RuPaul’s Drag Race was one of the first reality TV series to return to production during the coronavirus pandemic. Considering that safety protocols were in place while filming the 13th season, viewers should expect to see some differences.
Earlier in December, VH1 announced that the 13th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race will premiere on Friday. The after show, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, will play immediately after the regular show. “Competing safely and fiercely, our 13 queens proved that it takes more than a global pandemic to keep a good queen down,” RuPaul Charles said, the host and executive producer of the series. Filming was done during the late summer under full coronavirus protocols. Considering the safety precautions and the current state of the world, how will this season of Drag Race differ from past seasons?
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According to EW, RuPaul’s Drag Race was one of the first major TV series to re-enter production amidst the pandemic. The drag queens were required to follow strict safety precautions while filming including quarantine periods, wearing masks and social distancing. Viewers should expect to see aspects of the coronavirus protocols during the new season. In addition, all crew members were required to wear masks on set. The on-camera talent and crew members interacting with the talent had to get tested for COVID-19 three times per week. Other crew members had to get tested once a week. Apparently even the judging panel has glass dividers now. With that being said, it’s unclear if guest judges will be making an appearance this season. There have been changes to the lip sync for your life battles as well. Now, queens will participate in six lip syncs for their lives, as shown in the trailer. Finally, it’s likely that the finale ball was cancelled or done virtually to avoid a massive gathering. Alternatively, the finale may be incorporated into the regular show instead of at another venue.
Since the queens prepare themselves for the runway and challenges, there won’t be many changes to how the competitors get into drag. However, the expressions and art the queens create will likely be unique this season. The coronavirus pandemic is something that has impacted everyone, even drag queens. The competitors will likely emote concerns and anxieties surrounding the current state of the world through their drag and in the Werk Room.
As one of the first big shows to return to production, RuPaul’s Drag Race is setting the stage for other series to return amidst an international crisis. Even though this season will be different from previous years, it’ll be interesting to see how these savvy artists portray their feelings about the pandemic through their drag.
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