The Cho Show: Korean of The Year (Episode 1)

After the obligatory, expository voiceover, wherein she explains how she formerly fought for acceptance from Hollywood, the Korean community, and her parents, Margaret Cho dishes dirt about Jack Black only having one towel (years ago, according to a girlfriend who used to sleep with him) to her giggling assistant Selene Luna in the back of a limo. They're on their way back to Margaret's, where her parents spend a lot of time reading the Korean newspaper and looking stylish in vests.

In the whole world, she's the best Korean.
Yeah, she really nailed it this year.

Margaret's due to receive the 'Korean of the Year' award from KoreAm, but is skeptical about taking it after so many years of animosity between herself and other Koreans who didn't appreciate her work. After a meeting with her spiritual advisor, who I must admit does dress super cute, Margaret decides to go ahead and accept the honor.

Margaret sets her stylist and her makeup dude in a contest to see who can come up with the best outfit. While the queens scheme, Margaret gets some advice when she has drinks with her proclaimed "comedy babies" Bobby Lee (himself a former 'Korean of the Year' winner) and Nick Swardson.

You paved the way so me and the Filipinos can do what we do.

Bobby says his set at the awards dinner tanked, as all he can remember is the sound of glasses clinking and Koreans making sounds of disbelief ("Mooooah!"). But he and Nick thinks Margaret will be fine, though the can't resist saying that she's gonna tank when she takes off for the evening.

The blond makeup gay (sorry, I haven't figured out his name yet) proposes Margaret wears a qipao painted in liquid latex on her naked body. She tries on the dress, and thank goodness she took care of her bikini area ("It's more of a Fu Manchu."), as the lavender paint and crystals is not for the faint of heart. Certainly not for either Mr. or Mrs Cho, whose disapproval provokes Margaret to threaten "If you try to ground me, I will put you both in a home."

What, is it like a Korean porn award?

The latex dress gets Charlie worried, so he calls up a friend, Jeffrey Sebelia (yes, the season 3 winner of "Project Runway"!) to see if he can be of help. Jeffrey wasn't too keen on the latex, so he brings over some dresses for Charlie to inspect. Charlie finds a winning design but wonders: can Jeffrey finish a dress for Margaret in just one night?

Like, I'm gonna have a baby just cuz they gave me an outfit.

While Charlie stresses over an outfit, so does Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Cho present Margaret with a traditional Korean baby outfit, something they picked up while on a shopping trip with Selene. Margaret gets a little sad, feeling that at 39 it's too late for her to have a baby. And then she bristles at the pressure, though she understands her parents desire for a grandchild.

I figure this is probably where you'd expect to hear something from Margaret's husband, but he's not participating in the show. Okay, I know privacy's a concern, but haven't you wondered what he looks like? And what he thinks about the baby question? I'm just saying.

And the winner is... not you.

The night of the awards show, and Margaret went with Charlie's pick for her outfit, a striped dress from Jeffrey much like (if not identical to) his winning Project Runway dress. The dress is cute as hell, and more practical than a layer of latex and some rhinestones. We see Margaret's brother for like a second, and then it's onto Margaret's performance.

Oh Lord, do not make this Korean night at The Apollo!

Despite a few awkward jokes about the shooting at Virginia Tech and North Korean nuclear weapons, the night is a success. Margaret gets a warm reception, her parents go crazy cheering, and Bobby is there to introduce her. Margaret and her family/entourage end the night at a diner, where the voiceover reminds us that Margaret is indeed "Korean of the fuckin' year!"

Notes:

1. There were quite a few puns and lame one-liners. This is where the set-up, not a reality show so much as a sit-com with real people, falters. These are funny people sounding unfunny, and it's kinda lame.
2. I think folks were funniest when they were not trying to be. Bobby and Nick, I think being hilarious just comes naturally to them
3. Mr. and Mrs. Cho were sweet. Margaret seemed to be most relaxed with them, when it wasn't about her being the center of a gaggle of people.
4. Show's definitely in the vein of Kathy Griffin (on whose show Margaret appeared in the past), Denise Richards, Dina Lohan, Paula Abdul. I'd even argue this reality sit-com was pioneered by The Anna Nicole Show, which fell equally into the tragedy and comedy camps.
5. I'm gettin' tired of the "reality sit-com" set-up, though I will confess in Margaret's case I'm going to be a little forgiving because, well, she's Asian (there, I said it) and if it's not her then it's fucking Tila Tequila as the only Asian woman starring in her own show.
6. Previews show Margaret talking to celebrities but what about other comics? I know we can expect Wanda Sykes, who I adore, but what about others?