highest rating]
“Love yourself without reservation...love each other without restraint. Unless you’re into leather”. Words to live by.
And speaking of “words”, since Notorious C.H.O. is a concert for adults only, so too is this review. If Bad Words makes you want to reach for your bible, stop reading now.
THE STORY
Notorious C.H.O.
is comedian Margaret Cho’s followup to her 2000 comedy concert, I’m
The One That I Want, filmed on digital video in Seattle in early
2002. In addition to Cho’s standup bit, the opening and closing sequences
feature fan reaction, and a treat for those who enjoyed Cho’s very funny
impersonation of her mother in her last film: Cho’s mother and father,
in the flesh.
And even more than she did in her last joint, Cho rocked the house.
THE UPSHOT
“Irreverent” is a
phrase that’s overused these days, too often without merit. But it’s completely
apropos in the case of Notorious C.H.O., and of Margaret Cho herself. Starting
with her warped twist on the September 11 tragedy - yes, America, It’s
Okay To Laugh Again - Cho made it clear that she was taking no prisoners.
In reviewing her previous concert film, I was caught off-guard by Cho; not having had much familiarity with her background and humor, it took me awhile to warm up to her the first time around. But having seen I’m The One on film, then seeing her concert live in Seattle in 2000, as well as meeting her backstage afterwards, I knew what to expect in Notorious C.H.O. - at least, I thought I knew. Still, I was surprised at how long, and hard, and often, I laughed while watching this concert.
To call her comedy Blue would be an understatement. There are few of her jokes and observations that I could repeat in this review that wouldn’t be censored (if 3BC had a censor...and since we don’t, here’s my favorite line of the concert, regarding “the only gay bar in Scotland”: “That place should just be called ‘Fuck Me In The Ass’. Bar and Grill.”).
What sets Cho apart from the foul comedians that eventually ruined Def Comedy Jam, though, is that unlike their constant barrage of meaningless filth, there is a Message behind Cho’s sharp wit; one that softens the edges just a wee bit. If she riffs on gay men not wanting to hear of her troubles in climaxing during straight sex, she counters that riff with a tribute to the two drag queens who wouldn’t let a doofus agent convince Cho that Asians had no place in show business. If she clowns on her mother and father, she balances that with the obvious love she has for them. If she takes straight men and the Issues they bring, to task...well, as she might put it, she likes dick, whaddya do?
And she doesn’t give herself a bye, either; without hesitation, she tells the audience about her varied and sundry self-esteem problems - and more importantly, how she overcame them and is now able to look her detractors in the eye with a hearty Fuck You Very Much. This is why I’ve claimed Cho to be 3BC’s Adopted Sista. She seems so incredibly genuine, so true to herself, that even as a short Chick, she stands head-and-shoulders above so many of her opportunistic fellow celebrities (can you say “Rosie O’Donnell”?). As funny as she is, when Miz Cho brings The Message, you know it isn’t just lip service.
Hmmm. Considering some of Cho’s habits, maybe that’s a bad choice of words...
BAMMER’S BOTTOM
LINE
Not since Richard
Pryor’s searingly funny, introspective concerts, has a comedian made me
laugh through the tears the way Margaret Cho has. As I said of her in I’m
The One That I Want, preach, sista!
3BC Rating:
[highest rating] “What are you waiting for?”
And that’s the way I see it.
Rose “Bams” Cooper
3BlackChicks Review™
Copyright Rose Cooper,
2002