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Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho, 2011 Cannes (crop).png
Cho in 2011
Birth name Margaret Moran Cho
Born (1968-12-05) December 5, 1968 (age 56)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • television
  • film
  • music
Alma mater San Francisco State University
Genres
  • Observational comedy
  • surreal humor
  • musical comedy
  • satire
Subject(s)
Spouse
Al Ridenour
(m. 2003; div. 2019)
Korean name
Hangul
조모란
Hanja
趙牡丹
Revised Romanization Jo Moran
McCune–Reischauer Cho Moran

Margaret Moran Cho (born December 5, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and musician. She is known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social and political problems, especially regarding race. She rose to prominence after starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl (1994–95) and became an established stand-up comic in the subsequent years.

As an actress, she has acted in such roles as Charlene Lee in It's My Party and John Travolta's FBI colleague in the action film Face/Off. Cho was part of the cast of the TV series Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime Television, in which she appeared as Teri Lee, a paralegal assistant. For her portrayal of Kim Jong-il on 30 Rock, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012. In 2022, Cho co-starred in the film Fire Island, a portrayal of the LGBT Asian American experience in the eponymous gay village off the South Shore of Long Island.

She has also had endeavors in fashion and music and has her own clothing line. Cho has also frequently supported LGBT rights and has won awards for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asian Americans and the LGBT community.

Early life and education

Cho was born in San Francisco on December 5, 1968, to a family of Korean descent. Her paternal grandfather Myung-sook Cho, a Christian minister, worked for the Japanese as a station master during their occupation of Korea. When Japan withdrew from Korea at the end of World War II, he was denounced as a traitor by North Korea's Communist regime and forced to move with his family, including his son, Cho's father Seung-hoon Cho, to South Korea. During the Korean War, Myung-sook ran an orphanage in Seoul. According to Margaret herself, she "grew up in the church." She was raised in a racially diverse neighborhood near the Ocean Beach section of San Francisco. Cho's parents, Young-Hie and Seung-Hoon Cho, ran Paperback Traffic, a bookstore on Polk Street at California Street in San Francisco. Her father writes joke books and a newspaper column in Seoul, South Korea.

After Cho expressed an interest in performance, she auditioned and was accepted into the San Francisco School of the Arts, a San Francisco public high school for the arts. While at the school, she became involved with the school's improvisational comedy group alongside actors Sam Rockwell and Aisha Tyler.

After graduating from high school, Cho attended San Francisco State University, studying drama, but she did not graduate.

Career

1994–97: Early stand-up and All-American Girl

After doing several shows in a club adjacent to her parents' bookstore, Cho launched a stand-up comedy career and spent several years developing her material in clubs. Cho's career began to build after appearances on television and university campuses. In 1992, she appeared on the unsuccessful Golden Girls spin-off The Golden Palace in a small role. In 1994, Cho won the American Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian. In 2010, on The View, she discussed her nervousness about doing The Golden Palace and thanked the late Rue McClanahan for her help with rehearsing. She also secured a coveted spot as opening act for Jerry Seinfeld; at about this time, she was featured on a Bob Hope special, and was also a frequent visitor to The Arsenio Hall Show.

That same year, ABC developed and aired a sitcom based on Cho's stand-up routine. The show, titled All-American Girl, was initially promoted as the first show prominently featuring an East Asian family, although the short-lived sitcom Mr. T and Tina, which had starred Noriyuki "Pat" Morita as Mr. T., preceded it by nearly two decades.

The show suffered criticism from within the U.S. East Asian community over its perception of stereotyping. Producers told Cho at different times during production both that she was "too Asian" and that she was "not Asian enough." At one point during the course of the show, producers hired a coach to teach Cho how to "be more Asian."

The show was canceled after suffering poor ratings and the effect of major content changes over the course of its single season (19 episodes).

1995–2002: Stand-up, acting, and writing

MargaretChoSanFrancisco
Cho doing stand-up in June 2005.

Though her career and personal life were challenging after the show's cancellation, Cho eventually refocused her energy and developed new material. She hosted the New Year's Rockin' Eve 95 show with Steve Harvey. In 1997, she had a supporting role in the thriller film Face/Off starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, playing Wanda, one of the fellow FBI agents of Travolta's primary character.

In 1999, she wrote about her struggles with All-American Girl in her first one-woman show, I'm the One That I Want. That year, I'm the One That I Want won New York magazine's Performance of the Year award and was named one of the Great Performances of the year by Entertainment Weekly. At the same time, Cho wrote and published an autobiographical book with the same title, and the show itself was filmed and released as a concert film in 2000. Her material dealt with her difficulties breaking into show business because of her ethnicity and weight and her resulting struggle with and triumph over body image issues. Cho also appeared in an episode of the HBO comedy Sex and the City's fourth season. The episode, titled "The Real Me," first aired on June 3, 2001, and also guest-starred Heidi Klum.

In 2004, the show Notorious C.H.O. referred to the comedian having been reared in 1970s San Francisco. After completing Notorious C.H.O., she made another stand-up film, Revolution, released in 2004, and subsequently work on her first self-written film, Bam Bam and Celeste, in which she starred. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005. On Valentine's Day of 2004, Cho spoke at the Marriage Equality Rally at the California State Capitol. Her speech can be seen in the documentary Freedom to Marry.

2005–2010: Other projects and television

In 2005, Cho released her second book, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, a compilation of essays and prose about global politics, human rights, and other topical issues. Cho launched a national book tour in support of the collection. An audio reading of the book was also released. A DVD of a live taping of her Assassin tour was released in conjunction with the book. The same year, Cho started promoting and touring with her new show, Assassin. The show became her fourth live concert film and premiered on the premium cable network Here! TV in September 2005.

Cho launched "The Sensuous Woman," a burlesque-style variety show tour, in Los Angeles on August 10, 2007, with tour dates scheduled through November 3, as of October 10. Scheduled tour stops meant to follow Los Angeles were Chicago, Illinois and New York City.

Also in 2007, Cho appeared in The Dresden Dolls' video of their song "Shores of California," which was MCed by Amanda Palmer and in The Cliks's video for "Eyes in the Back of My Head." She also provided the character voice for a character named Condie Ling on the Logo animated series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World. Her episodes began airing in 2007.

The premiere performance of Cho's "Beautiful" tour was on February 28, 2008, in Sydney, Australia as part of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Cho was also the Chief of Parade for the festival's annual parade along Oxford Street on March 1. During her stay in Sydney, Cho was filmed shopping for parade outfits with Kathy Griffin and Cyndi Lauper for Griffin's Bravo series My Life on the D-List. The episode featuring Cho aired on June 26, 2008.

Cho and her family and friends appeared in an episode of NBC's series Celebrity Family Feud, which premiered on June 24, 2008. Later that summer, she appeared in her own semi-scripted reality sitcom for VH1, The Cho Show, which premiered on August 21, 2008 and lasted one season. She next appeared in the supporting cast of the series Drop Dead Diva, which debuted in July 2009.

2011–present: Further appearances and tours

In April 2011, Cho guest starred on the comedy 30 Rock in the episode "Everything Sunny All the Time Always." She portrayed Kim Jong-Il, then the leader of North Korea, that required her to speak both Korean and English. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She later returned to portray Kim Jong-Il's son, Kim Jong-Un. [S:6, E:21] In 2010, Cho was a contestant on the 11th season of Dancing with the Stars.

Also in 2011, Cho played a lead role in "America 2049", a Facebook-integrated game highlighting social inequities in a dystopian future.

Since January 2013, Cho has been the co-host of the weekly podcast Monsters of Talk along with Jim Short. Cho embarked on her "Mother" tour in the fall of 2013 and slated it for engagements in Europe in 2014. The title of the tour refers not to Cho's impressions of her own mother, but to Cho herself. It is her nickname for the figure she has played to her many gay friends over the years. In 2014, she participated in Do I Sound Gay?, a documentary film directed and produced by David Thorpe. The film is about stereotypes of gay men's speech patterns.

In January 2019, Cho competed in season one of The Masked Singer as "Poodle". She was eliminated in Episode 4.

In July 2019, Cho started a solo podcast called The Margaret Cho, which features guests who primarily work in show business. Guests have included Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness, tattooist and reality TV figure Kat Von D, screenwriter Diablo Cody, drag queen Jackie Beat, and comedian and TV host Michael Yo. Cho has a chapter giving advice in Tim Ferriss' book Tools of Titans.

In February 2022, she was cast in the documentary series Everything's Gonna Be All White, airing on Showtime.

In June 2022, Cho co-starred in a romantic comedy film, Fire Island, directed by Andrew Ahn, airing on Hulu.

In November 2023, Cho was a guest on Today with Hoda & Jenna, as they recounted her career and celebrated her life's work and inspiration to other comedians.

Comedic style and political advocacy

Margaret Cho at Los Angeles Pride - 20110612
Cho at Los Angeles LGBT pride parade in 2011.

Cho's material often features commentary on politics and contemporary American culture. She has also been outspoken about her dislike of former President George W. Bush. She began to draw intense fire from conservatives over her fiercely anti-Bush commentary; a live performance in Houston, Texas, was threatened with picketing. Although protesters never showed up, she held a counter-protest outside the club until security told her she had to go inside.

In 2007, Cho hosted the multi-artist True Colors Tour, which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour, sponsored by the Logo channel, began on June 8, 2007. Headlined by Cyndi Lauper, the tour also included Debbie Harry, Erasure, The Gossip, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes, Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, The Cliks, and other special guests. Profits from the tour helped to benefit the Human Rights Campaign as well as PFLAG and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.

On January 25, 2008, Cho officially gave her support to Barack Obama for the nomination on the Democratic ticket for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. After Republican Presidential candidate John McCain announced his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, Cho said of her, "I think [Palin] is the worst thing to happen to America since 9/11."

After same-sex marriage became legal in California in May 2008, Cho was deputized by the City of San Francisco to perform marriages there.

Other ventures

Fashion and burlesque

In 2003, Cho founded a clothing line with friend and fashion designer Ava Stander called High Class Cho. The company eventually went defunct.

In 2004, Cho took up bellydancing and in 2006 started her own line of bellydancing belts and accessories called Hip Wear; these she sold through her website.

On an episode of The Hour with host George Stroumboulopoulos, Cho mentioned that she loved Broken Social Scene and wishes to be a part of the band (offering to play the rainstick or the triangle). On air, Stroumboulopoulos called band member Kevin Drew from his cell phone, and Cho made her request to join the band via his voicemail.

In April 2009, Cho was photographed by photographer Austin Young and appeared in a Bettie Page–inspired "Heaven Bound" art show.

Music

In September 2008, Cho released her single, "I Cho Am a Woman," on iTunes. The song, produced by Desmond Child, was featured on her VH1 series.

Throughout 2010, she worked on a full-length album, going through the titles "Guitarded" and "Banjovi" before finally settling on Cho Dependent. Released on August 24, 2010, the album was supported by music videos for "I'm Sorry," and "My Lil' Wayne;" Liam Kyle Sullivan directed the first two. It was nominated for a 2010 Grammy award for Best Comedy Album. In 2011 Showtime released a stand-up comedy special, titled Margaret Cho: Cho Dependent, which featured musical performances from the album.

In May 2010, Cho directed and appeared in, the music video for "I Wanna Be a Bear," a song by "Pixie Herculon," a pseudonym of Jill Sobule. In 2011, Cho sang the Bob Mould song "Your Favorite Thing" at the tribute concert See A Little Light with Grant-Lee Phillips. In the same year she appeared in some of Liam Kyle Sullivan's YouTube videos.

In July 2014, she appeared in "Weird Al" Yankovic's music video for "Tacky."

In April 2016, Cho released her second album, American Myth.

In May 2016, she rapped on and made an appearance in the music video for "Green Tea", a song by rapper Awkwafina.

Also in 2016, Cho was featured on the track "Ride or Die" on the album Sweet T by American singer/artist Ginger Minj.

On December 6, 2024 Cho released the single "Lucky Gift". Produced by Garrison Starr, the track went out to digital platforms in advance of Cho's forthcoming album of the same name.

Podcast

In July 2019, Cho started a podcast called The Margaret Cho. It features guests who primarily work in show business and features original music by Garrison Starr.

Personal life

Cho married Al Ridenour, an artist involved in The Cacophony Society and the Art of Bleeding, in 2003. Cho was featured in an Art of Bleeding performance in March 2006. They were separated in September 2014. In April 2019, it was reported that the divorce was finalized.

In the early 1990s, Cho dated director Quentin Tarantino.

Cho was a guest on comedian Bobby Lee's Tigerbelly Podcast Episode 71, which was uploaded on December 16, 2016. In that episode, she recounted an incident between her and actress Tilda Swinton. According to Cho, Swinton contacted her via email to discuss the Asian American community's reaction to the news that Swinton had been cast to play the Ancient One, who in comic books is Tibetan, in the film Doctor Strange. Cho found the inquiry odd, since she did not know Swinton and had never talked to her before, nor did she have anything to do with the film or casting. On December 21, Swinton released the email exchange between her and Cho to the website Jezebel. According to Swinton, she had contacted Cho to better understand why Asian Americans were upset about the casting. In response to the release, Cho stated that she stands by her words both on TigerBelly and in the email exchange.

Cho revealed in a panel discussion that after doing genealogy testing, she discovered that she had some Chinese ancestry.

Accolades

  • In 2000, her "E! Celebrity Profile" won a Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Radio and Television organization acknowledging its "superior quality and effective portrayal of the changing roles and concerns of women."
  • In 2003, she was given an Intrepid Award by the National Organization for Women.
  • In 2004, she was awarded with the First Amendment Award from the American Civil Liberties Union.
  • In 2007, she won for Outstanding Comedy Performance in AZN's Asian Excellence Awards.
  • April 30, 2008 was declared "Margaret Cho Day" in San Francisco.

Tours

  • "I'm the One That I Want" (1999)
  • "Notorious C.H.O." (2002)
  • "Revolution" (2003)
  • "State of Emergency" (2004)
  • "Assassin" (2005)
  • "True Colors" (2007–2008)
  • "Beautiful" (2008)
  • "Cho Dependent" (2010)
  • "Mother!" (2013)
  • "The 'There's No I in Team but there is a Cho in PsyCHO' Tour" (Often referred to simply as "The PsyCHO Tour") (2015)
  • "Fresh Off The Bloat Tour" (2017)

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Angie Admissions Nurse No. 2
1995 Doom Generation, TheThe Doom Generation Clerk's Wife
1996 It's My Party Charlene Lee
1997 Pink as the Day She Was Born Donna
Face/Off Wanda
Fakin' da Funk May-Ling
Sweethearts Noreen
1998 Ground Control Amanda
Thin Pink Line, TheThe Thin Pink Line Asia Blue / Terry
Rugrats Movie, TheThe Rugrats Movie Lt. Klavin Voice
1999 Can't Stop Dancing JoJo
Tavern, TheThe Tavern Carol
2000 $pent Travel Agent (Shirley)
2002 Grocery Store Store Clerk Video short
2003 Nobody Knows Anything! Rental Car Agent
2005 Bam Bam and Celeste Celeste / Mommy Writer
2006 Falling for Grace Janie
2007 Love Is Love Jealous Girlfriend at movie Short film
2008 One Missed Call Det. Mickey Lee
Snake, TheThe Snake The Expert
Prop 8: The Musical California Gays and The People That Love Them Short film
2009 17 Again Mrs. Dell
2011 Mindwash. The Jake Sessions Dr. Francine Kovinsky Voice, short film
Thugs, the Musical! Yvette Short film
2012 Immigrant, TheThe Immigrant Margaret Short film
2013 Amelia's 25th Babs
Wedding Palace The Shaman
Fish Power Queen Tilapia Short film
2014 Senior Project Ms. Ghetty
2015 Tooken Brownfinger
2016 Hurricane Bianca Wig Shop Owner Cameo
2017 Bright Sergeant Ching
Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Simone
2020 Faith Based Jane
Over the Moon Auntie Ling, Gretch Voice
Friendsgiving Fairy Gay Mother
2021 Hysterical Herself Documentary
Good on Paper Margot
2022 Fire Island Erin
The Listener Corinne Voice
2023 Cora Bora
Prom Pact Ms. Chen
0TBA Queens of the Dead TBA

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Move the Crowd Television film
Golden Palace, TheThe Golden Palace Dr. Fong Episode: "One Old Lady to Go"
1994 Critic, TheThe Critic Voice, episode: "The Pilot"
Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women Connie Tong Television film
1994–95 All-American Girl Margaret Kim 19 episodes
1995 Duckman Mai Lin Voice, episode: "In the Nam of the Father"
Bill Nye the Science Guy Self Episode: "Populations"
1995–97 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Queen, Hul Muh Ni Voice, 2 episodes
1998 Five Houses Television film
Nanny, TheThe Nanny Caryn Episode: "Mom's the Word"
1999 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Margaret Voice, episode: "Wisdom Teeth"
2001 Sex and the City Lynne Episode: "The Real Me"
2002 One on One Coach Episode: "Me & My Shadow"
2006 Lost Room, TheThe Lost Room Suzie Kang 2 episodes
2007 'Til Death Nicole 3 episodes
2007–09 Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World Condie Ling / Various Voice, 9 episodes
2008 Two Sisters Television film
Sordid Lives: The Series Therapist No. 17 Episode: "The Day Tammy Wynette Died – Part 1"
The Cho Show Herself Writer, Producer and Executive Producer
2009–14 Drop Dead Diva Teri Lee Main role, 72 episodes
2010 Ghost Whisperer Prof. Avery Grant 3 episodes
A-List: New York, TheThe A-List: New York Herself Episode: "Texting and Tears"
2011–12 30 Rock Kim Jong Il 3 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
2013 Where the Bears Are Mistress Lena Episode: "Bears in Chains"
Pound Puppies Mrs. Wattana Episode: "Rebound's First Symphony"
2014 Cabot College Laura Television film
Hell's Kitchen Herself – Restaurant Patron Season 13 Episode 16: "Winner Chosen"
2015 Beat Bobby Flay Herself Season 6 Episode 12: "Rules Are Ment to Be Broken"
Dr. Ken Dr. Wendi Episode: "Dr. Wendi: Coming To L.A.!"
2016 Family Guy Sujin Voice, episode: "Candy, Quahog Marshmallow"
TripTank Ling, Dump Voice, episode: "Deuce Ex Machina"
2013–2017 Fashion Police Co-host 21 episodes
2017 The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show Hua Mulan Voice, episode: "Mulan"
2018 Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh Georgia Voice, episode: "Trashbassador"
2019 The Masked Singer Poodle/Herself
High Maintenance Doc Lee Episode: "Pay Day"
Law & Order: SVU Evelyn Lee Episode: "Counselor, it's Chinatown"
Miracle Workers God's Mom Episode: "1 Day"
2020 The Bachelorette Herself Episode: "Week 3"
Mike Tyson Mysteries Michelle Voice, episode: "Your Old Man"
The Bold Type Herself Episode: "#Scarlet"
2021–2022 Tuca & Bertie Bertie's mother Voice, 2 episodes
2021 Infinity Train Morgan Voice, 3 episodes
Pride Herself Episode: "2000s: Y2Gay"
Good Trouble Herself 3 episodes
The Great North Jan Voice, episode: "Brace/Off Adventure"
Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. Frankie Episode: "Career Babes"
Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Mistress Jupiter 2 episodes
2022 I Can See Your Voice Herself 1 episode
The Flight Attendant Charlie Utada Recurring role (season 2)
Hacks Herself Episode: "The Captain's Wife"
2023 Not Dead Yet Miss Cassandra Episode: "Not Scattered Yet"
Call Me Kat Val Park Episode: "Call Me, Pretty Kitty"
Launchpad Maxine Episode: "Maxine"
2024 Life & Beth Dr. Collins 2 episodes
Zombies: The Re-Animated Series Ashley Voice, 2 episodes
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Rebecca Chen Voice, 4 episodes
Doctor Odyssey Judy Riva Episode: "Wellness Week"

Comedy Specials

Year Title Studio Formats
1994 HBO Comedy Half-Hour HBO Broadcast / Streaming (2015)
2000 Filmed Live in Concert – I'm the One That I Want Fox Lorber CentreStage / Winstar / Matchbox Films Broadcast / VHS/DVD (2001) / Download/Streaming (2013)
2002 Filmed Live in Concert – Notorious C.H.O. Vagrant Films / Wellspring / Matchbox Films Broadcast / VHS/DVD / Download/Streaming (2013)
2004 CHO Revolution Cho Taussig Productions / Wellspring / Matchbox Films VHS/DVD / Download/Streaming (2013)
2005 Assassin Regent Releasing/Here! Films / Koch Vision / Matchbox Films Theatrical / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013)
2009 Beautiful Asian Crush / Showtime / Image Entertainment / Matchbox Films Broadcast / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013)
2011 Cho Dependent Clownery Productions / Showtime / Matchbox Films Broadcast / DVD / Download/Streaming (2013)
2015 PsyCHO Clownery Productions / Showtime / Comedy Dynamics Broadcast / DVD / Download / Streaming

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Girltrash! Min Suk Episode 3
2013 Gayle Yo-Yo Ma Episode: "Chibby Point"
2013 In Transition Tawny Kim 13 episodes

Podcasts

Monsters of Talk

2013–2015: Co-hosted w/ Jim Short, 131 episodes

The Margaret Cho

Date Guests
July 15, 2019 Jonathan Van Ness and Katie Malia
July 22, 2019 Kat Von D and Drew Droege
July 29, 2019 Michael Yo and Lucas Peterson
August 5, 2019 Robin Tran
August 12, 2019 Fortune Feimster and Jodi Long
August 19, 2019 Diablo Cody, Durk Dehner, and S. R. Sharp
August 26, 2019 Cherie Currie and Helen Hong
September 2, 2019 Daniel Webb
September 9, 2019 Jo Koy and Ian Harvie
September 16, 2019 Trixie Mattel
September 23, 2019 Amy Landecker
October 1, 2019 Jackie Beat and Mary H.K. Choi

Discography

Comedy albums

Year Title Label Formats
1996 Drunk with Power Uproar Entertainment Cassette / CD / Download
1998 Live in Houston Soundball International CD
2001 Live in Concert – I'm the One That I Want Cho Taussig Productions / Nettwerk America 2xCD / Download
2002 Notorious C.H.O. – Live at Carnegie Hall Nettwerk America 2xCD / Download
2003 Revolution Nettwerk America CD / Download
2005 Assassin Nettwerk CD / Download
2009 Live and Uncut – Beautiful Image Entertainment Download
2011 Cho Dependent – Live at the Tabernacle Clownery Records Download
2015 PsyCHO Clownery Productions Download

Music albums

Year Title Label Formats
2010 Cho Dependent Clownery Records LP / CD / Download
2016 American Myth Clownery Records Download
2025 Lucky Gift Clownery Records Download

EPs

Year Title Label Formats
2021 Pair of Jokers: Margaret Cho & Bobby Collins Clown Jewels Download

Appearances

Year Title Tracks Label Formats
2001 Paul McCartney & Friends: The PeTA Concert For Party Animals "Margaret Cho" Image Entertainment VHS / DVD
2006 Wed-Rock: A Benefit For Freedom To Marry "Read the Administration" / "Origin of Love" Centaur Entertainment CD / Download
2010 Drop Dead Diva (Music from the Original Television Series) "Would I Lie To You" / "Restraining Order" Madison Gate Records CD / Download
New Music Seminar – New York City – 7/21/10 (5th Movement – The Breaks) Moderator New Music Seminar, LLC Download
2013 An Evening With Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer "Margaret Cho Introduces The Show" 8 ft. Records LP / CD / Download
See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy of Bob Mould "Your Favorite Thing" Granary Music DVD / Download
2014 2776: A Levinson Bros & Rob Kutner Presentation "Mt. Rushmore" Levinson Bros & Rob Kutner CD / Download
2015 Mitre: Mitre "Bulletproof" Mitre Records, Inc. Download
2016 Ginger Minj: Sweet T "Ride or Die" Producer Entertainment Group CD / Download
2018 Just for Laughs – Premium, Vol. 26 "Fresh off the Boat" (Jfl 2015) Just for Laughs CD / Download

Selected videography

Music videos as main artist

Year Title Other Artists Director Album
2009 25 Random Things (Live at Largo) Alexander Burke Non-album track
2010 My Lil' Wayne Ben Lee, Nic Johns; camera Ione Skye Al Ridenour
I'm Sorry Andrew Bird Liam Sullivan Cho Dependent
Lice Ben Lee
Intervention Tegan and Sara
2011 Hey Big Dog Fiona Apple; co-writer Patty Griffin Al Ridenour
Asian Adjacent Grant-Lee Phillips Tani Ikeda
Baby I'm with the Band Brendan Benson Liam Sullivan
2013 Doesn't It Remind You of Something Ken Stringfellow (Feat. Margaret Cho) Casey Curry Danzig In the Moonlight
2015 How Close Is Glenn Close John Roberts Ned Stressen Rueter & Katherine Kendall Non-album track
2016 Come With Me Garrison Starr Bryan Mir American Myth
Green Tea Awkwafina Tony Kim In Fina We Trust EP

Directed by

Year Title Artist Featuring
2006 Former Miss Ontario The Music Lovers Princess Farhana, Bobby Pinz, Kelly, Vima & Margaret Cho
2007 Masculin Feminin Diana Yanez & Ian Harvie
Dancing Pom-Chi Latin Jazz Gudrun, directed with Al Ridenour
Understood Garrison Starr Kurt Hall, Diana Yanez, Pleasant Gehman, Liam Sullivan & Bruce Daniels; shot with Scott Silverman & Ian Harvie
Eyes in the Back of My Head The Cliks Margaret Cho, Diana Yanez & Amanda Palmer
2009 San Francisco Jill Sobule Lorene Machado, Mookey Goh, Violet Blue, Monistat, Peter Acworth, Lorelei Lee, Mark Eitzel, Cecilia Chung & Tita Aida
2010 Young James Dean Girlyman Original Plumbing- Amos Mac & Rocco Kayiatos, Ian Harvie, Madison Young, Donna Delore & Tomcat
The Bear Song Pixie Herculon Danny Blume & Gary Meister
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