Way again in 2009, TV noticed among the best and most influential actuality exhibits hit the airwaves; RuPaul’s Drag Race. It had its first-ever season on Logo TV and was hosted by the “supermodel of the world” RuPaul Charles and altered the tv panorama endlessly. The present has since been lauded as a staple of popular culture.
The present has made fan-favorite queens stars in their very own proper, in addition to inspiring an entire new era to dip their toes into the glamorous world of drag artistry (for higher or worse) and even launched the area of interest style of drag-based competitors to the forefront of actuality TV. Whether you look ahead to vogue, make-up, comedy, or unimaginable lipsync abilities, Drag Race has one thing for everybody. There at the moment are an entire number of exhibits that may cater to probably the most die-hard Drag Race fan, starting from comparable actuality TV competitions to scripted exhibits that deeper discover the lives of drag and gender non-conforming performers and artists, and this checklist is right here to shout out a number of the finest.
1 ‘Pose’ (2018-2021)
Taking place within the Eighties to Nineteen Nineties, Pose is a vibrant love letter to the golden age of ballroom in New York City. It pays homage to the huge array of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ trailblazers amidst the grim panorama of the AIDS epidemic and discrimination. Co-created by Ryan Murphy and starring the skills of Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez: the latter made historical past by changing into the first-ever transgender actor to win a Golden Globe for her work on the present.
The present options one of the best that basic ballroom tradition has to supply; lovely costumes, make-up, and a number of the most spectacular performances because the characters combat their strategy to win trophies for his or her respective homes. Equally glitzy as it’s poignant, Pose is an unimaginable sequence that may be a must-watch for anybody who desires extra LGBTQ+ excellency and historical past.
2 ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’ (2016-)
Dragula is a present like no different. Hosted by horror icons The Boulet Brothers of their signature peroxide-blonde hair and femme-fatale mystique, in addition to establishing their ideas of “drag,” “horror,” “filth,” and “glamour,” Dragula goals to search out “The World’s Best Drag Super-Monster” and it does so in probably the most punk methods attainable.
Each contestant delivers one of the best various and ugly drag via spectacular “ground performances.” In distinction, those that don’t ship one of the best should endure psychological and bodily “extermination challenges” to show they’ve the energy to win the crown. The present only recently launched their “All-Stars” equal, aptly named “Dragula: Titans,” so it is beneficial to atone for the earlier 4 seasons in order that the true marvels of expertise may be extra tremendously appreciated.
3 ‘We’re Here’ (2020-)
Featuring the acquainted and delightful faces of Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka O’Hara of Drag Race fame, We’re Here is an intimate and emotionally stirring actuality present that follows the three queens throughout numerous small cities throughout the USA as they mentor individuals and assist create larger-than-life native drag exhibits. In every episode, they every assist mentor their “drag daughters” by instructing them how you can step outdoors of their consolation zones and embrace the world of drag.
The present is certain to make even probably the most stoic watcher have tears of their eyes, with every interplay the queens share with their respective daughters highlighting the unity shared inside all members of the LGBT+ neighborhood, in addition to allies, and their arduous journeys with self-acceptance, rejection, psychological well being, and extra.
4 ‘Legendary’ (2020-2022)
While sadly one other tragic case of a TV present being canceled nicely earlier than its time, Legendary embodied the very which means of its title via broadcasting the world of ballroom tradition and internet hosting a vogueing competitors that featured a number of the absolute best performances you may ever see. The outfits and make-up are a spotlight as nicely, with every episode following a selected theme that every staff, “homes,” should comply with, much like the ball problem on Drag Race however much more spectacular.
The present was praised by GLAAD for its wonderful illustration of LGBTQ+ artists and included dwelling legends comparable to Leiomy Maldonado, often known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue,” to sit down on the judges’ desk alongside Jameela Jamil, Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion, and Keke Palmer.
5 ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Revue’ (2020)
Another factor so as to add to the expansive checklist of what the COVID-19 pandemic took away from us is RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Revue is a six-part sequence documenting the early days of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Live residency present in Las Vegas that starred a number of the most beloved names from the unique program; Naomi Smalls, Derrick Barry, Kameron Michaels, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Yvie Oddly, and Asia O’Hara.
The TV present was sadly minimize brief following the pandemic in early 2020 and hasn’t come again since, so it seems like the tip for this spin-off. The precise Vegas present remains to be going, nevertheless, so there’s at all times that to stay up for.
6 ‘Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star’ (2019-)
The expertise and artistry of make-up have remained a big element of Drag Race since its inception, with a number of the most memorable seems in your complete present’s run owing an infinite debt to the make-up abilities wanted to turn into the subsequent Drag Race famous person. Glow Up is a present much like Drag Race in that viewers can witness a number of the UK’s most unusual and undiscovered magnificence artists via a contest stuffed with challenges which might be important to the world of make-up.
Glow Up actually does attempt to embrace all sides related to make-up; from portray actors in musical theatre to creating the phantasm of horrific wounds with SFX, the creativity proven is unmissable. The present is at the moment streaming on Netflix and has a brand new season coming quickly, so give it an opportunity the subsequent time you end up scrolling for hours attempting to determine what to observe.
7 ‘Halston’ (2021)
If there’s one thing Ryan Murphy is dependable for, it is permitting trendy and decadent dramas stuffed to the brim with dazzling visuals and costume design to bloom. Halston is a mini-series at the moment on Netflix created by Sharr White and produced by Murphy that follows the lifetime of legendary dressmaker Roy Halston, performed excellently by Ewan McGregor.
The costumes and vogue proven on this sequence are sufficient to influence anybody to offer it a glance, however the introspective have a look at Halston’s life, profession, and challenges helps to make Halston a really compelling watch. It’s about as glitzy as one ought to anticipate in a sequence about vogue, nevertheless it’s simply as fascinating to be taught extra a couple of visionary artist from the previous.
8 ‘Queer Eye’ (2003-2007, 2018-)
It’s just about not possible to search out anybody who hasn’t already seen Queer Eye lately, nevertheless it nonetheless deserves a shout-out. A 2018 reboot of the unique Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, first launched on Bravo TV in 2003, Queer Eye is at the moment streaming on Netflix and options the expertise of the “Fab Five;” meals skilled Antoni, grooming skilled Jonathan, vogue skilled Tan, tradition skilled Karamo, and inside decorator Bobby.
While it may not be as glamorous and indulgent as Drag Race, Queer Eye greater than actually makes up for it via its earnestness, coronary heart, and real moments of human connection that may make anybody somewhat bit teary-eyed. Sure, it is somewhat bit corny typically, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly candy.
9 ‘Dancing Queen’ (2018)
Another actuality TV sequence starring one of the beloved and well-known drag entertainers is Netflix’s Dancing Queen, that includes the incomparable and at all times dazzling Alyssa Edwards and following her life and challenges as a enterprise proprietor and dance trainer in addition to being a world-famous drag queen.
The sequence sadly solely acquired one season, nevertheless it’s stuffed with sufficient of Alyssa’s shining and large persona, in addition to the assorted character traits that made her so liked within the first place, that it stands up as a fantastic introspective profile on such a larger-than-life particular person.
10 ‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)
Created by Russell T Davies, who is generally recognized for his work on the long-lasting sequence Doctor Who, It’s a Sin is one other heartbreaking coming-of-age restricted sequence that depicts the tragedy of the Eighties AIDS epidemic in London.
It’s a Sin is an unimaginable sequence not just for all the nice performances proven by all of the lead actors, who every ship an trustworthy and stirring tribute to those that misplaced their lives combating the AIDS virus. It stays a related and completely shattering piece of LGBTQ+ artwork representing an all too latest historical past that wants extra recognition.