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Brick Wall Comedy

CHO Revolution

Margaret Cho

Sundance Channel · 2004 · 85 min

A politically charged sermon on self-love, persimmons, and early-2000s rage.

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Margaret Cho’s third theatrical stand-up film leans heavily into the political rage of the early 2000s, trading some of her earlier showbiz gossip for a broader crusade on self-esteem, sex, and the George W. Bush administration. The centerpiece of her physical comedy here is a vivid, agonizing story about her final attempt at a crash diet—surviving solely on persimmons for six months—which culminates in a desperate race against her own bowels during afternoon traffic in Los Angeles. She matches that high-friction bodily humor with a mock-sermon style, taking the stage to demand a world where women and queer people claim their desires without apology.

Recorded in 2003 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles and released the following year, the show caught Cho at a transitional point in her career. Having survived the fallout of her short-lived 90s sitcom and processed those scars in her previous two specials, she was settling into her role as an elder statesperson for alternative, queer-friendly comedy. Notable segments from the set include her critique of Thailand’s red light district, the absurdity of the “Asian Chicken Salad,” and her logical breakdown of why she will never be cast in a period film.

While loyal fans welcomed her trademark impressions of her mother and her explicit vulgarity, contemporary reviews were mixed. Some critics argued that her material had crossed the line from stand-up into performance art, noting a preachy tone that favored applause lines over joke structures. Some also pointed out technical shortcomings in the audio and camera work compared to her previous concert film, Notorious C.H.O.

The set list

5 bits

  1. President George W. Bush mispronouncing 'nuclear'

    Cho questions how someone in his position has never had anyone correct his pronunciation.

  2. Extreme dieting and loss of bowel control

    Shares a graphic scatological story about how an idiotic diet led to losing control of her bowels.

  3. Hollywood casting tropes for Asian women

    Critiques the entertainment industry for limiting Asian actresses to roles as crazy liquor-store owners or exotic prostitutes.

  4. 'Too Much Information' and 'Don't Go There' reactions

    Responds to dinner party guests who accuse her of sharing TMI by asserting that she bought a house in that uncomfortable space and will take them there.

  5. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Gay activism and equality rally message closer

    Saved for the conclusion of the concert, addressing LGBTQ+ activism and leaving the audience with an inspiring final statement.

How it plays

Tone
Satirical, righteous, brazenly raunchy, socially activist, and empowering.
On stage
Angry, outspoken, raunchy, and sarcastic yet mature, delivering an empowering and socially conscious voice that connects deeply with her devoted fanbase.
Pace
A mix of energetic rants, deliberate cadence, long pauses, expressive facial morphing, and uncomfortable silent visual routines interspersed with reflective discussion.
About
President George W. Bush and foreign policy, Hollywood racial stereotyping of Asian women, Diet, bowel control, and body image, Sex and domestic negotiation, Family and her mother, Gay rights and social activism

What the critics said

Critical reactions were mixed; while her passion, bravery, and personal candor were praised, reviewers noted that the special leaned heavily into preaching to the choir, containing uneven visual bits, long pauses, and facile or overly scatological premises.

In the room: Devoted and receptive, though punctuated by moments of tense silence during visual act-outs and polarizing reactions to the heavy political content.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: themoviedb.org, rottentomatoes.com, frameline.org, allmovie.com, flickfilosopher.com, dvdtalk.com, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed in May 2003 amidst the post-9/11 political atmosphere of the Bush administration, debates over gay and lesbian marriage rallies, and ongoing conversations surrounding Hollywood diversity.

Details

Released
Taped
2003, Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles
Runtime
85 min
Where
Sundance Channel
Director
Lorene Machado
Topics
Before
Revolution (2003)
After
Assassin (2005)

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