By Megan Wadding, October 2015 Web Exclusive.
With the tagline, “There's no I in team, but there’s a Cho in psycho,” it’s safe to say legendary bisexual comedienne and Agent Provocateur Margaret Cho's latest tour will bring the madness to international audiences this fall.
The tour, which kicked off Oct. 1, is making two stop is Arizona: Oct. 17 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Oct. 18 at Tucson's Rialto Theatre.
Cho spoke to Echo, over the phone from her home in California, about her latest tour, her inspirations and her newest gig with E!’s "Fashion Police."
Echo: Where did the name for this tour come from?
Photo courtesy of Margaret Cho.
Cho: There is no I in team, but there is a Cho in psycho’ is sort of a joke about kind of my exasperation and frustration with all of the insane homophobia and racism and police brutality in the world, and also the terrible violence against women. It’s all just so terrible and so crazy to me. I love re-appropriating that title of 'psycho’ somehow to make it positive.
Echo: What is the show about? What inspires you?
Cho: The show is about a lot of things. It’s about the insanity that is happening and the craziness we feel during that 24-hour news cycle. There’s also celebration in it too, like the Supreme Court with marriage [equality]. Also, it’s a little bit based on my own personal life too, which has been crazy. I mean, I’m in the middle of a divorce and I lost my comedy family, Robin Williams and Joan Rivers, a year ago. The show is taking all this madness and creating something different out of it, which is a kind of magic.
Echo: What is your favorite thing about touring? Anything interesting that you always do when on the road?
Cho: I like to really eat a lot. That’s my favorite thing about being on tour. I get to eat at restaurants all over the world. That’s a great passion. I’m a big foodie. I like bringing home spices and different things.
Echo: What do you think you’ll bring home from Arizona?
Cho: I’ll probably be bringing home spices or dried corn, or maybe Chile peppers and hot sauce probably. That’s one of the great things about being on tour. You can eat but also bring stuff home for your kitchen. That’s a big hobby of mine.
Echo: What can you tell us about your new gig with E!’s Fashion Police? How will your own style play a part in this gig?
Cho: There were a lot of controversies over the past year with Joan dying, and then all the stuff with Giuliana [Rancic] and Kelly [Osbourne], but I’m so happy to do the job. My sense of fashion is different than anything that’s on the show. I want celebrities to take risks on the red carpet and really express themselves. It’s just another way to be a celebrity and a personality. I would love to see people take advantage of that. I’ve been on the worst dressed list so many times and I love that. I want people to take chances and I’ll celebrate that.
Echo: I know you were very close friends with Joan Rivers. How is it getting to be a part of Fashion Police without her?
Cho: It was wonderful to spend that time with her. I was lucky for the last couple of years, I got even closer to her ... she wasn’t just a mentor, but also a really good friend. I’m just very grateful that I get to go back [on "Fashion Police"] and to be in her shoes, although she had very small feet. Mine are much larger!
Echo: What other projects are you currently working on?
Cho: I’m involved in a lot of projects for television that I’m going to be producing. I want to develop my production company, which is very exciting. It’s all so early, but I am thrilled.
Echo: Tell me one weird thing about you that you do when you’re on tour.
Cho: I always bring my Neti Pot, which is an Ayurvedic thing. It cleanses out your nostrils. I have really bad allergies. I’m allergic to every new environment I’m in. It looks like a tea pot and so I fill it with socks while I travel so I can bring it in my carryon.
For more information on The psyCHO Tour, and tickets to the show, visit margaretcho.com.