Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Please welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey, my next guest is as a global superstar and
she's about to be a down Under icon and she's
been on Michew I think four times. Now host of
RuPaul's Drag Race down Under season four, streaming only on
stan It is the one and only Michelle Visage. Michelle,
welcome back to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Mitch. Thank you for having me so many times. I
feel very loved. Thank you, my darling.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
You are very loved by me. And I had you
back on years ago.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
And I think when Drag Race down Under first launched,
we had you on this show and I was such
a nervous little gay boy, and then today still a
nurse little gay boy. Really, I mean, not much has changed.
But you are now the host of RuPaul's Drag Race
down Under season four on in Australia. Oh my goodness
you are. Everything is on point. I wish you could see, Michelle.
(00:53):
This is Halloween, so you've got what is this?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
What is this? Look? Michelle? Describe it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
It's just it's a jumpsuit that has scared a black cats,
you know, with their and it says boo all over it.
I love Halloween, Mitch. I love Halloween.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Really as a kid. Did you do it as a kid.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, as a kid, I've always loved it. I think
it's just the weirdo and the misfit kind of in me,
and it brings out those people and those are really
my people, and that's where I always felt the most
normal weirdly, so I have a very tight relationship with
the holiday. Love Halloween.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
What do you do at homomie? You do you treat,
like trick or treat? When you obviously you've got your
two girls. Did you trick or treat with the girls?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Oh my goodness, yes, Oh yeah, when they were young,
they really we I would still go out with them
now even though they're twenty two and twenty four. But
it's a little weird. So they do their own thing
and I stay at home and I give out candy.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Oh my god, you'd be the best knocking on the
your front door, getting the doorbell and realizing it's Michelle Visage, like,
come on, come on.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
The older kids get it, the younger ones don't. But
everybody gets candy, and I'm very generous. I love this holiday.
I love to see kids, the ones that don't care
and they come up that they're like trigger tree they're
literally wearing like a T shirt with like a pillowcase
for candy. That upsets me because it's like you can
go to the store and buy your candy. But the
ones that really try and really make an effort, they
make me so happy. Yeah, but everybody candy.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
There's something about Halloween that's so very camp and I
think queen people love it because it's, you know, we
don't need a holiday to dress up and be silly
and have fun with ourselves. So I think for us
it's like, ah, this this our holiday, Like, come on,
it's every day for us.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Amen. Amen. And I think that's what the kinship is
for me. That's what I always fell in love with
was it was like this was my okay to be
the weirdo that I really was. This gave me the
okay and I really resonated with that.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Well, happy Halloween, do everyone happy?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Pre Drag Race down out of season full launch date
it He's coming tomorrow and Stan Michelle Vassage's host. How
immersed in Aussie culture And I know of the years
we've spoken and you're a cross, Priscilla, how could you
not be the Kath and Kim?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
The cultural nuances of it all.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
How immersed in Aussie culture did you feel you had
to become in order to host the series?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Listen, I it's a great question, and I don't want
to fake anything. I can only be me, so I
can only bring what I know and my Australia know
what gives it away my accent for starters. But I've
loved Australian culture for many, many years, as we know
Rue's and Aussie File, but I have loved it without
even knowing that I've loved it, and recently, you know,
if we do it through Telly, like I found Kathy
Kim on my own and then I talked to her
(03:27):
about it afterwards. And Priscilla obviously we know, but like
Colin from accounts I love now recently, I've been all
of it and I found that on my own as well.
Anything that says you know Australia on it, and I'm
a huge baz Luhman fan. I am going to know that.
I can trust that the sense of humor is going
to be twisted. I can trust it's going to be
beautifully shot, even if it's a comedy, it's just going
(03:51):
to be beautifully shot. I think Australians do many many
things correctly, and the people and the sense of humor
is something that I am madly, madly in love. Without
the culture.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, I think we've really nailed laughing at ourselves in a.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Really easy way.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And Americans do it too, but it is, it's everywhere
in our culture in Australia.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
You don't think they do.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh, I think Americans take themselves far too seriously. If
you're going to come, obviously my people, you find your people.
My people do not. But Americans are too woke in
certain situations and be like, oh, you can't laugh. I thought
Australians will laugh at anything and not give a crap,
and I love that about Australia.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
The season.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I know RuPaul when he hosts his seasons, he's heavily
involved in costing. Are you were you involved in costing
the Yosi Queens this time around?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I got a peek. I wasn't. I wouldn't say that
I'm involved. That'd be lying and I don't lie. But
Rue absolutely had his hand in the casting as well.
But I when I saw him after, I said, you
are going to be quite possibly have you seen it?
Have you seen the.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Episode I've seen the first episode.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, okay, why possibly the strongest out the box cast
that we've had yet.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah to agree that, I completely agree.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
If you've seen anywhere from seasons one to through to three,
the Queens are still are.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
But there is something about this cast that feels stacked.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And I think it happens in the main seasons to
Michelle in that you know, the Queens have watched the
season that has come before them, so they have that
pre knowledge of what to expect in the season. And
I think these Aussie girls are the best of the best.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I think, I agree, And I think they took to
me wonderfully, not knowing that this was happening, and I
think they welcomed me and it became you know, I
really did become a mother in many ways to these kids,
and I'm so proud of each and every one of them.
I really am. And I get it like I've always
been proud of all the kids that come through all
of our franchises, even the ones that I'm not on
(05:50):
or Rue isn't on. But there's something really endearing about
this group.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Yeah, there is. I was at the drag brunch. We
got a little secret message from you, which.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Was beautiful, Yes you did well and crazy.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
But meeting these queen's face to face, they're all hungry
for it. They all want it, and and you can
you can tell. And I can't wait for you all
to watch it. If you haven't also seen Drag Race
season four is a great place to start.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Michelle watching you.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
As well, it was almost like like you've been waiting,
like you just slot right in and it's different. It's
not it's Michelle Visage's host. It's not Michelle Visage doing
Rupaula's host, which I completely admire and not you ever would,
but Michelle, it's so natural to watch.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Thank you. That means a lot because when Rue handed
it over, Ruth said, I said, what do I You know,
I don't want people to think they're going to get
me playing rude because it's not that. Ruth said to me,
the most important thing is that you bring yourself to it.
You do you. That's why I want you to do it,
because you're going to bring yourself to it. You're the
smartest woman I know. And I was like, thank you, Okay,
so it's not me doing rude. There are familiar, you know,
(06:55):
things that I say and familiar things that you look
for that will remain. But only I can deliver me.
I can't deliver rue. So if you're looking for real,
you're not going to find it. But if you're looking
for me, I'll deliver.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Bugging out the wrong tray, Guys, you're not gonna get
up pull you get michell. Now your looks this season,
uh stilla, Like I had a little sneak preview, we
got a little promo and.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
The looks in Nick's level? Are you going bigger with
your looks?
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Like?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Because you do a form of drag, you said it yourself,
you doing drag.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
He's a drag? Is it any describe?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I consider myself a drag queen full stop. Like even
now in my little Halloween jumpsuit, I still you know,
Ruth says that we're born naked and the rest is drag,
And that's true. You get into your scrubs to work
in the hospital, that's drag. Whatever it is, it's drag
because it's not just naked with nothing on. So it's
your superpower. For me, I was in a host position,
so I know that I wanted to be extra glamorous.
(07:48):
I wanted to be a higher fashion Rue does gowns.
That is Rue's thing. I'm not a gown girl, so
I thought, hmm, this is a great time for the
least amount of fabric that I could find, So I
tried to go smaller instead of larger, bigger hair, smaller clothing.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Oh I love it, I love it.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Oh, you were in Australia when we lost had you
in You were in studio and we had the pleasure
of having you in the case building. Did you love
us Australia? What did you love because was that your
first time here? I mean, as as Michelle.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
No, no, it's not my first time in Sydney, but
it was my first time since we've done this franchise
because we do it in Auckland. So being able to
be in Sydney for two weeks was such a treat.
I got to stay right by the Sydney Opera House,
I got to go in the Sydney Opera House and
spend the day doing press there and Harbor Bridge and
(08:39):
seeing everything was just It's not the first time I
was there, but to be honest, the most time I've
ever spent in Australia has been in Brisbane. So for me,
spending a lot of time in Sydney made me fall
in love.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, it happens, doesn't it. So many Americans end up
in Australia.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
They all leave here.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
They'll move here because it's it's gorgeous and your iodola,
I mean, you are rolling it in Australia.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Well, listen, the people are magical. It's beautiful to look at.
When we were there, the weather was just glorious. And
the sense of humor. I mean, I'm in New Yorker,
so the sense of humor is that's what gets me
every time. And so I felt like I was home
there and loved and it was just Oh, we spent
a day at the park that's right outside the Harbor
Bridge or Upper House whatever, there's a whole park area.
(09:27):
Oh it's still gorgeous. I didn't want to leave.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I know, it's I don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
We're so bleased, Like I drive over the Harbor Bridger
to get to work and I just take it for granted.
You know, it's it's the same as you living in
New York, right, you know the magic of New York
is Did you still feel it?
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Because there is an energy in New York?
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Did you feel New York is my heart and soul.
I mean, it's my it's my city. So for me,
I still feel it and every time I go back,
I miss it greatly. So I understand taking something for
granted while you're in it, you have to go away
to realize what you had. And that's the saying, you know,
you don't realize what you have until it's gone. So
having been in Sydney, I could one hundred percent live
(10:04):
in Sydney. It's so so amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Now where are you right now? Because I can see this,
this dressing room. This isn't your place, is it?
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Is this?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Because you're now we're in We're at the World of
Wonder Offices because tonight is our premier party for down Under.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Oh I'm so you don't want in La.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
We're doing it in Los Angeles. Yeah, we're doing a party.
So we're in the World of Wonder offices and you're
seeing a bunch of the World of Wonder Like I
have drag Raceispana over here, Holland next to me here,
We've got uh Philippines back there. So we've got all
the posters hanging out.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Oh, who's coming tonight? Who's going to be the potty.
Any familiar faces.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Well, one of our girls, Carrie Colby, is the DJ.
Sasha Colby is the premier guest for down Under. She'll
be here tonight. Ador Delano is coming to support. Oh
honey Davenport. There's gonna be a bunch of our queens here,
some of our fit crew is coming tonight, some celebrities.
So I don't I'm not going to really know beyond that,
Like that's the one sheet that they gave me. But
(11:01):
that's like they got those names. I think like last
week and I think there's over seven hundred people invited,
and I was like, I don't know if we're all
going to fit in here, so let's just have a
good time.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Oh what a treat, Michelle. I'm so happy you finally.
I mean, people love you, we all adore you, all
the gays love you. But finally getting your flowers as
a host was amazing for me to see in the
first episode and I can't wait to see how it
pans out.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Peach PSC is going to be in there. We love Peach.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yes, it's so brilliant. The cast lineup as well, so
chokers for the show for.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
The premiere tonight. Thank you for coming back on and
it was lovely chatting to you, Mitch.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Thank you for always caring enough to have me on,
and thank you for saying such kind things. It truly
is an honor to be entrusted with this, and I
hope everybody loves it as much as I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
You're gonna love it. It's fantastic. It's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Ah, Thanks Shelle, Thanks Honey, and you look gorgeous as always.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Thank you, baby, and you look very diaperent. I can't
wait to see you next time in person