Glenn GarnerAs RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to reach new audiences, Bianca Del Rio has garnered her own mass following. The season six winner has taken her hilariously crude standup show, Not Today Satan on an international tour and recently starred in her first film, Hurricane Bianca, which will soon get a sequel.
This week, Bianca returns to Logo with her own two-part comedy special. Not Today Bianca offers an eccentric glimpse into Hollywood life—including run-ins with Tori Spelling, RuPaul, and Charo—as Bianca struggles to claim her rightful spot in a city of fame whores.
Nestled next to the fire at the Hudson Hotel in New York, Bianca discusses life in Los Angeles, Christmas plans, and the importance of comedy in Donald Trump’s America.
Out: So you have a new special on Logo, Not Today Bianca.
Bianca Del Rio: It was a lot of fun to get to do. I mean, here’s this amazing opportunity where they call you up and say, “You can make an ass of yourself on television. Are you interested?” I’m like, let’s do it. So it was a lot of fun to do.
Do you use any material from your standup show, Not Today Satan?
Yes and no. I’m a little racier live than I am in this situation. They give you an outline, and then you roll with it. And what was genius. Everybody could adlib and come up with their own shit. So we just created it, and I was fascinated to see what they ended up using as opposed to what I though was structural. They used a lot of the fluff which was great. For instance, in the scene with Ru, we have half-hour with Ru, and it’s like this is what we have to get to. Let’s see what happens. So then the magic just happened, and the rest was history which is great.
Tori Spelling is a guest on the special. Didn’t she have a show a while back with a similar format?
Very much so, she did. I wouldn’t say it’s a reality show because obviously I’m not a real person. But we don’t address Bianca as a drag queen. We don’t address me as myself. So this is who I am, and the absurdity is that no one questions it, which makes it even more fascinating. I’m surrounded by these people, and out of everyone, I’m the normal one, which is kind of insane when you think about it.
How often do random people ask you to read them?
People will tweet it. Like, I can’t even see you, you son of a bitch. And again, remember for me, I’ve done drag now for 21 years. So people used to run from me, and now it’s like, “Read me.” I don’t get it. But I do find that a little disturbing. And you just can’t read someone. You have to have a reason to do it. I could read people like Trump or Rosie O’Donnell because that’s comedy. But with regular people, I don’t know you or know your life unless we have a moment to have it happen. It’s not that organic. I have to have a reason to hate you. But it happens a lot. I take it as a compliment though.
I was actually watching Lady Bunny’s show not too long ago and she was talking about how the whole drag scene is so sensitive and now everyone’s concerned about hurting each other’s feelings.
I think it’s a lot to do with social media and the fact that everybody feels it’s their right to say, “I’m offended!” I mean, I’m an old fag. I could give two fucking shits when people sit back and talk about, “Oh, my life is difficult. I was in high school, and people bullied me.” Bitch, it’s called high school. Get the fuck over it. You’re 30 years old, you were molested, fags hated you, get over it. I don’t believe in that. If you don’t like it, then don’t watch it. I don’t like the Kardashians. I think they’re useless assholes. I think about all the black men I’ve slept and I’m not as famous.
How would you explain the importance of humor in Trump’s America?
Well, you’ve got to laugh, honestly. The thing I’ve realized with this whole Trump thing is that there are a lot of stupid people in this world, fucking morons and idiots. And let’s be honest, after you live in New York, you realize he’s just a joke. But it is fascinating to see that. I did many shows prior to the election, and I had two after the election, and it was a different world. I have to say I was a little more concerned. And I’m also seeing where Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes would both get ridiculed by an audience when she bashed Trump. For me, it’s a little different because I’m a little more specialized as far as they know what they’re getting into. You know that I’m a gay man. You know that I’m a clown in a wig. So it’s a little different whereas someone that likes Wanda Sykes and likes Amy Schumer could be straight in the audience, so they can turn on them. But they know where I’m coming from.
Tell me little bit more about your special. You have a few really great guest stars. Do you have a favorite?
I think my absolute favorite was Charo. I grew up loving Charo and The Love Boat, and she was quite fabulous that day. She looks amazing. She looks exactly the same which is insane. So she was a huge fascination of mine. If you saw the scene that we did, I think somewhere in her mind, she believed she really was auditioning for something. [Laughs] I didn’t have the heart to tell her that we were acting, but it was very sincere and true.
So how have you adjusted to living in Los Angeles?
I’m never there. I mean with travel, it has made my life a little easier. But it wasn’t a conscious choice, like “Oh I’m moving to LA just to better my life.” My lease was up here in New York. I was in a very small studio, and I didn’t want to look for another apartment. And it was very difficult to travel out of New York with the snow and all that madness. I had a five-floor walk up, a nasty landlord, and a leaky radiator. So I was just like, “Okay, I can fly to anywhere in LA, so I’ll try it for a year.” So it’s been a year and a half. So it’s just what it is. It wasn’t like, “I’m in LA now! I’m a vegan!” No. [Laughs] But it did make my life a little easier as far as communiting and getting around. And space, it’s nice to have space, which you don’t get it here.
You talk a lot in your special about how much Christmas in LA sucks.
Last Christmas, I don’t remember much. But for me now, holidays are just like another day. I’ll be sleeping, reading a book, staying home. I don’t get to do that all that often, so I don’t have exciting Christmas plans. I’m getting my wisdom teeth out. I know, I’m 41 and getting my wisdom teeth out. But I’m doing that and I’m going to be hopped up on pills at home. (Laughs)
With your travels and touring with Not Today Satan, where was your favorite place that you’ve been?
Traveling a lot, that’s part of the gig. But obviously I love London. Amsterdam is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s so laid back, and I don’t even smoke weed. But it’s legal to smoke weed there. it’s just a lovely place to visit.
How have the festival rounds been going for Hurricane Bianca?
Oh, it’s been great! It’s out now on Amazon, Vimeo, and iTunes. It’s an amazing opportunity. We made the money back already. So now, we’re writing a sequel that we’re hoping to shoot next summer. It’s going to be fun.
I saw that. It’s supposed to take place in Russia?
Yeah that’s what’s supposed to be happening. It’ll probably be Texas with snow. I don’t think we’re really going to Russia. But yeah, Willam gets kidnapped and ends up in Russia, and I have to save him. I can’t give away the whole plot, but yeah. Apparently there’s an Olympics for handicapped people, and Willam is fascinated by people with stumps. So he ends up there to have sex with someone and gets captured. Great story.
Drag Race has evolved so much since you’ve been apart of it and since it began. What’s it like seeing all of that?
I think it’s great. I know Ru has said that drag will never become mainstream, but I witness it when I get to travel the world and see all types of people coming to the show, straight girls, young boys, old ladies that love the show. It’s nuts. I didn’t expect it on that global scale. I think it’s definitely bigger than Ru is aware of.
Not Today Bianca premieres December 15 on Logo. Watch a clip below:
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