September 21, 2022 • 53 mins
It’s a special day because we’re getting 3 for the price of 1!…Daniel Franzese a.k.a. Damien from Mean Girls…a.k.a. Donna from RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race is on the pod!!!
Daniel takes us behind the curtain of Drag Race including why he once considered fainting as his only option. Plus, find out what loophole from Mean Girls helped his character break barriers for the LGBTQ+ community!
This reunion between Daniel and the J's is so much fun, you may want to listen three times!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is pridecast with Jonathan Bennett James on. I heart radio. Everybody,
welcome to pridecast. Was One of the most special, my
favorite episode ever, because we are joined with one of
my favorite people on Earth, other than my handsome husband,
(00:23):
who's sitting next to me. Hi, James. We have James.
Tell Him who we have on the show today, because
I'm speaking out of you, though. You've learned. All right. So,
my baby, and hello guests. You will you will know
this as well about my baby. He likes to speak
in absolutes, like the best, my favorite, number one, the
only look what he did both times he said one
(00:43):
of one. Are you getting so good, baby one, one
of my favorite, one of my favorites included. So people
don't feel like aw, that was a dig at me,
they feel like, oh, one of good job. Yes, thank
you so much. But speaking of James, tell him who
is joining the show today. One of our favorites and
maybe I would say he's the top, top top of
your favorites, and that's okay to say. Do I get
(01:05):
to say what it is? Yes, you reveal who's on
the episode. I don't even know which name do you use,
because there's two NOWSA say the first one. Say it well,
but it's heartbreaking to say because we're only getting to
talk to you, because it means you're not on the
show anymore. It's Donna Pelissima, a k Danny Frances me.
Girls Start Danny Francis in the house of Coco. Welcome,
(01:35):
Oh my God, it's good to be here. Now you're
gonna make a distinction. Everything's your favorite. So you get
to me and it's just one of when we draw
the line now, when we know number one. Since Day one, baby,
I mean to have you on the show. This has
been an episode that James and I have been so
excited to film. We've been waiting for the right moment.
(01:55):
We're like, when are we going to have Danny on? Like,
is it October? Three? We're like, there's got to be
something special for it. And then, how do you know
I would say yes. Well, then, what happened? Because I
did your broadcast, bitch, you gotta do mine. What happened
(02:16):
was so like, obviously we're drag race super fans in
this house, and so we start watching the secret celebrity
drag race. First of all, Danny, how shady of you
to tell no one, to tell absolutely no one what's
going on. But the first episode starts and Donna Starts
Speaking and I'm like I know this voice. I'm like, baby,
whose voice is this? And we both look at each
other and we're like, I'm like that's you. Were definitely
(02:38):
like you guys. I was like, I just I'm not
telling them. I'm like, they're going to lose their ship.
I was like, I just I'm definitely not going to
say nothing. Like where the people you don't tell, because
I would like turn into glitter, just like and like
glitter would just tumble down in the air. I mean
we knew. We knew as soon as we heard she
was gonna be so beautiful. Oh my God, I mean
you know, so you're so let's let's walk everyone back,
(03:02):
because I we get to talk about this now, because
it's been a secret of who, who it was. You
know what was happening on secret celebrity drag race, and
now now now you can speak about it and tell
everyone about the journey. So let's just start at the beginning.
I mean you are a drag race fan from I
mean we got to be on Rupaul's drag race as
guest judges. I went to the Premiere Party before premiered
on TV, like I've been. I've been with since like
(03:25):
day one day, one mean filter season. Yes, actually, I
was a curator at the world of Winder Gallery and
they had the Premiere Party at the gallery. That's how
I even knew the show was coming out, like, Oh,
Rupaul is some show about drag queens coming out, and
little did I know that. I would like have the
HD Mike cable like intravenously plugged into my body and
(03:47):
I can't live without it. It's an obsession. I I
totally understand you, because we are so obsessed with it,
like we talked about it like it's football. Every single day.
Like every single day we have conversations about something about
drag race. Every season, every country, what we want, all
of it the same and honestly, like I like the
way people treat sports. Like I watched all the B
(04:08):
side stuff. I just like listening to it in the background,
like all the fan things, all the youtube, all the podcasts.
I've just always been that way, Danny. Drag race is
our sports. Drag race is Gay Sports. Yeah, it's Gorts.
Just now you and I got to be guest judges
on season get, another iconic moment we've shared together. Yes,
(04:33):
and yet another iconic moment we've shared. We got to
be guest judges during not only snatch game, but we
got to be it during, which was my favorite, during
the lip sync to a frozen Broadway soundtrack, which was
for me to die. And I remember you and I
being backstage just get just being such geeks and just
being so excited to be there and like getting to
(04:56):
walk out, and you had this great runway where you
revealed the same outfit it. Yeah, I did have the
first judges reveal in her story. You had seen making
first and now here you are on the first ever
season of secret celebrity drag race. So well, it's technically
season two, but season one was a complete different form.
At this first totally understand race to the crown. Yeah, now,
(05:20):
so you get let's walk us through it. So you
get the phone call. What's where are you when you
get the phone call? What does that feel like? So
for like a year before this happened, they kind of
took a year off of working. Um, you know, the
year before that was taken off for me for covid
like you know, like for me. So it's you know,
(05:40):
it's like a long time since I had done something
because all my touring dates were canceled because of covid
and then my mom had double hip surgery, well, back
to back hip replacements, so I was living with her
and taking care of her and getting her better, you know,
and in doing so we were watching drag race the
whole time. I was catching her up on a lot
of the seasons and, you know, so, so ironic that
(06:03):
this would happen. And then we were watching the CAMELA
Cabello Cinderella right and right is she's about to get
the dress. We pause it and I get a phone
call and it's like how would you like to be
on drag race? And I was like, Oh, yeah, they
want me to judge again. That's so cool, and they're
like no, no no, no, no no, no, be on it and
(06:23):
I'm like what do you mean? There like celebrity drag race,
and I'm like Oh, and I think back to those
one off episode things and I'm like okay, that sounds
fun and they're like here and when they read me
what it was and they said the whole season to
the crown, I almost died. I was like what? I
was like yeah, you know, and then a hundred thousand
dollars to your charity, like it just was so cool.
(06:46):
And so I hung up the phone like, Oh my God,
Oh my God, Oh my God, like I, you know,
literally went the lottery and the gay lottery and and
my mom was like, well, we have no time to waste,
and she putting music on. She's like in five, six, seven, eight,
and move, move, and then she's like trying to pull
addresses out of her closet. I'm like, what's going on, like,
(07:08):
did she have heels? She tried to put you in.
We'll see. This is a big topic of conversation here.
This is like my doctor film moment with Y'all, because,
like we have the same struggle with so. So I
am a size fifteen wide male, which which equals out,
because you know how ladies, she's get pointing in the
front to like an eighteen wide female sho okay. So
(07:34):
I could only and like everything I tried to buy
online because immediately I was like I've never put a
heel on my foot ever for any reason. So I
was like I have to just get one on my foot,
you know, and honestly, like I'm really close friends. You know,
you have you sign an N D A and all
of that, but you have a you have a friend
D a. You know, like when, like when when you
(07:55):
get on one of these shows, you these a people
that you can kind of call. And I live about
in Florida. I live about five minutes away from latres
royal and her husband. So I'm like, if there's a
foot in this town, you're sind and you were watching Cinderella,
having this Cinderella moment, like where's my shoe? I didn't
(08:19):
really know what the show was or what I was
gonna have to do, if I was gonna have to
sew or what. They didn't explain the show because the
first season they had to do different things, you know,
they had different kinds of so, you know. And I
was just like so nervous and I didn't even try
a shoe on at Latresa's because all brand new stuff
and I was like I can't even mess with one
(08:39):
of your things, like I've got to just get my own.
Like I was more like getting tips of way to
buy stuff. Finally a shoe arrived in the mail and
it fit on my foot, but man, I was like
a Bambi, brand new deer being born. Like I could not.
I was like the four am girls that you see
on the on the Boulevard in Vegas. Yeah, like just
like like tripping over each other, like I couldn't do it.
(09:01):
My mom and sister actually were like he's not gonna
last more than an episode or two, like it's rough. Well,
because the shoot didn't really fit. What what kind of hero?
Was it a kid? No, it was, like I say,
it was like a like a three inchield right, but
the problem with it was that the heel itself was
(09:22):
not strong enough to hold me up. Like I knew that,
like if I was dancing, it was there was a
little stiletto if I was dancing or something. This was
not gonna last, you know, and I really didn't want
to hurt myself. So I was like, well, production will
have it. It's Hollywood. No, no, no, the entire show,
and this is like a secret of this show, like
(09:44):
the entire show basically only had six teams that they
would heat gun to be wide enough for me and
there was no shoe my size the whole season. They
just didn't have it. They were like we have to
be custom made and we don't have time and I
don't think anyone expected me to last that long. But
Donna Belisi she well and she did it all in
(10:06):
a shoe that was too small for her. Yeah, it
felt kind of like a set up because I was like,
you know, after a while, Um, I mean you know this, Jonathan,
you've done some rigorous reality. This is my first like
tiptoe into that kind of an environment. and Um, your
first day of the week, you know, you pick your music.
(10:30):
It's like you have like five song choices and then
like one has to you know, to see what clears. So,
even if you're thinking of like what the challenge is
going to be, you've got five songs that you're learning
because it could be you don't know what's going to clear.
And then finally, when it clears and you get like
this song that you get to do, Um, then you
gotta work on a new version of that because it's
(10:51):
edited brand new, you know. So you were kind of
learning the real version, but now of a sudden you're
presented with a new version, right, and so they give
you the new version and they give you the lip
sync for Your Life Song, which you may or may
not have to lip sync if you're in the bottom
at the same time. Okay, and the next and the
next day, the next day, you go into work at
(11:11):
six am and then they're like, you know, you got
covid you've got something, you've got some some talking head stuff,
whatever you do. And then they're like okay, so what
are we doing? And you're like, Um, well, I think
I would move over here. Maybe I could do something
like this. And then you know the Jamal Sims is
a fantastic uh choreographer and uh and rain, his assistant,
(11:37):
was like here's you know, maybe we could do some
of this, maybe we could do some of that. So
you kind of choreograph it together with Jamal and then
you run it three times, then they bring the dancer in,
you run in another time and then they record it
and they let you go home and it's like noon
and you're like, okay, what am I gonna do it
this time? I'm gonna work on this number, like I
(11:57):
gotta get this like going, you know. And so you're
working on the number all the day or whatever, and
the very next day you're in dress rehearsal and makeup
and you get to do the number three times on
the main stage, like to test it out and try
it out and then the very next day you're in
four hours of makeup and you're in front of a
live audience and if you're lives, if you're livesting for
(12:17):
your life, and that the very next morning you're starting again.
There's no break. We only had some days off and
it was back to back weeks. So the thing that
I did not take into consideration at all was the
sleep deprivation, because it's like literally a race, like I
wasn't eating right, I wasn't sleeping right, I was in
so much pain, my body wasn't recovering from the things
(12:38):
I was making it do the day before, and I
had so much to learn every day and it was
just like really hard. Like the one thing I could
say is the show doesn't show how hard it was. Yeah,
I wish they'd showed all this. That's so interesting. And me,
I thought I'll had way more time to rehearse. No,
it's like so and and honestly, no days off. I think.
(12:58):
You know, we ran. Think I was. I was in
it for a month and a half and like, I
think I had like two days off the whole time,
you know, and like those two or whatever. I don't
know what it was like. or no one Sunday each Sunday,
so like four days off, but those Sundays were like
recovery days, like full body massages and like, you know,
trying to just like get your body back to normal,
(13:19):
you know, and try to sleep as much as him.
And it's part of the game, right, like that's they
because when, yeah, they want you loopy, they want you
to like not feel normal because that adds to the
whole drama of the entire season. I mean, I remember
dancing with the stars. We you have zero days off.
They don't even give you it off. So, like I
totally understand you where it's like you get into week
(13:40):
four and you're like, oh my gosh, we're still doing this,
and then and then you you start to feel like,
I don't know how it was for you, but like
when I was on dancing with the stars and I
was in big brother, you feel like this world is
the only world that exists, as you start going down
the rabbit hole where like I'm sitting there crying in
a confession and I'm like am I crying in a
(14:02):
confessional on big brother? Like what? Like I'm the person
I hear is pouring my heart out and like yes,
and I'm like crying about it. I'm like, I'm who
I make fun of on the show and no, here
I am bawling my eyes out because you're just your
your senses and your emotions are so screwed up because
of the sleep deformation, because of like what's on the
(14:23):
task at hands. Yeah, also, the first two weeks I
couldn't even remember my critiques because I'm like standing there
at a body, like completely exhausted from performing and out
of breath. You know, I'm not a glee person, I'm
not a pop star, I'm not, you know, like I mean,
everybody there has incredible dance training. You know what I mean?
I mean like my dance training is limited. I mean
(14:45):
like I'm an actor who moves well, but I am not,
but in no means, you know. and Um, then all
of a sudden they hand your Mike and you're out
of breath and it's like you full ass audience and
you're looking at my dead in the eyes and she's
judging you in an art form that she has helped
pioneer to the world, and you're just like this is crazy,
(15:09):
this is it. Is. It's that moment you feel because
I'm so happy you got to experience that moment, because
you got to experience it so many episodes, which is wonderful.
The same thing happened on dancing with the stars, which
I totally relate to, is the moment when you're done
performing and it's time for the critiques. It's this out
(15:29):
of body experience that no one will ever understand unless
you are standing in those shoes or in those heels,
where you just don't feel like a real human. You're
like a space alien that's just like inhabiting this body
and you're looking around and it's like the lights in
the it's like in the slow mo in the movies
when they're like the crowds are cheering, but you like
hear it in slow motion and you're like, what is
(15:51):
going on? I totally understand that. And it's underwater at
the end of car like cars, like yes, and you're
just like yeah, getting there and whatever you and you're like,
I mean really, like I like I would have to Um,
go backstage and write down things so I could remember
the critiques because or ask people. I would ask monique
(16:12):
and like, because she was like my mom. I was like,
can you just remember what they say to me and
then tell me what they said, because I'm literally like
blanking out there. You know, it was literally terrifying. And also, Um,
you're in like pipe and drape backstage right in like
a little tent that's just for you and you don't
get to see anyone else's performance. That's before so I
(16:36):
can't like just so so poppy love, who was going
first all the time and winning. I had no idea
what what she was doing. Are you kidding? So I
was like, I don't even know what I'm up against.
You don't get to see like what you'r the people,
your other contestants look like. You might catch glimpses like
walking to the hallway or something. You know. Um, if they,
(16:56):
if they couldn't keep you from each other. But even
when you're rehearsing, but with the dancers part of it,
you have to rehearse with uh, their pods because they
didn't want anyone else to hear your song in the
next room. WHO's getting a fitting or whatever. Wait. So
the only times you're really interacting with each other is
when you're on stage at the end. For who's safe
(17:16):
and whose lips thinking is that? Is that? Well, we
had a whole untucked backstage thing that they didn't air
like like like once you perform you see it. Sometimes
they showed clips of behind the stage or whatever. But, Um,
you know, I think when they went into this they
didn't know what it was gonna be like. They were like,
we don't really know, you know, and they made they
made some like uh, they give us some sort of
(17:39):
like red herrings. Or they were thinking we might do
a sewing challenge, you know, and we did have like
sort of like a sewing segment, but it was, you know,
when you're there you're like, Oh am I gonna have
to make address. You know, when Ruth said the twist,
when we was like the twist, I thought it was
gonna be like now do it by yourself, now, do
(18:01):
your own makeup, now, do your own outfit now, like
you know what I mean. That would have been good.
I could have did it. I could have done it.
Maybe I wouldn't have been pretty because, honestly, mayhem beat
my face like every like beautiful mayhem. Did your makeup
so much sense now, because Donna is so beautiful. I'M
NOT gonna take I'm not gonna take anything away from money,
but I was like, I'm a Miller Mama, like I
(18:23):
was like really into moe, like she was just there
for me when I needed or you know what I mean,
like a Miller mom even realized mayhem was there. That
makes so much sense because, oh my gosh, talk about
a pretty girl that could beat a face. That's gotta
be on a t shirt. I'm a Miller Mama. Such
a good line. You can sell it when you go
to dragon. You know. Um, mayhem definitely knows how I
(18:45):
feel about heart, because there was some moments that I
just needed a second, like, you know, Um, like literally
like out. I'm a biggest man who doesn't do on
the regular. So I'm just like, you know, and I'm
about to be judged and I'm just like and I'm
getting like acid reflex. I'm like, you know what I mean,
I'm like thank God for mayhem. Like she would be
(19:08):
like I just have to fix something and be like
take a breath, like get yourself together, you know, kind
of like just give me like a moment, a piece.
She couldn't speak, but she would just like look at
me and you know whatever. Uh, in the one when
I did uh the Chicksung Sindwagon. If you go back
and Rewatch it, like you don't really show it or
you can't really tell it, but I did rewatch it
and you can't see when I in the right in
(19:30):
the beginning, I slap on the bar and I was
so into it. Every nail breaks and flies off my
fingers like in that moment, like if you watch it
up close, it's just like nails flying. So I was
very nervous that it was gonna ruin my number and
I'm trying to hide my fingers the whole number. So
in between takes, immediately mayhem came there and had a
wholeful set of new nails and put them on. You know,
(19:50):
it was really just like watching those little details where
and I had them like hanging off my fingers. I
was like shaking. You know, it meant a lot to
me and I know when we played game it's like
given you play a card game or something, or you
play like, you know, smash rose, or you're you're just
playing something where you're like I'm gonna use this player
against this player for whatever reason. I kind of felt
like that's maybe what happened when I was in the bottom.
(20:12):
I'm not like a delusional queen. I'm sure that I
made the bottom of that episode because everybody else was
so good and I was getting like I was getting
like uh, critiques for props that I didn't even pick, like,
you know, like they were just showing up on set.
I told Rue at one point. It didn't make the edit,
but I said that that being on the show was
like being on an evil episode of goose bumps where
(20:35):
you text something and it just comes to life, like,
you know. I was like I just want to make
up me or with like a powder puff in a
chair or something, and then it would be like a
powder puff a chair and making like I meant like
like that, like I don't mean like I needed everything up,
and then there's like a there's like a flower of
Oz on there and you know, and all this stuff
that I didn't ask for that that I didn't get
to even see until I was on stage with it
(20:56):
on the and I started thinking about share. I was
like who else probably has done a rehearsal like in
sweatpants with other people in sweatpants and then had to
come out and do it in the audience in the
outfit and then never even, maybe even I never even
saw my backup dancers outfits, like because they were they
didn't wear much. Do you have any? Do you have
(21:21):
any toilet paper around, because it's pretty much that wrapped
around the cross. They were so hot. That was a
little bit. It's a little bit of a distraction. It's
like do I watch the Queens or do I watch
the boys? What's going on on stage? And they were
also nice and also hot and honestly, like being like
a drag queen around those boys it's like so different
than being Danny. Around those boys, like being Donna Belissima.
(21:42):
They were all like so flirty with me and so
cute and I was like this is like I like
being Donna, like we love Donna and we want you
to be done all the time because you love her.
Can Donna police come over one day? Well, Donna please. Honestly,
maybe Donna will end up on out pounds, like you
never know, Donna on outbound everything, because now you get one,
(22:05):
you get the comedy stylings of Danny Franz Z and
then you get the drag performance of Donna. He does
comedy in it's kind of like if you want Superman
to be there. Clark Kent has to show up, so
it might have to. We gotta get bigger about that.
Five already in heels and a wig. We need like
eight foot tall ceilings for him to walk around this
(22:26):
because that happened when we did our Berlin Pride to
answer Dan Pride Cruise. The ceilings were seven foot tall
and we booked a queen from Germany that, in heels
and hair, was like seven and a half feet. So
we had to move the party upstairs to the upper deck,
because that makes a betty boom book, but with like
a real flathead on the whig. Yes, I'm just making
(22:49):
the clear DS. We love a resourceful quation. Oh my gosh,
Danny Um, we're gonna take a quick break and when
we come back we're gonna chat more about everything that
is pride and how fabulous and gay. My good friend
Danny Francais is right back. Okay, we're chatting with Danny Francaise,
(23:14):
from Donna Police, from mean girls, from rupaul's secret celebrity
drag race, from your comedy tour for sixteen years, from
a comedy near you. I just don't change the title.
I changed the jokes. A little, but like my touring
for like six years, but honey, booked and blessed. I
(23:38):
remember when you started doing that tour and you were
telling me how wonderful it was and how exciting it was.
And what I love so much about you is that
your interaction with the fans when you when when they
either go on this tour and they're and they're meeting
you after the show or they're meeting you at any
of the cons, the drag cons, the fans absolutely adore
(23:59):
you and of you and want do they can't get
enough of you and to watch you interact with them
is super special. Tell me about some of your favorite
moments you've had, because I know you shared someone with me,
like Hey, I've had these kids come up and say
this to me or how I inspired this or some
crazy fan mean girls moments. What has that been like?
You know, I absolutely love meeting fans, I really do.
(24:19):
I was a fan girl myself growing up, like I
collected autographs. I had autographs from like be Arthur and
that midler and Oprah and, Um, you know, at Asner
and all these like weird people from Nick Knight and
stuff like. I would just write everyone and get. So
I understand that energy, um, but it's different with Damian,
as you know, like you know, Um, since Damien wasn't
(24:41):
out Um in the movie and it was kind of
like low key and mean girls that Damien was gay.
I mean, even though it's obvious to anyone who's watching
the film, if it's just optics, it's not. He doesn't
kiss the guy. I Prom because of that it was.
What I've been finding out now, as we're nearing to
the Twentie Niversary, is that dam made it in a
lot of foreign territories where gay stuff gets cut out.
(25:04):
So you hear like, you know, like there's a lesbian
couple pushing a stroller and finding dory and then the
world's upset, you know what I mean, like and they
want to like cut these scenes out of like light
year and all these other things. Well, Damien was like
a fully realized character that got to stay. He got
to be in the girl's bathroom, he got to and
he never said he was gay. So, you know, I
(25:25):
recently had Um, you saw a cop who was one
of the most amazing like young gay music video directors
right now. has directed so many things and just want
a queer tea for directing Um trixie Mattel's new video.
told me that when he was growing up in to
buy it was the only gay character or thing ever
(25:45):
that he ever saw that wasn't considered an abomination and
was celebrated. I mean, that's huge that. Yeah, talk about
the reach of that, and some places in Asia and
some places in Africa where like literally gay stuff is
just like it's punishable by that, and this was this
was a gay character, teen or not, big or not
or whatever, you know, and that's just so incredible to me.
(26:07):
And it's done a lot of stuff stateside too, where,
you know, I had a girl from Texas tell me
that like her gay best friend wasn't allowed in the
house and then the mom fell in love with me
girls and now invites them over, let the sleep over,
let them come over for dinner, and you're kind of
like you're literally opening doors for people. It really speaks
to me. So I know, like you know, Um, I
(26:27):
have a family member that has a lot of trauma
who I love to reach through nostalgia. Like whenever we
interact through nostalgia, it's a comfortable place for them because
you know, when someone has a traumatic background. Nostalgic things
can't be changed. It's already capitualized. It was great, they
loved it, it didn't hurt them and it's done so
if you go look back, sometimes I think it brings
(26:48):
a lot of people out of joy and you girls,
happens to be a nostalgic film for a lot of people.
You know, I've had sisters who wrote me letters and
say like, Oh, I had nothing in common with my brother,
but this movie or you know, people who saw it
with their friends or who remember it from high school
or who dressed up like at a halloween or whatever
it is. It reminds them of a good time. So
we're lucky that because we're attached to this project that
(27:10):
brings people joy, and I really think that that's like
the essence of like what I want to be is
like a purveyor of joy, and going to meet these
fans and having them experienced joy and me watching that,
it's like so much fun, like it's like it's like
they're getting a puppy or something when they get to
meet me, and I'm like I'm doing that. Like it's
just amazing to feel the impact of art in the
world that you have a part of and so I
(27:32):
absolutely love that. I'M gonna be at Comic Con New York, Um,
you know, and I love doing all the meet and greets.
I go to a lot, like I do a lot
of colleges for less than I rate, because I try
to you know, I say, like there's these students who
need to break you know, and like need to like
see something, and you know, a lot of times when
colleges hired me, it's an event that's free to the students.
So I love to be able to there, to you know,
(27:53):
be there and be like a break in there, like
testing whatever and going there and just tell some jokes and,
you know, make them laugh and and meet them and
look at them in the eye and tell them that,
you know, Um, they can achieve their goals and dreams
and just remember how much guests and stuff like that
mattered to me. So really I'm I'm placating a younger
version of myself when I'm doing that, and I think that,
you know, whoever you thought you were when you were
(28:15):
a kid, that's like who you are, you know, and
who you have to try to like, you know, find again,
and it's it's a fun way to do it well
as somebody that that was not part of the mean
girl's phenomenon. But but it feels like they know you
both Prett one better the other. Obviously no, it's it's
a pretty cool thing that's y'all got to be a
part of, because so few people get to be a
part of something like that that really did touch almost
(28:37):
everybody of a certain generation's life and then like the
generation after that too, and it is a really cool
thing because you talk about like like the puppy dog
that brings excitement enjoy to somebody's life. It's the same
thing with Jonathan when, like someone gets to come up
to him and, like, you know, they want to do
a scene with you for their instagram or they want
to say one of your catchphrase, of your lines, and
they get so excited and so giddy and it really
(28:57):
does make their whole day. It's a really cool thing
that you guys get to do. So, you know, I
try to take both aware of it. I try to
take a page out of like Steve Martin's book or, Um,
you know, Bill Murray. Like I've heard that some of them,
like Steve Martin, has like a little card that says
you've met Steve Martin and if you don't show them
as card like they won't believe you. And then he
signs them and he keeps them on him, you know,
(29:17):
and so funny. and Bill Murray has done stuff like
that too, where he's just like computer like, you know,
photo bombed people or you know, and I really find
that to be like that brings me a lot of joy.
So I always have like a Damien sticker on me
or a magnet or something dumb like that. Like I
get them made all the time and keep them on
me and when people freak out, I'd love to give
them something like that and it makes them freak out
(29:38):
even more and it's it's just so fun and and
and funny to do and to like be a part of,
you know, make people feel good. Speaking of meeting people
and making them feel good. All right, so I know
you go to drag con every year. So now my
question is, this year, when you go to drag coon,
who goes to Dragon Danny or Donna? So I'm going
(30:00):
to drag con UK um in January and so excited
and I've been just deciding about how to do this
and you know, I'm doing my play right now Italian
mom loves you. Um, we just got picked up for
an encore presentation of three more weeks for Italian heritage
month in water very, Connecticut at the seven Angels Theater.
Thank you for the seven Angel Theater Dot Org. But
(30:22):
I was thinking like maybe I should do like one
day Italian mom, one day Danny and one day Donna,
you know. Or I was thinking maybe I'll do like
two days Danny and then maybe like do a panel,
you know what, and where, maybe mayhem makes me up
in front of everyone and then I could do like
a photo op as Donna after that, because I'll already
(30:42):
be you know, and that's maybe a way to do it.
I haven't really discussed it the world of wonder yet,
but I have plans for Donna. I think Donna is
an on screen Gal. I don't think I'm gonna be
like hucking and bucking at like, you know, at like
you know there's in Phoenix, Arizona, which I put my
files out for you. Okay, you know? Yeah, honestly, I'm
(31:04):
already doing that with stand up. I always say like
stand up dragon stripping. We're all the same. We all
work for like chicken wings and like we all show
times at one am. But like, so I'm already already
lived that light. I live that Dang life. So I
don't know about that, but I can't see myself. Maybe, uh,
doing a cabaret p town or maybe, Um, being a
(31:26):
judge on something like Queen of the universe, if they
needed a guest judge or something. I think you'd be
a perfect judge for Queen of the universe and I
support that. I think if they if they had like
a guest on next season celebrity draggers, I'd love to
come back as Donna or like or actually, I'm gonna
Campaign and maybe your fans could help. Will help fans
listen up, but I would like fans listen up here,
(31:47):
not prodcast fans, because I would like to campaign that
Donna Belisima and Mayhem Miller are maybe the hosts of
fashion photo review for next year's celebrity drag race. So
since we don't have one, or maybe that could be
the thing. I think that's a thing. We make that
a thing because because if the if the heels are
short enough and the paychecks high enough, Donnad will show
(32:09):
up to work. I mean, I mean we're gonna pay it.
We're to get her on outbound. I mean, come on,
let's go. But I love that idea and I like
I think you're doing it smart. I don't I agree
with you that Donna doesn't just show up anywhere like
she shows up at the right places at the right time.
So it's a special occasion. It's not just Tuesday in Wichita.
I could see me doing some like stories and a
(32:32):
piano kind of moment. I could see that happening. Also,
I thought that I had a roast happening, so I
wrote a lot of roast jokes and give us some
of those roast jokes right now, just a couple. Like
you know, anyone? If roast anyone, say no, only because
everyone was so kind and we all were like a
(32:53):
really close sisters, and I'm afraid, as sisters do, I'm
just I'm just afraid of visit anybody off because they're
also lovely and kind. I was the cutthroat one, I
will say. I was the one that was like give
me that freaking crown, like everyone else was like this
is so nice, we're still looking to be here, and
(33:13):
I was like, Bitch, my feet hurt and I see
something shiny and I want it like I really did
have the eye of the tiger. You're like, I don't
want to mess anything up for a celebrity all stars
potential in the future honey still has. Thank you so much, Mama.
Whatever you like, whatever you say. Would you like me
(33:36):
to stand for that crown? I gotta get it. And
now walking away from this experience. Let's just wrap up
this whole experience. Obviously you'll learn things about yourself. For James,
I know for the amazing race, for me, for big brother,
we had very different experiences where now we can't even
watch the show because it was a different experience for us.
(33:58):
We're we're kind of just yeah, how's the new season?
Were like, good luck, but that hasn't isn't for you
that you're still excited about dragon. Want to keep watching.
I just don't think I'll ever lose like that little
like twinkle and I have like the twelve year old
that wonders what's going on in Hollywood. I'm I'm kind
(34:18):
of the person that when I'm on a dark right
at Disney, I'm like, I'm really on this adventure for
I'll suspend this belief for two minutes and like and
be an Arials cove like I left it. I let
myself kind of go there because it's actually like such
a therapeutic release for me. So I don't think I'll
ever if anything, I have way more respect for these queens,
because I can't imagine doing this sequestered. I can't imagine
(34:40):
doing this without my cell phone. I can't imagine doing
this Um with my own money and trying to come
up with these outfits and and on these categories and
and knowing how the show shifts and changes, how we
were going to do this and then we ended up
doing that, and then it's it's so malleable and it's
like you really feel like you're walking on a drawbridge
where like planks are falling out and it's shaking, you know,
(35:03):
the whole time. There's never I never felt ground footage
during this because your shoes were too small. Definitely the
reason popcorn and feed the children. Honestly, I was like
everyone else. backsnage is like, who do you think to
the top and I'm they were like a there, a
gun on my like Barbie feet, like I was suppressed
(35:27):
all the moves you did in them shoes, because I
cannot walk in heels and my heart was broken when
I found out I couldn't walk in heels. So for
doing all that, I tell you, there was a point
where Um on the last episode because we opened up
with that group number, like from Vegas, and then I
do my number and then I had a lip sync
again that I was like should I just faint? Like
(35:47):
I was like. I was like maybe I should just
pass out because from the knees down, I just didn't
couldn't feel my body anymore and my feet were just
in so much pain that I just was like, I
think I need to die now. And then everyone thinks
I got such a big break during sinewagon wearing cowboy boots,
but got they heard even more like they were. They
were like worse to dance in. I was like this
(36:09):
is like not, I'm not getting in a preef here,
like you know, like it was just real bad for
me on the feet area. I gotta say I'll vouch
for you. I did a country show in Vegas. My
first show in Vegas was a country show and it
was all in boots and then boots heard and I
was not in drag boots, I was just in boy boots.
And I was in pain. So I can't imagine again,
like how you how you pulled it off. Very impressive. No,
(36:31):
what do you won that week? Because there was literally
parts of my body that I just was like, I
don't know if I could make it anymore, like if
the show was double the like we had. I think
we were nine, nine episodes, but if it was like
eighteen episodes, like an actual season, I don't, I don't,
I know I wouldn't have made it the whole way.
Just physically. Um, I was going crazy, like not sleeping
(36:53):
because even after rehearsing the numbers, because I had two numbers,
even that last episode, and like then I'm going to
sleep listening to the lip sync number, because when do
you have time to urge? That too way to do it,
and I you made it so far and did so
well and you should be very proud of yourself. What,
(37:14):
because we are all very, very, very, very proud of you.
Let's take a let's take a quick break and when
we come back, I want to ask you who you're
rooting for now the shore out of the show, and
I'm expecting an answer, and you can't say all of
them will bear that welcome back. Okay, we're with Danny
(37:39):
talking about his who he would who he's rooting for
on in the finalist for secret celebrity drag race. So, Danny,
you were there, you met everybody, you were in the moment.
You understand the experience. If you could place the crown
on someone's head, who would it be? Honestly, I think
since the beginning she's been fire hot and really like
(38:00):
giving it. And I, and I have to really go
with popular love. I have to say, like I think
that Um shock or seven has done such really interesting
and amazing things, some of them making me scratch my head,
but some of them have have been beautiful and I
really felt like, uh, Um, they're a deserving person of
(38:23):
any kind of accolade as a human being. But, but, but, but,
populve man, for a straight man, you know, for for
a j McClean to really just like throw himself into
this and really care and be a generous Um Co
star and somebody who is like kind and, you know,
and and easy to get along with. And Uh, just
(38:45):
you know, this is something that I felt very connected to,
since it's part of Queer culture. You know, I've been
a fan of drag since way before drag race and
you know, had drag Queen Uh, heroes and friends, but
way before drag race. Um, and then to see somebody
who steps into this and really gives it their whole
heart and you know, is uh, not only no, but
(39:13):
not only like playing for a Trans Lifeline also, you know.
And then also, in addition to that, like before drag race,
his new music video had two trans women in it.
They were the women in the video. I think, really
putting his money where his mouth is and really being
a great advocate and ally for the community and I
think that what this is about is an exercise and
(39:33):
transforming yourself into someone else to see what that does
to you. And I think that as he's completed that
exercise in the really unique and Um and fun to
watch way. Yeah, he's he's he's definitely like the start
of the group. But yeah, and did you a shocker seven,
Miss Tattown, I have some type of special connection because, well,
in that moment right before y'all lip sync for the
win and you looked at each other, she said something
(39:57):
to you and it was it looked so genuine and sweet,
and I was say, I feel like you better bring
it and I said, it's already been Brian. Oh, that's
not what it looked like. Take it back, take it back.
I tell you what, though, if, if you guys did
see the behind the scenes, M Chakra, Tatiana was my
(40:17):
like the best sister there. I really did feel like. Well,
first of all, I'm an absolute huge fan of her
work on Um fresh prince actually my favorite character, and
he used to love to be like just find any
business I can. That's a backup. I used to do
that with her. I used to do that with her. Um,
(40:37):
I just I just really enjoyed her spirit. You know, Um,
she's a lovely person and also, like, I can make
her laugh really hard, and that's the best. You can
make everyone laugh really hard because you are very, very funny. Well,
I would say like the bitchiest, shadiest things that I
said were Sett into Tatiana's ear, who would like kind
(40:58):
of blush fashion really, and she knew that I was right,
but then like wouldn't say anything because she's too classy,
and I love that kind of person. I love the
person that I'm like you're a secret pitch like like
and I'm gonna, I wanna say everything to you, because
you're not gonna tell anyone and you're gonna and she
was like a great outlet for me and we did
have a lot of fun together behind the scenes, like
I would like to make a b line for her,
(41:19):
you know, whenever I could backstage to be next to
her or whatever. So we did have a special connection
there for sure. But I I liked everybody really and
when I could be like give you the pageant answer.
But Um, I definitely felt the pressure from from mark
and dull, from thirsty and UM and Milliev on sunshine
(41:42):
and UH and chick La fe, because God, you're glee kids,
like come on, like, come on. First of all, I'm
like I like episode three. I'm like is this dancing
with the drags? Like what's going? Like? When do I'm like,
when do I get to be funny? Like when? When
are we doing snatch, and when do I so? When
do I get an acting challenge? When am I in
a rucicle? Like I was so frustrated that it was
(42:03):
just like lip sinking and dancing, because how had I
known that? I think I would have trained my mind differently.
And also I felt like any day it could change.
But as we got the challenges. They weren't. It wasn't changing.
I'm like, is this what the show is? Because it
wasn't what season one was. So I was a little
bit in confusion there. And then when I'm like holy like,
I'm on a dancing competition with a backstreet boy, two
(42:27):
people from Glee, like and Tantiao's gonna pop star since
she's young, you know, and I'm just like this is
so unfair. And I'm just like and I'm just like
Jake from state farm, like I'm like what I didn't like?
I was like, I mean, I'm a showman, but I
didn't I don't have that kind of seasoning and training
that they have in that arena. But you brought it.
(42:47):
You know what you had? You Got Star power. You
do like I'm telling you, Donna, because you know, we
know you and like so as soon as you started talking,
we realized it was you. But you know how confident
I am in my own skin, like you guys know,
we've been by the together. I don't give it. I'll
be laying, but I'll be laying like putting some baby
oil on my belly by the pool and not even care. But, but,
(43:08):
but what was weird was all of a sudden being
like the fat girl like that was like weird, you know,
when I'm like, wait a minute, they know, like for
me as a man, I know how to navigate my body,
I know what my silhouettes are, I know I know
how how to make myself look good or carry myself,
and it took a long, long time to cultivate that.
But now I'm a woman and I'm sitting there and
I'm a really large woman, like tall, big next to
(43:32):
some and like thirsty who's walking in literally looking like
Ariana Grande, and I'm like and I'm like this is
like a whole new feeling, you know, I mean the
whole thing of like, uh, you know, passable or unpassable,
and you know whatever this is that you know you
have a brick face and you have this and kind
of like, you know, it's very it's it was a
new kind of vulnerability for me, you know, to sort
(43:53):
of try to figure out how to find my own
beauty and my own essence and SAS in a different gender.
And it was actually like really not lost on me. Um,
in the queer experience as a whole actually too, you know,
thinking about all of that stuff which is why, playing
for Trevor Project, I felt like this is everything I'm
going through right now, is what are our siblings go through,
(44:14):
you know, and a lot of these kind of challenges.
And I tried to, you know, do things to make
people visible. I mean I tried to use every genre
of music, like I did country, I did Rosemary Clooney,
I did rap, I did, you know, hip hop. I
tried to do something different every time and also, like
you know, I thought using Kim Petras, I was showcasing
a trans artist and like, you know, who who hadn't
(44:36):
been on drag race yet, who should totally be on
drag race, you know, as a song. So I was
like trying to find ways within my storytelling and my
creativity on the show too, to just highlight a community
even more. Well, the minute she revealed, I mean, we
knew you were going to be good, but I'm just
gonna tell you this, and I even scream it to Jonathan,
(44:56):
I was like she's beautiful, like you. Literally, Donna's beautiful
and I hope you realize that. And No, you definitely
inspired a whole group of people to see themselves as
beautiful as well, because she's freaking stunning, Danny. I really,
I really appreciate that. Um, I never thought that. I mean,
I feel like if you're looking guy, but I feel
(45:16):
like a beautiful woman's like. I never thought the world
you are, and I mean honest, message from a fan.
I got a message from a fan that just said
I just know you have two little chubby girls and
little heels really rooting you on, and I was able
to respond because those we're too not I'm always responsive
to my fans, and you have to keep quiet while
(45:38):
people are like talking to me on on social media.
You're like, what are you talking about? I don't like.
All I did to send the blonde em like that
dino like. I don't know, but innocently, if, out of
this experience, all you got was that message right there,
(45:58):
wouldn't have just made it worth it? All you know
is yes, it would, and I hope that, Jonathan, at
some point you get to do this like like I
really do. We gotta send this one to dance camp first,
like you know me, like if my baby is gonna
go do it now, the showman and me is gonna
come out. We got we gotta crack the whip first, baby,
but if you. But here's the thing. Like you're saying,
like you have like a backstreet boy competing against you
(46:20):
in a dance challenge. It was like when I was
on dancing with the stars, where I didn't do so well,
but I also was going against Alfonso, who is literally
the tap dance kid from Broadway. I'm like, oh, he
played the tap dance kid in the show that tap
dance kids. Of course, so I get it. Michael Jackson
(46:44):
and slipper spoons. Yes, Um, God about that. He did. Yeah,
he did. Oh my gosh. We okay, we want to
do something real quick. We uh, we have to do
we have to do a lot of things. We have
to do gay history. Let's do gay do we have
a gay history? Let's do it. So, Danny, what we
do on the on each episode is before we move
forward as the queer community, we always got to make
sure we remember where we came from. So we like
(47:05):
to highlight things that happened this week in gay history
to remind us on just how far we've come. James,
what's happening in Gay history this week? Okay, well, let's
take it into two thousand eleven. In Two thousand eleven alright.
So for the kids that don't know, they used to
be this thing in the military but, like you, couldn't
be gay. They did. They wouldn't let gay people serve
in the military. So they decided they're gonna have this
(47:26):
policy I don't ask, don't tell. So basically, just pretend
to not be who you are and you can serve
in the military. You can make the ultimate sacrifice for
your country, but you can't be who you are. Uh No. Well,
in two thousand eleven finally it was repealed. It had
been in effect since nineteen two thousand eleven. This week
the militaries don't ask, don't tell policy was officially repealed
(47:50):
and taken back because, as we all know, that's incredibly
wrong to ask somebody who was giving the most amazing
sacrifice for their country to not be able to be themselves.
So there's some progress for you, and that's what happened
this week in gay history. And just say yes, because
I had a runner up for this week in gay history.
Did you know? Also this week, do you know what
show premier? That was the first program to feature openly
(48:11):
gay lead characters? Anybody prime time show openly gay lead
characters and grace, yes, and, oh my gosh, which did
a lot of good for a lot of yes, our generation.
That did a lot of good for us. So we
gotta give some claps to them. To accidentally, you guys
talking about that, I played a national guardsman in the
(48:32):
movie war of the world, the Spielberg movie. It's a
little small part, but it's one of those parts where, like,
you work a couple of weeks but then you're in
a two seconds. But the soldier that was in charge
of making sure all the soldiers look good was a
soldier who came out as gay and and it was before,
it was during John Stone Tell and they ended up
moving him to Hollywood to work as like a liaison
(48:53):
for the army instead of letting him stay like employed.
It was kind of it was kind of interesting and
he told me the whole story about how, like when
he came about how to find another way to, you know, work,
and then that was like a way that he was
able to do something. Is Working Hollywood. Ah, then, that's
that's progress. And look where we are now. So things,
things do evolve, things do grow, as long as we
keep fighting and making noise. And you know who fights
(49:15):
and makes noise people that we shown our big a
spotlight on. You want to do it. Good transition just
lit up just now. When I have a good transition, Danny,
it makes me so happy because we want to shine
our big a spotlight on someone in the lgbt q
plus community that's doing extraordinary things to make make the
world better for our community or just for for small
groups of people, whoever we whoever they're working for. So
(49:37):
what is it this week? Baby? You know, I had
one prepare. Yeah, and you know I always like, I
try to like if we don't have to do a
celebrity I try not to be cause I want to
shine at home people. But this conversation with Danny has
made me really because there are so many times and
those of us like really deepen the drag race fandom. No,
there's a lot of girls that do a lot of
(49:57):
things that never get the credit for stuff, and I
didn't even know until just now in this interview who
was making Donna so beautiful. I was just like, who's
the behind the scenes? I don't know. So this week
I'm gonna shine my big gay spotlight. Oh Mayhem Miller
for being the unsung hero of rupaul's secret celebrity drag
race and making Donna Bellissima. So, Dagon Bellissima, mayhem. That's beautiful. You.
(50:24):
You definitely deserve this spotlight. That's I mean, we know
that you were obviously, but everything dragged. Yeah, she's one
of those queens you can get up close, up close
and she still looks absolutely stunned. I mean she's coming
around a brunch in a broad daylight, twelve noon, overhead lights,
(50:45):
she still looks stunning. How you know? That's that's the
secret of mayhem. Miller Danny, this is podcast and we
want to ask you. What does pride mean to you?
I think pride is the opposite of hide. I'll pay
(51:07):
for the t shirts to be printed, for for drag
con for you to sell those, because that's going on
t shirt. Let's go. That's my gift. Let's make it.
Oh my gosh, I love that. So simple and so beautiful,
and I have someone that has known you for eighteen years.
This conversation has been one of my favorites because I
(51:27):
think who you are sitting here after going through this experience.
I see it Danny, that Danny has always been fearless,
but I'm so excited for the world to experience this Danny,
because if he's always been fearless, now he's unstoppable. So
I want the world to look out, because Danny Franzis
(51:48):
is coming for you and you better watch yourself. Thank
you so much for joining us, Danny. We love you
so much. Thank you for gifts. Oh, I'm so happy. Listen.
If you need more of me, just like an Italian woman,
please come see Italian mom loves you. October heard through
the twenty three in one very connecticut in the seven
(52:11):
Angels Theater. We Are we are Broadway down. We're trying
to go all the way with this, so come see us.
It's a great play, Um, and it will really bring
you some laughs and some heartwarming tears. Thank you so much, Danny.
We love you. Go see his show. Follow him on Instagram.
What's at? What's up, Danny, everyone that follows him, trust me,
you'll be glad you did. That is that does it
(52:32):
for this episode of the PODCAST. You all go message.
Why do you ask them all the mean girls questions?
Why don't you ask them? You have them both there
and you didn't ask them, because there's listen. As much
as it's a wonderful part of their lives that they
own so much. There's so many other facets to my
husband and to Danny, so please get to know those
other facts and you can call me any time and
asking me questions. As you can see, Danny, there's many, many,
(52:54):
many skills out there, so go see him the time.
Mom loves you and we love you all right. By Buddy, bye, Dannie.
Thank you, guys. By everybody that's listening H
This is pridecast with Jonathan Bennett James on. I heart radio. Everybody,
welcome to pridecast. Was One of the most special, my
favorite episode ever, because we are joined with one of
my favorite people on Earth, other than my handsome husband,
(00:23):
who's sitting next to me. Hi, James. We have James.
Tell Him who we have on the show today, because
I'm speaking out of you, though. You've learned. All right. So,
my baby, and hello guests. You will you will know
this as well about my baby. He likes to speak
in absolutes, like the best, my favorite, number one, the
only look what he did both times he said one
(00:43):
of one. Are you getting so good, baby one, one
of my favorite, one of my favorites included. So people
don't feel like aw, that was a dig at me,
they feel like, oh, one of good job. Yes, thank
you so much. But speaking of James, tell him who
is joining the show today. One of our favorites and
maybe I would say he's the top, top top of
your favorites, and that's okay to say. Do I get
(01:05):
to say what it is? Yes, you reveal who's on
the episode. I don't even know which name do you use,
because there's two NOWSA say the first one. Say it well,
but it's heartbreaking to say because we're only getting to
talk to you, because it means you're not on the
show anymore. It's Donna Pelissima, a k Danny Frances me.
Girls Start Danny Francis in the house of Coco. Welcome,
(01:35):
Oh my God, it's good to be here. Now you're
gonna make a distinction. Everything's your favorite. So you get
to me and it's just one of when we draw
the line now, when we know number one. Since Day one, baby,
I mean to have you on the show. This has
been an episode that James and I have been so
excited to film. We've been waiting for the right moment.
(01:55):
We're like, when are we going to have Danny on? Like,
is it October? Three? We're like, there's got to be
something special for it. And then, how do you know
I would say yes. Well, then, what happened? Because I
did your broadcast, bitch, you gotta do mine. What happened
(02:16):
was so like, obviously we're drag race super fans in
this house, and so we start watching the secret celebrity
drag race. First of all, Danny, how shady of you
to tell no one, to tell absolutely no one what's
going on. But the first episode starts and Donna Starts
Speaking and I'm like I know this voice. I'm like, baby,
whose voice is this? And we both look at each
other and we're like, I'm like that's you. Were definitely
(02:38):
like you guys. I was like, I just I'm not
telling them. I'm like, they're going to lose their ship.
I was like, I just I'm definitely not going to
say nothing. Like where the people you don't tell, because
I would like turn into glitter, just like and like
glitter would just tumble down in the air. I mean
we knew. We knew as soon as we heard she
was gonna be so beautiful. Oh my God, I mean
you know, so you're so let's let's walk everyone back,
(03:02):
because I we get to talk about this now, because
it's been a secret of who, who it was. You
know what was happening on secret celebrity drag race, and
now now now you can speak about it and tell
everyone about the journey. So let's just start at the beginning.
I mean you are a drag race fan from I
mean we got to be on Rupaul's drag race as
guest judges. I went to the Premiere Party before premiered
on TV, like I've been. I've been with since like
(03:25):
day one day, one mean filter season. Yes, actually, I
was a curator at the world of Winder Gallery and
they had the Premiere Party at the gallery. That's how
I even knew the show was coming out, like, Oh,
Rupaul is some show about drag queens coming out, and
little did I know that. I would like have the
HD Mike cable like intravenously plugged into my body and
(03:47):
I can't live without it. It's an obsession. I I
totally understand you, because we are so obsessed with it,
like we talked about it like it's football. Every single day.
Like every single day we have conversations about something about
drag race. Every season, every country, what we want, all
of it the same and honestly, like I like the
way people treat sports. Like I watched all the B
(04:08):
side stuff. I just like listening to it in the background,
like all the fan things, all the youtube, all the podcasts.
I've just always been that way, Danny. Drag race is
our sports. Drag race is Gay Sports. Yeah, it's Gorts.
Just now you and I got to be guest judges
on season get, another iconic moment we've shared together. Yes,
(04:33):
and yet another iconic moment we've shared. We got to
be guest judges during not only snatch game, but we
got to be it during, which was my favorite, during
the lip sync to a frozen Broadway soundtrack, which was
for me to die. And I remember you and I
being backstage just get just being such geeks and just
being so excited to be there and like getting to
(04:56):
walk out, and you had this great runway where you
revealed the same outfit it. Yeah, I did have the
first judges reveal in her story. You had seen making
first and now here you are on the first ever
season of secret celebrity drag race. So well, it's technically
season two, but season one was a complete different form.
At this first totally understand race to the crown. Yeah, now,
(05:20):
so you get let's walk us through it. So you
get the phone call. What's where are you when you
get the phone call? What does that feel like? So
for like a year before this happened, they kind of
took a year off of working. Um, you know, the
year before that was taken off for me for covid
like you know, like for me. So it's you know,
(05:40):
it's like a long time since I had done something
because all my touring dates were canceled because of covid
and then my mom had double hip surgery, well, back
to back hip replacements, so I was living with her
and taking care of her and getting her better, you know,
and in doing so we were watching drag race the
whole time. I was catching her up on a lot
of the seasons and, you know, so, so ironic that
(06:03):
this would happen. And then we were watching the CAMELA
Cabello Cinderella right and right is she's about to get
the dress. We pause it and I get a phone
call and it's like how would you like to be
on drag race? And I was like, Oh, yeah, they
want me to judge again. That's so cool, and they're
like no, no no, no, no no, no, be on it and
(06:23):
I'm like what do you mean? There like celebrity drag race,
and I'm like Oh, and I think back to those
one off episode things and I'm like okay, that sounds
fun and they're like here and when they read me
what it was and they said the whole season to
the crown, I almost died. I was like what? I
was like yeah, you know, and then a hundred thousand
dollars to your charity, like it just was so cool.
(06:46):
And so I hung up the phone like, Oh my God,
Oh my God, Oh my God, like I, you know,
literally went the lottery and the gay lottery and and
my mom was like, well, we have no time to waste,
and she putting music on. She's like in five, six, seven, eight,
and move, move, and then she's like trying to pull
addresses out of her closet. I'm like, what's going on, like,
(07:08):
did she have heels? She tried to put you in.
We'll see. This is a big topic of conversation here.
This is like my doctor film moment with Y'all, because,
like we have the same struggle with so. So I
am a size fifteen wide male, which which equals out,
because you know how ladies, she's get pointing in the
front to like an eighteen wide female sho okay. So
(07:34):
I could only and like everything I tried to buy
online because immediately I was like I've never put a
heel on my foot ever for any reason. So I
was like I have to just get one on my foot,
you know, and honestly, like I'm really close friends. You know,
you have you sign an N D A and all
of that, but you have a you have a friend
D a. You know, like when, like when when you
(07:55):
get on one of these shows, you these a people
that you can kind of call. And I live about
in Florida. I live about five minutes away from latres
royal and her husband. So I'm like, if there's a
foot in this town, you're sind and you were watching Cinderella,
having this Cinderella moment, like where's my shoe? I didn't
(08:19):
really know what the show was or what I was
gonna have to do, if I was gonna have to
sew or what. They didn't explain the show because the
first season they had to do different things, you know,
they had different kinds of so, you know. And I
was just like so nervous and I didn't even try
a shoe on at Latresa's because all brand new stuff
and I was like I can't even mess with one
(08:39):
of your things, like I've got to just get my own.
Like I was more like getting tips of way to
buy stuff. Finally a shoe arrived in the mail and
it fit on my foot, but man, I was like
a Bambi, brand new deer being born. Like I could not.
I was like the four am girls that you see
on the on the Boulevard in Vegas. Yeah, like just
like like tripping over each other, like I couldn't do it.
(09:01):
My mom and sister actually were like he's not gonna
last more than an episode or two, like it's rough. Well,
because the shoot didn't really fit. What what kind of hero?
Was it a kid? No, it was, like I say,
it was like a like a three inchield right, but
the problem with it was that the heel itself was
(09:22):
not strong enough to hold me up. Like I knew that,
like if I was dancing, it was there was a
little stiletto if I was dancing or something. This was
not gonna last, you know, and I really didn't want
to hurt myself. So I was like, well, production will
have it. It's Hollywood. No, no, no, the entire show,
and this is like a secret of this show, like
(09:44):
the entire show basically only had six teams that they
would heat gun to be wide enough for me and
there was no shoe my size the whole season. They
just didn't have it. They were like we have to
be custom made and we don't have time and I
don't think anyone expected me to last that long. But
Donna Belisi she well and she did it all in
(10:06):
a shoe that was too small for her. Yeah, it
felt kind of like a set up because I was like,
you know, after a while, Um, I mean you know this, Jonathan,
you've done some rigorous reality. This is my first like
tiptoe into that kind of an environment. and Um, your
first day of the week, you know, you pick your music.
(10:30):
It's like you have like five song choices and then
like one has to you know, to see what clears. So,
even if you're thinking of like what the challenge is
going to be, you've got five songs that you're learning
because it could be you don't know what's going to clear.
And then finally, when it clears and you get like
this song that you get to do, Um, then you
gotta work on a new version of that because it's
(10:51):
edited brand new, you know. So you were kind of
learning the real version, but now of a sudden you're
presented with a new version, right, and so they give
you the new version and they give you the lip
sync for Your Life Song, which you may or may
not have to lip sync if you're in the bottom
at the same time. Okay, and the next and the
next day, the next day, you go into work at
(11:11):
six am and then they're like, you know, you got
covid you've got something, you've got some some talking head stuff,
whatever you do. And then they're like okay, so what
are we doing? And you're like, Um, well, I think
I would move over here. Maybe I could do something
like this. And then you know the Jamal Sims is
a fantastic uh choreographer and uh and rain, his assistant,
(11:37):
was like here's you know, maybe we could do some
of this, maybe we could do some of that. So
you kind of choreograph it together with Jamal and then
you run it three times, then they bring the dancer in,
you run in another time and then they record it
and they let you go home and it's like noon
and you're like, okay, what am I gonna do it
this time? I'm gonna work on this number, like I
(11:57):
gotta get this like going, you know. And so you're
working on the number all the day or whatever, and
the very next day you're in dress rehearsal and makeup
and you get to do the number three times on
the main stage, like to test it out and try
it out and then the very next day you're in
four hours of makeup and you're in front of a
live audience and if you're lives, if you're livesting for
(12:17):
your life, and that the very next morning you're starting again.
There's no break. We only had some days off and
it was back to back weeks. So the thing that
I did not take into consideration at all was the
sleep deprivation, because it's like literally a race, like I
wasn't eating right, I wasn't sleeping right, I was in
so much pain, my body wasn't recovering from the things
(12:38):
I was making it do the day before, and I
had so much to learn every day and it was
just like really hard. Like the one thing I could
say is the show doesn't show how hard it was. Yeah,
I wish they'd showed all this. That's so interesting. And me,
I thought I'll had way more time to rehearse. No,
it's like so and and honestly, no days off. I think.
(12:58):
You know, we ran. Think I was. I was in
it for a month and a half and like, I
think I had like two days off the whole time,
you know, and like those two or whatever. I don't
know what it was like. or no one Sunday each Sunday,
so like four days off, but those Sundays were like
recovery days, like full body massages and like, you know,
trying to just like get your body back to normal,
(13:19):
you know, and try to sleep as much as him.
And it's part of the game, right, like that's they
because when, yeah, they want you loopy, they want you
to like not feel normal because that adds to the
whole drama of the entire season. I mean, I remember
dancing with the stars. We you have zero days off.
They don't even give you it off. So, like I
totally understand you where it's like you get into week
(13:40):
four and you're like, oh my gosh, we're still doing this,
and then and then you you start to feel like,
I don't know how it was for you, but like
when I was on dancing with the stars and I
was in big brother, you feel like this world is
the only world that exists, as you start going down
the rabbit hole where like I'm sitting there crying in
a confession and I'm like am I crying in a
(14:02):
confessional on big brother? Like what? Like I'm the person
I hear is pouring my heart out and like yes,
and I'm like crying about it. I'm like, I'm who
I make fun of on the show and no, here
I am bawling my eyes out because you're just your
your senses and your emotions are so screwed up because
of the sleep deformation, because of like what's on the
(14:23):
task at hands. Yeah, also, the first two weeks I
couldn't even remember my critiques because I'm like standing there
at a body, like completely exhausted from performing and out
of breath. You know, I'm not a glee person, I'm
not a pop star, I'm not, you know, like I mean,
everybody there has incredible dance training. You know what I mean?
I mean like my dance training is limited. I mean
(14:45):
like I'm an actor who moves well, but I am not,
but in no means, you know. and Um, then all
of a sudden they hand your Mike and you're out
of breath and it's like you full ass audience and
you're looking at my dead in the eyes and she's
judging you in an art form that she has helped
pioneer to the world, and you're just like this is crazy,
(15:09):
this is it. Is. It's that moment you feel because
I'm so happy you got to experience that moment, because
you got to experience it so many episodes, which is wonderful.
The same thing happened on dancing with the stars, which
I totally relate to, is the moment when you're done
performing and it's time for the critiques. It's this out
(15:29):
of body experience that no one will ever understand unless
you are standing in those shoes or in those heels,
where you just don't feel like a real human. You're
like a space alien that's just like inhabiting this body
and you're looking around and it's like the lights in
the it's like in the slow mo in the movies
when they're like the crowds are cheering, but you like
hear it in slow motion and you're like, what is
(15:51):
going on? I totally understand that. And it's underwater at
the end of car like cars, like yes, and you're
just like yeah, getting there and whatever you and you're like,
I mean really, like I like I would have to Um,
go backstage and write down things so I could remember
the critiques because or ask people. I would ask monique
(16:12):
and like, because she was like my mom. I was like,
can you just remember what they say to me and
then tell me what they said, because I'm literally like
blanking out there. You know, it was literally terrifying. And also, Um,
you're in like pipe and drape backstage right in like
a little tent that's just for you and you don't
get to see anyone else's performance. That's before so I
(16:36):
can't like just so so poppy love, who was going
first all the time and winning. I had no idea
what what she was doing. Are you kidding? So I
was like, I don't even know what I'm up against.
You don't get to see like what you'r the people,
your other contestants look like. You might catch glimpses like
walking to the hallway or something. You know. Um, if they,
(16:56):
if they couldn't keep you from each other. But even
when you're rehearsing, but with the dancers part of it,
you have to rehearse with uh, their pods because they
didn't want anyone else to hear your song in the
next room. WHO's getting a fitting or whatever. Wait. So
the only times you're really interacting with each other is
when you're on stage at the end. For who's safe
(17:16):
and whose lips thinking is that? Is that? Well, we
had a whole untucked backstage thing that they didn't air
like like like once you perform you see it. Sometimes
they showed clips of behind the stage or whatever. But, Um,
you know, I think when they went into this they
didn't know what it was gonna be like. They were like,
we don't really know, you know, and they made they
made some like uh, they give us some sort of
(17:39):
like red herrings. Or they were thinking we might do
a sewing challenge, you know, and we did have like
sort of like a sewing segment, but it was, you know,
when you're there you're like, Oh am I gonna have
to make address. You know, when Ruth said the twist,
when we was like the twist, I thought it was
gonna be like now do it by yourself, now, do
(18:01):
your own makeup, now, do your own outfit now, like
you know what I mean. That would have been good.
I could have did it. I could have done it.
Maybe I wouldn't have been pretty because, honestly, mayhem beat
my face like every like beautiful mayhem. Did your makeup
so much sense now, because Donna is so beautiful. I'M
NOT gonna take I'm not gonna take anything away from money,
but I was like, I'm a Miller Mama, like I
(18:23):
was like really into moe, like she was just there
for me when I needed or you know what I mean,
like a Miller mom even realized mayhem was there. That
makes so much sense because, oh my gosh, talk about
a pretty girl that could beat a face. That's gotta
be on a t shirt. I'm a Miller Mama. Such
a good line. You can sell it when you go
to dragon. You know. Um, mayhem definitely knows how I
(18:45):
feel about heart, because there was some moments that I
just needed a second, like, you know, Um, like literally
like out. I'm a biggest man who doesn't do on
the regular. So I'm just like, you know, and I'm
about to be judged and I'm just like and I'm
getting like acid reflex. I'm like, you know what I mean,
I'm like thank God for mayhem. Like she would be
(19:08):
like I just have to fix something and be like
take a breath, like get yourself together, you know, kind
of like just give me like a moment, a piece.
She couldn't speak, but she would just like look at
me and you know whatever. Uh, in the one when
I did uh the Chicksung Sindwagon. If you go back
and Rewatch it, like you don't really show it or
you can't really tell it, but I did rewatch it
and you can't see when I in the right in
(19:30):
the beginning, I slap on the bar and I was
so into it. Every nail breaks and flies off my
fingers like in that moment, like if you watch it
up close, it's just like nails flying. So I was
very nervous that it was gonna ruin my number and
I'm trying to hide my fingers the whole number. So
in between takes, immediately mayhem came there and had a
wholeful set of new nails and put them on. You know,
(19:50):
it was really just like watching those little details where
and I had them like hanging off my fingers. I
was like shaking. You know, it meant a lot to
me and I know when we played game it's like
given you play a card game or something, or you
play like, you know, smash rose, or you're you're just
playing something where you're like I'm gonna use this player
against this player for whatever reason. I kind of felt
like that's maybe what happened when I was in the bottom.
(20:12):
I'm not like a delusional queen. I'm sure that I
made the bottom of that episode because everybody else was
so good and I was getting like I was getting
like uh, critiques for props that I didn't even pick, like,
you know, like they were just showing up on set.
I told Rue at one point. It didn't make the edit,
but I said that that being on the show was
like being on an evil episode of goose bumps where
(20:35):
you text something and it just comes to life, like,
you know. I was like I just want to make
up me or with like a powder puff in a
chair or something, and then it would be like a
powder puff a chair and making like I meant like
like that, like I don't mean like I needed everything up,
and then there's like a there's like a flower of
Oz on there and you know, and all this stuff
that I didn't ask for that that I didn't get
to even see until I was on stage with it
(20:56):
on the and I started thinking about share. I was
like who else probably has done a rehearsal like in
sweatpants with other people in sweatpants and then had to
come out and do it in the audience in the
outfit and then never even, maybe even I never even
saw my backup dancers outfits, like because they were they
didn't wear much. Do you have any? Do you have
(21:21):
any toilet paper around, because it's pretty much that wrapped
around the cross. They were so hot. That was a
little bit. It's a little bit of a distraction. It's
like do I watch the Queens or do I watch
the boys? What's going on on stage? And they were
also nice and also hot and honestly, like being like
a drag queen around those boys it's like so different
than being Danny. Around those boys, like being Donna Belissima.
(21:42):
They were all like so flirty with me and so
cute and I was like this is like I like
being Donna, like we love Donna and we want you
to be done all the time because you love her.
Can Donna police come over one day? Well, Donna please. Honestly,
maybe Donna will end up on out pounds, like you
never know, Donna on outbound everything, because now you get one,
(22:05):
you get the comedy stylings of Danny Franz Z and
then you get the drag performance of Donna. He does
comedy in it's kind of like if you want Superman
to be there. Clark Kent has to show up, so
it might have to. We gotta get bigger about that.
Five already in heels and a wig. We need like
eight foot tall ceilings for him to walk around this
(22:26):
because that happened when we did our Berlin Pride to
answer Dan Pride Cruise. The ceilings were seven foot tall
and we booked a queen from Germany that, in heels
and hair, was like seven and a half feet. So
we had to move the party upstairs to the upper deck,
because that makes a betty boom book, but with like
a real flathead on the whig. Yes, I'm just making
(22:49):
the clear DS. We love a resourceful quation. Oh my gosh,
Danny Um, we're gonna take a quick break and when
we come back we're gonna chat more about everything that
is pride and how fabulous and gay. My good friend
Danny Francais is right back. Okay, we're chatting with Danny Francaise,
(23:14):
from Donna Police, from mean girls, from rupaul's secret celebrity
drag race, from your comedy tour for sixteen years, from
a comedy near you. I just don't change the title.
I changed the jokes. A little, but like my touring
for like six years, but honey, booked and blessed. I
(23:38):
remember when you started doing that tour and you were
telling me how wonderful it was and how exciting it was.
And what I love so much about you is that
your interaction with the fans when you when when they
either go on this tour and they're and they're meeting
you after the show or they're meeting you at any
of the cons, the drag cons, the fans absolutely adore
(23:59):
you and of you and want do they can't get
enough of you and to watch you interact with them
is super special. Tell me about some of your favorite
moments you've had, because I know you shared someone with me,
like Hey, I've had these kids come up and say
this to me or how I inspired this or some
crazy fan mean girls moments. What has that been like?
You know, I absolutely love meeting fans, I really do.
(24:19):
I was a fan girl myself growing up, like I
collected autographs. I had autographs from like be Arthur and
that midler and Oprah and, Um, you know, at Asner
and all these like weird people from Nick Knight and
stuff like. I would just write everyone and get. So
I understand that energy, um, but it's different with Damian,
as you know, like you know, Um, since Damien wasn't
(24:41):
out Um in the movie and it was kind of
like low key and mean girls that Damien was gay.
I mean, even though it's obvious to anyone who's watching
the film, if it's just optics, it's not. He doesn't
kiss the guy. I Prom because of that it was.
What I've been finding out now, as we're nearing to
the Twentie Niversary, is that dam made it in a
lot of foreign territories where gay stuff gets cut out.
(25:04):
So you hear like, you know, like there's a lesbian
couple pushing a stroller and finding dory and then the
world's upset, you know what I mean, like and they
want to like cut these scenes out of like light
year and all these other things. Well, Damien was like
a fully realized character that got to stay. He got
to be in the girl's bathroom, he got to and
he never said he was gay. So, you know, I
(25:25):
recently had Um, you saw a cop who was one
of the most amazing like young gay music video directors
right now. has directed so many things and just want
a queer tea for directing Um trixie Mattel's new video.
told me that when he was growing up in to
buy it was the only gay character or thing ever
(25:45):
that he ever saw that wasn't considered an abomination and
was celebrated. I mean, that's huge that. Yeah, talk about
the reach of that, and some places in Asia and
some places in Africa where like literally gay stuff is
just like it's punishable by that, and this was this
was a gay character, teen or not, big or not
or whatever, you know, and that's just so incredible to me.
(26:07):
And it's done a lot of stuff stateside too, where,
you know, I had a girl from Texas tell me
that like her gay best friend wasn't allowed in the
house and then the mom fell in love with me
girls and now invites them over, let the sleep over,
let them come over for dinner, and you're kind of
like you're literally opening doors for people. It really speaks
to me. So I know, like you know, Um, I
(26:27):
have a family member that has a lot of trauma
who I love to reach through nostalgia. Like whenever we
interact through nostalgia, it's a comfortable place for them because
you know, when someone has a traumatic background. Nostalgic things
can't be changed. It's already capitualized. It was great, they
loved it, it didn't hurt them and it's done so
if you go look back, sometimes I think it brings
(26:48):
a lot of people out of joy and you girls,
happens to be a nostalgic film for a lot of people.
You know, I've had sisters who wrote me letters and
say like, Oh, I had nothing in common with my brother,
but this movie or you know, people who saw it
with their friends or who remember it from high school
or who dressed up like at a halloween or whatever
it is. It reminds them of a good time. So
we're lucky that because we're attached to this project that
(27:10):
brings people joy, and I really think that that's like
the essence of like what I want to be is
like a purveyor of joy, and going to meet these
fans and having them experienced joy and me watching that,
it's like so much fun, like it's like it's like
they're getting a puppy or something when they get to
meet me, and I'm like I'm doing that. Like it's
just amazing to feel the impact of art in the
world that you have a part of and so I
(27:32):
absolutely love that. I'M gonna be at Comic Con New York, Um,
you know, and I love doing all the meet and greets.
I go to a lot, like I do a lot
of colleges for less than I rate, because I try
to you know, I say, like there's these students who
need to break you know, and like need to like
see something, and you know, a lot of times when
colleges hired me, it's an event that's free to the students.
So I love to be able to there, to you know,
(27:53):
be there and be like a break in there, like
testing whatever and going there and just tell some jokes and,
you know, make them laugh and and meet them and
look at them in the eye and tell them that,
you know, Um, they can achieve their goals and dreams
and just remember how much guests and stuff like that
mattered to me. So really I'm I'm placating a younger
version of myself when I'm doing that, and I think that,
you know, whoever you thought you were when you were
(28:15):
a kid, that's like who you are, you know, and
who you have to try to like, you know, find again,
and it's it's a fun way to do it well
as somebody that that was not part of the mean
girl's phenomenon. But but it feels like they know you
both Prett one better the other. Obviously no, it's it's
a pretty cool thing that's y'all got to be a
part of, because so few people get to be a
part of something like that that really did touch almost
(28:37):
everybody of a certain generation's life and then like the
generation after that too, and it is a really cool
thing because you talk about like like the puppy dog
that brings excitement enjoy to somebody's life. It's the same
thing with Jonathan when, like someone gets to come up
to him and, like, you know, they want to do
a scene with you for their instagram or they want
to say one of your catchphrase, of your lines, and
they get so excited and so giddy and it really
(28:57):
does make their whole day. It's a really cool thing
that you guys get to do. So, you know, I
try to take both aware of it. I try to
take a page out of like Steve Martin's book or, Um,
you know, Bill Murray. Like I've heard that some of them,
like Steve Martin, has like a little card that says
you've met Steve Martin and if you don't show them
as card like they won't believe you. And then he
signs them and he keeps them on him, you know,
(29:17):
and so funny. and Bill Murray has done stuff like
that too, where he's just like computer like, you know,
photo bombed people or you know, and I really find
that to be like that brings me a lot of joy.
So I always have like a Damien sticker on me
or a magnet or something dumb like that. Like I
get them made all the time and keep them on
me and when people freak out, I'd love to give
them something like that and it makes them freak out
(29:38):
even more and it's it's just so fun and and
and funny to do and to like be a part of,
you know, make people feel good. Speaking of meeting people
and making them feel good. All right, so I know
you go to drag con every year. So now my
question is, this year, when you go to drag coon,
who goes to Dragon Danny or Donna? So I'm going
(30:00):
to drag con UK um in January and so excited
and I've been just deciding about how to do this
and you know, I'm doing my play right now Italian
mom loves you. Um, we just got picked up for
an encore presentation of three more weeks for Italian heritage
month in water very, Connecticut at the seven Angels Theater.
Thank you for the seven Angel Theater Dot Org. But
(30:22):
I was thinking like maybe I should do like one
day Italian mom, one day Danny and one day Donna,
you know. Or I was thinking maybe I'll do like
two days Danny and then maybe like do a panel,
you know what, and where, maybe mayhem makes me up
in front of everyone and then I could do like
a photo op as Donna after that, because I'll already
(30:42):
be you know, and that's maybe a way to do it.
I haven't really discussed it the world of wonder yet,
but I have plans for Donna. I think Donna is
an on screen Gal. I don't think I'm gonna be
like hucking and bucking at like, you know, at like
you know there's in Phoenix, Arizona, which I put my
files out for you. Okay, you know? Yeah, honestly, I'm
(31:04):
already doing that with stand up. I always say like
stand up dragon stripping. We're all the same. We all
work for like chicken wings and like we all show
times at one am. But like, so I'm already already
lived that light. I live that Dang life. So I
don't know about that, but I can't see myself. Maybe, uh,
doing a cabaret p town or maybe, Um, being a
(31:26):
judge on something like Queen of the universe, if they
needed a guest judge or something. I think you'd be
a perfect judge for Queen of the universe and I
support that. I think if they if they had like
a guest on next season celebrity draggers, I'd love to
come back as Donna or like or actually, I'm gonna
Campaign and maybe your fans could help. Will help fans
listen up, but I would like fans listen up here,
(31:47):
not prodcast fans, because I would like to campaign that
Donna Belisima and Mayhem Miller are maybe the hosts of
fashion photo review for next year's celebrity drag race. So
since we don't have one, or maybe that could be
the thing. I think that's a thing. We make that
a thing because because if the if the heels are
short enough and the paychecks high enough, Donnad will show
(32:09):
up to work. I mean, I mean we're gonna pay it.
We're to get her on outbound. I mean, come on,
let's go. But I love that idea and I like
I think you're doing it smart. I don't I agree
with you that Donna doesn't just show up anywhere like
she shows up at the right places at the right time.
So it's a special occasion. It's not just Tuesday in Wichita.
I could see me doing some like stories and a
(32:32):
piano kind of moment. I could see that happening. Also,
I thought that I had a roast happening, so I
wrote a lot of roast jokes and give us some
of those roast jokes right now, just a couple. Like
you know, anyone? If roast anyone, say no, only because
everyone was so kind and we all were like a
(32:53):
really close sisters, and I'm afraid, as sisters do, I'm
just I'm just afraid of visit anybody off because they're
also lovely and kind. I was the cutthroat one, I
will say. I was the one that was like give
me that freaking crown, like everyone else was like this
is so nice, we're still looking to be here, and
(33:13):
I was like, Bitch, my feet hurt and I see
something shiny and I want it like I really did
have the eye of the tiger. You're like, I don't
want to mess anything up for a celebrity all stars
potential in the future honey still has. Thank you so much, Mama.
Whatever you like, whatever you say. Would you like me
(33:36):
to stand for that crown? I gotta get it. And
now walking away from this experience. Let's just wrap up
this whole experience. Obviously you'll learn things about yourself. For James,
I know for the amazing race, for me, for big brother,
we had very different experiences where now we can't even
watch the show because it was a different experience for us.
(33:58):
We're we're kind of just yeah, how's the new season?
Were like, good luck, but that hasn't isn't for you
that you're still excited about dragon. Want to keep watching.
I just don't think I'll ever lose like that little
like twinkle and I have like the twelve year old
that wonders what's going on in Hollywood. I'm I'm kind
(34:18):
of the person that when I'm on a dark right
at Disney, I'm like, I'm really on this adventure for
I'll suspend this belief for two minutes and like and
be an Arials cove like I left it. I let
myself kind of go there because it's actually like such
a therapeutic release for me. So I don't think I'll
ever if anything, I have way more respect for these queens,
because I can't imagine doing this sequestered. I can't imagine
(34:40):
doing this without my cell phone. I can't imagine doing
this Um with my own money and trying to come
up with these outfits and and on these categories and
and knowing how the show shifts and changes, how we
were going to do this and then we ended up
doing that, and then it's it's so malleable and it's
like you really feel like you're walking on a drawbridge
where like planks are falling out and it's shaking, you know,
(35:03):
the whole time. There's never I never felt ground footage
during this because your shoes were too small. Definitely the
reason popcorn and feed the children. Honestly, I was like
everyone else. backsnage is like, who do you think to
the top and I'm they were like a there, a
gun on my like Barbie feet, like I was suppressed
(35:27):
all the moves you did in them shoes, because I
cannot walk in heels and my heart was broken when
I found out I couldn't walk in heels. So for
doing all that, I tell you, there was a point
where Um on the last episode because we opened up
with that group number, like from Vegas, and then I
do my number and then I had a lip sync
again that I was like should I just faint? Like
(35:47):
I was like. I was like maybe I should just
pass out because from the knees down, I just didn't
couldn't feel my body anymore and my feet were just
in so much pain that I just was like, I
think I need to die now. And then everyone thinks
I got such a big break during sinewagon wearing cowboy boots,
but got they heard even more like they were. They
were like worse to dance in. I was like this
(36:09):
is like not, I'm not getting in a preef here,
like you know, like it was just real bad for
me on the feet area. I gotta say I'll vouch
for you. I did a country show in Vegas. My
first show in Vegas was a country show and it
was all in boots and then boots heard and I
was not in drag boots, I was just in boy boots.
And I was in pain. So I can't imagine again,
like how you how you pulled it off. Very impressive. No,
(36:31):
what do you won that week? Because there was literally
parts of my body that I just was like, I
don't know if I could make it anymore, like if
the show was double the like we had. I think
we were nine, nine episodes, but if it was like
eighteen episodes, like an actual season, I don't, I don't,
I know I wouldn't have made it the whole way.
Just physically. Um, I was going crazy, like not sleeping
(36:53):
because even after rehearsing the numbers, because I had two numbers,
even that last episode, and like then I'm going to
sleep listening to the lip sync number, because when do
you have time to urge? That too way to do it,
and I you made it so far and did so
well and you should be very proud of yourself. What,
(37:14):
because we are all very, very, very, very proud of you.
Let's take a let's take a quick break and when
we come back, I want to ask you who you're
rooting for now the shore out of the show, and
I'm expecting an answer, and you can't say all of
them will bear that welcome back. Okay, we're with Danny
(37:39):
talking about his who he would who he's rooting for
on in the finalist for secret celebrity drag race. So, Danny,
you were there, you met everybody, you were in the moment.
You understand the experience. If you could place the crown
on someone's head, who would it be? Honestly, I think
since the beginning she's been fire hot and really like
(38:00):
giving it. And I, and I have to really go
with popular love. I have to say, like I think
that Um shock or seven has done such really interesting
and amazing things, some of them making me scratch my head,
but some of them have have been beautiful and I
really felt like, uh, Um, they're a deserving person of
(38:23):
any kind of accolade as a human being. But, but, but, but,
populve man, for a straight man, you know, for for
a j McClean to really just like throw himself into
this and really care and be a generous Um Co
star and somebody who is like kind and, you know,
and and easy to get along with. And Uh, just
(38:45):
you know, this is something that I felt very connected to,
since it's part of Queer culture. You know, I've been
a fan of drag since way before drag race and
you know, had drag Queen Uh, heroes and friends, but
way before drag race. Um, and then to see somebody
who steps into this and really gives it their whole
heart and you know, is uh, not only no, but
(39:13):
not only like playing for a Trans Lifeline also, you know.
And then also, in addition to that, like before drag race,
his new music video had two trans women in it.
They were the women in the video. I think, really
putting his money where his mouth is and really being
a great advocate and ally for the community and I
think that what this is about is an exercise and
(39:33):
transforming yourself into someone else to see what that does
to you. And I think that as he's completed that
exercise in the really unique and Um and fun to
watch way. Yeah, he's he's he's definitely like the start
of the group. But yeah, and did you a shocker seven,
Miss Tattown, I have some type of special connection because, well,
in that moment right before y'all lip sync for the
win and you looked at each other, she said something
(39:57):
to you and it was it looked so genuine and sweet,
and I was say, I feel like you better bring
it and I said, it's already been Brian. Oh, that's
not what it looked like. Take it back, take it back.
I tell you what, though, if, if you guys did
see the behind the scenes, M Chakra, Tatiana was my
(40:17):
like the best sister there. I really did feel like. Well,
first of all, I'm an absolute huge fan of her
work on Um fresh prince actually my favorite character, and
he used to love to be like just find any
business I can. That's a backup. I used to do
that with her. I used to do that with her. Um,
(40:37):
I just I just really enjoyed her spirit. You know, Um,
she's a lovely person and also, like, I can make
her laugh really hard, and that's the best. You can
make everyone laugh really hard because you are very, very funny. Well,
I would say like the bitchiest, shadiest things that I
said were Sett into Tatiana's ear, who would like kind
(40:58):
of blush fashion really, and she knew that I was right,
but then like wouldn't say anything because she's too classy,
and I love that kind of person. I love the
person that I'm like you're a secret pitch like like
and I'm gonna, I wanna say everything to you, because
you're not gonna tell anyone and you're gonna and she
was like a great outlet for me and we did
have a lot of fun together behind the scenes, like
I would like to make a b line for her,
(41:19):
you know, whenever I could backstage to be next to
her or whatever. So we did have a special connection
there for sure. But I I liked everybody really and
when I could be like give you the pageant answer.
But Um, I definitely felt the pressure from from mark
and dull, from thirsty and UM and Milliev on sunshine
(41:42):
and UH and chick La fe, because God, you're glee kids,
like come on, like, come on. First of all, I'm
like I like episode three. I'm like is this dancing
with the drags? Like what's going? Like? When do I'm like,
when do I get to be funny? Like when? When
are we doing snatch, and when do I so? When
do I get an acting challenge? When am I in
a rucicle? Like I was so frustrated that it was
(42:03):
just like lip sinking and dancing, because how had I
known that? I think I would have trained my mind differently.
And also I felt like any day it could change.
But as we got the challenges. They weren't. It wasn't changing.
I'm like, is this what the show is? Because it
wasn't what season one was. So I was a little
bit in confusion there. And then when I'm like holy like,
I'm on a dancing competition with a backstreet boy, two
(42:27):
people from Glee, like and Tantiao's gonna pop star since
she's young, you know, and I'm just like this is
so unfair. And I'm just like and I'm just like
Jake from state farm, like I'm like what I didn't like?
I was like, I mean, I'm a showman, but I
didn't I don't have that kind of seasoning and training
that they have in that arena. But you brought it.
(42:47):
You know what you had? You Got Star power. You
do like I'm telling you, Donna, because you know, we
know you and like so as soon as you started talking,
we realized it was you. But you know how confident
I am in my own skin, like you guys know,
we've been by the together. I don't give it. I'll
be laying, but I'll be laying like putting some baby
oil on my belly by the pool and not even care. But, but,
(43:08):
but what was weird was all of a sudden being
like the fat girl like that was like weird, you know,
when I'm like, wait a minute, they know, like for
me as a man, I know how to navigate my body,
I know what my silhouettes are, I know I know
how how to make myself look good or carry myself,
and it took a long, long time to cultivate that.
But now I'm a woman and I'm sitting there and
I'm a really large woman, like tall, big next to
(43:32):
some and like thirsty who's walking in literally looking like
Ariana Grande, and I'm like and I'm like this is
like a whole new feeling, you know, I mean the
whole thing of like, uh, you know, passable or unpassable,
and you know whatever this is that you know you
have a brick face and you have this and kind
of like, you know, it's very it's it was a
new kind of vulnerability for me, you know, to sort
(43:53):
of try to figure out how to find my own
beauty and my own essence and SAS in a different gender.
And it was actually like really not lost on me. Um,
in the queer experience as a whole actually too, you know,
thinking about all of that stuff which is why, playing
for Trevor Project, I felt like this is everything I'm
going through right now, is what are our siblings go through,
(44:14):
you know, and a lot of these kind of challenges.
And I tried to, you know, do things to make
people visible. I mean I tried to use every genre
of music, like I did country, I did Rosemary Clooney,
I did rap, I did, you know, hip hop. I
tried to do something different every time and also, like
you know, I thought using Kim Petras, I was showcasing
a trans artist and like, you know, who who hadn't
(44:36):
been on drag race yet, who should totally be on
drag race, you know, as a song. So I was
like trying to find ways within my storytelling and my
creativity on the show too, to just highlight a community
even more. Well, the minute she revealed, I mean, we
knew you were going to be good, but I'm just
gonna tell you this, and I even scream it to Jonathan,
(44:56):
I was like she's beautiful, like you. Literally, Donna's beautiful
and I hope you realize that. And No, you definitely
inspired a whole group of people to see themselves as
beautiful as well, because she's freaking stunning, Danny. I really,
I really appreciate that. Um, I never thought that. I mean,
I feel like if you're looking guy, but I feel
(45:16):
like a beautiful woman's like. I never thought the world
you are, and I mean honest, message from a fan.
I got a message from a fan that just said
I just know you have two little chubby girls and
little heels really rooting you on, and I was able
to respond because those we're too not I'm always responsive
to my fans, and you have to keep quiet while
(45:38):
people are like talking to me on on social media.
You're like, what are you talking about? I don't like.
All I did to send the blonde em like that
dino like. I don't know, but innocently, if, out of
this experience, all you got was that message right there,
(45:58):
wouldn't have just made it worth it? All you know
is yes, it would, and I hope that, Jonathan, at
some point you get to do this like like I
really do. We gotta send this one to dance camp first,
like you know me, like if my baby is gonna
go do it now, the showman and me is gonna
come out. We got we gotta crack the whip first, baby,
but if you. But here's the thing. Like you're saying,
like you have like a backstreet boy competing against you
(46:20):
in a dance challenge. It was like when I was
on dancing with the stars, where I didn't do so well,
but I also was going against Alfonso, who is literally
the tap dance kid from Broadway. I'm like, oh, he
played the tap dance kid in the show that tap
dance kids. Of course, so I get it. Michael Jackson
(46:44):
and slipper spoons. Yes, Um, God about that. He did. Yeah,
he did. Oh my gosh. We okay, we want to
do something real quick. We uh, we have to do
we have to do a lot of things. We have
to do gay history. Let's do gay do we have
a gay history? Let's do it. So, Danny, what we
do on the on each episode is before we move
forward as the queer community, we always got to make
sure we remember where we came from. So we like
(47:05):
to highlight things that happened this week in gay history
to remind us on just how far we've come. James,
what's happening in Gay history this week? Okay, well, let's
take it into two thousand eleven. In Two thousand eleven alright.
So for the kids that don't know, they used to
be this thing in the military but, like you, couldn't
be gay. They did. They wouldn't let gay people serve
in the military. So they decided they're gonna have this
(47:26):
policy I don't ask, don't tell. So basically, just pretend
to not be who you are and you can serve
in the military. You can make the ultimate sacrifice for
your country, but you can't be who you are. Uh No. Well,
in two thousand eleven finally it was repealed. It had
been in effect since nineteen two thousand eleven. This week
the militaries don't ask, don't tell policy was officially repealed
(47:50):
and taken back because, as we all know, that's incredibly
wrong to ask somebody who was giving the most amazing
sacrifice for their country to not be able to be themselves.
So there's some progress for you, and that's what happened
this week in gay history. And just say yes, because
I had a runner up for this week in gay history.
Did you know? Also this week, do you know what
show premier? That was the first program to feature openly
(48:11):
gay lead characters? Anybody prime time show openly gay lead
characters and grace, yes, and, oh my gosh, which did
a lot of good for a lot of yes, our generation.
That did a lot of good for us. So we
gotta give some claps to them. To accidentally, you guys
talking about that, I played a national guardsman in the
(48:32):
movie war of the world, the Spielberg movie. It's a
little small part, but it's one of those parts where, like,
you work a couple of weeks but then you're in
a two seconds. But the soldier that was in charge
of making sure all the soldiers look good was a
soldier who came out as gay and and it was before,
it was during John Stone Tell and they ended up
moving him to Hollywood to work as like a liaison
(48:53):
for the army instead of letting him stay like employed.
It was kind of it was kind of interesting and
he told me the whole story about how, like when
he came about how to find another way to, you know, work,
and then that was like a way that he was
able to do something. Is Working Hollywood. Ah, then, that's
that's progress. And look where we are now. So things,
things do evolve, things do grow, as long as we
keep fighting and making noise. And you know who fights
(49:15):
and makes noise people that we shown our big a
spotlight on. You want to do it. Good transition just
lit up just now. When I have a good transition, Danny,
it makes me so happy because we want to shine
our big a spotlight on someone in the lgbt q
plus community that's doing extraordinary things to make make the
world better for our community or just for for small
groups of people, whoever we whoever they're working for. So
(49:37):
what is it this week? Baby? You know, I had
one prepare. Yeah, and you know I always like, I
try to like if we don't have to do a
celebrity I try not to be cause I want to
shine at home people. But this conversation with Danny has
made me really because there are so many times and
those of us like really deepen the drag race fandom. No,
there's a lot of girls that do a lot of
(49:57):
things that never get the credit for stuff, and I
didn't even know until just now in this interview who
was making Donna so beautiful. I was just like, who's
the behind the scenes? I don't know. So this week
I'm gonna shine my big gay spotlight. Oh Mayhem Miller
for being the unsung hero of rupaul's secret celebrity drag
race and making Donna Bellissima. So, Dagon Bellissima, mayhem. That's beautiful. You.
(50:24):
You definitely deserve this spotlight. That's I mean, we know
that you were obviously, but everything dragged. Yeah, she's one
of those queens you can get up close, up close
and she still looks absolutely stunned. I mean she's coming
around a brunch in a broad daylight, twelve noon, overhead lights,
(50:45):
she still looks stunning. How you know? That's that's the
secret of mayhem. Miller Danny, this is podcast and we
want to ask you. What does pride mean to you?
I think pride is the opposite of hide. I'll pay
(51:07):
for the t shirts to be printed, for for drag
con for you to sell those, because that's going on
t shirt. Let's go. That's my gift. Let's make it.
Oh my gosh, I love that. So simple and so beautiful,
and I have someone that has known you for eighteen years.
This conversation has been one of my favorites because I
(51:27):
think who you are sitting here after going through this experience.
I see it Danny, that Danny has always been fearless,
but I'm so excited for the world to experience this Danny,
because if he's always been fearless, now he's unstoppable. So
I want the world to look out, because Danny Franzis
(51:48):
is coming for you and you better watch yourself. Thank
you so much for joining us, Danny. We love you
so much. Thank you for gifts. Oh, I'm so happy. Listen.
If you need more of me, just like an Italian woman,
please come see Italian mom loves you. October heard through
the twenty three in one very connecticut in the seven
(52:11):
Angels Theater. We Are we are Broadway down. We're trying
to go all the way with this, so come see us.
It's a great play, Um, and it will really bring
you some laughs and some heartwarming tears. Thank you so much, Danny.
We love you. Go see his show. Follow him on Instagram.
What's at? What's up, Danny, everyone that follows him, trust me,
you'll be glad you did. That is that does it
(52:32):
for this episode of the PODCAST. You all go message.
Why do you ask them all the mean girls questions?
Why don't you ask them? You have them both there
and you didn't ask them, because there's listen. As much
as it's a wonderful part of their lives that they
own so much. There's so many other facets to my
husband and to Danny, so please get to know those
other facts and you can call me any time and
asking me questions. As you can see, Danny, there's many, many,
(52:54):
many skills out there, so go see him the time.
Mom loves you and we love you all right. By Buddy, bye, Dannie.
Thank you, guys. By everybody that's listening H
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