A show detailing RuPaul’s life in NY in the 80s is coming to TV

If you can’t get enough of RuPaul (I sure can’t), there’s some good news out of Hollywood. In addition to the ninth season of his (Emmy-winning!) series. RuPaul’s Drag Race (which premieres this Friday on VH-1), there’s a new series telling the story of how Ru went from outrageous club kid to Supermodel of the World and pop culture icon.

Deadline announced on Tuesday that Warner Bros. TV is developing a half-hour dramedy series presenting a “fictionalized” version of the ageless Ru’s rise to stardom. (He’s actually 56, which I still can’t believe.) The series is being produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and World of Wonder, the company responsible for Drag Race. The series will be set in New York City in the Reagan-era 80s, where Ru, who grew up in San Diego and studied performing arts in my current hometown of Atlanta, took the club world by storm.

RuPaul, who recently revealed he was married, will serve as an executive producer of the as-yet untitled series. Gary Lennon, who has produced and written episodes of Power for the Starz network and Orange is the New Black for Netflix, will also executive produce and serve as a writer. The series has not yet been shopped to any networks, but, as raunchy as we know Ru can be, let’s hope it goes to a place where, like the title of his 1995 autobiography, they’re fine with “lettin’ it all hang out.”

Ru announced the new series on Twitter with a throwback pic of himself looking like we might see him on the new series.

I, for one, cannot wait for this show. At least we have the new season of Drag Race and Ru’s obligatory companion album, American, his 12th, which drops on Friday, just in time for the Drag Race premiere.

Ironically enough, in my “On this Day” feed on Facebook today, I had posted a reply from Ru on Twitter regarding a beauty tip I shared with my mom. As I’ve mentioned, he is an awesome person and a true hero for the LBGTQ community. A biographical TV series couldn’t happen to a cooler person. I went through Ru’s Instagram, which holds a treasure trove of photos (Ru’s definitely #TeamCharo on this season of Dancing with the Stars and might love Debbie Harry even more than I do), and found a few throwback pictures of what we might expect to see on the new show. Who could you ever cast to be the young Ru?

RuPaul – Atlanta 1986 – Chris Hedgepath

A post shared by RuPaul Charles (@rupaulofficial) on

My soul looks back in wonder how I got over

A post shared by RuPaul Charles (@rupaulofficial) on

Celebrities attend the 'Shades of Blue' Season 2 Premiere

Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com, Fame Flynet

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17 Responses to “A show detailing RuPaul’s life in NY in the 80s is coming to TV”

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  1. Patricia says:

    I love him soooo much. It’s amazing how this person has been able to reach so many hearts. I’m a cisgender white woman and yet RuPaul has been a major factor in me loving myself, accepting myself, celebrating who I am, and being unafraid of my true self within. Amazing.

    • Cupcake says:

      YAAASSS!! RuPaul radiates love and that’s universal. I was so excited when I saw this news earlier this week. I’ve had Drag Race’s premiere date on my calendar for some time.

  2. Ophelia says:

    His bone structure is everything I covet, and I wish i look half that good when I’m finally his age. *sigh*

  3. Miss Grace Jones says:

    I’m actually very interested in this.

  4. prissa says:

    Gosh he is SO GORGEOUS!!! That bone structure! Wow! They have to get the casting right but I’m sure Ru will make sure of that. I almost wish he could play himself LOL
    ❤️ Ru!

  5. Lexie says:

    I love Drag Race, but then I read Ru’s in-depth interviews (thank-you Celebitchy for covering them!) and my love goes to new depths.

  6. Frida_K says:

    He’s a beautiful person, inside and out, and his wonderfulness has aged with him and blossomed.

  7. Lucy says:

    I’m so happy J.J. Abrams is the one behind this, for some reason. Aaaand the casting race begins!!! Gentlemen, start your engines…

  8. Lucytunes says:

    True Story. He once complimented my lipstick while I was working st a retail store. He asked the name and actually write it down. Told me it was gorgeous on me. I never felt more beautiful!!

    Seriously, he was in a banging plaid suit, tall as hell, and he just floated as he walked. Never been one to get geeked over meeting celebrities, but I had to take a break after we talked to calm down!

    • the_blonde_one says:

      LIFE GOALS!
      (there is not one drop of sarcasm in that statement above- sometimes it’s hard to tell on here so I’m just reassuring- not one drop 🙂 )

  9. Nacho_friend says:

    Yaaaaaasss

  10. Monique Thomas says:

    i am sooooo stoked for RuPuals resurgence, he is the original FIERCE!!! If he ONLY vogue chillllllle

  11. Ange says:

    That black and white photo with the long hair is just amazing.

  12. outoftheshadows says:

    EVERYBODY SAY LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!

  13. Vinot says:

    Hello, hello, hello!!! Ladies if you can’t executive produce a show about your club days for yourself, how the hell you gonna executive produce a show about your club days for somebody else??

    In all seriousness, his podcast with Michelle Visage is everything and I highly recommend searching iTunes for it.