Henry
Cho
by Ben Nunnally
F
or most people there’s a defining moment in a Henry Cho act, right at the
very beginning when he speaks in a
Southern drawl: “My name is Henry Cho,
I’m full-blooded Korean raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. So I’m South Korean.”
He started his career as the 13th name on a
list of 12 standup comics at a Showtime comedy gig, taking the closing spot when one of
the other comedians bowed out. Two days
later, he started a regular gig at the comedy
club where the show was filmed, and two
days after that he’d dropped out of college to
go pro.
In the years since he’s worked with every comedian under the sun, from Jay Leno and
Jerry Seinfeld to Gary Shandler and Jeff Fox-
worthy, taken roles in films like 2006’s “Material Girls” and settled into a life of ranching in
Tennessee, where he makes his home base in
between shows.
We caught up with Henry to talk to him about
his act and find out a little more about what
to expect when he stops by the Oxford Performing Arts Center Oct. 22, including his
clean comedy, Q&A sessions and what it is to
take on hecklers:
Q: The first night you went on stage - the
night when you started your career - you
fired from the hip, didn’t prepare material
or anything, and that’s pretty wild. What
was running through your head? Did you
have a plan?
October 2015
INSIGHT