RuPauls Drag Race the RetRuspective.
RuPauls Drag Race
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What is RuPauls Drag Race
Filmed in Los Angeles, CA. RuPauls Drag Race (RPDR) is an Emmy Award winning reality television show that has showcased talented drag artists for over 15 years. It blends fashion, comedy, performance, and heartfelt moments which captures audiences attention. With 17 main seasons, 4 companion series, 5 spin offs, and 15 international drag races (some of which also have their own spin offs). RuPaul has been trailblazing in creating an empire that provides a platform for queer artists.
RuPaul's Drag Race is filmed on a set in LA, and you can often get a behind-the-scenes look at these sets if you watch Untucked. Because like the show says "If you aren't watching Untucked you are only getting half the story. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously and encourages the queens to have fun with the experience. Drag is meant to be uplifting, and it isn’t always serious. So when viewers see a comedy challenge or a silly sponsored mini-challenge, the contestants are meant to enjoy themselves. The editing of Drag Race is dramatic, but remember, this is a competition for $100,000, and all of the contestants believe they can win, so tensions can run high.
Drag has become more mainstream over the years. Before RuPaul and RuPauls Drag Race drag in modern U.S. TV media was typically reserved for the late-night talkshow segments, or it was used as the punchline in movies or television. RuPauls Drag Race changed that stigma by showcasing the real artistry behind the drag persona and what it represents to the contestants.
On Reddit, a survey was conducted that gives insight into the demographics of the show’s audience. About 75% of respondents fall within the 20-34 age range, and nearly 94% are between the ages of 15 and 39. This younger demographic makes sense, as in more recent seasons, many contestants have cited watching the show as their inspiration to do drag.
That being said, I’ve noticed a significant number of health and wellness ads for prescriptions and medications. One example is Biktarvy, an HIV treatment, which highlights the importance of health awareness, not only in terms of safe sex practices but also in recognizing that HIV is still a concern, reminding viewers to be proactive. Another type of ad I’ve seen is for other shows on Paramount+, indicating that the network is keen to promote its own content to an audience it believes will enjoy it.
How the Show Works
This show is a love letter to RuPaul and her career. The contestants on the show must compete in challenges showing charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to prove that they are "Americas Next Drag Superstar". the challenges that these contestants are asked to do reflect what RuPaul had to do in her career to get to where she is now. RuPaul has sewn her own garments, so the contestants will be asked to design and sew a garment to present on the runway. RuPaul has acted in movies like "Too Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything!" so the contestants will be asked to memorize lines and perform in a scene. These are just two examples of challenges that can happen once or three times throughout a season. The competition is also said by the contestants to be intense and be similar to a pageant, with contestants each week being eliminated and the queen that gets crowned "Americas Next Drag Superstar" gets not only the title but a sickening supply (aka 1 years supply) of Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000.
Shows like America's Next Top Model and Project Runway share similar formats, and I have the same critiques for them. If you’ve ever watched America’s Next Top Model, you’ll see the similarities in the judging and the kooky, difficult challenges. There are also sewing challenges, where contestants must create and design a look like Project Runway.
RuPaul Drag Race Episode Formula
Every episode begins with a recap of the events of weeks past, reminding viewers of key moments like who won, who struggled, and who was eliminated. At the same time, the beginning of the episode often introduces a fresh subplot that focuses on the interactions and conflicts between the contestants, shaping the narrative of the episode.
The mini challenge is a fun, often light hearted, task that tests the contestants' creativity and quick thinking in a short, often sponsored, segment. Examples of mini challenges are a photoshoots or even creating a doll of the other contestants and improvising. The winner of the mini challenge often receives a small reward such as a cash tip or an advantage in the maxi challenge.
The Maxi challenge is the main event of the episode, where the contestants are showcasing their ability to perform in the challenge presented at the beginning of the episode. Some examples of maxi challenges are fashion, acting, improv challenges. Their success or struggles in the challenge heavily influence the contestants standing in the competition.
Often right after the maxi challenge, the contestants will return to the Werk Room, where they put on their signature drag makeup while reflecting with the other contestants about the maxi challenge. This time allows contestants to open up, giving both the contestants and the viewers a deeper understanding of the contestants personality and mindset.
After the runway, the contestants all return to the stage. If they are told they are "safe" they return to backstage where the show Untucked is is filmed. The remaining contestants still on the stage are critiqued by the panel of judges. The contestants receive critiques about their runway look and performance.
My thoughts on RuPauls Drag Race
When I first started watching it on cable I watched seasons 7-11 with my mom at home in Logo TV and VH1. Even after I moved out, I kept up with the latest seasons with my partner, and I love every minute of it. A lot of my family and friends don’t watch the show. If they were to give it a try though I think that they can learn more the queer experience and what drag means to these queens. Although I am not on social media, I do follow the main page of RuPauls Drag Race on Instagram where I get updates about the latest projects. On Instagram and I also follow my favorite contestants to keep up with them and see if they are performing near me. The pinned posts for the main season feature teasers, like Season 17, which will air on MTV. On instagram, there is always an open dialogue in the comments where fans LOVE to share their hot takes about the contestants and their performance on the show.
Strengths and Weaknesses About the Show
One of the strengths of RuPauls Drag Race is the opportunity to learn about the contestants and their lived experiences. Some of the most memorable moments for me are when the queens open up about their personal stories. A few queens who have deeply impacted me include ChiChi DeVayne, Bianca Del Rio, Nina West, and Trixie Mattel.
On RuPauls Drag Race, there is a common question: “Oh, what type of Queen are you?” or even “Whats your gig?” There are many types of queens, with popular labels like comedy queens, pageant queens, kooky queens, look queens, and more. Queens in these categories often share similar drag background where its a storyline within the show for queens to break out of the molds that are these stereotypes.
However, one weakness of the show is its portrayal of stereotypes, especially in earlier seasons. The use of subversive humor which is usually aimed at ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, gender identity, and body size which are problematic. I am not a comedian, but as a viewer I can tell when a joke lands and when it falls flat. When rewatching old episodes of any reality TV I feel a cringe since these distasteful jokes didn't land. The editing of the show can have real life consequences for some of the contestants, and it can really hinder and hurt the drag careers of the contestants if they are not favored in the edit. Unreliable editing has been noticed by not just the fanbase but critics as well. An article from The Sundae wrote an article about about the editing of RuPauls Drag Race noting:
"But there’s abundant evidence the show does put words in people’s mouths by clipping dialogue or cobbling it together with other pieces of dialogue. Obviously, the show’s producers and regular cast have a vested interest in defending the validity of the edit, so they don’t have to take responsibility for the negative effects it often has on competitors. I’m not surprised that people who make a reality show are self-interested and deceitful. But the credulity that fans and even critics show toward the edit is baffling. I think most of us know reality television isn’t “real”, but I don’t think we always understand the way it’s not real and the extent to which events are manufactured."
For first time viewers of RuPauls Drag Race, I think it would be easy for anyone to see the artistry, creativity, and love for drag that this show brings. It can be polarizing, especially when people have strong beliefs about LGBTQ+ visibility and activism. Even if someone doesn't fully agree with the sentiment of the show, they can still appreciate the pop culture references sprinkled through the show and the creative expression that the queens bring to life on the screen.
Season 13 Episode 4: RuPaulmark Channel
Contestants of Season 13
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Gottmik: Talented make up artist with a keen eye for fashion, based in Los Angelas, CA
Kahmora Hall: "Fashion" queen who loves wearing Bob Mackie and doing her makeup, based in Chicago, IL
Joey Jay: No wig, no problem type of queen, entrance line "Filler Queen", based in Phoenix, AZ
LaLa Ri: Brightness when she walks in the room, has great energy, based in Atlanta, GA
Elliot with 2 Ts: A demure queen who is a great professional dancer, based in Las Vegas, NV
Symone: "Fashion" queen with flawless beauty and talent, based in Los Angelas, CA
Utica Queen: "Campy" and creative queen that creates beautiful garments, based in Minneapolis MN
Olivia Lux: Was newer to the drag scene at the time and had a sweet and upbeat personality, based in New York City, NY
Rose: A polished Broadway queen who has sharp wit and great vocal talent, based in Manhattan, NY
Tina Burner: Loves a color scheme and is a campy and comedic queen, based in Manhattan, NY
Tamisha Iman: A seasoned "pageant" queen that is the mother to many successful drag artists, based in Atlanta, GA
Kandy Muse: Loud, proud, and unapologetically herself, based in South Bronx, NY
Denali: Dancing and ice skating princess, based in Chicago, IL
Ru-Cap of Episodes 1-3
To give some context, the contestant were broken up into two teams, one with 7 while the other had 8. These teams were formed based on the results a lip sync between 2-3 contestants on the main stage. The contestants who won the lip sync joined what the contestants called the “Winners Circle,” where they meet in the Werk Room. The losing contestant went to the Pork Chop Loading Dock which was named after the first eliminated contestant from season 1 of RuPauls Drag Race.
Winners Circle: Kandy Muse, LaLa Ri, Symone, Gottmik, Olivia Lux and Tina Burner.
Contestants in the Pork Chop Loading Dock: Joey Jay, Denali, Tamisha Iman, Utica Queen, Rose, Kahmora Hall, and Elliot with 2 Ts
In the Pork Chop Loading Dock the seven loosing contestanst then had to vote out one of the contestants survivor style from the competition. Yes, the contestants are eliminating someone off of vibes and first impressions. Elliot was UNANIMOUSLY voted out upon the revote between her and Utica Queen and it was then Ruvealed in episode 2 that Elliot with 2 T’s joined the winners circle. No one was ever truly eliminated in these first episodes. So episodes 2-3 are there for the audience to get to learn more about these Queens through the lyrics the contestants write, perform, and record to RuPauls songs “Condragulations” and “Phenomenon”.
Ru-Uniting of the Contestants
Episode 4 is the first episode where the Pork Chop Lounge contestants, coined as the "B-Squad" by the Winning Queens, finally reconnect with the “Winners Circle”. The episode opens with a quick resolution to a subplot: Elliot with 2 Ts is able to confront the girls that voted her out. Nothing actually comes from this confrontation other than we learn that Elliot was shocked about the unanimous vote for her, but she does admit that she was the last to join in the room so she can understand why she was the one voted out. This concludes with them all celebrating that they are united and they are glad to be with all of their season 13 sisters.
Mini-Challenge
To quote myself "THERE IS NO MINI CHALLENGE??? Whatever."
I love any opportunity for the queens to have fun and do a silly little mini challenge. So this episode gets -10 points in my book.
Maxi Challenge Groups are Formed
For this weeks Maxi Challenge the queens must overact Hallmark inspired movies based on U.S. holidays that aren’t typically highlighted in TV and films. Teams are assigned by RuPaul, who is a executive producer on the show, and then the girls get to decide who does what part.
Team breakdowns are as Follows:
God Loves Flags (Flag Day) - LaLa Ri, Rosé, Symone and Utica Queen
April Fool's Rush In (April Fools) - Gottmik, Joey Jay, Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman and Tina Burner
Misery Love's Company (Valentines Day) - Denali, Elliott with 2 Ts, Kahmora Hall and Olivia Lux
Advertisement and Main Sponsor for the Episode
Wigs from “Wigs and Grace” are provided for the contestants to use in the challenge and this is the main sponsor
of this episode. Wigs and Grace is a wig company owned by Abdiel Urcullu who is a Emmy winning hairstylist.
This brand has been partnered with RuPauls Drag Race for quite some time and this brand specialized in wigs for
drag performers so this sponsor is very on brand
Contestants are Picking Roles in their Groups
The contestants are flipping through the script, deciding which roles they want to take on for their scene. The challenges goal is for the contestants to embody the characters they are given, demonstrating good comedic timing in the scenes. Since they are parodying Hallmark movies for this challenge, they need to find the balance between sticking to the written character while highlighting their own personal flair in the performance.
Storylines and Walkthroughs with RuPaul
Flag Day Team (LaLa Ri, Rose, Symone, Utica Queen )
Rose stands out early, creating a storyline that in this challenge it's going to be her vs. Tina. Rose is determined to stand out and aims to show her acting chops. This group is the first shown to have their one on one and walkthrough with RuPaul. It is clear in the edit that RuPaul loved their interaction and discussiowith Symone and Utica.
April Fools Team (Gottmik, Joey Jay, Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman, Tina Burner)
Kandy Muse takes charge and immediately chose her character, Whoopi Cushion, and did not discuss it with the group at all. Surprisingly, no one challenged her decision. During the walkthrough with RuPaul, he gives some advice to Gottmik, Tamisha Iman, and Kandy Muse mentioning that she is worried how their performace will turn out.
Valentines Team (Denali, Elliott with 2 Ts, Kahmora Hall, Olivia Lux)
There are two main storylines emerging. First, Denali wants to prove herself and is determined to show the judges how funny they are with the main character. Second, there was a confessional showing that Kamorah thinks Miss 2Ts, Elliot with 2 T's, is annoying. This follows the storyline from the first 3 episodes where it shows the contestants are not living for her. Kandy Muse is the first contestant that had an issue with Elliot with 2 T’s or just thought that she was annoying (this will come up later in Untucked for this episode). They also get no screen time showing their walkthrough with RuPaul. Hmmm…
Elimination Day
On Elimination Day, the contestants returned to the werk room to prepare for the runway presentation on the main stage. This week’s runway theme was "Trains for Days," and the contestants were expected to create outfits that aligned with the theme. As the queens got ready, viewers were given a chance to learn more about them through their conversations while applying makeup and putting together their looks. It was during this time that the contestants reflected on their personal journeys.
“What was your first time in drag like?”
Symone shared a memorable moment from their high school prom, where they attended in drag. It was an empowering experience, as they had a supportive community around them, and it left Symone feeling confident and validated in their drag journey.
“Has anyone ever dated a woman?”
Tamisha Iman shared a personal story about their family and sexuality. They revealed that they have biological children, with the youngest being 33 and the oldest 35. Tamisha discussed how they began exploring their sexuality after high school, having an “aha” moment that led them to realize their true identity. They also shared that she started doing drag at the age of 20, and their drag name, "Tamisha," is actually their daughter’s name.
Maxi Challenge Performances (From my perspective)
The show divides the challenge into two distinct sections. The first part focused on the performance in the challenge, which was filmed with Ross Matthews as the director. The second part showcased the final edited product that was presented to the judges and audience. This structure allowed viewers to get a behind the scenes look at how the queens performed during filming, followed by the polished final presentation.
Misery Loves Company
The filming edit highlighted Denali struggling with remembering her lines, while Ross Matthews was featured as a humorous, fully padded green-screened tree. The focus also shifted to Kahmora, who was having difficulty delivering her line, "Rooting for us." This matched what was seen in the final stage presentation. From a viewer’s perspective, Olivia gave a solid performance, while Denali played it safe. If it were up to me, I would have placed Kahmora and Elliot with 2Ts in the bottom for this group.
God Loves Flags
The filming edit made it clear that Rose and Symone were excelling in their roles, while Lala Ri and Utica seemed nervous. They either forgot their lines or appeared to lack energy, resulting in a less captivating performance. On the main stage, Symone’s performance stood out, and I believe she was one of the best queens of the night. Rose, on the other hand, delivered a safe performance, while Lala Ri and Utica’s weak performances landed them in the bottom for me.
April Fool's Rush In
In the filming edit Ross Matthews praised Gottmik’s strong characterization. Tamisha, though struggling with her Cher impression, ultimately delivered a stellar performance for the judges. Joey was shown to be nervous, unsure of where to focus her attention on stage. Kandy, despite not enunciating well, had Ross in stitches with her comedic timing. Tina was barely shown at all in the filming edit. For me, Kandy Muse was the top performer in this group, while Tina Burner played it safe. Gottmik, Joey Jay, and Tamisha Iman ended up in the bottom for me.
Runway on the Main Stage: Trains for Days
Runways on RuPauls Drag Race typically showcase the garments that the queens are asked to bring to the competition, unless the challenge is specifically a sewing challenge. To give some context, the contestants are provided with a list of runway themes ahead of time. However, the actual runway theme on the day may not always align exactly with what’s on the list, leaving the queens to adapt. The queens usually prepare their looks in advance, either designing them themselves or working with a designer. This means they often create their runway outfits before entering the competition, which can make it difficult to come up with a new, fresh look while simultaneously focusing on other challenges throughout the season. Sometimes, queens may have to improvise or tweak their designs if they feel the theme has shifted or isn’t quite what they expected. This is where their skills in fashion and adaptation come into play, especially since they don't always have the time to rework a look on the spot.
My favorite look from tonights runway is: Denali, Kamorah, and Symone
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