Far East Bubba

Henry Cho knows how to make the most of who he is. An Asian-American born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, he sounds very Southern, but looks very Korean. As he says himself, that right there is enough to make people laugh. (Fortunately, that joke is just a fall-back, as his...

By David Wilson

January 18, 2007

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Henry Cho knows how to make the most of who he is. An Asian-American born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, he sounds very Southern, but looks very Korean. As he says himself, that right there is enough to make people laugh. (Fortunately, that joke is just a fall-back, as his stand-up is funny enough.) That being said, it can be unnerving to laugh at his jokes and be looking at someone we often see stereotyped in television and film as a Chinese restaurant worker. And Cho has had plenty of experience in both mediums but refuses to play the typical "Asian guy" roles. His film credits include McHale's Navy, Say It Isn't So and Material Girls. Not exactly stellar blockbusters, but Yahoo! Movies gave all three a C+ rating, so at least there's some consistency. After making many TV appearances, including a recurring role on The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Henry has recently signed a deal with ABC and Touchstone Pictures to co-create and star in a sitcom based on his life as a Korean-American born and raised in the South. On stage, Cho is instantly likable, telling clean, quick-witted jokes in a low-key manner that the whole family can enjoy. Henry Cho appears Thursday through Sunday at the Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road. Showtimes are 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 to $17. Call 972-404-8501 or visit improv.com.
Thu., Jan. 18, 8:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 19, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 20, 7, 9 & 11 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 21, 7, 9 & 11 p.m.

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