Five Reasons to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race

by KatieWalsh

We’re all eagerly anticipating January 30, right? The date of the season premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race season four? (Please at least tell me you’re following the Drag Race tumblrs with their endless gifs of the new queens.) People, here are some reasons why you need to scoot on over to Netflix and mainline seasons two and three before January 30, and why we’re planning to keep up with Drag Race anyway.

1. The number one reason is Raven, from season two and from RuPaul’s Drag U (available on Logotv.com!). This isn’t a reason to watch season four, but it’s a reason to consume any and all Raven-related media like a junkie. I worship at the Temple of Raven. I would love her for her beauty, but it’s really her way with a withering quip or a well-placed snarl that makes me all weak in the knees. And she’s hot as a dude too!

I love you Raven! Are you reading this? Raven? Will you dress me up in drag, Raven??!?

2. Puerto Rican drag queens. If you could distill and bottle the aura of a Puerto Rican Drag Queen, pharmaceutical manufacturers of antidepressants would go out of business. And this season features two queens from that lovely island. However, following former dragtestants and Puerto Rican-bred queens Nina “Ay Loca” Flowers, Jessica “Escandalo” Wild, Alexis “Bam!” Mateo, and Yara “Echa pa lante” Sofia will be extremely difficult. How can I choose a favorite one?! Okay fine, it’s Alexis Mateo (above), twist my arm. I can’t resist her in that disco American flag jumpsuit! I guess Carmen Carrera would count too, but she’s more New Jersey than San Juan. Ladies, fire up those catchphrase generators!

3. Um excuse me, but did you know that Morgan McMichaels’ drag mother Chad Michaels is going to be on season four? Well you would if you were following Morgan’s Facebook fan page, like any smart person should. I’m dying to see the lady who birthed the magic of Morgan McMichaels (above), you gorgeous piranha face.

That reminds me of that clip from Wigstock where Leigh Bowery sings a whole ballad before birthing a fully formed lady human painted red. How did she stay up there so long?

4. RuPaul’s Pit Crew has its own following. Yep, these are the go-go boys who wear very little clothing and hold things for Ru, or pose in photos or roll clothing racks around. Oy, the abs on this adorable bear Shawn Morales are enough to make a body watch this show!

5. RuPaul’s double entendres. Yes, the queens must exhibit the right combo of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent. But aside from the double entendres, which are mined fully by The Soup, Rupaul’s slang terms are wondrous to behold. Try incorporating these into your everyday vernacular: hunty, executive realness, WORK, throwing shade. Nevermind, don’t do that. It’s mine. ALL MINE. But more than just the witticisms, RuPaul drops some serious wisdom about loving yourself and doing you that anyone of us could stand to be reminded of. And it doesn’t hurt that it comes out of that gorgeous mug.

Go forth, and consume as many episodes as you can find online … sorry, there goes your life. But doesn’t it feel good?

If anything, watching makes appreciating Rich Juzwiak’s gif-recaps all the more! Those are works of art, I tell you.

Here’s the trailer — start your engines.

Katie Walsh really likes reality TV competition shows.