New Reality Show

JoAnnDallas · Post by **JoAnnDallas** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:36 pm

Logo and RuPaul Are In Search of America's Next Drag Queen Superstar

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! MAY THE BEST WOMAN WIN!

LOGO AND RUPAUL ARE IN SEARCH OF AMERICA'S NEXT DRAG QUEEN SUPERSTAR AS "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE," PRESENTED BY ABSOLUT(R) VODKA, PremierES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 10:00 PM ET/PT on LOGO AND ONLINE AT RUPAULSDRAGRACE. COM

The Top 9 Drag Queens In The USA Bring The Drama, Outrageousness And Sheer Fabulosity As They Battle It Out To Become The Next RuPaul

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, is challenging a new generation of drag performers to fill her high heels. "Gentlemen, start your engines. May the best woman win!" is the call to action as Logo searches for America's next drag queen superstar in the newest original competitive series, "RuPaul's Drag Race" Presented by ABSOLUT(R) Vodka, premiering Monday, February 2 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Thousands applied but only 9 of the nation's hottest most glamorous drag queens were chosen to fight for the title of America's next drag queen superstar.

RuPaul has pushed the boundaries of popular culture on an international level as a recording artist ("Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet with Elton John, "Supermodel: You Better Work"), as a television talk-show host ("The RuPaul Show" on VH1) and as an actor ("The Brady Bunch," "Too Wong Foo..." "Starrbooty" ). As the first-ever spokesperson for M.A.C Cosmetics' VIVA Glam Campaign, RuPaul contributed to raising millions of dollars to the M.A.C AIDS Fund. Now RuPaul is breaking new ground as the host, mentor and judge of this one-of-a-kind reality competition. Playing a dual role, RuPaul, in full glamazon drag, will reign supreme in all judging and eliminations, while the debonair Mr. RuPaul will help guide the contestants as they prepare for each challenge. Challenges will range from photo shoots, to fashion designing, to real woman makeovers, to performing with RuPaul in the first music video from RuPaul's upcoming album, "Champion."

"Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you're at it have Heidi clear the runway. I'm going to pump some 'realness' into reality," said RuPaul. "To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American idol, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a
ifth grader."

While "RuPaul's Drag Race" will take a look at the outrageous world of drag, it will also reveal the courage, perseverance and humanity of 9 men who have overcome and endured the hardships of a masculine dominated society that mocks and makes fun of men who act like women. Not only will viewers get a bird's eye view of what it takes for these chameleons to transform themselves but they will also take away the secrets of the artistry of drag.

The eight, one-hour episode series "RuPaul's Drag Race" has gathered the next generation of outrageous, up-and-coming drag queens to fight for the title. Each cast member must embody the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent that made, RuPaul an international drag superstar. Each week, joining RuPaul on the judges panel are fashion journalist and best-selling author Merle Ginsberg and Project Runway breakout star and designer Santino Rice plus a bevy of celebrity guest judges including: Bob Mackie (Designer), Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), Lucy Lawless (actress), Maria Conchita Alonso (actress/singer) , Robin Antin (creator of The Pussycat Dolls), Debra Wilson (Mad TV), Jenny Shimizu (model/actress) , Tori Spelling (actress), Dean McDermott (actor), Howard Bragman (Author of, "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?") Frank Gatson (choreographer) and Gordon Espinet (M.A.C VP of Makeup Artistry.) The judges will determine the bottom two contestants of the week. Those contestants then compete in a show-stopping battle-royal "lip-synch for your life" performance that will determine if they will "shante" and stay or "sashay" away.

"RuPaul made history as drag's first glamour superstar and will do so once again bringing together a group of exceptionally talented drag artists in the world's first drag reality series," said Brian Graden, President, MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment and President, Logo.

"RuPaul's Drag Race" is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers and Chris McKim as Co-Executive Producer.

"RuPaul is back, and better than ever," says Barbato. "RuPaul first took the world by storm when Clinton was in the White House. Now, in the new Obama era, the time is right for RuPaul to reign supreme once again."

In the end, only one will have what it takes to win the coveted title of America's next drag queen superstar, and a prize package that includes a nationally sponsored ABSOLUT(R) Vodka "Real Fruit" tour, a cash prize of $20,000 courtesy of ABSOLUT(R) Vodka and M.A.C Cosmetics, supply of M.A.C Cosmetics, a feature photo spread in Paper Magazine and a photo taken by renowned photographer Greg Gorman to be used in an l.a. Eyeworks legendary designer eyewear campaign.

Following are the 9 "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants:

Akashia -- Cleveland, OH
Bebe Zahara Benet -- Minneapolis, MN
Jade -- Chicago, IL
Nina Flowers -- Denver, CO
Ongina -- Los Angeles, CA
Rebecca Glasscock -- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Shannel -- Las Vegas, NV
Tammie Brown -- Los Angeles, CA
Victoria Parker -- Raleigh, NC

RuPaulsDragRace. com will stream the first episode simultaneous to the series on air premiere Monday, February 2, and will be home to exclusive video content throughout the season. Additionally, each episode will be available on RuPaulsDragRace. com every week following its on-air premiere.

"RuPaul's Drag Race" and its casting website demonstrate Logo's commitment to reach new levels of engagement with its audience. Examples of this multi-platform approach to entertainment include the site for Logo's hit animated series, "Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World" at HappiestGayCouple. com and the upcoming "NewNowNext Awards," airing on-air, online and on mobile devices. Logo continues to be the number one aggregator of content for the LGBT audience with its growing library of online video on LOGOonline.com and its affiliated websites AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, Downelink.com and 365gay.com.

For more information, visit http://press.mtvn.com/tca_jan09/

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:06 pm

Well, what can I say?! First, a Drag Queen is a Drag Queen is a Drag Queen. Most, if not all of us here on this forum are NOT Drag Queens. To me Drag Queens are primarily entertainers. It has been explained to me that they cover the entire gauntlet, from gays in drag to heterosexuals who just choose that particular forum to express themselves through entertainment. I think it is great that RuPaul is doing this because if nothing else, it exposes those within the "great unwashed" that there are those who "rebel" against societies norms and perhaps when they are out and about and just happen to "read" one of us, they will be a bit more tolerant!

Thanks for posting this and second, are you looking for a sponsor for the try-outs!?

Perhaps we can do a duet!?

Love,

Virginia

Post by **KimberlyS** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:45 pm

No desire for me to be a contestant. But would be fun to fell an audience with CDers and other TG's.

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:17 pm

According to Kate Boornstein the greatest drag queen of them all is Madonna. I guess that's show business, female drag queens....

Her point is that female impersonators imitate images, not people, and Madonna is just doing an impersonation of an image.

Does this mean John Wayne was a male drag king?

It would be nice to see Lucy Lawless as a judge however.

Absaroka

JoAnnDallas · Post by **JoAnnDallas** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:51 am

Virginia.....between the two of us, all the other contestances don't have a chance. LOL Then to I would love to meet RuPaul in person.
Then too I remember seeing her on Don Johnson's cop show. She was almost a regular. LOL

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:04 pm

I want to see this, but my cable provider only offers Logo as a pay channel.

JoAnnDallas · Post by **JoAnnDallas** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:16 am

Jaye......check with your provider.....many will add single channels for an extra $1-2 fee pr month.

CharLee · Post by **CharLee** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:38 am

I have to agree with Virginia, " Drag Queens " are for the most part over-the-top performers. They portray the extreme limits of CD'ers and TS to entertain the public. When in fact most, if not all of us, do not strive to present ourselves that way. We are looking for acceptance as a normal females in the way we dress and go about our daily lives.
If RuPaul really wanted to do a " reality " show on CD, TS, TG people he should look for the everyday one of us who just want to live as females. That in itself would show the public what we have to contend with in just being accepted by society. A show like that would do more to help educate the public of our life style than a "Drag Queen " contest.

CharLee

Michelle Miller · Post by **Michelle Miller** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:48 pm

But the problem is, pitching a show like that.

TG Spokesperson: "Ok, here's what we want to do. We're gonna follow ________ around, and document this person's day-to-day life and see how they deal with life as a tg person, to show that they face the same, if not more discrimination as other groups"

Network Exec: "So, no conflict? Where's the hook? Drugs? Strife? Hatemongering? Aliens? Explosions? What's going to make Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Wannawatchstuffblowup want to watch this? They can see this stuff on the Discovery channel"

TG Spokesperson: "You're missing the point, this is about one's struggle for acceptance, both by themselves as well as a prejudiced and intolerant world"

Network Exec: "OK, you can go. We'll call you.

*door closes*

Hey Bob, maybe that last one was on to something.... what about that 7 foot tall drag queen from last week, that wanted to have some kind of gameshow to see who can be the bitchest, most over the top caricature of women and have them fight it out, like American Gladiators style? Is 'it' still available? We'll throw in some confessional booth thing like they have on that real world show on MTV, to show how they deal with this junk and biggityBAM! I bet we could make MILLIONS! NO BILLIONS!"

JoAnnDallas · Post by **JoAnnDallas** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:50 am

Well I recorded and watched the first episode of Ru Paul's show. Very interesting. I was surpised when Ru Paul first appeared in DRAB, then later in the show in Drag. The nine contestants included one that was Plus sized. She ended up being the first elliminated. The nine had to make an fashion outfit using gaments from a thrift store and accessories from a Dollar Store. All of the girls except for the one that got elliminated had made their own outfits before. She had not and it was that fact that did her in. She remarked at the end that she was NOT disappointed in being elliminated because she had already beat out thousands of other DQ's.
One of the things they had to do was pose for pictures with two men that were washing a car. Here they were in full Drag, posing, and getting completely wet. Some took in stride, others were visiably upset. I think RuPaul did that to see how thier temperment was. LOL
Looking foward to Monday nights episode.