Those of you reality TV lovers who've been feeling hunger pains of late without your America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, get ready for a hearty meal because Rupaul's Drag Race is on the scene! Promising to bring "Realness back to reality television" Ru doesn't disappoint. The basic conceit: Nine drag superstars come together to battle it out for $20,000, the cover and a spread in Paper Magazine, an exclusive global ad for EyeOptics and taken on a tour of every gay pride event this summer as Absolut Vodka's spokesface. Not bad considering that most of these queens have just been hoofing around their local drag revue in musty clubs working hard for a few dollar bills and some love.
RuPaul knows who his audience is and spends the first portion of every show out of drag doing his best Tim Gunn 'making it work' in a suit and glasses then switches back to Drag for the judging and manages to outbitch (and dress) Tyra Banks herself. The challenges are fun and exciting: photoshoots, making a complete outfit out of thrift and dollar store items, pairing up the ladies to work together as a girl group (hard for such individual talents) and overall, be fierce (a word I thought I'd gotten tired of but am more excited about when used in its proper context).
The real stars of the show are, of course, the girls and they are a hot little bunch. I'm sticking my neck out by claiming favorite for Denver's own drag baby contestant Nina Flowers and if you don't know this sassy bitch who performs every Sunday at Charlie's as part of their VIVID revue you need some education via this link right HERE. I say she'll take the crown of Ru's show but with such awesome judges as ANTM stylist Santino and even Bob Mackie (for God's sake!) it's hard to handicap the vote.
I'm more excited by this show over the next cycle of Top Model because whereas Tyra's show is just looking for a pretty face and girls that can "smile with their eyes", Ru is finding the cream of the crop of MEN that have learned to run in stilettos AND pull together tight make-up, outfits, and performance into one sassy package. Something that actually takes talent, not just being in the right place at the right time. One episode down and eight more to go. You can catch RuPaul's Drag Race Mondays at 9pm on the Logo channel. If you don't get Logo you can watch each week's episode in full via this link right HERE. I give the show two snaps up and a "You BETTER work!".
