Neil Patrick Harris talks, drag queen culture, turning 50

>>> WE ALL KNOW THAT NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IS ONE OF THE KINGS OF THE STAGE AND SCREEN, BUT NOW HE WANTS TO INTRODUCE US TO SOME OF HIS FAVORITE QUEEBS. >> HE IS OUT WITH A LIGHT-HEARTED AND FUN NEW COMPETITION SHOW WHICH HE CREATED AND STARS IN, IT'S CALLED "DRAG ME TO DINNER." NEIL, WE WANT TO GET INTO IT. IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN. BUT FIRST, YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE HITTING A MILESTONE. >> INDEED, I AM. >> YOU ARE GOING TO TURN 50. HOW DOES NEIL PATRICK HARRIS CELEBRATE 50? >> YOU LOVE PARTIES? >> I DO LOVE PARTIES. MY HUSBAND, DAVID, HAS BEEN THROWING CRAZY ADVENTURES FOR ME, IT'S LIKE 50 DAYS SINCE 50. SO EVERY DAY SINCE LATE APRIL I HAVE RECEIVED ENVELOPES THAT HAVE CLUES WITH PUZZLES THAT LEAD ME TO EXPERIENCES. I'VE GOTTEN 50 REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS, EXPERIENCES WITH MY KIDS, ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. >> WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST SO FAR? OF THE 50 EXPERIENCES? >> YOU KNOW SOMETHING CALLED "SLEEP NO MORE," WHICH IS SORT OF AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK. ON ONE OF THEIR OFF NIGHTS I WENT THERE AND HAD DINNER, JUST THE FOUR OF US, AND FRIENDS HAD FLOWN IN FROM LOS ANGELES AND HAD LEARNED SOME OF THE TRACKS, AND I HAD ONE-ON-ONES WITH JUST THEM. >> OKAY, WAIT, WHAT'S -- >> IT WAS NEXT LEVEL. >> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO POSSIBLY DO FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? IT'S ALREADY OVER. >> I KNOW. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THURSDAY AND AT LEAST THEN I'LL KNOW THIS WILL ALL BE DONE. >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY WILL BE? IT'S A SURPRISE FROM YOUR HUSBAND? >> THERE'S A PARTY WITH A BUNCH OF FRIENDS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT A BIG SURPRISE PARTY. BUT I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 50 FOR ME IS SORT OF CHAPTER 2. I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER, HAPPIER, AND I'M LOOKING -- I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S AGED. I JUST FEEL LIKE NOW I CAN STAND TALL, LIKE AN ADULT AND EDUCATE. >> WELL, SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING, YOUR KIDS ARE TURNING 13, YOUR TWINS. >> INDEED. >> TEENAGERS. >> TWIN TEENS WILL KEEP YOU FEELING FRESH. I WAS A TEEN TWIN. >> YEAH. >> IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR THE PARENT. >> NO, IT'S NOT. BUT WITH KIDS, EVERY PHASE AND STAGE IS NEW AND SO JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW IT, IT CHANGES AGAIN. AND I THINK IT'S VERY HUMBLING FOR EVERYONE. I NEED TO TRY TO PLEAD MY CASE LESS WITH THEM AND JUST BE STILL AND IGNORE MORE, BECAUSE LIKE THEY KNOW HOW TO PUSH BUTTONS AND PUSH BACK AND CLAP BACK. THEY'RE VERY SMART KIDS. >> IT'S HARD, RIGHT? WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU NOT DIE ON THE SWORD BY? DO YOU LET YOUR KIDS HAVE CELL PHONES? >> YEAH, CELL PHONES FOR SURE, BUT NOT CERTAIN APPS THAT KEEP THEM ON. IT'S A CONSTANT CONVERSATION AND IT'S HARD TO NOT VILLFY THE SCREENS. I LIKE THE SCREENS. BUT WHEN THEY REVERT TO THE SCREENS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE AWAY THE SCREENS, WHICH MAKES THE SCREEN AN ENEMY. IT'S AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. >> TALK ABOUT THIS SHOW, "DRAG ME TO DINNER." THIS IS YOUR BRAINCHILD. TELL US ABOUT IT? >> I LOVE THE IDEA. I'M A BIG FAN OF DRAG CULTURE, DRAG PERFORMANCES, AND I ALSO WAS IN "HEADWIG" AND DAVID, MY HUSBAND, KNOWS HOW TO THROW PARTIES. WE'VE BEEN GUEST JUDGES ON THESE COMPETITION PARTIES BEFORE AND WE THOUGHT COMBINING THE TWO, THE COMPETITION SHOW WITH THE DRAG AND HAVE TWO TEAMS OF -- TWO PAIRS OF DRAG QUEENS COMPETE TO THROW THE BEST DINNER PARTY, WAS INNATELY FUNNY. IT'S MORE OF A EXCEEDCOMEDIC PA TAKE ON THE GENERAS. >> IT'S SUCH A WEIRD TIME IN OUR CULTURE, PEOPLE HAVE SUCH WEIRD OPINIONS ON DEMONIZING THAT CULTURE. IS THAT A REASON YOU WANTED TO DO THIS SHOW NOW? >> IT WASN'T A REASON, BUT I THINK THE TIMELY IS WEIRDLY FORTUITOUS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT QUEEN'S DRAG CULTURE IS SOMEHOW NEGATIVE AND GNARLY AND NASTY, WHEN POINT IN FACT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A DRAG SHOW WHERE IT WASN'T FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND POSITIVITY AND PEOPLE REPRESENTING THEMSELVES WELL. SO "DRAG ME TO DINNER" IS THE HOT MESS OF A SHOW THAT'S INTENTIONALLY SLOPPY AND FUN, BUT ALLOWING THE QUEENS TO BE SEEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT IN A WAY THAT MAYBE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED JUDGMENT HAVEN'T SEEN. >> DO YOU LIKE HAVE CONVERSATIONS, IF SOMEONE IS PASSING JUDGMENT, DO YOU TALK ABOUT IT, OR DO YOU JUST SAY, WELL, I'LL LET THEM BE THEM? >> I THINK THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO, HODA, ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, WHICH IS PRIDE MONTH, IS BE YOUR OWN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU WANT TO BE. PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS, AND IF YOU GET ANGRY AT THOSE OPINIONS, THEN YOU'RE IN FIGHT. PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OPINIONS, BUT YOU REPRESENT YOURSELF WELL. IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF DRAG QUEENS AND YOU WATCH "DRAG ME TO DINNER," I SUSPECT YOU MIGHT LAUGH AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, MY INTENTION IS NOT TO CHANGE, BUT IF YOU GET A LAUGH, IT MIGHT CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK IN ITS OWN WAY. >> YOUR HUSBAND, DAVID, HAS A VERY SPECIFIC ROLE ON THIS SHOW. LIFE OF THE PARTY. >> YES. >> HE'S SORT OF THE PARTY EXPERT. >> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO CALL IT PARTY EXPERT. >> THE TIM GUNN OF IT ALL. >> HE DIDN'T WANT TO CALL IT AN EXPERT. IT FEELS A BIT PRETENTIOUS. AND HIS AUNT IS ON THE SHOW, A WOMAN NAMED SOUS-CHEF, ACTUALLY DAVID IN DRAG. SHE COMES AND WREAKS HAVOC. SHE'S MESSY, TOO. BUT SHE COCREATED WITH IT. >> I THINK HE'S MAKING A BEVERAGE. >> WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT. SO, YOU ALSO HAVE THIS NEWSLETTER. HOW DO YOU DO EVERYTHING? >> WE'VE WONDERED. YOU HAVE BOOKS, NEWSLETTERS, SHOWS. >> YOU WERE ON BROADWAY. >> YOU HOSTED THE TONYS. >> YOU HAVE TWINS. ARE YOU TIRED? >> ARE YOU TIRED? WE DRANK YOUR WINE LAST WEEK IN A BOX. IT WAS CUTE. IT HAD -- YOU HAVE A MAGIC KIT OR SOMETHING? >> WHAT IS HAPPENING? >> WHY YOU MAD AT ME? >> TOO MUCH TALENT! >> YOU KNOW WHY, YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH! THAT'S WHY. >> I AM VERY FORTUNATE THEY GET TO DO THINGS THAT I LIKE DOING. AND SO, THINGS COME UP AND WONDERCADE IS A NEWSLETTER. IT'S FREE. I SEND IT ON WEDNESDAYS. THERE'S NO ALGORITHM TO IT. IT'S JUST STUFF IN FOOD AND TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT THAT'S ENTERTAINING. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED CIRCUSES AND ALWAYS LOVED MIXING A COCKTAIL AND GOING TO FUN PLACES. I THINK LIFE IS LIVED IN A FUN WAY. NOT CRAZY HYPER, BUT JUST EVALUATED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN -- >> YOU'RE SO INTERESTED IN SO MUCH. WE'RE KIND OF MAD. >> WE ARE. >> YOU'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND. BECAUSE IN HONOR OF YOUR NEW SHOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE SERVING UP A SWEET COMPETITION OF OUR >>> WE'RE BACK WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS. HE'S GOT A NEW HULU SHOW CALLED "DRAG ME TO DINNER." >> IN HONOR OF YOUR SHOW, WE'VE COME UP WITH OUR OWN COMPETITION. IT'S CALLED "DRAG ME TO DESSERT." >> BOW WOW WOW. >> COMEDIAN, ACTOR, AND SELF-PROCLAIMED HARDEST-WORKING MIDDLE-AGED MAN IN SHOWBIZ, MURRAY HILL! >> THE HOST OF "DRAG ME TO DINNER"! >> HEY, MURRAY. HOW ARE YOU? >> THIS IS EXCITING. >> NOW I'M THE SHORTEST PERSON BY A MILE. >> WE'RE WEARING HIGH, HIGH HEELS. WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING WITH NEIL? >> IT IS SO FUN. AND HE'S MY BOSS, AND HE GAVE ME 50 TO SAVE THIS. I LOVE HIM! HE'S THE BEST GUY I'VE EVER WORKED WITH. >> MURRAY, TELL US HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK. >> THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ULTIMATE CAKE DECORATING COMPETITION. >> OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. SO YOU EACH HAVE IDENTICAL SET-UPS HERE. SO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THIS STUFF. ALL RIGHT? AND YOU'VE GOT A -- YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A -- WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH CANDY, WE'VE GOT ICING, WE'VE GOT LIKE CANDY AND ALL OF THIS STUFF, ALL RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> OKAY, GOT IT. >> MURRAY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? AESTHETICS OR TASTE? >> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE CAKE OR SOMETHING ELSE? NOW, LADIES AND NEIL, WE HAVE ONE MINUTE? I'M GOING TO DECIDE WHO THE WINNER IS. CAN WE START THE CLOCK, PLEASE? >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT, GO! >> OH, BOY. >> TAKE IT EASY, TAKE IT EASY. >> OH, NO, OH, NO. THE DOUBLE STACK. >> YOU'VE GOT THIS, YOU'VE GOT THIS. >> OKAY. >> SHE'S GREAT WITH HER HANDS. ARE WE GETTING A CLOSE-UP ON THE HANDS? AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN TO THE GYM. I LIKE IT, I LIKE IT. >> PRETTY, ISN'T IT? >> IT'S NOT THAT PRETTY. MAYBE PUT SOME STUFF ON IT. >> OKAY, I'M GOING TO, MURRAY. >> THIS LOOKS LIKE THE WOR OF A GAY MAN. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! WOW! THIS LOOKS GREAT. >> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! >> MURRAY, DO YOU LIKE THAT? >> NO. >> SURE. >> MURRAY! >> I THINK YOU'RE A GREAT GAL. >> THANK YOU, MURRAY. >> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS. DID YOU HAVE A LITTLE ACCIDENT? >> TIME? >> HOW MUCH TIME? IN THIS FAKE COMPETITION! >> TEN SECONDS! >> THIS IS NOT FAKE, MURRAY! >> EIGHT, FIVE, THREE, TWO, FIVE, ONE! >> TIME'S UP! >> OH, MY GOD, I'M STRESSED OUT, I DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING. >> WHEN DID YOU DO THAT? >> THAT'S MY ICE CREAM TOPPER! >> THAT'S CUTE. AUDIENCE, GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THIS. >> THAT IS CUTE. THAT IS CUTE. >> THAT LOOKS LIKE A BASKIN ROBINS CAKE. >> NOW, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL PREPARATION HERE. >> THAT'S RAINBOW, A LOT OF RAIN RAINBOWS AND SPRINKLES. >> WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR? >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S REALLY TASTY. DO YOU LIKE IT, MURRAY? >> THE WAY YOU LOOKED AT ME, I LOVE IT! >> JENNA, THIS LOOKS LIKE A SITUATION OF CARBOHYDRATES, HEALTHY STUFF, AND THEN SOMEONE WHO GOT OUT OF CONTROL WITH THIS. >> SO MURRAY, THIS IS -- I DIDN'T DO A WHIPPET. NOBODY WAS INJURED. THIS IS HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM PUT IN THIS BOTTLE, I PUT WHIPPED CREAM, SOME OREOS, AND SOME FRUIT IN THE CENTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> WHAT'D YOU DO WITH THE SIDE HERE? >> ANYTHING? IF WE TURN IT? >> OH, THERE IS SOMETHING THERE! LET'S HEAR IT FOR THAT, EVERYBODY! NICELY DONE! IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE IMPRESSED. >> I WENT FOR THE MURRAY HILL SPECIAL. >> IS THAT MURRAY? THAT'S CREATIVE! >> IT'S GOT A MUSTACHE, THE BLUE GLASSES. >> AND A LOT OF FOOD IN MY MOUTH. >> THOSE YOUR MEANT TO BE YOUR TEETH. >> OH, OKAY. >> I'M SORRY, YOU LOST A TOOTH. THAT IS FANTASTIC. I HAVE MY DECISION. >> OH, MY GOSH. CAN WE BRING OUT THE PRIZE? >> WHAT IS THE PRIZE? >> ALL RIGHT, IT IS THE SAME PRIZE THAT WE USE FOR "DRAG ME TO DINNER." LITERALLY, IT IS THE SAME PRIZE. WE TOOK IT FROM ONE OF THE WINNERS. >> IT'S THE GLORIOUS GOLDEN GRATER. >> THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE ONE YOU'VE IS DESPERATE AND THE OTHER ONE IS GRATER. >> NICE. GET IT? DAD JOKE. >> I DIDN'T WRITE THAT. >> HERE WE GO! THE WINNER IS NEIL PATRICK HARRIS! THERE YOU GO! THANK YOU. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, NEIL -- >> WORKS EVERY TIME. >> I WILL SAY, YOU DO WIN. >> WAY TO GO. MURRAY, YOU'RE THE BEST. >> SECOND PLACE AND THIRD. >> WHY DID YOU GIVE ME LAST? >> OKAY, MURRAY, WE ADORE YOU? NEIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A GREAT