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240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2020
Ross Mathews’ second book exemplifies the art of name-dropping, as Mathews spills personal anecdotes about meeting celebrities such as Barbara Walters, Rosie O’Donnell, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jackie Collins (to name only a few!). Each story is supplemented with a thematic cocktail and appetizer “Ross-ipe”. In sticking with the book’s theme of name dropping, I believe that this is the perfect opportunity to write the story of how I met a celebrity...the famous writer and television personality, Ross Mathews.
In May 2000, my friend Kevin and I travelled all the way from Winnipeg MB to Los Angeles CA to conquer our shared bucket list item: to attend Rupaul’s Drag Con. At the massive convention, we moved about booths and stood in line-ups to meet (and get pictures taken with) our favourite drag queens. (P.S. We met Alaska! Bucket list item #2, check! And Eureka O'Hara asked us for bear status!). As the day progressed and lines got longer, Kevin asked if we could stand in line to meet Ross Mathews.
“But he’s not even here,” I said.
Kevin had recognized Ross’s assistant Trish, and after a quick chat with her he had learned that Ross would arrive within the hour. With a short line-up of about ten people (for an empty booth), I agreed to stand in line; after all, I was getting crowd fatigue. While we stood in line, Kevin shared stories from Ross’s podcast Straight Talk, and explained everything there was to know about Ross Mathews, Trish, and CJ. Kevin also shared Straight Talk lingo and a password that he was supposed to use to identify himself as a “Straight Talker”. True to Trish’s word: Mathews arrived! Mathews was warm and friendly, and seemed genuinely grateful for the attention of his fans. Mathews, recognizing which one of us was the true fan, had a quick kiki with Kevin; I was grateful to have the pressure of small talk removed, since I just wanted to say hi and get a picture.
As we left, Kevin said to me, “I’m so surprised. He is exactly what I thought he would be.”
“What exactly were you expecting?” I deadpanned.
Kevin stated, “You always think celebrities won’t be like their public persona, or that they’ll just be coldly polite. But Ross was exactly like he is on the podcast. It felt very genuine.”
Though self-described name-dropper Ross Mathews has achieved his own degree of celebrity, he seems to be, in person and in his book, a legitimately , down-to-Earth, affable guy. I have no doubt that Mathews would fit right in with my gaggle of gays. Name Drop: The Really Good Celebrity Stories I Usually Only Tell at Happy Hour feels like vignettes shared by your best squirrelfriend who has met a famous person and shares most of the details. Did I hope for some nastier, juicier gossip from these name dropping sketches? Duh, of course! But then, if the tea was served hotter, it just wouldn’t be on brand for America’s queer sweetheart, Ross Mathews.
Side note: Months later, advertising for Drag Con plastered pictures of Kevin and Ross Mathews all over Instagram. And, just like in our conversation, I was cut out of the picture. But if you look closely, you can see the right side of my face! But maybe in our next photo opp, I’ll be front and centre, since I have read Name Drop: The Really Good Celebrity Stories I Usually Only Tell at Happy Hour, and Kevin has not. Yet.