RuPaul's Drag U

RuPaul's Drag U
Title card
Format	Reality
Created by	RuPaul Charles
Directed by	Craig Spirko
Presented by	RuPaul
Judges	Lady Bunny Frank Gatson Jr. (season 1)
Opening theme	"RuPaul's Drag U Theme" by RuPaul
Ending theme	"RuPaul's Drag U Theme" by RuPaul (season 1), "Superstar" by RuPaul (season 2)
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	18
Production
Executive producer(s)	Fenton Bailey Randy Barbato Tom Campbell RuPaul
Producer(s)	World of Wonder
Running time	43 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Logo
Original run	July 19, 2010 (2010-07-19) – present
Chronology
Preceded by	RuPaul's Drag Race
External links
Website

RuPaul's Drag U is an American reality television series. Hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors," Drag U is a spin-off of the series RuPaul's Drag Race. RuPaul's Drag U is produced by World of Wonder, which has created a number of hit series including Tori & Dean: Inn Love, Million Dollar Listing, and Fantasia for Real.^[1]

Format

In each episode of RuPaul's Drag U three women are given drag makeovers and taught to access their "inner divas".^[2] Each are judged and evaluated on her "Drag Point Average", or "DPA":^[3] 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.

The theme song, "RuPaul's Drag U Theme", is scheduled for release in the summer of 2011. Two remixes have been released on RuPaul's remix album SuperGlam DQ(EP).

Cast

Contestants from RuPaul's Drag Race appear on RuPaul's Drag U as "professors".

The professors for season 1 were:^[4]

Professor	RuPaul's Drag Race Season	Real Name	Hometown	Appearances
Jujubee	Season 2, 3rd Place	Airline Inthyrath	Boston, MA	4
Morgan McMichaels	Season 2, 8th place	Thomas Hawkins	Mira Loma, CA	3
Ongina	Season 1, 5th Place	Ryan Ong Palao[5]	Los Angeles, CA	3
Pandora Boxx	Season 2, 5th Place & Miss Congeniality	Michael Steck	Rochester, NY	4
Raven	Season 2, 2nd Place !Season 2, Runner-Up	David Petruschin	Riverside, CA	4
Shannel	Season 1, 4th Place	Bryan Watkins	Seattle, WA	4
Tammie Brown	Season 1, 8th Place	Keith Glen Schubert[6]	Los Angeles, CA	1
Nina Flowers	Season 1, 2nd Place !Season 1, Runner-Up & Miss Congeniality	Jorge Flores	Bayamón, PR	1

The professors for season 2 were:

Professor	RuPaul's Drag Race Season	Real Name	Hometown	Appearances
Jujubee	Season 2, 3rd Place	Airline Inthyrath	Boston, MA	4
Morgan McMichaels	Season 2, 8th place	Thomas Hawkins	Mira Loma, CA	2
Ongina	Season 1, 5th Place	Ryan Ong Palao[5]	Los Angeles, CA	2
Pandora Boxx	Season 2, 5th Place & Miss Congeniality	Michael Steck	Rochester, NY	2
Raven	Season 2, 2nd Place !Season 2, Runner-Up	David Petruschin	Riverside, CA	5
Shannel	Season 1, 4th Place	Bryan Watkins	Seattle, WA	4
BeBe Zahara Benet	Season 1, 1st Place !Season 1, Winner	Nea Marshall Kudi	Minneapolis, MN	2
Carmen Carrera	Season 3, 5th Place	Christopher Roman	Elmwood Park, NJ	2
Manila Luzon	Season 3, 2nd Place !Season 3, Runner-Up	Karl Westerberg	New York, NY	3
Mariah	Season 3, 9th Place	Elijah Kelly	Atlanta, GA	3
Tyra Sanchez	Season 2, 1st Place !Season 2, Winner	James Ross	Orlando, FL	1

Episodes

Season 1

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 Drag 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. Shannel was the professor with the number of most wins this season.

Episode 1: Tomboy Meets Girl

First aired July 19, 2010

• Contestants: Shaya (Saline Dijon), Reyna (Candy Graham), Linda (Paya La Renta)
• Professors:Ongina, Jujubee, Raven
• Lip synch song: "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
• Guest judge: Mia Tyler
• Winner: Shaya (Saline Dijon)
• Winner's Professor: Ongina

Episode 2: Dateless Divas

First aired July 26, 2010

• Contestants: Lenae (Honey Boom), Pegah (Electra 21), Debbie (Moxy Mayhem)
• Professors: Raven, Nina Flowers, Morgan McMichaels
• Lip synch song: "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
• Guest judge: Taylor Dayne
• Winner: Lenae (Honey Boom)
• Winner's Professor: Raven

Episode 3: Blue Collar, Pink Pumps

First aired August 2, 2010

• Contestants: Shannon (Kiki Kardashian), Jules (Kitty Kardashian), Laura (Kornisha Kardashian)
• Professors: Ongina, Pandora Boxx, Shannel
• Lip synch song: "No One Else on Earth" by Wynonna Judd
• Guest judge: Kris Jenner
• Winner: Laura (Kornisha Kardashian)
• Winner's Professor: Shannel

Episode 4: Super Sisters

First aired August 9, 2010

• Contestants: Renae (Cupcake), Renetta (Starrbooty), Rozy (Bianca Dinkins) — RuPaul's real sisters
• Professors: Shannel, Jujubee, Raven
• Lip synch song: "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
• Guest judge: Kelly Osbourne
• Winner: Renae (Cupcake)
• Winner's Professor: Shannel

Episode 5: Plump & Circumstance

First aired August 23, 2010

• Contestants: Christine (Christina Rena), Antoinette (Terri Snatcher), Minlee (Coco Versace)
• Professors: Shannel, Jujubee, Pandora Boxx
• Lip synch song: "Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn
• Guest judge: Jackée Harry
• Winner: Minlee (Coco Versace)
• Winner's Professor: Pandora Boxx

Episode 6: Moms on the Verge

First aired August 30, 2010

• Contestants: Janet (Dee Dee Tee), April (Sarah Tonin), Angela (Damita Jo Mama)
• Professors: Pandora Boxx, Shannel, Morgan McMichaels
• Lip synch song: "Baby Mama" by Fantasia Barrino
• Guest judge: Debi Mazar
• Winner: Angela (Damita Jo Mama)
• Winner's Professor: Morgan McMichaels

Episode 7: Mother vs. Daughters

First aired September 13, 2010

• Contestants: Tasha (Thunderella), Brandy (Jennasequa), Connie (Beverly Hills)
• Professors: Ongina, Tammie Brown, Morgan McMichaels
• Lip synch song: "Survivor" by Destiny's Child
• Guest judge: Meredith Baxter
• Winner: Brandy (Jennasequa)
• Winner's Professor: Tammie Brown

Episode 8: A Star Is Born Again

Season Finale

First aired September 20, 2010

• Contestants: Charlene Tilton (Lisa Mercedes), Dawn Wells (Chickadee), Erin Murphy (Aurora Borealis)
• Professors: Jujubee, Raven, Pandora Boxx
• Lip synch song: "RuPaul's Drag U Theme" by RuPaul
• Guest judge: Chaka Khan
• Winner: Charlene Tilton (Lisa Mercedes)
• Winner's Professor: Jujubee

Season 2

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 $3,166.17 USD. 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. Raven broke Shannel's record as professor with the most wins by scoring three wins.

Episode 1: Bringing Sexy Back

First aired June 20, 2011

• Contestants: Lisa (Rai'Zon De Rossi), Rhonda (Summer Night), Denise (Cha Cha Mizrahi)
• Professors: Shannel, Raven, Manila Luzon
• Lady Lesson: How to leave a sexy voicemail message
• Drag Tip: Uses for old pantyhose (presented by Jujubee)
• Dean of Dance: Andre Fuentes
• Lip synch song: "Right Back Where We Started From" by Maxine Nightingale
• Word: Gherkin
• Guest judge: Beverly Johnson
• Winner: Lisa (Rai'Zon De Rossi)
• Winner's Professor: Shannel

Episode 2: Suddenly Single

First aired June 27, 2011

• Contestants: Marcia (Lori Fellini), Annie (Gogo West), Kris (Caprice Classic)
• Professors: Shannel, Ongina, Manila Luzon
• Lady Lesson: How to take a sexy picture for an online dating profile
• Drag Tip: How to use and store nail polish (presented by Carmen Carrera)
• Dean of Dance: Andre Fuentes
• Lip synch song: "Call Me" by Blondie
• Word: Escándalo
• Guest judges: Ana Ortiz, Alec Mapa
• Winner: Kris (Caprice Classic)
• Winner's Professor: Manila Luzon

Episode 3: Lesbians Gone Wild

First aired July 11, 2011

• Contestants: Julie Goldman (Calamity), Skyler Cooper (Scorpio), AJ Stacy (Thunder)
• Professors: Raven, Ongina, Jujubee
• Lady Lesson: How to find the perfect bra size
• Drag Tip: Uses for hairspray (presented by Pandora Boxx)
• Dean of Dance: Tricia Miranda
• Lip synch song: "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child
• Word: Mexicatessen
• Guest judges: Dot Jones
• Winner: AJ (Thunder)
• Winner's Professor:raven

Episode 4: Like a Virgin

First aired July 18, 2011

• Contestants: Megan (Smokey St. James), Sally (Jezebel Fever), Christina (Candy Wrapper)
• Professors: Mariah, Jujubee, Raven
• Lady Lesson: How to lady-scape (groom bikini area)
• Drag Tip: Uses for petroleum jelly (presented by Morgan McMichaels)
• Dean of Dance: Andre Fuentes
• Lip synch song: "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
• Word: "Entertaintment" (sic)
• Guest judge: Molly Ringwald
• Winner: Megan (Smokey St. James)
• Winner's Professor: Mariah

Episode 5: Naughty Nurses

First aired July 25, 2011

• Contestants: Lanell (Angel Esprit), Kim (Nikki Vixen), Hope (Tawny Foxx)
• Professors: Jujubee, Mariah, Shannel
• Lady Lesson: How to dress sexy in undergarments
• Drag Tip: Uses for a felt tip marker (presented by Raven)
• Dean of Dance: Candis Cayne
• Lip synch song: "No Scrubs" by TLC
• Word: Armpit
• Guest judge: Charo
• Winner: Lanell (Angel Esprit)
• Winner's Professor: Jujubee

Episode 6: Nominated by Loved Ones

First aired August 1, 2011

• Contestants: Liz (Britney Ciccone), Latonya (Trés Jolie), Randi (Vanessa Du Jour)
• Professors: Bebe Zahara Benet, Pandora Boxx, Mariah
• Lady Lesson: How to exercise by performing "drag diva" yoga
• Dean of Dance: Jamal Sims
• Drag Tip: Uses for milk of magnesia (presented by Shannel; demonstrated by Manila Luzon)
• Lip synch song: "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Gloria Gaynor
• Word: Kumquat
• Guest judge: Carol Leifer
• Winner: Latonya (Trés Jolie)
• Winner's Professor: Mariah

Episode 7: Mama Mia, I Need Help!

First aired August 8, 2011

• Contestants: Michele (Saucy Sausalito), Anna (Portia Potrero), Alicia (Bianca Baybridge)
• Professors: Pandora Boxx, Morgan McMichaels, Bebe Zahara Benet
• Lady Lesson: How to create a Sexy Apron
• Dean of Dance: Jamal Sims
• Drag Tip: How to conceal personal effects in your outfit, thus eliminating carrying a pocketbook (presented by Jujubee)
• Lip synch song: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar
• Word: Pooch
• Guest judge: Carnie Wilson
• Winner: Michele (Sassy Sausalito)
• Winner's Professor: Pandora Boxx

Episode 8: A Family That Drags Together

First aired August 15, 2011

• Contestants: Deshawna [Raven's mother] (Ladyhawke), Susan [Jujubee's sister] (Falconetta), Rachel [Manila Luzon's sister] (Lark St. Laurent)
• Professors: Raven, Jujubee, Manila Luzon
• Lady Lesson: How to create an hourglass figure with padding
• Drag Tip: Uses for cucumbers (presented by Ongina)
• Dean of Dance: Tricia Miranda
• Lip synch song: "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer
• Word: Fluffernutter
• Guest judge: Shirley Jones
• Winner: Ladyhawke
• Winner's Professor: Raven

Episode 9: Looking For A New Job

First aired August 22, 2011

• Contestants: Deena Jacobs (Shalamar), Rachael (Tasty Rain), Betsy (Mahjong)
• Professors: Tyra Sanchez, Carmen Carrera, Raven
• Lady Lesson: How to make relaxing face masks out of food products.
• Drag Tip: Useful items to have in your purse to avoid the walk of shame (presented by Manila Luzon)
• Dean of Dance: Tricia Miranda
• Lip synch song: "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton
• Word: Dictation
• Guest judge: Raven-Symoné
• Winner: Mahjong (Betsy)
• Winner's Professor: Raven

Episode 10: 80's Ladies

Season Finale

First aired August 29, 2011

• Contestants: Jane Wiedlin (Chiffon Brulé), Stacey Q (Savannah), Downtown Julie Brown (Donatella Mewhatodo)
• Professors: Carmen Carrera, Morgan McMichaels, Shannel
• Lady Lesson: How to let loose with Lady Bunny's favorite things.
• Drag Tip: How to use false eyelashes (presented by Raven; demonstrated on Jujubee)
• Dean of Dance: Toni Basil
• Lip synch song: "Superstar" by RuPaul
• Word: Moist
• Guest judge: Lynda Carter
• Winner: Donatella Mewhatodo
• Winner's Professor: Shannel

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. 12 Jan 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/logo-greenlights-four-new-series-for-2010-including-the-robert-verdi-show-starring-robert-verdi-rupauls-drag-u-the-arrangement-and-the-already-notorious-project-kept-81221652.html. Retrieved 18 Match 2010. 
2. ^ "Facebook Rupaul's Drag U". 12 Apr 2010. http://www.facebook.com/RuPaulsDragU?v=info. Retrieved 12 Apr 2010. 
3. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (26 Feb 2010). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' spinoff: Class is in session". Los Angeles Times. Eddy W. Hartenstein. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/02/rupauls-drag-race-spinoff-class-is-in-session.html. Retrieved 27 Apr 2010. 
4. ^ Polly, John. "Drag Race Daily: Start Studying! RuPaul's Drag U Will be in Session this Summer. Watch a Preview". NewNowNext on Logo. http://www.newnownext.com/2010/04/26/drag-race-daily-start-studying-rupauls-drag-u-will-be-in-session-this-summer-watch-a-preview/. Retrieved 23 May 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Ryan aka Ongina". Logo Online. http://www.logoonline.com/video/misc/335504/ryan-aka-ongina.jhtml?id=1603481. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 
6. ^ "Keith aka Tammie Brown". Logo Online. http://www.logoonline.com/video/misc/335507/keith-aka-tammie-brown.jhtml?id=1603481. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 

External links

• Official site
• RuPaul's Drag U at the Internet Movie Database
• RuPaul's Drag U on Twitter