Parents' Guide to

The Cho Show

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Comedian's reality is funny -- and raunchy.

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The Cho Show Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

JimmyH
JimmyH Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
December 16, 2009
age 16+

Garbage

Cho is not funny. Cho is offensive.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE CHO SHOW is a partially scripted comedy/reality series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the life of comedian/fashion designer Margaret Cho. It revolves around Cho, her entertaining assistant Selene Luna, and Cho's scene-stealing parents, Young Hie and Seung Hoon. It also features lots of Cho's friends, fellow comedians, and her devoted \"glam squad\" -- a group of gay hairdressers, makeup artists, and fashion consultants who are always ready to make her the talk of any Hollywood red carpet.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The show offers plenty of laughs thanks to Cho's trademark brand of ethnic humor. She highlights the daily challenges she faces as an Asian-American comedian in an industry that hasn't completely embraced who she is as a Korean-American and (at least in Hollywood's eyes) a plus-size woman. She also uses her humor to outline some of the conflicted feelings she has about her parents, who, while clearly proud of her success, still pressure her to follow more traditional Korean values.

But while The Cho Show has some insightful, poignant moments, they're counterbalanced by the comedian's raunchier side, which often leads to some silly antics and fringe behavior. That, combined with the strong language and frequent sexual innuendo, makes the show inappropriate for younger viewers, but older Cho fans will find the series entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role of Asian Americans on television. Why do you think relatively few TV shows feature Asian actors in leading roles? Do you think Cho's brand of humor could change that? Or does it perpetuate stereotypes about her ethnic community (even though it's based on her own experiences)? Families can also discuss the broader issue of stereotyping in the media. What stereotypes have you seen portrayed on television? How did you feel about them?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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