And Don't F&%k It Up

Starred review from May 8, 2023
Journalist Fernandez’s fabulous debut serves the tea on RuPaul’s Drag Race, chronicling how the reality TV show went from “classic counterculture” to the mainstream in its first 10 seasons and offering gossipy stories from judges, contestants, producers, and RuPaul himself. In 2006, television producer Tom Campbell, inspired by the success of America’s Next Top Model, encouraged RuPaul to help him develop a drag competition show; three years later, RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered on Logo TV, and later moved to VH1 in 2017. Contestants provide juicy reflections on the show’s biggest moments, including the controversial decision to crown Tyra Sanchez over fan favorite Raven in season two, the rivalry between the Heathers and Boogers cliques in season three, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo’s viral exit from season 10, when she continuously repeated “Miss Vanjie” to the bewilderment of everyone on set (“Even watching it, I’m like what was goin’ on?” she says of rewatching the scene). The behind-the-scenes stories feel as if readers are eavesdropping on the show’s “werkroom,” but this oral history really shines in its willingness to tackle weightier issues, as when RuPaul opines on the importance of queer representation and when performer Asia O’Hara reflects on dealing with racism from the show’s fandom. Hilarious and affecting, it’s an uproarious celebration of what has become a television institution.

June 1, 2023
A retrospective of the first decade of RuPaul's Drag Race, from the voices of those who made it a standout success. While working for the Los Angeles Times, Fernandez was the first mainstream journalist allowed on set for the show's first season, and her entertaining report encompasses a decade of insider details from the award-winning series. The origin story intertwines with contestant gossip, competitive tension, and over-the-top melodrama, all of which demonstrate the evolution of the show from its initial "classic counterculture" aesthetic to a cultural juggernaut. Delving into gay history, the author describes drag's important Wigstock era, which proved formative to drag queens nationwide, including RuPaul, whose then-persona morphed from "Black hooker Soul Train dancer" to "supermodel." The heart of the text lies in the candid, witty commentary of show producers, queens, judges, and RuPaul himself, as each shares memorable moments from the first 10 seasons. Several Drag Race alumni spotlight iconic moments fans will recognize--e.g., Vanessa Vanjie Mateo's Season 10 runway elimination walk, Jinkx Monsoon's Little Edie Snatch Game impersonation, Willam's "juicy moment" disqualification, and Valentina's masked lip-sync challenge, all of which went on to become viral sensations. Other contestants offer more meditative perspectives. Season 9 winner Sasha Velour reflects on her emotional connection to drag; Season 3 contestant Raja remains nostalgic for the spontaneous, exploratory, "no receipt" rawness of what drag used to be; and Season 1's Rebecca Glasscock admits that drag gave them the courage to resist suicidal urges. Though the contributors embody diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and outward appearances (both in and out of drag), their symbiotic relationships are vividly captured as they evolved on screen. As the art of drag has recently become a major part of a particularly difficult political moment, retrospectives like this one reiterate its critical, long-standing role in the LGBTQ+ community. A commemorative celebration and a must-have for fans.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2023
RuPaul's Drag Race may have 26 Emmys and a home on mainstream MTV, but the show didn't start out that way. In this oral history, journalist Fernandez, who has covered the show since its Vaseline-lensed beginnings, traces its origins, from its original conception during the heyday of Survivor, America's Next Top Model, and Project Runway, through the first ten seasons. She spoke with hosts RuPaul and Michelle Visage, executive producers, show runners, and plenty of the drag queen competitors. From gag-worthy Werk Room entrances (Laganja Estranja's death drop) to the fights offstage in the Interior Illusions lounge, the book covers all of the glorious messiness that was the show's first unpolished seasons. Few stones go unturned, and readers will find here the origins of the most iconic lines (""Go back to Party City where you belong!"") to the truth about how the queens really felt about each other (Violet Chachki was not popular). The audience for the show has grown, and with all the earlier seasons available on streaming, this will be an essential addition to any pop-culture collection.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.