RuPaul Charles

Host / Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his one-hour interview, RuPaul Charles talks about his early life, and the influence shows like The Flip Wilson Show and Monty Python’s Flying Circus had on him. He recalls “finding his tribe” in Atlanta, and moving to New York City where he met Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who would be instrumental in his career. He discusses his big breakthrough, the song “Supermodel,” which got heavy airplay on MTV and won him a spot on The Arsenio Hall Show. Charles chronicles hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1, and hosting guests including Cher and Diana Ross. He recounts the creation of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and details the many aspects of the show that have made it a success. He concludes by discussing career achievements, and what he’s learned from television. Jodi Delaney conducted the interview on June 25, 2018 in Sylmar, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Everything I’ve learned, I learned from television. I used to watch The Mike Douglas Show after school and it taught me about jazz when he would have Ella and Sarah on... I learned how to find my tribe from Monty Python. I learned how to emcee a show from watching Cher and Diana Ross specials. And I learned how to articulate an esoteric idea from watching David Bowie. So everything I know, I learned from television."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

RuPaul Charles on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine"

02:40

RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"

02:46

RuPaul Charles on the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race

04:37

RuPaul Charles on what he learned from television

01:20

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race

04:35

RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother

03:35

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his name; on realizing he was an artist and finding "his tribe" in Atlanta

On his first time on television, on the Atlanta public access show The American Music Show; on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine"; on moving to New York City and meeting Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

On his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"; on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother; on his message as a performer

On hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1; on the guests of The RuPaul Show including Cher and Diana Ross; on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

On how RuPaul's Drag Race came about; on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race; on the judges of RuPaul's Drag Race

On the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race; on the many hats he wears in the production of RuPaul's Drag Race; on the legacy of RuPaul's Drag Race and winning an Emmy for the show

On separating his public and private personas; on advice to aspiring television personalities and on career achievements; on what he learned from television; on how he would like to be remembered

Shows

Arsenio Hall Show, The

RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother

03:35

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

RuPaul Charles on winning an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race

01:46

Flip Wilson Show, The

RuPaul Charles on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine" on The Flip Wilson Show

02:40

RuPaul Show, The

RuPaul Charles on hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1

02:17

RuPaul Charles on the guests of The RuPaul Show, including Diana Ross and Cher

02:20

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

02:04

RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

02:04

RuPaul Charles on how RuPaul's Drag Race came about

04:55

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race, and their courage and vulnerability

04:35

RuPaul Charles on the judges of RuPaul's Drag Race

00:47

RuPaul Charles on the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race

04:37

RuPaul Charles on the many hats he wears in the production of RuPaul's Drag Race

02:56

RuPaul Charles on the legacy and message of RuPaul's Drag Race

01:37

RuPaul Charles on winning an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race

01:46

Topics

Advice

RuPaul Charles on advice anyone starting out in the entertainment industry

00:37

Characters & Catchphrases

RuPaul Charles on the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race

04:37

Emmy Awards

RuPaul Charles on winning an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race

01:46

Fame and Celebrity

RuPaul Charles on separating his public and private personas

02:04

First Big Break

RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"

02:46

Historic Events and Social Change

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul Charles on the legacy and message of RuPaul's Drag Race

01:37

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race, and their courage and vulnerability

04:35

RuPaul Charles on his message as a performer

04:13

LGBTQIA+

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

02:06

RuPaul Charles on the legacy and message of RuPaul's Drag Race

01:37

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race, and their courage and vulnerability

04:35

RuPaul Charles on his message as a performer

04:13

Pivotal Career Moments

RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"

02:46

Pop Culture

RuPaul Charles on his name

01:31

RuPaul Charles on separating his public and private personas

02:04

RuPaul Charles on the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race

04:37

Representation on Television

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

02:06

RuPaul Charles on the legacy and message of RuPaul's Drag Race

01:37

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race, and their courage and vulnerability

04:35

RuPaul Charles on his message as a performer

04:13

Television Industry

RuPaul Charles on advice anyone starting out in the entertainment industry

00:29

Underrepresented Voices

RuPaul Charles on the pressures of being black and gay during the run of The RuPaul Show and on RuPaul's Drag Race

02:06

RuPaul Charles on the legacy and message of RuPaul's Drag Race

01:37

RuPaul Charles on the contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race, and their courage and vulnerability

04:35

RuPaul Charles on his message as a performer

04:13

Professions

Performers

View Profession

RuPaul Charles on his message as a performer

04:13

Genres

Game Shows

RuPaul Charles on hosting RuPaul's Drag Race

21:13

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

RuPaul Charles on hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1

06:42

Reality TV

RuPaul Charles on hosting RuPaul's Drag Race

21:13

Talk Shows

RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother

03:35

RuPaul Charles on hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1

06:44

People

Arsenio Hall

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RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother

03:35

Cher

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RuPaul Charles on the guests of The RuPaul Show, including Diana Ross and Cher

02:20

Diana Ross

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RuPaul Charles on the guests of The RuPaul Show, including Diana Ross and Cher

02:20

Flip Wilson

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RuPaul Charles on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine" on The Flip Wilson Show

02:40