RuPaul's Drag U

RuPaul's Drag U
Genre Reality competition
Presented by RuPaul
Judges Lady Bunny
Frank Gatson Jr.
(season 1)
Theme music composer RuPaul
Opening theme "RuPaul's Drag U" theme
Ending theme "RuPaul's Drag U" theme
(Season 1)
"Superstar"
(Seasons 2-3)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Brent Zacky
  • Fenton Bailey
  • Gina Rubinstein
  • Pamela Post
  • Randy Barbato
  • RuPaul Charles
  • Tom Campbell
Camera setup Multiple
Running time 42 minutes
Production company(s) World of Wonder
Release
Original network Logo TV
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original release July 19, 2010 (2010-07-19) – August 6, 2012 (2012-08-06)
Chronology
Related shows RuPaul's Drag Race
External links
Website

RuPaul's Drag U (as in "Drag University") was an American reality television series that debuted July 19, 2010, on Logo TV. Its final episode aired in August 2012. It was hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors". Drag U was a spin-off of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1] RuPaul confirmed on May 8, 2013 via Twitter that the series had been cancelled.[2]

Format

In each episode of RuPaul's Drag U three women are given drag makeovers and taught to access their "inner divas".[3] Each of these faux queens is judged and evaluated on her "Drag Point Average" (DPA):[4] Drag transformation, Performance and Attitude adjustment. The contestant with the highest DPA wins. RuPaul is the "President" of Drag U. Unlike in RuPaul's Drag Race, he does not appear in drag. Regular judges in season one were "Dean of Drag" Lady Bunny and "Dean of Dance" Frank Gatson, Jr.. For season two, Lady Bunny returned as "Dean of Drag", and various choreographers rotated throughout the season as "Deans of Dance". Each episode features one celebrity guest judge, who is usually female.

Cast

Contestants from RuPaul's Drag Race appear on RuPaul's Drag U as professors.[5]

Professors on RuPaul's Drag U
Professors RuPaul's Drag Race Season Season
1 2 3
Raven
Season 2
(Runner-Up)
 Main
Jujubee
Season 2
(3rd Place)
 Main
Shannel
Season 1
(4th Place)
 Main
Morgan McMichaels
Season 2
(8th Place)
 Main
Ongina
Season 1
(5th Place)
 Main
Tammie Brown
Season 1
(8th Place)
 Main
Nina Flowers
Season 1
(Runner-Up & Miss Congeniality)
 Main
Manila Luzon
Season 3
(Runner Up)
 Main
Pandora Boxx
Season 2
(5th Place & Miss Congeniality)
 Main
Mariah
Season 3
(9th Place)
 Main
BeBe Zahara Benet
Season 1
(Winner)
Main
Carmen Carrera
Season 3
(5th Place)
 Main
Tyra Sanchez
Season 2
(Winner)
 Main
Latrice Royale
Season 4
(4th Place & Miss Congeniality)
 Main
Chad Michaels
Season 4
(Runner-Up)
 Main
Raja
Season 3
(Winner)
 Main
Alexis Mateo
Season 3
(3rd Place)
 Main
Delta Work
Season 3
(7th Place)
 Main
Sharon Needles
Season 4
(Winner)
 Main
Willam
Season 4
(7th Place)
 Main

Seasons

Season 1 (2010)

The episodes start with RuPaul introducing three "students" to their assigned drag professors for each episode. The students meet RuPaul, who explains the competition, and then asks them to "walk this way" to the Drag Lab. The students then meet their professors, who ask them some intimate questions and try to find out what has brought them to Drag U. RuPaul presents each student with their "Dragulator" image and name, and lets the students and professors start working on their images. Each episode includes an "extra credit" game in which students can earn a special prize. They then take part in a dance lesson with the Dean Of Dance to learn the choreography for their performance. On "Draguation Day", the women strut their stuff on the runway, perform their designated song and dance routine, and get graded by the judges on the DPA. The student with the highest DPA wins and is presented with a diploma and feather boa from her drag professor, performing the show's theme song.

Season 2 (2011)

When season 2 was green lit, an open casting call for women in the southern California area was announced through Facebook. Filming began in January 2011 and changes were made for the new season. The "top draguates" now win prizes, which includes a cash prize of around US$3,166.17. The former extra credit has been eliminated and have been replaced with "Lady Lessons", taught personally by Lady Bunny. The ladies attend a dance class taught by new Deans of Dance and then proceed to the newly renovated drag lab, where the women work with their drag professors on their new image. A new segment, called "Drag Tips" presented by a Drag professor revealing a few drag queen secrets. Another segment, "A Word from RuPaul", shows RuPaul at his desk giving a deadpan delivery of a single amusing word. The next day, "Draguation Day", has each professor introducing their student to friends and family. The ladies strut on the runway and perform for the audience. Students no longer receive letter grades but instead are sent backstage to the green room as the judges deliberate and decide on a winner. RuPaul is present, but does not influence the vote nor take part in it. RuPaul announces the winner and the winner's professor gives her her diploma and a feather boa in the university's colors of purple and orange.

Season 3 (2012)

Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag U began airing in June 2012 on the logo network. Season 3 featured returning professors as well as newcomers from seasons three and four of RuPaul's Drag Race. In the third season of Drag U, RuPaul's segment "A Word from RuPaul" was altered to include definitions of the word. "Drag Tips" continued, featuring a new professor each week, and Lady Bunny continued to host "Lady Lessons".

References

  1. ↑ "Logo Greenlights Four New Series for 2010 Including 'The Robert Verdi Show Starring Robert Verdi,' 'RuPaul's Drag U,' 'The Arrangement' and the Already Notorious Project 'Kept'". PRNewswire. January 12, 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Charles, RuPaul (May 8, 2013). "'Drag U has been cancelled'". Twitter. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Facebook Rupaul's Drag U". April 12, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  4. ↑ Fernandez, Maria Elena (February 26, 2010). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' spinoff: Class is in session". Los Angeles Times. Eddy W. Hartenstein. Retrieved April 27, 2010. External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ↑ Polly, John. "Drag Race Daily: Start Studying! RuPaul's Drag U Will be in Session this Summer. Watch a Preview". NewNowNext on Logo. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
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