RuPaul Charles

Host / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

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

Play Full Interview

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

View Show Page
RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother
03:35

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
RuPaul Charles on winning an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race
01:46

Flip Wilson Show, The

View Show Page
RuPaul Charles on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine" on The Flip Wilson Show
02:40

RuPaul Show, The

View Show Page
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

View Show Page
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

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on advice anyone starting out in the entertainment industry
00:37

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on the catchphrases and tag lines of RuPaul's Drag Race
04:37

Emmy Awards

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on winning an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race
01:46

Fame and Celebrity

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on separating his public and private personas
02:04

First Big Break

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"
02:46

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
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+

View Topic
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

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel"
02:46

Pop Culture

View Topic
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

View Topic
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

View Topic
RuPaul Charles on advice anyone starting out in the entertainment industry
00:29

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
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

View Genre
RuPaul Charles on hosting RuPaul's Drag Race
21:13

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
RuPaul Charles on hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1
06:42

Reality TV

View Genre
RuPaul Charles on hosting RuPaul's Drag Race
21:13

Talk Shows

View Genre
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

View Person Page
RuPaul Charles on appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, and on losing his mother
03:35

Cher

View Person Page
RuPaul Charles on the guests of The RuPaul Show, including Diana Ross and Cher
02:20

Diana Ross

View Person Page
RuPaul Charles on the guests of The RuPaul Show, including Diana Ross and Cher
02:20

Flip Wilson

View Person Page
RuPaul Charles on discovering drag, and being influenced by Flip Wilson's character "Geraldine" on The Flip Wilson Show
02:40

All Interviews

S