Preview: RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo

TNG advice columnist, Summer Camp, has some special advice for you re: RuPaul.

Remember RuPaul? The super tall, glamazonian drag queen who had a pop hit in 1992 called, Supermodel? The song capitalized on the zeitgeist of one-name models who could demand $10,000 per day like Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Christy, and Claudia. The song had a few interesting side effects on pop culture. (1) Suddenly, everyone was interested in drag (albeit a watered down, asexual version), (2) RuPaul became a HUGE sensation (remember his/her short-lived talk show?), and (3) far too many people were uttering the catch phrase, "You Better Work!"

Fast forward 17 years. RuPaul is back with a new show on Logo called RuPaul's Drag Race, in which, according to Logo, "nine fiercely talented divas vie for drag stardom as RuPaul (the man), guides the contestants through intense weekly challenges, and RuPaul (the most legendary drag queen in the word) reigns supreme in all judging and eliminations."

It will be interesting to see if this show is popular among the gays. I think there has been a gradual decline in the community's interest in drag during the past 17 years. (I have to admit that my awareness lays more in the drag queen scene and not so much in the drag king scene). It seems that the lack of interest in drag is more pronounced among younger gay men. Though, here in DC, it seems like drag still has a certain appeal for all ages. Miss Adams Morgan. The High Heels Race. Drag shows at Town. The reopening of Ziefeld's/Secret's. CRACK (Yes, I know that is a transparent and shameless plug for the cabaret show that I host, which returns to the stage on Saturday, February 28 at TOWN). All of these drag events are well-attended by a cross section of the DC gay community.

Personally, I still get a kick out of drag. Good drag. Bad drag. Embarrassing drag. I like it all. It's theater. I think drag is still a viable and interesting method of performance art. And I'm also a huge fan of trashy reality TV like ANTM, Project Runway, or Top Chef. So, I'm going to watch RuPaul's new show. I'm secretly hoping that it will be a disaster filled with train wrecks, or should that be tranny-wrecks? [Did I just invent a new word?].

The show premieres today on Logo TV at 10 PM and LogoOnline. In episode #1, "Drag on a Dime," the nine contestants must re-invent their glam drag looks using thrift store clothing and tschotchkes from the 99-cent store. Guest judge Bob Mackie stops by to help RuPaul weed out the drag queen with the least style.

I'll be back later this week with a recap of the episode. Hmm, maybe I should make the weekly recap a regular thing. No promises, cause this drag queen is busy getting ready for CRACK, which is back on stage Saturday, February 28 at TOWN (a second shameless plug...I guess that makes me air-tight?).