Comic actress Margaret Cho took a break from the Peachtree City set of her hit Lifetime show, “Drop Dead Diva” to spill some second season secrets for us.
Cho tells Intel she’s thrilled to be back at work on “Diva” (the second season premieres June 6 at 9 p.m. on Lifetime). The comedy cleverly explores what happens when an after-life accident transports the soul of a size zero “Price is Right” refrigerator model wannabe into the body of a brainy but zaftig Los Angeles attorney (played by former Broadway “Taboo” actress Brooke Elliot).
In her live concert performances over the years, Cho has routinely tackled Hollywood’s obsession with all things skinny and the resulting body image issues women battle in America.
“It’s a giant privilege to be on this show,” Cho explains. “There is so much talk about women’s bodies but very little on television about women who are not a size zero. ‘Drop Dead Diva’ is a fantastic way to talk about real women with a lot of dignity and humor.”
In season two, the show will be exploring Cho’s Girl Friday assistant character Teri Lee’s life outside the office as well.
Previews Cho: “In the stuff we’re shooting now, viewers will get to know Teri’s extended family. I’ve got some heavy-duty acting to do too. I’m going from less comedic to more dramatic material. That’s exciting for me. I’m getting to explore acting a little more intensely.”
After largely abandoning series television following battles with the network brass on the set of her first ABC sitcom, “All-American Girl” 15 years ago, Cho is also excited by changes in the industry.
“There’s much more diversity on television now,” Cho says. “More stories about more people are being told. With more networks come more options as well. It’s great to see shows like ‘Army Wives’ on our network, ‘Mad Men’ on AMC and ‘Damages’ on FX. Fifteen years ago, the big three networks still had a stranglehold on things. We’re moving in the right direction now.”
Still, moving around Peachtree City remains a challenge for Cho.
Cracks Cho: “I have a golf cart but I haven’t driven it. I’m very intimidated by it. You can get pulled over here in a golf cart!”
The chatty comic also had some hilarious observations on the Peachtree City police department and her favorite places to hang in Atlanta.
Cho reveals all in the June issue of Atlanta magazine, coming to newsstands this week.
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