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The first time comic Margaret Cho performed stand-up in Utah, she said plenty of people who had "super clean teeth" told her they went to Korea on their Mormon missions.
Nice, but Cho was born in San Francisco.
Last year, the 44-year-old comedian returned to the state to work on "Mother," a one-woman show about the lovable eccentricities of her mother and motherhood in general — although Cho has no children.
But the openly bisexual Cho is multitalented: Last year she was nominated for an Emmy for her unique portrayal of the late Kim Jong-Il on the late "30 Rock" and recently co-hosted "The View."
Cho will be performing the finalized — and much-different — version of "Mother" several days at Wiseguys West Valley City.
She recently answered questions via e-mail about the show and her time spent in Utah. Responses have been edited slightly for clarity and space.
Last time you visited Utah, you were workshopping "Mother." What did you learn while you were here?
I realized that Utah is way less conservative than I had originally thought, at least when it came to my audiences. Everyone was so ready for fun and my particular brand of raunchy humor. I was so excited — I was honored and elated. I love Salt Lake City. It's certainly not what I had expected. There's a vibrant and progressive LGBT community – and a real excitement about what I bring to the party. I love it.
What is your mother's response to the show?
She loves it, and always comes, so she has seen my show in all its different incarnations. She feels like a star — she feels appreciated, and she feels like I do a better impression of her than anyone in the world.
What advice would you give to a new parent? And what would your mother advise?
I think that you should just trust yourself, trust your heart [and] just love, which is all the advice I would give to anyone doing anything. Just love. My mom would say the same thing: just love.
If offered, would you ever consider a permanent role on "The View"?
I want that job so bad. I even made a YouTube video where I don a catsuit in hopes that would help my chances — like Sean Young trying to audition for "Batman" in the '90s. Whoopi has said that I am her first choice for the job, and I would really do anything to get in there. I want to be a permanent co-host on "The View" so much — I say it every time I can. It's my biggest goal — along with joining my favorite band Wilco. I think that I would be the only person in the world who could possibly do both.
What are your thoughts about recent strides regarding gay marriage?
I am excited about the change, but I wonder what that means in conservative states, like Utah or where I live, Georgia. I want to see gay marriage in these places. I want to see marriage equality everywhere, but I am not sure how these changes affect us in real time, in the really conservative states. I am deputized to perform gay marriage in San Francisco, so it'll be nice to be able to do that again in City Hall!
What is the funniest thing in the world?
When I trip on something, I still laugh. Oh, it's so funny.
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Margaret Cho's 'Mother'
When • Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Wiseguys West Valley City, 2194 W. 3500 South
Tickets • $25 at wiseguyscomedy.com