Hall continues, “They truly get how to create a brand. How to create a look. How to create something that’s iconic. How to create a catch-phrase, and I think it’s really awesome that not only is Drag Race teaching people how to be greater at their craft, but it’s also teaching them how to better entrepreneurs and business people.”
The former “Kinky Boots” on Broadway star also reveals that unlike other competition shows the contestants always rehearse on stage and never in a formal rehearsal room with mirrors. In fact, they often don’t know how the performance came off until an episode airs months later. Hall admits that “makes our job a little more difficult, because we have to try to tell them everything that doesn’t look the way they might think that it’s looking. Or, something that they’re doing doesn’t translate well on camera. It’s my job, and my assistant’s job, to make sure that they really, fully understand that. To give each one of them the same amount of ammunition to win the challenge. My goal is always to make them look so good, that the judges on the panel have a difficult time deciding who they will send home, if anyone.”
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RuPaul’s longtime co-host and currently the longest tenured judge on “Drag Race,” Michelle Visage has been busy since I stopped by her dressing room for some tea on season 10 last fall. She’s hosted a touring “Christmas Queens” concert series, was a judge on the inaugural season of “Ireland’s Got Talent” and popped all over Europe with “Drag Race” alumni on the popular “Werq the World” tour. Even with a hefty embargo, Visage was certainly willing to give her opinion on the top four.
“Eureka had a journey. It wasn’t an easy one for her,” Visage said. “She didn’t coast through. She fell a few times. It’s like a success story for Eureka. I think Kameron fought really hard to get in the top four, harder than all of them. Aquaria is adorable, fashion-forward, like [season seven winner] Violet Chachki, kind of cut from the same mold except their different personalities . Who’s the fourth one? Asia. God, I love Asia. Asia’s our pageant queen who is a sweetheart from what I can tell. Again, I don’t know her. She’s had her ups and downs, too. I think that it’s a very fitting four.”
Visage reiterates that none of the judges get to see what’s going on in the werq room or when “Untucked” is being filmed. That leads to a lot of discovery and surprise when she watches the eventual broadcasts.
“’Untucked’ is more of who they really are. I go, ‘Oh, ooh, okay. I didn’t know she was salty or I didn’t know…,’” Visage says. “You don’t know that about that. Same thing with this crew. I met Eureka three times maybe between season nine and 10, because I’d been working non stop. She’s been lovely. But again, queens are lovely to me because, A, they think I’m going to get them on the show, and this is no bullshit, or, B, they love what I do and, you know? So, you never really know who’s being nice to you authentically. I never had an issue with Eureka. She’s been nothing but lovely, and I feel authentic. So, there’s that.”
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The “big girl” of the season, Eureka has been one of show’s more intriguing storylines. Having participated in five episodes before departing a year ago this season’s second Tennessee queen had something of a, um, leg up on the rest of the competition. Even if its been a bumpy ride to get there.
“I think she’s the first queen that we’ve brought back that’s done as well, obviously,” Executive Producer Tom Campbell says. “It was a unique circumstance because she hurt herself, but you’ll see her ride. It was not an easy re-entry, but she has survived, which is good. It’s really good.”
At the time Campbell said the production had not decided what format they would use for the finale except, like season nine, it would probably involve some lip syncing. And he was certainly prepared for all four to move forward to the finale.
“Last year, when we had Shea, Peppermint, Trinity and Sasha in the top they all did so well that no one was sent home,” Campbell says. “So, I’m crossing my fingers that, that will happen again this year, because I think that it’s a really cool challenge for me to see them all be so successful.”
Campbell continues, “And we said, ‘Don’t mention Trump [in your lyrics] because we’re hoping by the time this airs he won’t be in office.’ So that’s the positive energy we’re putting into this.”
That may have been wishful thinking, but he notes that selecting “American” as the remix track served a purpose.
“The fact that we’re doing American as the finale is all about, you know, reclaiming the country that we love,” Campbell says. “You know, trying to unite people. We put a positive spin on it. It hasn’t soured our show.”
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It feels like it’s been a lifetime since that visit. The production aired what became a controversial “All Stars 3” season prior to season 10 which still has fans flustered, Trump is still in office, RuPaul has an original Netflix dramatic series on the way (“AJ and the Queen”) and they’ve already filmed the grand finale.
Oh, wait. You hadn’t heard? Well, don’t expect any spoilers here. I mean, this writer kept quiet on the top four of the season for close to a year. Is it as gagworthy as the previous year’s? There were no rose petals this time, but you’ll never forget it. We will add this, however, if there was an episode that might push “Drag Race” to a Reality-Competition Series Emmy win it’s going to be that one.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” episode 12 airs tonight on VH1. America’s next drag superstar will be crowned when the finale airs on Thursday, June 28 also on VH1.
