Genius.

Last night’s stunner finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race capped for me, as a marketing guy, the culmination of years of work on Ru’s part. Four seasons of ever-growing popularity and ratings, B+ List guest judges and now, a live crowning of America’s Next Drag Superstar that may OR MAY NOT be dependent on Twitter and Facebook input.

Why do I care? I don't even know. I guess it's the branding.

 

54K+ comments on the Drag Race FB page for the one after-show post asking who deserves the crown. Added to that the mystery of why Willam was let go for breaking a rule and the expected drama of 13 queens getting back together in one room after months of seeing what goes on in the Interior Illusions Lounge … this will be some TV magic.

I’m not sure what lesson to take away from all this. RuPaul has been in the public eye since the early 90s, but the building of this franchise just amazes me. And I worked on three concurrent branches of the Star Trek brand in the late 90s!

I guess I’d say:

1) Never give up, never surrender (Commander Taggart of Galaxy Quest, of course)

2) Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars (Casey Kasem)

and of course,

3) Good luck, and don’t f#$k it up! (Ru)

Me? As much I dig Phi Phi’s brazen attitude and Chad’s poise … I’ve become a fan. GO #TeamSharonNeedles!

 

Everybody say “love!”

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