Another year back at New York Magazine’s Vulture Festival! This year, I only made it to three panels, but enjoyed myself just as much as the jam-packed years.
Day One - Saturday, May 19th, 2018
Drag Race
Day 1 started earlier with a little morning drag featuring some of the queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Michelle Visage. Hosted by Las Culturistas podcast hosts, Bowen Yang & Matt Rogers, we all got to fan-girl a little and take the “Drag Pledge of Allegiance” as started by none other than the Season 1 Winner, Bebe Zahara Benet!
Lots of funny antidotes; mostly how Yuhua insisted she still won Season 10, she was there the whole time! But it still seemed hard for her & Kalorie to get a word in with Bebe, Jinkx and Michelle taking up most of the panel! I also had a mild case of FOMO, since I never got to see Jinkx in her Off-Broadway show!
Getting Older with Younger
Um, we were all surprised when we got to watch the first episode of Season 5 before the panel started! We were ask to not say anything on social media and since it’s well past that point now…I think it’s safe for me to say here. The premiere will take Liza to the center of the #MeToo movement as she confronts an abuser in her signature strong, but silly way.
After the episode was over, the entire cast came out with Darren Starr to talk about what was in store for the characters; the continual Josh/Liza/Charles love triangle and how Liza’s secret may finally be out this season to everyone! I really enjoyed hearing stories from the cast and how the show has been such a great success and has fans all over; Peter Hermann said that even when he was overseas with his wife, Mariska Hargitay, fans were approaching him over her show (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
Day Two - Sunday, May 20th, 2018
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Just one panel for day two, with none other than Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye! Now, while I may have been late to the game (I didn’t know he hosted two podcasts), I was present for this episode that would be recorded live. The guest wasn’t listed anywhere in the Vulture Festival program or social media channels, so I think we were all surprised when Justin Theroux came out!
It was wonderful hearing about their friendship and even more fun when JVN pointed to the audience; which included Tan France and Antoni Porowski! Then Tan & Antoni joined JVN & Justin on stage and hilarity ensued! You could honestly feel the joy that all of the Queer Eye guys feel for each other!
