Because RuPaul selected two black winners on the first two seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, some toolbags are accusing him of racism? And if he selected two white winners in a row, that would’ve been, what, normal? Please.
Say what you will about Bebe Zahara Benet and Tyra Sanchez — namely, that one is leaps and bounds classier than the other — but if you’re going to raise the issue of racism, go suck a dick. An argument as ill-founded as “RuPaul is a racist” requires as cheap a rebuttal as that. These queens were fantastic, and they won on their own merits (and ability to make good television).
W.
RuPaul Rocks! And wouldn’t you know it, Ru’s new dance remix album, Drag Race, is now available on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/drag-race/id361093827
Ronbolina
My question was why didn’t he select the best drag queen? If I were going to invite any one of them to host an event, Pandora Boxx is hands-down my choice. As she also won the viewers choice – it seems that the public is with me also.
Is this racism? No, RuPaul simply wants someone like herself. that’s not racism, it’s pure stupidity.
Pandora Boxx – you are the viewer’s choice and the most talented!
t in cali
RuPaul obviously wanted Tyra from the beginning. All of her laziness, lack of work ethic, lack of manners, lack of class and her horrible attitude were never questioned. The fact that the only good thing about her is her ‘look’, proves that the show is not looking for the Next Drag Superstar but someone that Ru feels is most like her.
Tyra looks great. But she has no personality, charm, wit or humor. So basically i guess if you want to see some bad Beyonce lip syncing and a fierce look go for Tyra. If you actually want to be entertained, any of the others will do.
And can anyone actually prove that RuPaul didn’t purposefully pick black winners? Considering the odds and percentages, plus the lack of any stardom from Tyra, it looks awfully suspect.
Fitz
I don’t think it was racism, it was probably more of thinking with your dick (which we have all done). But tyra? blech. Would you really go to an event MCd by her?
Aaron
“Go suck a dick?”
Frozen North
Who the hell wrote this article? This isn’t journalism in any way shape or form, it’s an editorial. And frankly, it’s a piece of crap.
Go rant on craigslist, amateur. Let us make up our own minds on what does and doesn’t have merit.
kityglitr
@t in cali: I take just a tidbit of offense when you say Tyra has no class. She has admitted she comes from a disadvantaged background and was sleeping on her drag mother’s floor/sofa. Class is NOT the issue. Pandora Boxx is funny, personable, and all around awesome, but I wouldn’t stand up and say she’s a “classy” drag queen. Honestly, I only think that fits for Sahara Davenport, Shangela, and Juju.
Darling Nikki
Umm, who made that claim of racism?
In the first season Bebe was one of the better queens. I was rooting for Nina Flowers. Bebe’s win wasn’t unmerited. Bebe has class and is funny. She also has different looks and can actually have opinions and thoughts. She’s not a pure pin-up like say a Rebecca Glasscock who lasted so long because she’s “pretty”.
Tyra and Tati lasted as long because they’re “pretty”. JuJu B. being so similar in style to Bebe seemed like the odds on favorite until you realize that Tyrant was never in the bottom two and the LOGO commerical for DRAG U gave away the winner by the auspicious absence of both Bebe and Tyrant.
The only claims I’ve seen is that her definition of a drag queen is that of a female impersonator.
Anyone watching the shows know that Ongina and now Pandora Boxx are the true stars of their respective seasons.
John
The winner of the first season should not have won by any stretch. She was the worst. Ugly as sin poor thing.
eyesiq
Bebe deserved to win the first season and Tyra only BARELY beat Raven.
When Tyra was crowned I though, “hmm wonder if RuPaul-” and then I stopped myself and for got what just came out of my mouth because I remembered that I had more than 5 brain cells.
t in cali
@kityglitr: I was saying that in how Tyra acted with the other contestants.
And i believe, besides Raven, most of the contestants acted with class towards each other
Cam
Look,
Do I think RuPaul is a racist? Doubtful
Do I think RuPaul has a very biased take on picking the winners of the show? ABSOLUTLY.
You could see it in Season one. Rupal LOVED Rebecca. Rebecca had no talant, and actually wore clothes much worse than other queens who got attacked for it. She had no presense, but Ru thought she was “Pretty”. The ONLY reason Rebecca didn’t win is that the Blogs were going crazy on calling Ru out for the obvious bias. Should Bebe have won? Meh, not sure, she was good, but we’ve all seen what she does 100 times before. I think that if you are going by pure performance, Ongina, Nina, and Shannel were as good, but Bebe was a valid pic unlike Tyra. Not to mention that Ru has a COMPLETE bias against ANY queen that does anything funny or different (The one last year that went for the whole Bette Davis Thing)
This year Ru’s bias was clear, even in the way she acted around Tyra, the way she did her scene with Tyra, Ru was 10 times more animated in the final acting scene than he was with the other girls.
The fact is, Ru only wants female impersonators, not performers. She isn’t racist, but her bias really does mess up the show.
Lanjier
There is a lot of racism and class-ism surrounding criticism of Tyra. She deserved to win that competition.
I like the humor aspect of drag much more than the judge’s do. I would have voted for Pandora. But their criteria was more concerned with choosing a pretty female illusionist with style and class. Tyra outshone all of them — easily. Who never missed when it came to her dress or costumes? She has that three-outfit thing in the southern competition, she had that giant 1940’s hair and bouquet of flowers in the wedding competition. She was very intelligent, funny and sophisticated. For a guy in the hood, she understood women’s fashion the best.
She admired Beyonce, but had unique looks in the competition that were often nothing like Beyonce.
I am pink-faced as they come, and hate false claims of racism. This one is real. She showed fashion and style education, wit and color sense, and was very decent to the other contestants as she became more socially adept. Tyra is very young, remember. All kids need to learn, and boy did she learn.
Also, in the reunion show she asked the public for their understanding and their prayers for him and his son. Does anyone not want to help a young gay person asking for help? Anyone?
t in cali
@Lanjier:
as RuPaul said herself, this ain’t a home for girls
Tyra is very one dimensional. I saw no intelligence, humor or sophistication please point out the times that happened, i must’ve missed 1/2 the season. And backstage she was mean, nasty, childish, immature and counter productive.
And i think the only person who can say if it was race related or not is Ms. RuPaul. Surely not you and your ‘pink face’.
Lanjier
T in Cali:
Tyra was funny, intelligent and multi-dimensional. Tyra wrote “Santino” on one of her shopping bags. Santino is an aspiring designer. She had those two hysterical poofie 1940’s hairdo’s: one with the brown dress making her look like a glam, black version of Cher, and the other with the over-the-top wedding dress. She had great one-liners when she was before the judges, making them laugh. She was the only contestant to turn one of her outfits into three looks, none of the others had the brains to turn that out — and it would have been easy to do. She showed some hips and curves and legs. Where was Raven’s leg work? Or Morgan’s? Morgan even bragged he never used padding. A total stick, but no padding. An as much as I loved Pandora, she never tried to stretch into something more sexy, or more away from camp a little. Tyra did more than just walk down the runway — she made a little act. She would lift up her dress and spin around then do something else. It was choreographed, not a stroll in the graveyard like that vampire chick Raven.
No. Tyra was the clear winner.
Lanjier
Remember, it was a competition. Tyra pulled it out every time with NO FAILS. All of the others had a stumble. Tyra said in the reunion show she was constantly thinking what to do to make the next challenge better and unique. And she did that. You know, when you get a ten out of ten right on a test, that is a perfect score. She got a fuckin’ A.
Cam
No. 13 · Lanjier
There is a lot of racism and class-ism surrounding criticism of Tyra. She deserved to win that competition.
__________________________
NO, that isn’t the case, a HUGE part of being a drag superstar is being able to host an event, to engage the audience etc… Tyra does not have the speaking ability to do this. She is not somebody who can bring the audience to their feet, or better, yet, up the tips for themselves and the other performers by being engaging.
Having outfits is one facet of Drag. But any queen with money or sewing talant can have outfits. This wasn’t “RuPauls Dress Designer” this was RuPauls Drag Race. If you are going on pure outfiting, then Shannel should have won last year hands down. Nobody is going to waste money going to a drag show hosted by a queen who can’t talk outside of a monotone no matter how pretty her dress is. The fact is, a great drag queen should be able to rock the stage in a heafty bag and boxes on her feet.
Your accusastions of racism just because people here didn’t like Tyra are a sad defense. Oh I see, nobody here can question Tyra’s win because then they must be racists. How ridiculous.
Lanjier
@Cam
When people say Tyra was not intelligent and lazy, that is racism. She won because she was smarter and harder-working than the others. She may have been other things too, but she did talk to and engage the judges. She was funny. Merle said she was very intelligent, and I saw how much the judges liked her. I liked her on stage too. About the monotone, she was shy because she is still young, shy, and was talking to the judges not as part of her performance. All kids talk in that monotone. I sure if it was part of the act she would find something interesting and fabulous to say. Remember when she was selling cherry pie? She jumped up on the lamp post and started yelling wonderful, interesting things. Much more interesting that the others.
Lanjier
Tyra was always thinking thinking thinking, what can I do to top the others, and she always did. Calling her lazy and stupid makes no sense whatsoever. Next they will want her to produce her birth certificate.
Cam
No. 18 · Lanjier
@Cam
When people say Tyra was not intelligent and lazy, that is racism. She won because she was smarter and harder-working than the others. She
________________
First of all, you didn’t say that, you said that there was racism and classism surounding criticism of Tyra. You never qualified it. however, lets take you at your word that that is what you meant.
Let me ask you this. What if Tyra really wasn’t intelligent, and really was lazy? You are saying that there is no way to point that out without being racist.
Remeber one of the complaints by the others on the show…including other drag queens that were not white, was that she just sat around not doing anything during the group test etc… What you sound like, with your comments about your “Pink” face, is somebody so eager to prove that you aren’t racist that you are finding racism in ANY comment that is unflattering about ANY person of color.
Your comment of “Merele said she was intelligent” is beyond ridiculous…you mean Merle, the person that owes RuPaul for her very job? That Merle?
Your problem is, that if we agree with you, then we have to assume that every person posting on here who did not think Tyra should win is white and a racist. It’s just sad that you can’t accept the fact that people can decide who they like for reasons other than race, what a shocking thought!
Qjersey
Tyra didn’t serve ANYTHING you couldn’t see any see at a Ball at 3 am. Ru seems to love the house and ball queens (e.g, “realness”) and seems to forget that he himself made his career not by being pretty, but by being talented and funny.
Next season should definitely include “Emcee” challenges!!! Cause we all know, the best queens are funny as hell on the mic.
Ogre Magi
I take less issue with Tyra Sanchez winning than I do Bebe Zahara Benet winning. Tyra may have been a bitch,but she had fire.Bebe had a very blah personality. I think she was trying to act like a demure French woman “Of a certain age” and that is not what you want in a drag queen. You want someone with some pizazz!
Lanjier
QJersey:
They should include “working the crowd” in the competition, that would have been interesting. I want to see humor valued.
Cam:
Tyra was not lazy, and none of the girls said she was a lazy contestant. Some of the girls didn’t like her qualities as a team leader. She didn’t lead well, I don’t think Tyra had developed leadership skills. She was falling asleep on the couch and someone called her lazy, but she was not lazy. As she said herself, she work very hard, and you could see that in her extraordinary productivity. Her hard work paid off. And she was clever and smart, I saw that and was not relying on Merle’s opinion. Santino agreed too.
I think people who cannot see how hard she worked and how intelligent she works have a racial and/or a class bias, I do.
Fitz
If you assume that every time an AA person is criticized that the reason is racism, then you are a racist. I think an AA drag queen can be smart and classy, but it seems that some people in the room think that this is too high a standard.
Observer
My love of this site not withstanding I feel the only reason this article was allowed was to garner reader response. I would have passed on it were I the editor, a position that I am beginning to think does not exist on this site.
Cam
@No. 23 · Lanjier
You are a dangerous example of somebody who is so unable to accept the fact that people may dissagree with them, that they have to assume racial or other reasons. Are you that unable to accept that your opinion may not be right and that you can concieve of no other way people could disagree with you other than racism? Seriously, you need to think about that.
Secondly, your defenses of Tyra the whole time has been “She isn’t lazy, she says she works hard” she isn’t dumb, Merle says she was smart.
have you ever seen a movie where they take an actress like say…Tara Reid or Denise Richards and make them a “Smart Character” they don’t come off as smart, but you are supposed to know they are smart because the scrip keeps TELLING you they are smart. You are doing the same thing “Tyra is smart because she says so.”
Lastly, you keep switching your defenses as soon as somebody proves you wrong. You tried to claim it was Tyra’s clothes that got her the win, when I pointed out that if clothes was what they were looking for Shannel, or for that matter Ongina would have won last season, suddenly you switch to another tactic. You have either never seen a real drag show, or you are a friend of Tyra’s trolling the blogs as a favor to her.
Lanjier
Cam:
Calm down! You are not a racist, ok? Are you? Just kidding. Seriously, where did the not intelligent come from? What was one thing that she did that could be characterized as dumb? There is nothing. None of the girls were dumb, but Tyra was especially clever and witty. And she had taste, which does command intelligence. Merle said that some of the clothes were of real runway quality.
And I don’t need to defend Tyra because I did not judge her – the experts did. I happened to independently agree with each of them.
But you are ok Cam relax! You are totally right about giving them a microphone and a full audience. Let’s hope they test them next season. great show. 🙂
fredo777
Don’t be jealous of Tyra’s boogie. Or BeBe’s, for that matter.
Cam-uh-roooooooon.
princess.johnsonXIV
@W.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLptTWj-HUg&feature=player_embedded
good news!
(go rupaul)!
princess.johnsonXIV
@Lanjier:
thanks, lanjier for a really good comment.
these heffas is JEALOUS
princess.johnsonXIV
@Fitz:
blablalala
i haven’t seen a lot of comments here, but you should see the logo and facebook comments against the other tyra.
oh dear, it’s the low self esteem, r*cist f*gs & their muffintopped, teabagging h*gs.
it’s a disaster!
gays can do better!
Fitz
@princess.johnsonXIV: This is as much trash blogging as I can handle. All I am saying about that issue is that it is a very disparaging thing to say that AA’s can’t possible be held to the same standards for class and intelligence. It’s fair game to attack Tyra’s eloquence and grace, because she is capable of better.
DJ
I watched this season religiousley…and I do mean like studied it. It was obvious what Ru went for both this season and last season…she wants ‘street’ she wants exotic…and whether or not I think its racism (I don’t) I do think what another poster commented on was spot-on…Ru wants herself crowned.
This season, the top 3 were VILE. They portrayed not only the drag community, but the entire LGBT community in such a downright vile, negative, venemous light. The drag circle is hardly that and should be anything but that considering the crap they deal with on a daily basis; drag is an artform that celebrates being YOU, being artistic, and being daring all in the name of entertainment, fun and love. There’s a sisterhood there (I’m not one but do have friends who did drag) and it was a sad shame knowing RuPaul had the venue to showcase the purpose behind drag, especially rewarding queens who never lost sight of what drag is about (relationships, respect and love)….and instead she went for literally the 3 cattiest, and not so captivating queens which does make an eyebrow raise.
We all know for a fact things on ANTM aren’t on the up & up, sad to wonder if this is predetermined too. This season literally lost me with the weird results and it makes me sad as this concept has huge potential, but only with a purpose.
Clark J.
@Lanjier: Tyra didn’t have a thing for Beyonce she really believes she was Beyonce. It was actually VERY cryptic to watch considering she’d hae yelling matches if anyone said anything negative about Beyonce, and would have behind the scenes interviews that lasted 15 minutes going on and on about Beyonce. Tyra is not a performer, or a drag super star, he’s a guy that wants to be Beyonce. You had some STARS to choose from Ru, but you decided to treat this like Miss Universe, and I love watching pageants, but for drag shows I go to watch a performance (think Ongina, or Pandora) not see a beautiful drag queen. That won’t get me paying the big bucks to walk in to see your show.
Michael
RuPaul, IMHO, is definitely pro-black which could’ve easily helped the past two seasons winners. Any time RuPaul has any half-naked men on you can be assured they’ll be black. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but if the “Next Drag Super Star” is some brick wall with no personality and completely rude manners than I guess Tyra was definitely the winner.
D'oh, The Magnificent
Ru’s thing is “real” women or female impersonators as someone is describes her taste in drag. All of her choices, including Tatianna staying around longer than she should, was primarily focused on that. Remember no only Tat but also Ju Ju said around longer than people excepted. The lesson here is that you need to be black. It is that you need to know what Ru’s taste are since she has such a huge say as to who is picked from week to week. I mean- do the other judges have a say at all when it comes down to it? I don’t think they do. My feelings are that while I thought Pandora Boxx on the level of talent should have won, it was not surprising that Tyra won. Tyra reflects what Ru wants- the female impersonator.
AlwaysGay
I only saw one episode in season one so I can’t comment on the competition. I do think Tyra the drag queen looks more like Rihanna than Tyra Banks.
princess.johnsonXIV
@Fitz:
you are arguing in circles, pretending u don’t have a dog in this “fight”!
you are imagining things.
tyra used classic reality show strategy and won.
raven was the real social stinker.
big parts of the audience overlook raven’s class deficit because they identify culturally with raven.(!)
um, great for you, riverside, ca!
embarrassingly enuf, they can’t relate to tyra AT ALL
plus
THESE HEFFAS IS JEALOUS!
princess.johnsonXIV
@Michael:
don’t be jealous!
gaylib
@Aaron: Seriously. You make that sound like a BAD thing…
D'oh, The Magnificent
Great point at another gay site on this: It is funny to see people notice that Ru picked two black people back to back. What’s interesting in that they haven’t seemed to notice that other shows with white judges pick white contestants season after season after season as winners. It is like with all those who argue for their civil liberties amongst the Tea Party types, but then have no problem with a bill that sweeps up people of color in Arizona, including legal ones. The selectivity of seeing racism by those wanting to see it where it doesn’t exist, but not see it where it does, is amazing.
Ogre Magi
Whatever y’all say, I still want a taste of Tyra’s sweet chocolate ass!
D'oh, The Magnificent
@Ogre Magi: You just a ho. I like slores.
christopher di spirito
The tale of two Drag Race winners:
Bebe Zahara Bent was outrageous, poised, exotic, and creative.
Tyra Sanchez is ghetto, tacky, immature and slimy.
I have no idea of Charles RuPaul selected Tyra Sanchez because she saw her as a mini me, or a queen of color. But, this much I do know. Once America’s drag queens start to view RuPaul as practicing reverse racism, Drag Race is doomed.
Personally, I thought Pandora Boxx was the best, well-rounded queen. I remember visiting friends in Rochester, NY and we went out and saw her perform live. Pandora was a riot and totally entertaining. Next runner up was JuJu Bee. But hey, what do I know? The Miss California title once went to Carrie Prejean.
ossurworld
Apparently there really are people watching this show.
christopher di spirito
There really are people watching this show, Ossurworld.
In fact, it is LOGO’s no. 1 watched show.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Racism: NO
Favoritsm: YES
If RuP was actually looking for a “true Drag Superstar” he would have chosen Pandora. Who has all the required elements as well as being a true entertainer, who is able to keep an audience entertained and amuses. Tyra with her Gravel Gertie voice and nasty attitute, I think simply won’t be able to connect with an audience in any kind of interaction. She was a nasty crunt to the other girls during the whole process. Her “apology” at the reunion show seemed forced. And how many times did she pull the “I have a one year old son” card???? RuP picked her favorite and Tyra was going to win no matter what. Those who say “she never was in the bottom two” fail to acknodledge that the same person who made the final decision, is the same person who decides who is in the bottom two each week. It’s all RuP’s decision. I love the show, its a true guilty pleasure. Ya gotta accept that Ru is running the show and whoever she decides is going to win at any stage of the competition is going to do so..
Tyra is a very pretty female impersonator but she is simply not a drag superstar……….
myrios123
RuPaul can pick who she wants and I support her and the other judges’ decision. I don’t think it was racism… anymore than it’s racism when all of us always pick the contestant with whom we identify the most. (Raise your hand if you hope “the gays” win on the Amazing Race or watch that crappy MTV’s Real World if they have a token twink on it)
Don
Bebe was a good choice from the first season and it was a hard choice between her and Nina but for me I did like Nina better. As for Tyra, she should have never been in the top three sorry she was a fake among fakes and had the same look time and time again. If Ru wanted a ‘B’ for the next drag queen, then she picked right. Pandora Boxx did everything they asked her to do and still they knocked her down on most of the show about her look or outfit, she was the best and so was Raven.
AxelDC
At first I thought it might be racist, since Tyra and Bebe were middle of the pack contestants at best, but then I realized that I was misunderstanding the show.
I though it was Ru Paul look for the best drag queen in the US, but the show’s title is “Ru Paul’s Drag Race”. She was looking for the next Ru Paul! Obviously, pretty Tatiana, witty Pandora, clever Jujube or extravagant Chanel were not going to be the next Ru Paul. Being a good entertainer, having talent, or even being able to properly enunciate words were not the criteria.
Everything you look for in a drag show was wrong. Merle ripped Jujube up and down for the way she dressed and acted because Jujube dressed like a drag queen. Meanwhile, Tyra could do no wrong because she modeled herself on Ru Paul.
It’s such a shame the Ru Paul is ruining her own show by picking her clones rather than the best contestants. Logo has no other orignial programming and I don’t know if I’d bother watching RPDR3. They threw out fantastic Morgan way too early, dismissed clever Pandora as a clown, and trashed the excellent Jujube while letting someone I though should have been out by Week 5 when, for the 2nd year in a row!
BTW, poor Raven, getting older isn’t a crime, but being bitterly jealous about it is just sad and pathetic.
TiMbo
I followed the show from the very beginning and didn’t miss one episode. I have read all the responses that was mentioned from above and weighed in each and all, however to be honest I think there was only a handful of queens that really where worthy of being on the show in the first place. The rest just appeared to be fillers as in easy fodder for elimination for the round off.
However personally with regards to Tyra, hated him/her for his/her attitude throughout the show and Tatiana was a very close 2nd for crappy attitude.
Obviously the more seasoned contestants stood out with their presentation wit and style. I would have preferred to have seen the top three being Juju.B, Raven and Pandora Box.
As to the reason why RuPaul would choose to pick Tyra to me is a complete mystery, she had no talent caused a lot of disruption between the queens. Never was really interested in learning new dance steps, routines etc. I think that just goes to show the true nature of the person in total.
For a first prize winner of $25,000.00 that would have been taxed afterwards I wonder how much was left for his son? Hmmmm lets see teeth getting fixed that was probably about $2,500.00 the fake boobs he wore (they are expensive) about $800.00 then you have the Rhinestone Necklace to cover collar of the fake boobs I would say that was around $200-$300. In otherwards you do the math.
What it boils down to no Management will tolerate a Diva’s behaviour nor will any audience, especially if they cannot lipsync their way out of a paperbag and be entertaining, and after Tyra has finished her reign unless she has one major smartening up on attitude, will more then likely be looking for a low paid menial job and her child will be in the welfare system.
I have worked with DQ’s in the past and see a lot come and go, to be honest the ones that make it have a strong personality the bitchy ones learn very quickly that their attitude doesn’t always work for them.
So what they should do is a special where are they now and that would be interesting to see in about 2 years. You will see the seasoned professionals working still.
AxelDC
Here is how I would rank RPDR2 contestants:
12) Mystique
11) Shangela
10) Sonique
9) Nicole Page Brooks
8) Sahara Davenport
7) Tyra Sanchez*
6) Tatiana
5) Jessica Wild
4) Raven
3) Jujube
2) Morgan McMichaels
1) Pandora Boxx
I may have overrated Morgan, but she really impressed me and I didn’t get a chance to fully assess her since Ru Paul sent her home scandalously early.
Notice how RuPaul’s 1st, 2nd & 3rd finished 7th, 4th and 3rd in my book.
Cam
@No. 52 · AxelDC
You may be right on about Morgon, remember, Raven said that she and Morgon had competed in numerous Drag events and Morgon ALWAYS beat her. So obviously Ru’s opinion seems to be different than years worth of other Drag event judges who’s job is to judge.
The show needs to end this domination by RuPaul as final judge, AND they need to get some other REAL Drag queens on the panel as judges. My suggestions:
Lady Bunny,
All three leads from “Girls will be Girls”
Lipsynka,
Mizery
Charlie Brown
Ella Fitzgerald
Hell, bring in Shannel to rate the make-up but whatever, I’m sure other people reading this have some great talent in your own cities to suggest, the fact is, that as long as RuPaul has final decision you’re never going to get a phenominal performer, just a pretty one.
The best case scenario would be to call in like they have for American Idol.
Thunderpuss
How about a Drag Queen with personality? Pandora and JujuB win in that department hands down. Tyra…well…not so much.
I want my drag queens to be funny and light. If I wanted to be around a bunch of bitchy pretty girls I’d go hang in a sorority house.
I hate to say it, whomever wrote this “article” (if you can call it that), I totally disagree with you. Something smells fishy with Tyra winning a drag Superstar race.
Cam
Look, if you want to see the “Real” RuPaul, and see that she had a complete favorite. Go back to the episode with “The DIVA Awards”. One of the guest judges is the woman who starred in “Hairspray” on Broadway. RuPaul was saying that JuJu was just camping and this woman, Marissa said “Oh, I totally disagree with you, she is acting and bringing something more to the performance”. Well if you watch it, RuPaul gets this icy furious frozen look on her face. Appaerntly this woman wasn’t being her little lap dog like Santino and Merel were. And why should she, she is a huge broadway star, but it was OBVIOUS that RuPaul in no way shape or form can handle anybody dissagreeing with her comments or choices.
Froggystyle
I have been a big fan of RuPaul from the beginning, but after watching both seasons of this show, I find myself losing the respect I once had for him. The blatant favoritism and fawning over certain contestants, while the overt hostility towards others(mainly from Santino)is putting me off of watching any more . I find it ironic how they ripped Pandoras( and others) outfits as being cheap and costume like, when each week Ru himself comes parading out in those horrible dresses like that lavender feather mess and the finale Green foil Christmas decoration concoction. And speaking of Santino, what the hell was the deal with his face on the reunion show? When they first panned the camera towards him I actually gasped, my first thought was, “did he get ahold of a bad plastic surgeon?” , with the pale skin and the redness around his eyes I was immediately reminded of the scene on one of those Texas Chainsaw movies where Leatherface comes out wearing the skin of a victim as a mask. I think the show needs some serious changes to continue, such as letting viewers vote and changing up the permanent judges, lets face it, Ru has the final say,he has said as much on air, Santino and Merle are just there to make it appear that there is some level of fairness and make snarky comments
D'oh, The Magnificent
Some of you seem to confuse favoritism with racism.
The issue at hand is favoritism. If you can’t see the difference in randomly moving on to favoritism and describing someone black as racist simply because they have favorisim, there’s something wrong with you.
fredo777
@DJ: This is Tv. It’s business. At the end of the day, the main goal of this show’s producers is to put on an interesting television show that people will watch. Which, admittedly, you did. Religiously, even.
AxelDC
@fredo777: I have to disagree with you.
I’m not a fan of drag queens, but I got sucked into this show because I recognized some talented performers among the contestants.
By week 5, after the obvious fodder was kicked off the show, I began to comment to my friends about how bad Tyra was, and how long they were going to tolerate someone so blatantly low rent. When I finally realized that RuPaul was pushing for Tyra to win, and seeing how unfairly the judges ripped on the far more talented Pandora and Jujube, I begin to lose interest in the show. Raven’s childishly bitter obsession with Tatiana didn’t help things.
By the final, I was pretty much over the show but tuned in anyway. When RuPaul’s minions, Merle and Santino, ripped Jujube’s great performance and outfit, and fawned over Tyra’s pedestrian outfit and flat peformance, I had had enough. I simply switched off the TV, knowing well before the end who had won.
If the show’s format doesn’t change, then Logo won’t have this viewer for RPDR3. Given that Logo has little other original programming, this is pretty damning for them. Judging by the sampling of comments here, I’d be worried if I were Logo and would have words with Miss Thing herself about changing the show’s format.
AxelDC
@fredo777: I have to disagree with you.
I’m not a fan of drag queens, but I got sucked into this show because I recognized some talented performers among the contestants.
By week 5, after the obvious fodder was kicked off the show, I began to comment to my friends about how bad Tyra was, and how long they were going to tolerate someone so blatantly low rent. When I finally realized that RuPaul was pushing for Tyra to win, and seeing how unfairly the judges ripped on the far more talented Pandora and Jujube, I begin to lose interest in the show. Raven’s childishly bitter obsession with Tatiana didn’t help things.
By the final, I was pretty much over the show but tuned in anyway. When RuPaul’s minions, Merle and Santino, ripped Jujube’s great performance and outfit, and fawned over Tyra’s pedestrian outfit and flat performance, I had had enough. I simply switched off the TV, knowing well before the end who had won.
If the show’s format doesn’t change, then Logo won’t have this viewer for RPDR3. Given that Logo has little other original programming, this is pretty damning for them. Judging by the sampling of comments here, I’d be worried if I were Logo and would have words with Miss Thing herself about changing the show’s format.
fredo777
For all those complaining that Pandora didn’t win, why don’t you use that energy + petition to get her her own show? I thought she was funnyish, but definitely not as fabulous as some viewers seem to think. It’s all a matter of personal taste.
That said, as for public voting, I think that’s a terrible idea. Results would still be skewed, as they always are when reality competitions are open to the public’s vote. It would just be about who you like instead of who Ru + the judges like.
As far as Tyra is concerned, I don’t understand all the venom + negativity over her winning. What’s done is done. Either congratulate her + move on, or stop watching the show. It’s not going to affect your life personally + if Pandora, Rayven, + your other favorites were as great as you thought, they’ll still be able to use the exposure from Ru’s show to become successful. Much like non-winners of American Idol can still sell records + gain fans.
Quit yer cryin’.
fredo777
@AxelDC: what’s there to disagree with? nothing you said changes the fact that this show’s main goal is to get people talking + watching, which (apparently) plenty of you did. even if it’s because you disagreed with the winner, controversy is still beneficial to any tv show.
Cam
No. 62 · fredo777
@AxelDC: what’s there to disagree with? nothing you said changes the fact that this show’s main goal is to get people talking + watching, which (apparently) plenty of you did. even if it’s because you disagreed with the winner, controversy is still beneficial to any tv show.
_____________________________________
controversy isn’t good for any TV show. Too much controversy loses you viewers.
fredo777
@Cam: bullsh!t. that same controversy is what often makes new viewers tune in, if only to see “what all the fuss is about”.
not to mention, i can’t even keep track of all the times people claim that they’ll “never watch (insert show here) again” b/c of something they disliked, only to tune right back in later.
Cam
No. 64 · fredo777
@Cam: bullsh!t. that same controversy is what often makes new viewers tune in, if only to see “what all the fuss is about”.
not to mention, i can’t even keep track of all the times people claim that they’ll “never watch (insert show here) again” b/c of something they disliked, only to tune right back in later.
_________________________
You’re talking about controversy like on Project Runway, or American Idol between three popular finalists. When the controversy is about the show being fixed and people not getting a fair shake that does not lead to more viewers. On those other shows you would have tons of people for each finalist. But if you read the blogs here it is running like 90% against Tyra. THAT type of controversy isn’t good for a show because you lose the viewers you have.
fredo777
@Cam: Do you know how many times people (myself included) have speculated that shows like Idol are fixed or that the producers have skewed the results to their liking? And, yet, it’s still a ratings monster. Hell, I still watch it regularly even knowing that there’s the possibility of tampering, b/c it’s entertainment. I fail to see your point about how a few viewers having a hissy-fit that Pandora didn’t win will really make that big of a difference in the long run for Drag Race. But, by all means, stop watching to show your displeasure. I’ll continue to watch as long as it’s entertaining, b/c it is, after all, a television show.
Cam
No. 66 · fredo777
@Cam: Do you know how many times people (myself included) have speculated that shows like Idol are fixed or that the producers have skewed the results to their liking? And, yet, it’s still a ratings monster. Hell, I still watch it regularly even knowing that there’s the possibility of tampering, b/c it’s entertainment. I fail to see your point about how a few viewers having a hissy-fit that Pandora didn’t win will really make that big of a difference in the long run for Drag Race.
______________________
There is a difference between thinking that Clay should have beaten Ruban, and what the response would have been if Sanjaya had won.
You keep saying that it’s a “Few Viewers”. Well the posts over on Logo are running very anti-Tyra, as are the posts here, additionally Entertainment Weekly took the show to task.
fredo777
@Cam: Boo-hoo-hoo. They all need to get over it + move on with their lives.
Cam
No. 68 · fredo777
@Cam: Boo-hoo-hoo. They all need to get over it + move on with their lives.
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You mean the same way you’ve gotten over it? If you’re so over it, why bother to post about it 6 times in 3 hours?
fredo777
@Cam: hahahahaha
are you even serious? i don’t have anything to get over, sweetheart. i never had a problem with tyra winning in the first place, as i’ve already stated. i’ve commented several times b/c i’ve subscribed to this article, the same way i’m subscribed to plenty others here @ queerty + comment on them regularly, as i see fit. unlike some of you, however, i haven’t written short novels on how displeased i am with the results.
Cam
@ No. 70 · fredo777
Excuse it however you want, but the person who is telling everybody to “Get over it” has now posted 7 times in just a few hours. If thats “Over it” then we have too different definitions. People are posting here because they want to say something, if you do not want to say anything that is absolutly your right, but to post 7 times in a few hours debating with people and then try to pretend disinterest is just silly.
As for Short novels, your 3 paragrapher at #61…does that qualify?
fredo777
@Cam: Again, I never had anything to “get over” in the first place. I’m posting on the topic, as I often do post on Queerty topics that I find of interest, but I don’t have any axes to grind over the actual show’s outcome. But since you’re counting my posts so carefully, you must’ve noticed that I said the novels being written were about their being displeased with the results. Mine was not. So, no, it obviously doesn’t qualify.
Of course I’m going to post repeatedly on this topic. I’m a fan of the show Drag Race for the same reason: I enjoy drama. Forum whiners almost inevitably bring the drama. And your tears are delicious.
Hilarious
The funny thing about this discussion is I’ve never seen anyone raise issue with a white host of reality shows booting all of the black contestants off every single time.
There aren’t many reality shows with black hosts. There are many with white hosts.
You do the math.
tofer david
@Observer:
So true. This was like the only post about the show queerty did. i was surprised at the lack of coverage all season…
Andy
I think the two best examples of why Tyra shouldn’t have won the crown are 1)when she slept through one of the group challenges and 2)Raven spent the time to get to know her drag mother during the golden girls competition and pulled it off amazingly even going so far as to carry her off stage, Tyra was so focused on giving hers that apple bottom and wrapped her in duct tape, which I’m sure had to hurt tremendously for that poor old man. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of Raven’s last dress but Tyra keeps following the same pattern of skirt she can twirl, rip off, and strut like Beyonce or a miss America contestant.
Seriously, who wants to go see someone who has shown they really don’t care about their performances (rocker chicks challenge), has shown they don’t care about other people, milks their fame for all that it’s worth (honestly I would have reacted the same way as Raven after the show when she “collapsed” on stage after winning, it’s not enough she won, she had to make a spectacle out of it), and shows they’re not creative enough to have their own style (I swear that Beyonce styled wig came out every other challenge).
Bebe was amazing, she was a gracious winner, she was friendly to the other girls and you could tell she takes drag seriously. I don’t see any of that with Tyra. I hope her drag career lasts, because that pretty smile she paid for isn’t going to keep paying the bills and she’ll be right back where she started.
tofer david
pandora was the season standout and i love how in the episode after pandora was eliminated raven states, “pandora has no starpower”
raven has no clue.
Kieran
Wow, if we could only generate this level of interest and passion for gay rights issues instead of who was picked RuPaul’s favorite drag queen…..just think what we might accomplish.
Lanjier
In being so hard on Tyra, everyone should remember that she won that competition. In a rough hockey match, the straight guys don’t fault each other personally for body slams and fouls. It is part of the game. After it was over, she also asked the public for support in the reunion special. She asked for prayers for him and his son.
We can all rally around Tyra now. Other cast members remarked that she had grown over the course of the competition. In the heat of competition, young men get a little high on testosterone. So let’s not succumb to the internal homophobia that gays always have to be super-nice to be winners. Straight guys don’t do that. By being so nice with the Democratic Party, we got sand thrown in our face and got booted to the bottom of the to do list. Time for gays to stop being so nice, and listening to our balls.
AFTER this drag match was over, Raven wrote on the mirror to Tyra, that she would never be a star. Nice? Sporting? Straight guys don’t do that. They slap each other on the back. Let’s try to do more of that. And when we fight, not hold back.
Maxie Padd
RuPaul does prefer the dark chicken. It may have something to do with cock size.