Producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey on the rise of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”: “It’s about love, self-expression and openness”

“You always hope that every show you do is a great revolutionary force that changes people’s lives,” he says. RuPaul’s Endurance Race Produced by Fenton Bailey, “But it rarely happens”. But from any point of view, World of Wonder’s long-running reality show, in which even more flamboyant drag queens compete for the approval of their imperious host RuPaul, is just that show. Across all of its television and digital properties, the franchise has received 11 Emmy nominations this year, and if it’s the top endurance race The competition show has won six times, making it the fifth most Emmy Award-winning television show in history. And that’s not all: since its 14-season American premiere in 2009, the show format has been exported to the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Thailand and the Philippines, with Belgium and Sweden coming next year. . .

In this interview, Bailey and fellow producer Randy Barbato discuss the show’s appeal and longevity.

TERM: Why is there interest in this program now?

Fenton Bailey: Well, I think, geopolitically, it comes at an important time. Because whether it is in America or not, we are seeing an attempt to return to the stereotypical values ​​of the clock. In an age when women were deprived of civil rights, when there was no equality in marriage, there was a huge kind of restriction. And this show is the opposite of that because the message endurance race is: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself, be who you are.” And I think that’s a really important message in today’s political environment, and not just in the United States. I mean, countries that have a very strong Catholic tradition, like Spain, the Philippines and Italy, have a very strong version. endurance race. Because they act as a counterweight to conservatism, bigotry, homophobia and all the other bad things that make everyone’s life so bad.

TERM: Why do you think it became fashionable?

External wall: I think the resistance is universal and it’s a big little secret here. In the past, people thought, “Oh, dragging is great, but dragging is on the edge, dragging is in the middle.” But in reality, you are born naked, and the rest is fluff – everything you wear is some sort of identity statement about yourself. It is as if the children in the attic are playing dress up. It’s as old as time and everyone has done it.

TERM: Did you always know that I would have legs?

Randy Barbato: While we never thought we’d still be here today talking about the show, we always believed that RuPaul had the kind of longevity ahead of him and a career that would go on indefinitely, like Eveready Battery. And in many ways, I think that’s what makes it endurance race so special It is the condition that guarantees that, in addition to hair, heels and fabulousness, there is a heart. And that’s why I think so many people connect to this show – it goes beyond surface tension and connects these amazing artists who are also our heroes.

TERM: For a show that can be pretty brutal, it doesn’t have the same level of nastiness that many competing reality shows have. How did you deal with it?

External wall: Well, because the whole idea of ​​drag is that it’s pretend and play, it’s somehow integrated into its base; This shouldn’t be taken too seriously. And it’s a pretty serious idea, actually. So you’re right, it’s not that hard. And the other thing about the show, I think, is that Format The show is like a drag queen as it teases and falsifies all other kinds of reality. The format itself is dragged.

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TERM: How do you find competitors?

bearded: Fenton and I have always been fans of drag queens, so we always felt like there were a lot of drag queens and there was a lot of unrecognized talent or talent that wasn’t there. it did not have a wider platform. So we always knew there were a lot of people there. From the start of the show, we’ve always had a pretty strong casting operation: RuPaul watches every casting tape we make. There are a lot of queens out there, and it’s a show where if someone doesn’t make it to the season, he gets called back for audition. There are a lot of very successful queens who weren’t cast in their first audition. west girl [a competitor in Season 11] There is an example, and they have been incredibly successful. So I think it’s different from many competing reality shows in this respect.

External wall: It’s not a shame, but usually contestants from other shows come and go – they’re on the show and that’s it. endurance race There’s more to the race: you listen to every drag queen that’s ever been, more or less. I mean, even Pork Chop, the first queen eliminated in the first episode of the first season, has a loading dock named after her. So it’s really a talented release. And the other thing is that the show has been going on long enough, and queens often say, “Oh, I remember when I was a kid watching that show.” [Laughs] Which is nice to hear: knowing that there were children in their rooms hiding under the covers watching the late night show and that it inspired them to become drag queens.

TERM: What’s also quite unusual is that RuPaul delves into his interviews in a very simple way and tries to get to the real person.

bearded: I’m glad you hear me say it because it’s there is depth and connection. It’s fun because we just finished season 14 and RuPaul, who is our presenter and executive producer, has never been so connected. endurance race. I think he feels a certain responsibility and a bond with the queens, in a kind of maternal role. Roo really connects with them and gets more and more each season. I don’t know, I feel like she sees the show as some sort of calling.

External wall: I would add this: I think Ru is a strong spiritual person. Also, Ru speaks fluently on TV. He has probably seen all the shows that have been on TV in the last 50 years, so when it comes to talking to someone, reassuring him, sneaking in and protecting him, he’s an expert at that. I also like what you have to say because sometimes I think this is not fully acknowledged. The ability to be who he is and also to be a television student. I don’t think there is anyone I’ve ever met who watches Roux TV anymore. And he dominated everything.

TERM: Can you explain the mass appeal of the show?

External wall: endurance race That’s not what I think it was initially perceived as being a niche LGBTQ + show. this is not. And I think this is the secret of success. Because I don’t know if you’ve ever been to RuPaul’s DragCon, but you’ll see from the crowd that it’s not just LGBTQ +. I mean of course We are queer and that’s what it’s all about, but at DragCon you have families, kids, grandparents – it’s multigenerational and it’s fun. In fact, I think demographically, most of the people who go there are women. Then go find out!

bearded: endurance race There is love, self-expression and openness. We strive to provide a platform for both artists and drag queens from all over the world, and thus allow audiences to watch the show in as many places as possible. This is the main agenda because its message is positive, loving. It is as if we were on a mission. People are deeply attached to this show and have been doing it and watching it for years. [Laughs] We seem to be responding to a higher being.