I try to keep my day job as separate from my fourfour job as possible, which is hard considering the disproportionate about of time I spend thinking about I Love Money and all sorts of televised cleavage. Still, what happened last week was too exciting for me not to share here. And you already know what it is because you read the headline above.
The interview was much longer than this, and more of it is going to be rolled out in segments this week. I'll update this post with links, since the part above is the most VH1-centric part of our chat (it's set-up for her reality show, see), and not my favorite one (the best is the one that I think is going up Thursday, in which she tells me a story about how Sharon Stone was a total cunt when she met her during the height of Basic Instinct insanity). But since this is the first, and since I'm so excited, I thought it prudent to post ASAP.
I'm posting this not just because I'm proud of it and I don't expect people to follow what goes on in VH1 territory, but to convey how meaningful it was for me to talk with Margaret. I was 15 when her HBO comedy special first aired (the one in which she wore the black catsuit) and its effect on me went beyond fleeting laughter. As I told her when the interview was over: "Before I knew (like really knew) I was gay, I knew I loved Margaret Cho, and I don't think that's a coincidence." The road to self-acceptance seemed unending for so many of my formative years, and it was truly a thrill to meet someone who helped me on my way.
Update: The funniest of the videos, in which Margaret talks about her meeting with Sharon Stone has been posted:
And the final segment is here.
amazing. amazing.
Posted by: j | August 21, 2008 at 12:45 AM
awww.... US ONLY :(
Posted by: F!TO | August 21, 2008 at 12:46 AM
i got to meet Margaret in 2006 when she performed at the University of Delaware. It was one of the best days ever!! p.s. I think I'm in love with you...yeah totally am. sigh.
Posted by: Doug | August 21, 2008 at 12:53 AM
I totally LOVED her TV show, "All American Girl". Was bummed when it was canceled.
Posted by: Annegret | August 21, 2008 at 01:08 AM
She's so freaking wonderful. Can't believe all she's been through and to have survived. I could not have. Couldn't admire her more. What a woman!
Posted by: Marie | August 21, 2008 at 01:08 AM
So exciting AND so excited for you! Love her.
Jules
House of Jules
Posted by: HouseofJules | August 21, 2008 at 01:18 AM
i cried when new york didn't pick chance! i have such a crush on him, and hate that he's not on i love money anymore.
Posted by: britbrit | August 21, 2008 at 01:54 AM
You did a wonderful job. Cho was incredibly relaxed with you, and she really opened up about some important topics. I can't wait to see more of this. As Bonnie told Clyde, "You done good."
Posted by: Eva | August 21, 2008 at 02:03 AM
oh is she gay?
dang this is for the US only! *disappointment*
Posted by: katia | August 21, 2008 at 02:47 AM
Is Margaret's new show really only the second one to star an asian family?! Really? OMG that is so hard to believe (but I don't doubt that it's true). I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so to me Asian Americans are just part of the mix. It's so weird that tv doesn't reflect that.
I fucking adore Margaret Cho. I love, love, love hearing her stories about her family.
Posted by: mariaaaaa | August 21, 2008 at 02:49 AM
I'm seeing her live in a few weeks...hope I get to meet her after the show!
Posted by: Kira | August 21, 2008 at 03:25 AM
Just so you know... there are some of us who watch VH1 Celebreality shows for the sole purpose of being able to read your recaps. You do a great job, and it's wonderful that you got to meet La Cho!
Posted by: Hannah | August 21, 2008 at 03:37 AM
Oh, I am so jealous! She is my idol and I love love her. How amazing for you!
Posted by: Britni | August 21, 2008 at 05:13 AM
"Before I knew (like really knew) I was gay, I knew I loved Margaret Cho, and I don't think that's a coincidence."
I know exactly what you mean. I think I felt the exact same thing when I saw the show that you described as "the one in which she wore the black cat suit," which is how I have always tried to describe it to people, (since I never can remember what it was called). I think she humorously took offense to being called "zaftig" if I remember correctly. When I went to the movie theatre to see "I'm the One That I Want", I had never realized that Margaret Cho fandom practically equalled "gay". In a theatre full of gay men, it was the first time I realized I wasn't a freak and that there were other people like me out there.
It's so cool you had the opportunity to interview her. I, (and virtually every other gay man out there), am devastatingly jealous right now. Congrats!
Posted by: sammy | August 21, 2008 at 05:19 AM
"Before I knew (like really knew) I was gay, I knew I loved Margaret Cho, and I don't think that's a coincidence."
I know exactly what you mean. I think I felt the exact same thing when I saw the show that you described as "the one in which she wore the black cat suit," which is how I have always tried to describe it to people, (since I never can remember what it was called). I think she humorously took offense to being called "zaftig" if I remember correctly. When I went to the movie theatre to see "I'm the One That I Want", I had never realized that Margaret Cho fandom practically equalled "gay". In a theatre full of gay men, it was the first time I realized I wasn't a freak and that there were other people like me out there.
It's so cool you had the opportunity to interview her. I, (and virtually every other gay man out there), am devastatingly jealous right now. Congrats!
Posted by: sammy | August 21, 2008 at 05:24 AM
ah, US only! Damn!
In any case, I'm glad for you, Rich.
Posted by: JD | August 21, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Is there a reason that all I get when clicking on this is a stupid commercial?
Posted by: Bears Are Fat | August 21, 2008 at 07:54 AM
wow, serious *envy* that you got to interview Margaret Cho - job of a lifetime!
Posted by: Jackie | August 21, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Hey Rich, this isn't available for people outside the US : (
Posted by: Stefanie | August 21, 2008 at 08:36 AM
CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so psyched for you, that's incredible. She's such an icon. You did so well, I look forward to seeing more! Too cute!
Posted by: Ang | August 21, 2008 at 08:48 AM
I'm a fan of Margaret, and I think she's done a lot of wonderful things for both people of color and gays. Having said that, I'm not sure I can agree that having women of color on VH1 is a good thing when it seems like many of them are put on the shows only to be laughed and pointed at as some sort of freakshow.
Additionally, I don't think her take on Tila Tequila is particularly well thought out.
http://www.margaretcho.com/blog/2008/06/10/tila-tequila.html
Posted by: Joshua | August 21, 2008 at 09:50 AM
american girl!! aw, i love her too. so smart & hilarious & badass. and you're adorable too! i wouldnt have been able to hold it together & be so articulate with someone who's has such an effect on me.
Posted by: sarah | August 21, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Rich,
I found your blog a while ago from Jezebel or Gawker and have been a regular reader ever since. Because I lurve fourfour, I've also followed you over to VH1. I even read your recaps of shows I don't watch just because you wrote them. So! Don't worry about cross-contamination--your writing is always funny and entertaining.
Posted by: Jen | August 21, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I lovelovelovelove her.
Posted by: Jade | August 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM
US only ='(
Posted by: lindsay | August 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM