Drag Race alums Shangela, Eureka and Bob the Drag Queen, like Marie Kondo and The Fab Five before them, are going to host their own reality makeover show “We’re Here” where they help residents of small towns by giving them a makeover—this time by training their newly-appointed drag children for a one night-only drag show.
“We thought, what if RuPaul’s Drag Race went into the real world, what would happen? How would towns react? How would families react?” said co-creator Stephen Warren about the inspiration behind the show to Entertainment Weekly.
“The title ‘We’re Here’ is both a reference to the vibrant queer communities that often exist in the shadows in small-town America, but, in addition to being a bold proclamation for ignored demographics in predominantly white areas, it’s also a literal announcement of the central trio’s arrival—and boy do they know how to make an entrance,” writes Entertainment Weekly. For reference, Bob the Drag Queen’s entrance involves riding a giant yellow Birkin bag-shaped car while Shangie rides a pink box (getting real vivid flashbacks of Drag Race season three here) and Eureka rides an elephant-shaped car.
In an interview with Out Magazine, Shangela revealed more about the show. “Actually, it’s been very eye-opening for me because one part that really sold [We’re Here] to me and made me really have a strong love for the show is that we’re meeting and helping and encouraging people who are queer or have a queer-adjacent story in these small towns across America. And I’m from a small town…I know what it’s like to sometimes look around and think you’re the only person like you.”
“I don’t want anyone thinking this is one of those gays going around the country helping straight people stories,” said Bob the Drag Queen in a separate interview with The Advocate. “I don’t want to give the spin or the narrative that the show is us putting a bunch of straight people in drag because it’s not. Most of the people we can put in drag do identify as queer.”
The show, produced by HBO, will premiere on Apr. 23 at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST (that’s Apr. 24 at 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for us). It’ll be on HBO Go and its partner streaming platforms—and the full premiere is going to be on YouTube, where the queens and celebrity guests will be holding a digital viewing party called We’re Here Together: Digital Premiere Kiki. The viewing party will start at 8:30 p.m. (so 8:30 a.m. for us) and will also be simulcasted on HBO’s Twitter page.
It’s held “in an effort to share the positivity and transformative powers of drag culture…in the current climate, where many can feel alone and isolated.” During the stream, HBO will be donating to LGBTQA+ charities Free Mom Hugs and Mama Dragons, “while viewers will be encouraged to donate as well.” Notably, this will be “the first time HBO has made a project available for free at the same time as its network premiere,” says Entertainment Weekly. The guests will include Drew Barrymore, Monét X Change, Hayley Kiyoko, Ellen Pompeo, Andrew Rannells and Naomi Watts.
Photo screengrab from the official “We’re Here” trailer on YouTube
Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Viber
Related Stories:
Queer people don’t exist for your viewing pleasure
Queer Eye’s Jonathan, Antoni, and Tan on gender expression, self-care, and the secret to connecting with people
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ S12 isn’t safe from controversies
These queens are the fashion monarchs of “Drag Race.” Or maybe of the human race