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There is less than a day (t-minus 19 hours as of this posting) to vote for a number of San Francisco-based drag queens in the first round of web casting for the second season of Rupaul's Drag Race on Logo. If you missed the first season this past winter or its subsequent re-running on VH1, you missed some pretty good gay television -- of which there is sorrowfully little, if you don't count America's Next Top Model. The Drag Race is kind of a cross between Top Model and Project Runway, with some lip sync and wigs thrown in, and Ru even gets filmed in the same soft, glowing light as Tyra at the judges' table.
For the second season, SFist would like to see some local blood in the mix, and there are a number of hometown girls still in the running. The Sword (site semi-NSFW) offers you a selection to choose from, and vote for:
Pollo Del Mar
Due in part to her persistent Facebook campaigning, Pollo's the highest ranked of all the SF queens currently throwing their hats in the ring. She was the last, and technically the still-reigning Miss Trannyshack (see her multimedia winning number at The Sword - semi-NSFW), and she has has a flair for self-promotion. She hosts the Brain Farts trivia night at the Lookout on Wednesdays, and she's a hilarious, Amazon-tall stage presence who will not disappoint if she makes it onto the show.
Raya Light
Raya represents the craziest, most creative, anti-glam and performance-art-ish tradition of San Francisco drag, and last year she posted this video of a batshit rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that included a crack/meth pipe, and a blue wig. Also, when it comes to "tucking" -- something the judges were keen on last season -- Raya sort of doesn't do it, as evidenced in this photo from Sunday's gay pride afterparty at Bambuddha, so that'll make for a fun fight.
Hoku Mama Swamp
A faux queen who vied for the Miss Trannyshack title herself with a huge period-costume number, Hoku takes her performing seriously. But she also comes from a film/art tradition and believes drag should always have a sense of humor. You can watch her audition tape here, which begins with her munching on a corndog snack by the fire and talking about her roots in Hawai'i. We don't know if America can handle the concept of a faux queen, but we'd love to watch them try.
Mercedez Munro
Check out the guns on this one! Mercedez appears as a boy in this first intro video, and wants to show the world that "big boys can make pretty girls too." You can find her in drag in this video here.
ALSO vote for these other local drag stars: Ginger Snap, Miss Nix, Cookie Dough, Landa Lakes, Diva Dan, Anjie Myma, Paju Munro, Veronica Lewinsky and Holy McGrail.
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Arsenio Hall on line one. Who? Exactly.
1993 called, it wants its relevance back.
A 48 yr old drag queen trying to hold on to shims youth. How very San Francisco.
Actually Robin, I'd argue that drag's relevance is the same as it ever was -- underground entertainment and a refreshing escape from conformity, especially in these days of marriage-focused gay assimilation.
As Heklina and Lady Bunny have recently argued, this pop cultural phenomenon of which you speak (roughly 1993-1995, including Rupaul's rise to fame and the pinnacle, To Wong Foo...) was but a tiny and not particularly creative portion of drag history.
But thanks for your thoughts!
I love drag shows, but Rupaul's Drag Race sucks. They go for pretty and graceful when most SF drag i know of is dirty and raunchy! i prefer SF drag.
I have to agree with Jay. RPDR has turned people back to drag. Her show (on LOGO!) is most spectacular.
Been to many drag shows in the past years. Martuni's, Tranny Shack and some goddess I cannot remember from Jazz @ Pearl's in 2006. And yes, Eddie Izzard. Twice.
Ru Paul just happens to annoy me.
Also, when it comes to "tucking" -- something the judges were keen on last season -- Raya sort of doesn't do it
You should see the junk on Virginia Suicide!