"For fans of the show, the book’s juicy specifics from cast and crew will provide a wealth of new background about their favorite unforgettable moments, as well as details about things left on the cutting-room floor."—The Daily Beast
"Journalist Fernandez’s fabulous debut serves the tea on RuPaul’s Drag Race. . .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."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The heart of [And Don't F&%k It Up] lies in the candid, witty commentary of show producers, queens, judges, and RuPaul himself, as each shares memorable moments from the first 10 seasons. . . A commemorative celebration and a must-have for fans."—Kirkus Reviews
"[A]n immensely entertaining look at how a little TV show shot in a basement studio went from a cult favorite to a taste-making cultural juggernaut and global success. . . Loaded with heartbreaking and hilarious first-person confessions, this book’s a winner, baby!"—Library Journal, starred review
"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. . . 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."—Booklist
"10s 10s 10s across the board."—Andy Cohen
“¡Amo este libro! It’s dripping with cuchi, uniqueness, nerve, and talent!”—Charo
“Everything you wanted to know (and more) about the twisted minds behind the best mothertucking show on earth.”—Simon Doonan, author of Drag: The Complete Story
“The queens of Drag Race spill the tea on what it took to turn this queer little show into a global phenomenon.”—Loni Love
“Mama Ru proves once again that reading is what??? FUNDAMENTAL.”—Big Freedia
“Finally, the Drag Race book that sets the record straight. I mean queer.”—Alec Mapa
“Everyone who works in my stores spends all day talking about Drag Race. Now they can spend all day talking about And Don’t F&%k It Up. I can’t wait!”—Jonathan Adler
"If you want to know how drag changed the world, and might just save it, read this book."—Ronan Farrow, New York Times bestselling author of Catch and Kill
★ 05/08/2023
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)
★ 05/01/2023
Fernandez’s oral history of the first 10 seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race is an immensely entertaining look at how a little TV show shot in a basement studio went from a cult favorite to a taste-making cultural juggernaut and global success. This epic compilation offers first-hand observations from virtually all of the first 10 seasons’ contestants as well as RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Ronan Farrow, and others. Each season gets its own exhaustive chapter explaining the science of casting as well as eyewitness memories of meltdowns, catfights, conspiracy theories, and camaraderies. As Bianca Del Rio notes, “It’s a pressure cooker of a show. It makes people crazy.” Discover the origin story of the phrase “She’d already done had herses”; Sasha Velour’s alternative plans for her iconic rose petal reveal; and the real story behind Willam being kicked off season four. Loaded with heartbreaking and hilarious first-person confessions, this book’s a winner, baby! VERDICT Drag Race fans and pop culture buffs will find this show bible irresistible.—Kevin Howell
2023-05-02
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.
