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RuPaul's Drag Race

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For the most recent season, see RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8).
For the current All Stars season, see RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 2).
RuPaul's Drag Race
File:Rdr logo.png
GenreReality competition
Directed byNick Murray
Judges

Theme music composerRuPaul Charles
Lucian Piane
Opening theme"RuPaul's Drag Race" theme (season 1–present)
Ending theme"Cover Girl (Put the Bass In Your Walk)" (season 1)
"Jealous of My Boogie"
(season 2)
"Main Event" (season 3)
"The Beginning" (season 4–5)
"Dance With U" (season 6)
"Fly Tonight" (season 7)
"Die Tomorrow" (season 8)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons8
No. of episodes103
Production
Executive producers
  • Fenton Bailey
  • Randy Barbato
  • Tom Campbell
  • RuPaul Charles
  • Steven Corfe
  • Pamela Post
  • Mandy Salangsang
Camera setupMultiple
Running time42–60 minutes
Production companyWorld of Wonder Productions
Original release
NetworkLogo
ReleaseFebruary 2, 2009 (2009-02-02) –
present (present)
Related

RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV. The show documents RuPaul in his search for "America's next drag superstar."[1] RuPaul plays the roles of host, mentor, and source of inspiration for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. RuPaul's Drag Race employs a panel of judges, including RuPaul, Michelle Visage and a host of other guest judges, who critique contestants' progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.

RuPaul's Drag Race has spanned eight seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. The show has become the highest-rated television program on Logo TV,[2] and airs internationally, including in Australia, Canada and the UK. The show won Outstanding Reality Program at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards, has been nominated for 4 Critics' Choice Television Award including Best Reality Series – Competition and Best Reality Show Host for RuPaul, and was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic). In 2016, RuPaul's Drag Race was renewed for a ninth season.[3]

Format

Casting calls are announced online, where prospective contestants submit audition tapes in hopes of being cast. All contestants selected must be 21 years of age or older at the time of taping. They may be any sexual orientation, although most contestants to date have been gay men. Transgender women are eligible, and have become more common as seasons have progressed. Sonique (a season two contestant) became the first openly transgender contestant of the series when she revealed her status as transgender during the season two reunion special. Monica Beverly Hillz (a season five contestant), became the first transgender woman to reveal her status during the competition. The other transgender contestants have begun transitioning after their elimination. Carmen Carrera, a season three contestant, announced her transition during an episode of ABC's Primetime: What Would You Do?[4] Season four contestant Kenya Michaels announced her own transition via Facebook and Twitter.[5] Season 5 contestant Roxxxy Andrews revealed via Instagram that she is a 'transgender woman trapped in a mans body', it is unknown whether she is deciding to transition or not though.[citation needed] In a recent interview with Hey Qween!'s Johnny McGovern, Season 6 contestant Gia Gunn announced that she is "testing the waters" of transitioning and is looking into hormone replacement therapy, though has not officially come out as transgender. Other transgender contestants include Stacey Lane Matthews and Jiggly Caliente, and other genderfluid contestants include Courtney Act, Jinkx Monsoon, Kelly Mantle, Raja and Violet Chachki.

RuPaul plays dual roles in the show. USA Today's Lifeline explains: "RuPaul the drag queen will be the final word in judging and eliminations, while RuPaul the man will offer guidance to contestants for each challenge."[6] RuPaul's Drag Race uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag queens in the competition from the initial field of fourteen contestants (the maximum a season has started with) down to the final three, who will compete in the final challenge. Each episode (with the exception of the casting special, "recap" episode, and reunion special) follows a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, a runway walk (where the contestants model fashion on a runway, usually with a theme based on the main challenge), the judging panel, and the elimination of a contestant. There have been some exceptions to episodes, including double-elimination episodes, no-elimination episodes, and the disqualification of contestants.

Mini challenges

In the mini challenge, each contestant is asked to perform a different task with varying requirements and time limitations. Certain mini challenges are repeated from season to season. For instance, the first mini challenge of the first six seasons is a photo shoot with the photographer Mike Ruiz that includes some kind of special twist (such as being doused with water while in full drag, having a high-powered fan turned on during the shoot, or being photographed while jumping on a trampoline). Another recurring mini challenge is dedicated to "reading," which is a drag term for making insulting observations about one's peers for comic effect. The winner of a mini challenge is sometimes rewarded with some kind of advantage in the main challenge. Though most episodes have a mini challenge, select episodes do not and progress straight to the main challenge.

Main challenges

The requirements of the main challenge vary across each episode, and can be individual or group challenges, and initially grant immunity to the winner in the next challenge (until RuPaul announces the discontinuation of that policy mid-season). However, as of season 6, immunity is no longer granted to challenge winners. The winner of the main challenge also receives a "special" prize for their win. In the past, challenge winners have been rewarded with prizes including custom designer clothing, vacations, cruises, and quality cosmetic items.

The goal of each main challenge involves a new theme and outcome. Contestants are often asked to design and construct a custom outfit, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials. Other challenges focus on the contestants' ability to present themselves on camera, perform with music, or perform humorously. Some challenges become a tradition across seasons. For instance, "Snatch Game" is a challenge where the contestants re-enact Match Game: the contestants impersonate celebrities of their own choosing, RuPaul stands in as host, and two celebrity guests stand in as Match Game contestants.

Judging

Judges of RuPaul's Drag Race
Judge Season
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RuPaul
 Main
Merle Ginsberg
 Main Guest
Santino Rice
 Main Guest
Michelle Visage
 Main
Billy B
 Main
Ross Mathews
 Guest Main
Carson Kressley
 Main

Beginning with the seventh season, Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews and Carson Kressley are the staple judges alongside RuPaul. Visage joined the show at the start of season 3, while Matthews and Kressley joined at the start of season 7, and each joins RuPaul and Visage on alternate episodes. Past fixtures on the panel include Merle Ginsberg, who was a regular judge in the first two seasons, and Santino Rice, who held his position from the first season until the conclusion of the sixth. To date, Rice is the only person, apart from RuPaul, to take part in every season of the show, serving as a main judge for seasons one through six, and all stars, and guest judging for season seven. In certain instances, Rice was absent and replacement judging has been provided by make-up artist Billy Brasfield (better known as Billy B), Mike Ruiz, Jeffrey Moran (Absolut Vodka marketing executive), or Lucian Piane. However, due to Brasfield's numerous appearances in seasons three and four, including appearing in the Reunited episodes both seasons, Rice and Billy B are considered to have been alternates for the same seat at the judges table throughout the two seasons.[7][8]

Prior to the grande finale, the three main judges are joined by two celebrity guest judges each week. Guest judges have included Paula Abdul, Pamela Anderson, Eve, Ariana Grande, Neil Patrick Harris, Kathy Griffin, Khloé Kardashian, La Toya Jackson, Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, Bob Mackie, Rose McGowan, Olivia Newton-John, Rebecca Romijn, Gigi Hadid, Sharon Osbourne, Dan Savage, John Waters, Michelle Williams and Candis Cayne.

The judges each provide their opinion on the contestants' performances in the main challenge and on the runway before RuPaul announces which queen is the episode's winner and which two had the weakest performances. The day before judging, the contestants are all provided with a song by a female artist to which they must learn the lyrics. The contestants deemed as being the bottom two must "lip sync for their lives" to the song in a final attempt to impress RuPaul. After the lip sync, RuPaul alone decides who stays and who leaves. RuPaul describes the qualities the contestants must have to be crowned the winner of the show as "Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent... These are people who have taken adversity and turned it into something that is beautiful and something powerful."[9] The phrase "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent" is used repeatedly on the show, the acronym of which is CUNT. On the All Stars season, "synergy" was added to provide an explanation behind the contestants being sorted into teams (expanding the acronym into CUNTS).

Untucked

The first season of Drag Race was accompanied by a seven-episode web series, titled Under the Hood of RuPaul's Drag Race. LOGOonline published a webisode of Under the Hood after each episode of Drag Race. In this companion series, RuPaul presents a documentary of contestants' conversation in the green room, replays pertinent moments from Drag Race, and airs deleted footage.[10][11]

Starting with the second season of Drag Race in 2010, Logo reformatted Under the Hood, increased its production budget, moved it from the web to television, and re-titled it to RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. Logo broadcast an episode of Untucked after each episode of Drag Race. Untucked replaces the basic green room of Under the Hood with two decorated rooms that were until season 6 sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc.: the Interior Illusions Lounge and the Gold Bar. FormDecor sponsored the Lounge for season 6. These two backstage areas allow for separated group conversation.

At the start of the seventh season of the Drag Race, Untucked reverted to a webseries, as part of the World of Wonder YouTube page. Instead of two decorated rooms, Untucked was moved back to the one room, an empty backstage space that connects to the main stage and work room, with couches for contestants to chat on. The newly renovated version also follows contestants following their elimination from the show, documenting them packing their belongings and leaving the set. The webseries format continued on the eighth season.

Prizes

Each season, the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race receives a selection of prizes, these prizes have increased in value each season as the show has become more popular and received a bigger budget. The prizes won for every season were:

Series Overview

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 9 February 2, 2009 (2009-02-02) March 23, 2009 (2009-03-23)
2 12 February 2, 2010 (2010-02-02) April 26, 2010 (2010-04-26)
3 16 January 24, 2011 (2011-01-24) May 2, 2011 (2011-05-02)
4 14 January 30, 2012 (2012-01-30) April 30, 2012 (2012-04-30)
5 14 January 28, 2013 (2013-01-28) May 6, 2013 (2013-05-06)
6 14 February 24, 2014 (2014-02-24) May 19, 2014 (2014-05-19)
7 14 March 2, 2015 (2015-03-02) June 1, 2015 (2015-06-01)
8 10 March 7, 2016 (2016-03-07) May 16, 2016 (2016-05-16)

Season 1: 2009

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 1)

The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, later referred as The Lost Season, premiered in the United States on February 2, 2009, on Logo. Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar." The winner of the first season won a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, joined the Logo Drag Race tour, and won a cash prize of $20,000. One of the nine contestants to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race was determined by an audience vote via the show's official website. The results were announced in early September 2008. The contestant to win this honor was Nina Flowers from Bayamón, Puerto Rico (currently residing in Denver, Colorado). Nina Flowers went on to win Miss Congeniality. The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Cover Girl" from RuPaul's album Champion.

The winner of this first season of RuPaul's Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet. In late 2013,[12] Logo re-aired the first season, which was titled RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed, and featured commentary from RuPaul[13]

Season 2: 2010

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 2)

For season two, the number of contestants was increased from nine to twelve, and the prizes were slightly modified: a lifetime supply of Nyx Cosmetics and be the face of nyxcosmetics.com, an exclusive one year public relations contract with LGBT firm Project Publicity, be featured an LA Eyeworks campaign, join the Logo Drag Race tour, and a cash prize of $25,000. A new tradition of writing a farewell message, in lipstick on their workstation mirror, was started by the first eliminated queen of the season.

Each week's episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked. The theme song playing during the runway and the end credits every episode is "Jealous of My Boogie" from RuPaul's album Champion.

Season two's Miss Congeniality was Pandora Boxx, and the winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Tyra Sanchez.

On December 6, 2011, Amazon.com released this season on DVD via their CreateSpace program.[14]

Season 3: 2011

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3)

This season had Michelle Visage replacing Merle Ginsberg at the judge's table and Billy Brasfield[15] (better known as Billy B), Mike Ruiz, and Jeffrey Moran (courtesy of Absolut Vodka) filling in for Santino Rice's absence during several episodes. Billy B, celebrity makeup artist and star of the HGTV mini-series Hometown Renovation, appeared as a judge in five episodes. Whereas Mike Ruiz only judged for two episodes, and Jeffrey Moran for one, Moran only appearing for promotional reasons. Due to Billy B's continued appearances, he and Rice are now considered to have been alternate judges for the same seat at the judges table, both appearing side-by-side in the reunion special to announce Yara Sofia as the season's Miss Congeniality.[16]

Other changes made included the introduction of a wildcard contestant from the past season, Shangela Laquifa Wadley; an episode with no elimination; and a contestant, Carmen Carrera, being brought back into the competition after having been eliminated a few episodes prior. A new pit crew was also introduced consisting of Jason Carter and Shawn Morales. The theme song playing during the runway every episode was changed to "Champion" while the song playing during the credits is "Main Event", both from RuPaul's album Champion. As with the previous season, each week's episode was followed by a behind-the-scenes show, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. Raja Gemini was crowned the winner of season 3.

On December 6, 2011 Amazon.com released this season on DVD via their CreateSpace program.[17]

Season 4: 2012

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4)

The fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 30, 2012,[18] with cast members announced November 13, 2011.[19] The winner of season four will headline Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka, wins a one-of-a-kind trip, a lifetime supply of NYX Cosmetics, a cash prize of $100,000, and the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar."[20]

Like the last season, Santino Rice & Billy B (Billy Brasfield), celebrity makeup artist and star of the HGTV mini-series Hometown Renovation, shared the same seat at the judges table alternatively, Brasfield filling in for Rice when needed.[16] Both judges appeared side-by-side in the audience during the "Reunited" episode.

The theme song playing during the runway every episode was "Glamazon" and the song played during the credits was "The Beginning", both from RuPaul's album Glamazon.

In the season finale, Latrice Royale became season four's Miss Congeniality, and fan favourite contestant Sharon Needles was crowned the season's winner.

Season 5: 2013

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 5)

The fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 28, 2013, with a 90-minute premiere episode. It had the most contestants since the creation of the show with fourteen. The winner of this season was Jinkx Monsoon.

As this season's winner, Jinkx Monsoon walked away with the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" along with a lifetime supply of Colorevolution Cosmetics, a one-of-a-kind trip courtesy of AlandChuck.travel, a headlining spot on Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka and a cash prize of $100 000. Santino Rice and Michelle Visage were back as judges at the panel.[21] The theme song playing during the runway every episode is "I Bring the Beat", while the song playing during the credits is "The Beginning", both songs are from RuPaul's album Glamazon. Awarded Miss Congeniality was Ivy Winters.

Season 6: 2014

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 6)

The sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing February 24, 2014. Like the fifth season, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". For the first time in the show's history, the season premiere was split into two episodes; the fourteen queens are split into two groups and the seven queens into each group compete against each other before being united as one group for the third episode.

Santino Rice and Michelle Visage are back as judges at the panel. Two new pit crew members, Miles Moody and Simon Sherry-Wood, joined Jason Carter and Shawn Morales.[22] The winner of this season won a prize package that included a supply from Colorevolution Cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000.[23] This was also the first season where Absolut Vodka and Interior Illusions, Inc. were not sponsors for the show, more specifically for the Untucked episodes. The Interior Illusions Lounge is now simply known as the Silver Lounge or FormDecor Lounge. The theme song played during the runway segment every episode was "Sissy That Walk" while the song playing during the credits is "Dance With U", both from the album Born Naked. BenDeLaCreme was crowned Miss Congeniality. The winner of this season was Bianca Del Rio.

Season 7: 2015

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7)

The seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 2, 2015.[24]

Returning judges included RuPaul and Michelle Visage, while the space previously occupied by Santino Rice was filled by new additions Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley.[24] Matthews and Kressley were both present for the season premiere and then took turns sharing judging responsibilities. Shawn Morales, a member of the Pit Crew since the third season and Simon Sherry-Wood, a member in the sixth season, did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg.

Like the previous two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The season premiere debuted with a live and same-day viewership of r350,000, a 20% increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that LogoTV had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season.[25] Katya Zamolodchikova was crowned Miss. Congeniality, and the winner of this season was Violet Chachki.

Season 8: 2016

Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8)

On January 14, 2016, it was announced that the cast for the eighth season will be revealed during the 2016 New Now Next Honors on February 1, 2016, followed by the season premiere on March 7, 2016. The first episode celebrated the 100th taping of the show, and the 100th drag queen to enter the work room. Michelle Visage returned as a main judge, while Carson Kressley and Ross Matthews returned as rotating main judges.[26] Similar to the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 12 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. Cynthia Lee Fontaine was crowned Miss Congeniality, and the winner of this season was Bob the Drag Queen.

Contestants

One hundred contestants have appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race over the course of eight seasons. All contestants are listed below by season and elimination order.

Placing Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8
Winner BeBe Zahara Benet Tyra Sanchez Raja Sharon Needles Jinkx Monsoon Bianca Del Rio Violet Chachki Bob the Drag Queen
Runner-Up Nina Flowers Raven Manila Luzon Chad Michaels
Phi Phi O'Hara		 Alaska
Roxxxy Andrews		 Adore Delano
Courtney Act		 Ginger Minj
Pearl		 Kim Chi
Naomi Smalls
3rd Place Rebecca Glasscock Jujubee Alexis Mateo
4th Place Shannel Tatianna Yara Sofia Latrice Royale Detox Darienne Lake Kennedy Davenport Chi Chi DeVayne
5th Place Ongina Pandora Boxx Carmen Carrera Kenya Michaels Coco Montrese BenDeLaCreme Katya Derrick Barry
6th Place Jade Jessica Wild Shangela Dida Ritz Alyssa Edwards Joslyn Fox Trixie Mattel Thorgy Thor
7th Place Akashia Sahara Davenport Delta Work Willam Ivy Winters Trinity K. Bonet Miss Fame Robbie Turner
8th Place Tammie Brown Morgan McMichaels Stacy Layne Matthews Jiggly Caliente Jade Jolie Laganja Estranja Jaidynn Diore Fierce Acid Betty
9th Place Victoria "Porkchop" Parker Sonique Mariah Milan Lineysha Sparx Milk Max Naysha Lopez
10th Place Mystique Summers Madison India Ferrah Madame LaQueer Honey Mahogany
Vivienne Pinay		 Gia Gunn Kandy Ho Cynthia Lee Fontaine
11th Place Nicole Paige Brooks Mimi Imfurst The Princess April Carrión Mrs. Kasha Davis Dax ExclamationPoint
Laila McQueen
12th Place Shangela Laquifa Wadley Phoenix Lashauwn Beyond Monica Beverly Hillz Vivacious Jasmine Masters
13th Place Venus D-Lite Alisa Summers Serena ChaCha Magnolia Crawford Sasha Belle
14th Place Penny Tration Kelly Mantle Tempest DuJour
  The contestant was voted as Miss Congeniality by the viewers.
  The contestant was disqualified from the competition.
  The contestant was eliminated in a double-elimination.
  The contestant was eliminated earlier in the competition, returned and advanced.
  The contestant was eliminated earlier in the competition, returned but did not advance.

Music

Main article: RuPaul discography

Almost all music used in the series comes from RuPaul's albums: Champion, Glamazon, Born Naked and Realness. Exceptions are songs used during the lip-sync portion of the show.

Runway

Songs used while the contestants walk the runway have been:

  • "Cover Girl" from Champion (season 1)
  • "Jealous of My Boogie" (Gomi & RasJek Mix) from Jealous of My Boogie - The RuMixes (season 2)
  • "Champion" (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix) from Drag Race (season 3)
  • "Glamazon" from Glamazon (season 4)
  • "Sexy Drag Queen" (dootdoot 'doot-swift' Remix) from Sexy Drag Queen (Remixes) - EP (All Stars)
  • "I Bring the Beat" from Glamazon (season 5)
  • "Sissy That Walk" from Born Naked (season 6–7)
  • "The Realness" from Realness (season 8-)

The Covergurlz & Covergurlz 2

RuPaul confirmed on Twitter that a new album, in which each of the Season 6 contestants covered a song from his catalog, would be released. The album, titled RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz, was released on January 28, 2014[27]

Similar to Season 6, each of the season 7's contestants covered a song that was previously recorded by RuPaul. The album is titled RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz2 and was released on February 3, 2015. The album also features the single "New York City Beat", a song by RuPaul featuring Michelle Visage.[28]

Other music

Two promotional singles have been released from the show's respective casts. The first single, titled "Can I Get an Amen" was released in 2013, and featured the eight remaining contestants of the season 5 cast. "Can I Get an Amen" was a parody of the charity single "We Are the World", and featured Alaska, Alyssa Edwards, Coco Montrese, Detox, Ivy Winters, Jade Jolie, Jinkx Monsoon, and Roxxxy Andrews. The second single to surface from the show was a rap song titled "Oh No She Better Don't," and was released in 2014. The single featured the remaining nine contestants of the season 6 cast: Adore Delano, BenDeLaCreme, Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, Darienne Lake, Joslyn Fox, Laganja Estranja, Milk, and Trinity K. Bonet.

Following Drag Race, many contestants from the show have delved into music careers, with some garnering moderate success. Albums released by the shows alumni include PG-13 by season 4 winner Sharon Needles and Till Death Do Us Party by season 6 runner-up Adore Delano.

Spin-Offs

RuPaul's Drag U: RuPaul's Drag U is the first spin-off of the franchise, in which women compete to discover and develop their female potential through drag. They are counseled, mentored and given makeovers by Drag Professors, who are contestants from "Drag Race." As the series is filmed in Los Angeles over a month's time, the majority of the professors are queens who reside in Southern California.

Beyond Belief: In April 2013, RuPaul confirmed that he would be the executive producer of a spin-off show featuring Alyssa Edwards from season 5.[29] Alyssa Edwards confirmed that his spin-off would be titled Beyond Belief[30] and, in an interview with Queerty, revealed that the series will be centered around his dance company based in Mesquite, Texas.[31]

RuPaul's Drag Race UK: In April 2014, UK chat show host and presenter Jonathan Ross told UK newspaper Daily Star that a UK version of the show was being planned, fronted by Jodie Harsh instead of RuPaul. Ross said, "I’ve been working with Jodie on a UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Unfortunately, we have had to take a break because of some family issues. But we’re hoping to pick it up again in the near future. I am definitely serving ‘middle-aged-realness!’"[32] RuPaul has since explained, "I think that because truTV has brought all the seasons of Drag Race to the UK I think that that might be something that will happen much sooner...I think that people will fall so in love with the show, I think that the hunger and the thirst for a UK version will probably happen. That's my prediction."[33] To coincide with TruTV airing new seasons of the show in the UK, RuPaul hosted a competition to find a UK Ambassador for RuPaul's Drag Race with judges Jonathan Ross and Katie Price in May 2015.[34] The Vivienne, a drag queen from Liverpool, won the competition and created vlogs to accompany Drag Race episodes on truTV as well as visiting the set for the eighth season of Drag Race in the US.[35]

RuPaul's Drag Race Movie: In August 2015, RuPaul revealed that a movie featuring all of the contestants was in the works. "We've got a director for it, we've got a light script, but it just needs a little more retooling and scheduling," RuPaul stating, adding that he believes filming will begin in October 2015.[33]

The Switch: In October 2015, A Chilean version was aired by Mega. Mega bought RuPaul's rights to televise a drag competition. The main difference with the Chilean tv show is the new emphasis on three talents: singing, dancing and imitation. Otherwise the show has a similar structure with a mini challenge, main challenge, and comments from a judging panel.

DVD releases

Season Release date Special features Discs
2 December 6, 2011[36]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Interviews with contestants
  • Extended reunion moments
 3
3 December 6, 2011[37]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Interviews with contestants
  • Extended reunion moments
 4
4 June 26, 2012[38]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Episodes of Untucked
  • Episodes of Drag Ya Later with Jon & John
 5
All
Stars 		January 22, 2013[39]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Episodes of Untucked
  • Meet the Queens interviews
 2
5 June 10, 2013 [40][41]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Episodes of Untucked
 5
6 October 21, 2014 [42]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Episodes of Untucked
 5
7 June 8, 2016 [43]
  • Bonus scenes
  • RuPaul's Drag Race: The Ru-les
  • Episodes of Whatcha Packin'
 4
8 July 29, 2016 [44]
  • Bonus scenes
  • Episodes of Whatcha Packin'
 3

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2009 NewNowNext Award Most Addictive Reality Star – Ongina Won
2010 GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Reality Program
NewNowNext Award Best New Indulgence
Most Addictive Reality Star — Jujubee Nominated
2011 NewNowNext Award Most Addictive Reality Star – Carmen Carrera
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Reality Series – Competition
2012 NewNowNext Award Most Addictive Reality Star – Willam
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Reality Show Host – RuPaul
TV.com's Best of 2012 Awards Best Reality Show Judge/Host – RuPaul Won
Best Reality Competition Series
2013 RyanSeacrest.com's Favorite TV Show Awards Best Reality Series
POPrepublic.tv Awards Favourite International TV Shows Nominated
2014 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Reality Show Host – RuPaul
TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming[45] Won
2015 Primetime Creative Emmy Awards Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) Nominated
2016 Primetime Creative Emmy Awards Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program – RuPaul Won
Outstanding Costumes For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program Nominated

Criticism

RuPaul's Drag Race has been criticized for appearing to favor glamorous drag queens over comedic or camp queens. For example, Popbytes commented Drag Race has been accused numerous times of keeping some of the more unpleasant but feminine queens in the competition for the sake of keeping the drama high. However, Common Sense Media commented, "RuPaul's Drag Race combines the fashion design drama of Project Runway with the modeling excitement of America's Next Top Model to create an entertainingly voyeuristic glimpse into the performance art world of drag queens. There's plenty of over-the-top stuff, but rather than simply treating drag performers as people to be laughed at and/or scorned, the show also focuses on the hard work and talent that goes into drag performances."[46] Entertainment Weekly cited the elimination of comedian and eventual season two fan favorite Pandora Boxx as the season's most controversial.[47]

In March 2014, Drag Race sparked controversy over the use of the term "She-male" in the season 6 Mini-challenge "Female or She-male?". Logo has since removed the episode from all platforms and has addressed the allegations of transphobia by removing the "You've got she-mail" intro from new episodes of the series. This was replaced with, "She done already done had herses!"[48]

International airings

  • Australia: In Australia, lifestyle channel LifeStyle YOU[49] regularly shows and re-screens all 7 seasons, including Untucked. In addition, free-to-air channel SBS2 began screening the first season on August 31, 2013.[50]
  • Brazil: Brazil started airing season 7 on the Multishow cable network every Monday at 11:30pm in August 2015.[51]
  • Canada: The series airs on OutTV in Canada at the same time as the US airing.
  • Germany: During Summer 2009, TIMM – a former gay television channel from Germany – aired the first season every Friday night.[52]
  • Hungary: In Hungary the show aired on FEM3 channel as RuPaul – Drag Queen leszek! ("RuPaul – I'll be Drag Queen!").[53]
  • Ireland: In Ireland S2 to S6 of the programme are available on Netflix.
  • Latin America: In January 2011 VH1 Latin America aired season 2 followed by season 1, season 3 and season 4.[54]
  • Sweden: Season 8 of the series currently airs on OutTV on Thursdays at 20:00.[55]
  • The Philippines: The Philippines aired season 3 on the Velvet cable network every Tuesday at 11 pm with RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, airing directly after the show. Season 4 started airing on April 17, 2012[56]
  • UK: E4 aired season 1 in 2009, followed by season 2 in 2010.[57] Since its success on Netflix in the UK,[58] TruTV acquired the broadcast rights for all eight seasons of the show including Untucked episodes.[59] In June 2015, TruTV started airing two episodes of the show a week, starting with season 4, followed by All Stars, then season 5. Currently on truTV on Monday nights at 9pm season 8 is broadcast with Untucked, being on the truTV UK youtube account

References

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  2. ^ "For 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Mainstream Is Jumping the Shark". Entertainment Tonight.
  3. ^ Jacobs, Vlake (March 31, 2016). "RuPaul's Drag Race Renewed for Season 9 and Casting Has Just Begun!". TVLine. World of Wonder. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ^ Avery, Dan (May 8, 2012). "Drag Race's Carmen Carrera Comes Out As Trans on ABC's What Would You Do". Queerty. Queerty. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Lang, Nico (February 22, 2013). "Breaking ground: An interview with Precious Jewel on RuPaul's Drag Race". WBEZ91.5. Chicago Public Media. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  6. ^ "RuPaul Leads Hopefuls in 'Drag Race.'". USA Today. December 1, 2008.
  7. ^ "Ep. 16, Episode 16, Season 3: Reunited!". Logo TV.
  8. ^ Peterson, Brian. "Legendary Makeup Artist and RuPaul Drag Race Judge Billy B. Eats Boys for Breakfast, Specifically "New Queer on the Block"". Seattle GAY Scene.
  9. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race Insider Clip (October 8, 2008). "WOW TV". Wow.wowtv.tv. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1". Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  11. ^ Corfe, Steven (February 9, 2009). "Under the Hood of RuPaul's Drag Race". The WOW Report. World of Wonder. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  12. ^ Shumaker, Jason; Jake Slane (August 18, 2013). "Gentlemen, Re-Start Your Engines...and May the Best Woman Win...Again!". Logo Press Room. Logo. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "Callie, dear..." RuPaul's Drag Race Facebook page. September 23, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2015. Callie, dear... {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Kline, Dill. "Rupauls' Drag Race Season 2 Pre-Orders". Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  15. ^ Brasfield, Billy. "Billy Brasfield Official Biography".
  16. ^ a b "Ep. 16, Episode 16, Season 3: Reunited!". Logo TV. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  17. ^ Kline, Dill. "RuPauls Drag Race Season 3". Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  18. ^ Polly, John (October 10, 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 Judges: Think Glee, Modern Family!". NewNowNext. Logo. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  19. ^ "Rupaul's Drag Race Season 4". Logo. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  20. ^ Shumaker, Jason; Jake Slane (November 14, 2011). "HALLELOO! "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE" RETURNS TO LOGO FOR A NEW SEASON OF OUTRAGEOUS REALITY COMPETITION IN JANUARY 2012". Logo Press Room. Logo. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  21. ^ Shumaker, Jason; Jake Slane (December 10, 2012). ""THE QUEENS OF "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE" SEASON FIVE BEGIN THEIR BATTLE FOR THE CROWN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 28 ON LOGO". Logo Press Room. Logo. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  22. ^ Lambe, Stacy (February 19, 2014). "Meet RuPaul's Drag Race's New, Bulgier Pit Crew". out.com, Popnography. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  23. ^ Shumaker, Jason; Jake Slane (January 13, 2014). ""LET THE TRANSFORMATIONS BEGIN!..."RUPAULS DRAG RACE" RETURNS TO LOGO TV FOR A SIXTH SEASON ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AT 9 PM ET/PT". Logo Press Room. Logo. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  24. ^ a b "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Adds New Judges, Will Premiere March 2". Huffington Post. January 28, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  25. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Renewed for Season 8 at Logo". Variety. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  26. ^ Avery, Dan (January 14, 2016). "The Cast Of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Will Be Announced At New Now Next Honors". New Now Next. United States: Viacom International Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2016. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |website= at position 1 (help)
  27. ^ "iTunes - Music - RuPaul Presents the CoverGurlz by RuPaul". iTunes.
  28. ^ "iTunes - Music - RuPaul Presents CoverGurlz2 by RuPaul". iTunes.
  29. ^ Lloyd, Sarah Anne. "Whoa Rupaul Took Alyssa Edwards to the MTV Movie Awards". Wetpaint. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  30. ^ "Update on Alyssa Edwards' New Spin-Off 'Beyond Belief'". Drag Official.
  31. ^ Renzi, Dan. "No T No Shade Alyssa Edwards Takes Her Next Step". Queerty. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  32. ^ "Jonathan Ross starts hunt for Britain's next drag starstar - Wired - Latest Celebrity Gossip, Controversy & News - Daily Star". Dailystar.co.uk.
  33. ^ a b Carl Greenwood (21 August 2015). "RuPaul reveals RuPaul's Drag Race MOVIE in new magazine dedicated to all things drag". mirror.
  34. ^ Carl Greenwood (27 May 2015). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Jonathan Ross joins search for a drag queen superstar to represent us". mirror.
  35. ^ "RuPaul Crowns First Ever UK Drag Ambassador: The Vivienne". out.com.
  36. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 2". LOGOOnline Shop. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  37. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 3". LOGOOnline Shop. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  38. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 4". LogoTV Shop. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  39. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars". LogoTV Shop. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  40. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 5 Uncensored". Amazon.com.
  41. ^ Spargo, Chris (April 18, 2013). "Get 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 5 On DVD Now Hunties". NewNowNext. newnownext.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  42. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 6". Amazon.com.
  43. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 7". Amazon.com.
  44. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 8". Amazon.com.
  45. ^ "True Detective and Game of Thrones dominate TCA awards shortlist". The Guardian. May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  46. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race". commonsensemedia.org.
  47. ^ 'RuPaul's Drag Race' recap: Drag mamas, Cloris Leachman, and the season's most controversial elimination!
  48. ^ James Nichols (April 14, 2014). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' To Refrain From Using 'Transphobic Slur' In Wake Of Controversy". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  49. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race at lifestyleyou.com.au.
  50. ^ "Airdate: RuPaul's Drag Race". TV Tonight.
  51. ^ "O reality RuPaul's Drag Race chega em agosto no Multishow". multishow.globo.com.
  52. ^ "Burkhard H. Timm - Startseite". Burkhard H. Timm.
  53. ^ "RuPaul - Drag Queen leszek!". PORT.hu.
  54. ^ "VH1 SHOWS - RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE". VH1 Latin America.
  55. ^ "RuPauls dragrace". OUTtv Sverige.
  56. ^ "Velvet Channel - Timeline Photos - Facebook". facebook.com.
  57. ^ "Start your engines! RuPaul's Drag Race returns to the UK on truTV". Channel 4.
  58. ^ "Which RuPaul Drag Queen are you? Find out with our quiz". Telegraph.co.uk. 29 May 2015.
  59. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race coming to truTV UK in June". digitalspy.co.uk.
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