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Political correctness went out the window Wednesday at the TV critics press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. But that's bound to happen when folks like Margaret Cho, David Alan Grier and Bobby Brown are under the same roof.

Cho was in town to talk about her new VH1 show, "The Cho Show," which follows Cho, her family and her assistant around. Cho was a part of the first Asian-American family sitcom on ABC several years ago, but, as VH1's head of programming Jeff Olde said, "they told her that she was too fat, too edgy, and just too Asian for TV."

On her new show, Cho gets to be herself and she talked about the freedom in that.

"I remember attending the (TV critics press tour) 15 years ago and how hard it was for us, how hard it was to represent a show that I had to work on, that I had so many problems with," Cho said. "And in this show, I'm so proud and so excited. At that time, we brought the first Asian-American family on television. It was like a really very ground-breaking thing, a very difficult thing, and, you know, I'm very proud now to bring the second Asian-American family to television. I'm actually number one and number two, so that's an achievement."

Cho, whose family has long been a part of her comedy, is now in the position of sharing the screen with her mom and dad. Dad was asked what he thought of his daughter's sharp-tongued humor.

"Her comedy is so outrageously, uh, vulgar," Cho's father said. "Our family never used the teriminology. But I've come to understand that she had compelling reasons and a need to express that strong word to express her true feelings."

Grier talked about his new Comedy Central show, "Chocolate News," which is sure to hit some hot buttons with its format. "Chocolate News" is a satircal news magazine-type show that only covers news that black people would care about.

"Here's an example," executive producer Adam Small said. "We pitched (Grier) an idea that Siamese twins are born. They're conjoined. One is white and one is black. We thought that was really funny. He said, well, why is 'Chocolate News' (interested); what's their point of view on it?  And he came up with the idea that 'Chocolate News' is not interested in the white twin at all, to the point where they don't even photograph him."

Grier also said that while his show won't be quite as topical as others -- its goal is to create characters and stories rather than imitate real life -- it might venture into politics when it's appropriate.

"We did just write a sketch about finding John McCain's Reverend Wright-type person that the 'Chocolate News' exposes and, of course, that's all generated by the election," Grier said. "We found John McCain's launderer, his dry cleaner, and he's recorded and these recordings are used ... recordings where the guy goes, you know, 'Black and white cannot be together! If they mix, white will be ruined! This cannot be allowed to happen!' You know, it's used by the 'Chocolate News' to bring him down."

Bobby Brown got into the politically incorrect game while discussing his new CMT show, a spinoff of last season's "Gone Country" called "Outsiders' Inn." In the show, Brown joins "Gone Country" first season alums Maureen McCormick and Carnie Wilson in running a small-town Tennessee country inn. Brown, who was described as "misunderstood," disagreed with that assessment.

"Am I really misunderstood? I can say no," Brown said. "I think people -- people pretty much think they know me, but until you -- until you meet me and get a chance to spend time with me, don't judge me."

Brown said he enjoyed the time on the show, even though it put him in some awkward situations as an outsider in the country. He talked about a hunting trip he took with some locals.

"I just made sure I stayed in the back because, you know, I know -- I know sometimes, you know, when you are going out in the woods with a bunch of -- I don't know what to call them -- rednecks? -- usually, you know, the dark one gets shot," he said. "And so -- and I probably looked like a bear to them, you know. I just stayed in the back, you know, and let them do the hunting. I just stayed back there with my gun ready just in case, you know, somebody made a mistake and pointed it my way, I was ready to, you know, do my business. But it was a lot of fun chasing bears through the woods. I mean, you wouldn't expect me to have fun doing that, but I did."


*** What do you think? Are these shows a little over the edge for you? Do you dig this kind of humor? Click here to comment!

****** Victor Balta and Tracy Phillips are blogging live from the TV critics press tour. What do you want to know about your favorite shows? Let us know. Click here to ask about your favorite TV shows!


More from the TV critics press tour:

• Is TV Ignoring Baby Boomers?
  
• Attell: Carlin Is Comedy's Washington
  
• Koppel Gets New Gig; Slams U.S. News
  
• Network Vows Obama-only Coverage
• "Grey's" Co-star Backs Heigl in Emmy Flap

Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 07-10-2008 02:43 PM