Margaret Cho has been out of the mainstream spotlight for quite some time, but that doesn't mean the Korean American comedian/activist/actress hasn't been busy. Since the cancellation of her ABC show All American Girl in 1995, Cho has put out four concert films, two books and a low-budget indie comedy; she's become an outspoken gay rights advocate and supports various related initiatives, including last year's multi-artist "True Colors" concert tour to promote tolerance and to benefit organizations like Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and the Matthew Shepard Foundation; and she created and starred in her own burlesque and comedy extravaganza, "The Sensuous Woman." All the while, she's continued to cultivate her unapologetically frank and politically-charged stand-up, which touches upon racism and racial ignorance, gay marriage, the questionable intelligence of the president, the sad state of politics in general and plenty else. Cho performs at The Tampa Improv this weekend. Jan. 11-12, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri., 7:30 and 10 p.m. Sat., 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Centro Ybor, Ybor City, $30, 813-864-4000, tampaimprov.com.
This article appears in Jan 9-15, 2008.