On this day in comedy on December 30, 1962, Comedian, Henry Cho was born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Cho is the ultimate comedy oxymoron. He’s a Korean raised in the South with a Southern accent to prove it. He’s an Asian who claims to be a Christian. He found success in L.A., but was always determined to return to Tennessee (that show biz mecca). Dubbed “Mr. Clean” for his squeaking, sanitized comedy style, Cho found a world willing to let him pour out his unique life experiences as long as he kept it respectable. He did and the work came flooding in.
Henry Cho’s maiden voyage in stand-up comedy took place in 1986. By 1989 he’d moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue his dreams. It didn’t take long for fantasy to become reality. It seems his timing was impeccable for his type of comedian. Cho hit the scene just as the Urban Comedy Boom commenced. So during the late 80s and early 90s he took advantage of the avalanche of work opportunities all young comics were availed. Cho touched every medium he could.
Henry Cho appeared on the standard issue stand-up shows of the era. He was seen on The Arsenio Hall Show, Bob Hope’s Young Comedians Special, MTV’s 11/2 Hour Comedy Hour as well as VH-1’s Stand-Up Spotlight just to name a few. He guest starred on sitcoms such as WKRP in Cincinnati, Lenny and Designing Women. He’d even ventured into film with his starring role in Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation when Cho up and moved back to Tennessee.
His relocation back to the South was short-lived. He got a call from NBC requesting he host a new version of Friday Night Videos. Under Cho it was called Friday Night. So for two years he commuted. Since that 1994 decision to be bi-regional, Cho has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay leno, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, was the keynote speaker for the Radio and Television Correspondent’s Dinner; did the feature films, McHale’s Navy (with David Alan Grier and Tom Arnold), Say It Isn’t So (with Heather Graham) and Material Girls (with the Duff sisters, Hilary and Haylie).
Cho’s also a country favorite. He’s toured with country music royalty warblers Amy Grant and Vince Gill. His Comedy Central Special, Henry Cho: What’s That Clickin’ Noise? has an opening scene featuring country comedy superstars, Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. Cho can also be heard on Sirius XM Radio’s Laugh USA as well as PG Comedy Radio and Blue Collar Radio.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
