ZM's Bree & Clint - *Bonus* Kita and Anita's Happy Hour with Bianca Del Rio

Episode Date: August 26, 2022

We've got a bonus episode for Drag Race Fans! She's an icon, a legend, and one of the shadiest queens you'll ever meet! That's right, Bianca Del Rio is on the podcast today in an exclusive chat about her upcoming tour to New Zealand and Australia. She joins Happy Hours co-host Anita Wigl'it for a chat about being professional, travelling the world, finding comedy after Covid - and shares her thought on recent Drag Race (spoilers: she doesn't watch) and if she'd ever go back again (spoilers: probably not!) You can find tickets to Bianca's Down Under tour here Follow Kita:@kitamean on Instagram@kitamean on Twitter@kitameanofficial on TikTokFollow Anita:@anitawiglit on Instagram@anitawiglit on Twitter Want to get in touch with the podcast? Send your questions to [e-mail] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi everybody, it's Bree and Clint with a special edition podcast for you. That's correct. Very special edition as it won't be us. No, it's not us. Keita and Anita, who if you watch RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, you'll know them. They're amazing and they're so funny. They host Keita and Anita's happy hour here on the ZM Podcast Network. Or as they say, Keita and Anita's happy hour. That's right. They've got a special episode that we want to share with you in our feed.

So if this sounds good to you, then check this out. Then have a listen. So they had special, special guest on the podcast this week, Bianca Del Rio. Now, for RuPaul's Drag Race fans, you will know who Bianca Del Rio. Now, for RuPaul's Drag Race fans, you will know who Bianca Del Rio is because she won season six and she's gone on to have movies and TV shows, but she is also a very, very funny stand-up comedian. She's actually coming back to New Zealand.

You're going to see her, right? Yeah, I'm going to see her. I've seen her a few times. She's very funny. Anyway, so it's a massive get and a massive guest for Keita and Anita. The podcast is so good. So if you're into drag queens, comedy, and just all-round trash talk, like, you're going to love the podcast.

So here's a sampler for you. You'll get to hear this episode of Keita and Anita's Happy Hour. If you like it, follow their podcast on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy. Bye. The ZDM Podcast Network. She's an icon of drag race, a true drag legend from New York,

and now she's an international queen, taking her Rolodex of hate all around the world. I am, of course, talking about the one and only Bianca Del Rio. Can you tell I'm excited? I'm so excited. She's the winner of Drag Race Season 6, coming back to New Zealand with her tour, Unsanitized. I was fortunate enough to catch up with her a few weeks ago. Sadly and very happily, Keita was busy,

and she's now hanging out with me. It's so lovely because Keita's got her own people, but I've got Bianca Del Rio. So, I mean, I win. Listen to the interview and don't forget to buy your tickets to a Bianca Del Rio unsanitized at biancadownunder.com.

Her New Zealand shows are September 13th in Christchurch, September 14th in Wellington and September 16th in Auckland. Everyone, it's Bianca Del Rio! Well, Bianca, thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. I am a ridiculous mega fan of yours. I love you so much, not only because of your incredible humor and, of course, your sewing abilities, which I severely lack,

but because you're so professional and such a hard worker. I see things all the time of you, always on time, always early for things. This podcast is no exception. And so for me, for a very personal question, I would love to ask you, have you always been so hardworking and what inspires you to kick so much ass in your life and your career? Well, first of all, you have impeccable taste and thank you for the compliment. But truly, it's just the only way to get things done is to, you know, to be professional and to be on time. And I think that drag queens in particular get a very bad reputation for being horrible. And most of them are. I could list many. But for me, it's I don't like being late. I don't like being rushed.

You know, you never know what you're going to walk into when you're going to the theater, when you're traveling, when you're touring, when you're in a venue that only allows you in a few hours before the show. So you've got to kind of be prepared. And, you know, that goes from leaving my house, just packing and having options of clothes, options of shoes, because it's very difficult to find a size 12 shoe anywhere at the last minute. It's also very difficult to find the eyelashes I wear. So I'm the one who travels with everything. I've got everything from thread and needle to contact solution to, you know, Jack Daniels. I've got everything you need at any point. So I think it's just my theater upbringing, I think, that gave me that insight, you know, just to always be as prepared as you can, because truly in the end end no one gives a shit and no one will help

you so the thing is be as prepared as you can and take care of yourself so i think that's where it stems from i love that and it's fans to your house whenever i see pictures on the internet i haven't been outside your house look through your windows yet but whenever i see whenever i see my house looks immaculately organized and oh my gosh it just gives me so much love in my heart for my OCD tendencies. Well, you see, the organization is just simply, that's the only way to function. You know, sometimes when I'm out on the road and my assistant may not be with me, or he may be joining me at a later date. If I don't have everything labeled or organized where I say,

can you go to this shelf, pull this, it's on that side, it's here, there. And it just makes life so much easier. You know, everything needs to have a place. And if I don't have place for it, I just get rid of it. That's the that side. It's here, there. And it just makes life so much easier. You know, everything needs to have a place. And if I don't have a place for it, I just get rid of it. That's the best part. You know, you just get rid of it as you get older. I literally did that with my ex-boyfriend. Oh, there you go.

It starts with the love affairs. Yes, I agree. It really does. Now, you've been around the world so many times. And I've seen you several times because, as I said, I am a huge fan. When you first came to New Zealand, you performed in a real dump of a venue which I now co-own but um that's genius you've transitioned from that small venue to these huge theaters and you sell out thousands of seats I as a performer myself I'd love to know how you got from uh

the smaller venues how you transitioned to these large things. Was that something in particular? Well, no, not really. I mean, it was it was probably about as smooth as Caitlyn Jenner's transition. But it was one of those things where I was just basically doing every gig there was. And, you know, for me as an American getting to work in New Zealand, getting to work in Australia, getting to work in Hong Kong, you know, you just say, yes, you have no idea what you're walking into. Once again, it goes back to being as prepared as you can. And then you do it and you experience it.

And then I usually work with producers that I trust on a level that have my best interest. And they'll say, you know, this is what's available now. This is what's available at this moment. And if things work out, we'll move on. And, you know, I'm willing to give people the first try and you go, all right, let's see how this works. And then we do things mathematically. If I do multiple nights in one place and then they'll say, well, this was this so many people. So we can do all of them in one night, which is very scary on any level. You're always horrified. No one's going to show up, whether you're in a bar

for 20 people or you're doing 3000. You're always concerned about, or at least I am. I'm always thinking about it. So as long as the producers have faith in me, and as long as they're willing to meet me halfway to accommodate us, to get us everything that we need to make it happen, to put the tickets on sale early enough, you have to put tickets on sale early because people are indecisive. People are crazy. You never know what's going to happen.

So I think all of those things kind of factor into it. And then when they say, how did you feel about New Zealand? Do you want to go back? I'm always like, sure, let's go. Let's do it. And I always look at it this way. If it turns out to be an absolutely horrible situation, at least I'll have a great story I can use in my show later.

So that's the ticket. You know, you just say yes. I'm like a hooker. You just say yes to all of them. And also, it looks great on your posters, too, when you're going to all these random countries. No one needs to know if they don't sell well. Exactly.

No, I mean, I was just in Poland, and I did not know what to expect. And we did four shows, which was insane. Two in Warsaw and two in Poznan. That's it, Poznan. I was saying Poznan, but it's Poznan. So in the end, it's like I had no idea people in Poland knew who the hell I was. So it's that thing, you know, social media, the world.

It's kind of insane to think that I'm still getting to do this, especially now that it's been eight years since my season, which is crazy. Actually, nine years since we filmed it. But eight years since my season aired in America, which is crazy. Actually, nine years since we filmed it, but eight years since my season aired in America, which is nuts. Well, I love to see it. And I love to see that you're coming back to Auckland with your new show and Sanitized. And it seems like it might have some COVID references,

but can you give us your image? Because obviously so many thousands of people are going already. But for those, three seats left. Yes. Well, no, the craziness left yes well no the craziness of it all the craziness of it all um it starts it started out uh there was a whole different tour that i had planned that was supposed to start in australia new zealand as soon as the pandemic hit and obviously the world just stopped so i didn't know what i was doing i was doing a musical in the west

end and i was literally wrapping it up and then I was supposed to start within two months when COVID hit in Australia with my new show. And so everything kind of just paused, as we know, stopped. The world was at a standstill and I didn't know what was going to happen. So I kind of threw everything out of the window and thinking, all right, well, maybe we'll know in a week. We'll know in another week. We'll know in another week. And then it, went on for over a year and a half. So once we did get the okay to get started i think everything that i wanted to talk about the at the the first installment of the show no longer existed so i think through the covid madness um through politics through uh drag race all of these things that are hot topics now because it seems like this volcano that's erupted of information uh from covid as i said

to drag race to politics to monkey pox now it's the gift that keeps on giving you know so all of that gets covered in the show but i must say that each night it is always a different setup you know you never really know it's there's the same setup for me i should say outline but you never know what's going to happen from night to night and that's the magic of it that's the magic of live theater you know i have no orchestra following me i have their dancers that follow me so i can outline, but you never know what's going to happen from night to night. And that's the magic of it. That's the magic of live theater. You know, I have no orchestra following me. I have their dancers that follow me so I can kind of do whatever the fuck I want. And that's what happens.

I'll come to Auckland Christchurch and Wellington just for you then. Perfect. Perfect. Now also on that note with your show, because you're so successful at a drag race now, and as you said, it was nine years ago since you filmed. Do you think the fans still expect you to talk about the show? Or are you kind of like, meh, it was been there, done that? Well, you know, there's a part of me that I would say that, yes.

But you know, the craziness of it, though, is now with 52,000 seasons, 600 franchises, everywhere you go is drag race. You can't help but talk about it. And in most interviews, I get asked about it. and and i mean i don't watch it religiously and i guess you really don't have to anymore because of social media you get all the dirt um so for me in general i touch on it in the show but it's not the focus of the whole show i think the earlier years i did a lot more material about drag race and this is just a touch on it and move on because even though it's my fifth solo tour that i've done around the globe, for some people,

it's the first time they're actually seeing me live. So if you don't acknowledge it and also it's so much fun, especially now because so many of my friends are on the show and you have the opportunity to get your digs in about all of them, you know? So it's, it's a good thing every now and then to mention it. But I do enjoy enjoy i do enjoy the madness i don't necessarily discuss everything that happened on my season anymore uh but as far as opinions and views of what's happening oh god yes you have to any joke is every joke do it do it

and on that when you're traveling to these random countries now that there's so many franchises of ripples drag race uh do you meet all of these new international Ru girls and you have to pretend that you've watched their season? Like, down under season one, for example? Not at all. I don't even bother. They'll come to my show, they'll say hello. But I, you know, it's one of those things. I can't keep up with it.

And, you know, as a drag queen, I hate drag queens. So the last thing I want to do on my off time is watch a bunch of drag queens on TV. So I can't keep up. And not to mention they all look alike now. Everybody's wearing the same hair. Everyone's wearing the same makeup. I can't tell who's who. So I just let them introduce themselves and tell me what they've done. And I go, wonderful. And then of course, within a couple of months, there'll be another season and we'll forget about that bitch and move on to another. That's just really impossible to keep up with it is so true oh my gosh literally um

god i'm so terrible i always feel like a bad drag queen too because i never watched rupal's drag race ever and so i'm so glad there's nothing wrong with that there's nothing wrong with it there's a type of people that enjoy it and watch it and for me it's this weird thing because um and i'm not saying i can't watch it watch it like i'm better than i just mean i've also been behind the camera you you know, once you've been there filming it and stuff. So I look at things differently or when I know someone that's on the show and I say, Oh, well, they're not really like this. They're more like this,

but you know, it's just challenging. It's a little more complicated for me to watch, but I do revel when my friends do well. I really enjoy it when my friends do badly. So all of that then becomes hot topics and all of that becomes newsworthy. But I don't sit and watch all of it all the time. I do like to see the runways and see what everybody's doing.

But overall, I can't sit. I don't stop my life to sit down and watch the show religiously, as some people do. But some people have patience. I have no patience. None whatsoever. Once you've seen a couple of seasons,

you've already seen it, basically, haven't you? Well, you know, what's crazy is that I watched my season when it aired and that's it. I haven't watched it since. So it's impossible. I mean, I can't relive it. Maybe after 10 years, I could relive it and watch it again. So it's not even that I don't watch any other seasons.

I don't even watch my own. So I'm an equal opportunity hater. I love it. With Drag Race, obviously there was all-stars, all-winners season. And now that there's a new format, would you ever consider going back on it with no eliminations?

No. No, it's just not my thing. It's not my thing. You know, it's look, I think it's amazing for anyone that's interested in doing it. I had a wonderful experience with drag race when I did it. But I look at it this way. I go, who wants to go back to high school? I came out unscathed. I had a lovely time. And the people that get to go back now, I think it's wonderful. I think it's great that Jinx went back. Jinx was, you know, 23 when she did the show the first time, I believe. So to go back now as a full fledged performer and happy with what she's doing with her life

and what she's experiencing and solid in many areas, I go, that's great. That's growth. I did the show when I was 37, 38. Now I'm 47. And the last thing I want to do is be dealing with a bunch of fucking drag queens. So, no, it's not it's not for me. But I never say no, no, no. But at the moment, no, I'm not interested in returning. And there's like 900 franchises. There's lots of queens they can choose from, you know. And to be honest, I would never turn down work to go film a television.

So just remember that. You're already too booked already. If I'm traveling, forget it. I'm out. That's it. Speaking of your bookings, I was so excited to see you in Everybody's Talking About Jamie. That must have been an incredible experience. And I just wanted to ask you quickly about that and how um how it felt to be back on a musical stage well it's just I mean first of all it's lovely and I'm just beyond grateful that they even considered me for it and I was excited to do it until I realized that it was the elderly drag queen which I went oh god now I'm in that category I am now giving

advice to the younger ones so this means my career is over, but I had really, I got to do it the first time in the UK for, I think about eight weeks and I had such a great time. I returned again and did it for like another three months. And then I did a part of a tour in the UK and then did it here in Los Angeles. So it's something that was lovely. And as you were saying before, it's nice to just kind of do something else. And it was nice to not be in control, not to have to write it, not have to star direct and costume it. It was nice just to be a part of an ensemble. And I had a lovely time and I never rule that out.

So, you know, once you're old drag queen, you're always an old drag queen. So if they were to call me tomorrow, it's highly possible. I would say yes. It works for Lady Bunny, doesn't it? Oh God, please. Oh God, that troll. We've been fighting online all day. She is a hot mess every day, every day, every day. You know, it's like when you get a text or a call from your grandmother and you go, oh, OK, great.

She's still alive. When she calls me, I just go, fuck, she's still alive. That's the problem. That's the problem. Her fingers are still working. That's problematic. You know what? I would love to see. I know maybe not on a drag racing, but if you were to do another sort of TV show, maybe like The Amazing Race. But you and Lady Bunny on a team? The visual alone, the visual alone, The Amazing Race with that thing. Have you? Oh, no. Yes. Okay. Yes. I'll make it happen. Now that I'm thinking about it going, that would be harder than Drag Race, but it would bring me more joy. That would be perfect. Yes. Sign me up.

Sign me up. And my final question for you, which is a personal question. I love your house in Palm Springs. It's absolutely stunningly beautiful. And I've always wanted to visit Palm Springs. So I've got a house in Auckland and I've got two dogs and a husband. So would you ever be willing to do a house swap? You can have my house, the dogs and the husband for a couple of weeks.

Sign me up. Sign me up. We can do do it you can have my two dogs that are there I have no husband but I have the house and I you know that's been the hardest part I mean I got the house during the pandemic well right before the pandemic hit that was my plan and so that was the one thing I was able to continue through with uh during the madness so I did have some time to get the house together online, which was great by buying furniture. And, you know, I had time off, but I don't get to enjoy it as much. And I was just home, I think for like 10 days or something like that.

And I just wasn't enough. So I'm looking forward to this December having a little break and experiencing it. So we'll talk and we'll make magic happen. We can swap it out. You're welcome to come. Just remember that it's hot as fuck there. It is boiling all the time.

And the advantage is everybody there is old. So you immediately look young. So think about that. It's the point. Future, like also if there's some rich people in Palm Springs, like future husband potential there as well, like an old husband who dies

and leaves you another condo or something. Well, you know what happened to me is that I was talking to a friend of mine and I said, I just need to find a rich old man. And my friend said, you know what? You are the rich old man. So there you go. That sums up Palm Springs, doesn't it? Love it. Now, Bianca, it's been such a blessing to have you on this. Or maybe a blessing is the wrong word, but such an honor to have you on the podcast today. At the end of every podcast, when we have a guest, we have the saying,

which I'm so grateful to get to do this to you, which is, da, da, da, da, da, fuck off. Brilliant. If you've enjoyed this episode, you follow kita and anita's happy hour on iheartradio or wherever you get your podcasts you can also follow us on social media i'm at anita wiggler on instagram twitter and tiktok and kita is at kita mean on twitter and instagram and at kita mean official on tiktok you can also get in touch with the podcast by emailing us at key to Ananita at nzme.co.nz

And if you're in New Zealand and looking for a delightful night out, Kalootsie and Phoenix are open for your fabulous drag queen dinner theatre needs. And I want to thank ZM, iHeartRadio, our extremely sexy producer Ethan, our beautiful editor Zoe,

and to all of you amazing listeners for listening today. Now, da-da-da-da-da. Fuck off.