Let me preface this by saying that I support any and all programming that highlights LGBTQ people.
RuPaul’s Drag Race, one of the biggest programs on television, secured several 71st Primetimy Emmy Award nominations when they were revealed on Tuesday, July 16.
Major categories they earned nods in included Oustanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program (RuPaul), both of which they won at the 2018 ceremony.
They are also up for awards in categories like Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special and Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program (RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked).
I have to be honest in my judgments here regarding their possibilities in winning. Season 11, in my opinion, was one of the worst this show has ever put out. RPDR just ended last month and I have a hard time remembering anything outstanding happening besides Yvie Oddly’s amazing (but predictable) win and Silky Nutmeg Ganache being delusional from beginning to end.
Yes, there was the return of fan favorite Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, but the cultural impact she had on the one episode she was in on season 10 outweighed anything she did this season. Her saying “Miss Vanjie” three times while walking backwards may have helped secure Ru and co the Outstanding Reality Competition Program Emmy last year given that the premiere episode was the one they submitted for nomination.
Also, Untucked was an absolute nightmare to watch. The ladies acted very Bad Girls Club style, particularly Yvie and Silky, and it went from being shady and meh to an all-out war that became repetitive and boring.
The challenges were nothing spectacular either. RPDR has a tendency to repeat ones that were done in the past and that pattern was seen throughout season 11. Everything from the movie parodies to Trump: The Rusical were somewhat funny to watch but have been done already. Drag knows no ends when it comes to how creative these queens can be yet they keep sticking them with tired formats that fans have watched for years.
Let’s not forget about the finale, which was ultimately a snooze fest. Miss Congeniality, which used to be a simple presentation done by Ru on a sound stage in the earlier seasons, now in sponsored which came off like a tacky Instagram ad (regardless of Nina West’s plausible win). Also the pre-recorded material seen throughout just seemed like a bunch of filler and the lip sync for the crowns were OK at best.
There’s also been that discussion going on about how often this show is on the air. In the beginning it came on once a year, and we got our fill with the early season queens that became the legends that they are today. Now RPDR and its sister series All Stars are on twice, even three times per year, to the point where we are being force-fed a program that is at the point of jumping the shark.
There were, however, some shining characters who brought this season to life several times. Notable performers like Nina, Yvie, Plastique Tiara, Brooke Lynn Hytes, A’Keria C. Davenport and Shuga Cain were a delight to watch as the series progressed. RPDR also knows how to bring out the emotions in these queens, which was done fairly well this season especially when Plastique broke down about her lack of family support.
I would be delighted if RPDR won in any and all categories, don’t get me wrong, but this wasn’t their best season by a long shot. Other nominees in the categories they are up for, notably Top Chef and Nailed It!, have also highlighted members of the LGBTQ community and had much more strong showings for their most recent efforts compared to Drag Race.
Do you think RuPaul’s Drag Race deserves to win at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards?
This post was created by one of our Contributing Writers and does not reflect the opinion of Instinct Magazine or the other Contributing Writers when it comes to this subject.