Drag Den

Last updated

Drag Den
Drag Den (Logo).png
Genre
Created byRod Singh
Written by
  • Rod Singh
  • Andy Tejada
Directed byRod Singh
Presented by Manila Luzon
Judges
Opening theme"Drag Den" (theme)
Country of originPhilippines
Original languages
  • Filipino (Tagalog)
  • English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Antoinette Jadaone
  • Rod Singh
  • Dan Villegas
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time45–65 minutes
Production companies
  • Cornerstone Studios
  • Project 8 Projects
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
Release8 December 2022 (2022-12-08) –
7 March 2024 (2024-03-07)

Drag Den is a Philippine drag pageantry reality competition television series that premiered on 8 December 2022, through Amazon Prime Video. Manila Luzon acts as the host, head judge, and executive producer of the series. [1] Cornerstone Studios and Project 8 Projects produce the series, with Rod Singh as the series creator, director, and producer. [2]

Contents

The first season's contestants and judges were revealed on 17 November 2022. [3] Eight drag queens competed for the title as the "Filipino's First Drag Supreme". [4] The first season premiered on 8 December 2022, and it concluded on 19 January 2023. Naia won the first season, with Shewarma and Maria Cristina as the runners-up. [5]

Production

Concept

The series takes inspiration from many beauty pageants with challenges based on Philippine culture. The series has shown many political aspects of comedy challenges or shared "anecdote[s] about Philippine society." [6]

Format

In season one, contestants are instructed to participate in two challenges in the series; the judges will critique both challenges and choose their winner for the episode. The episode's winner and their chosen opponent will enter the Dragdagulan involving a wrecking ball. The winner of the battle will gain an advantage for the next episode and the opponent won't be eliminated and will continue in the competition. [7]

Judges

The competition series is hosted and judged primarily by drag queen, Manila Luzon, also known as the "Drag Lord". Philippine model Nicole Cordoves and comedienne Sassa Gurl, made appearances as the competition's prominent judges. [8] The three judges are known as the "Drag Cartel" in the series. In every episode, a guest judge appears for the series, known as the "Drag Enforcer". [9] "Drag Agents" were introduced in the second season, where season one contestants come back as judges. [10]

Judges on Drag Den
JudgeSeason
1 2
Manila Luzon Main
Nicole Cordoves Main
Sassa Gurl Main

Contestants

Currently, there has been a total of eighteen contestants that competed in the Philippine reality series so far, with Naia being crowned "Filipino's First Drag Supreme". [11] In the first season, the series welcomed its first openly trans woman contestant, Barbie-Q. [12] In season two, the series also welcomed its first cisgender female contestant, Marlyn. [13]

Series overview

SeasonContestantsEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner(s)-upPrizes
First airedLast aired
1 888 December 2022 (2022-12-08)26 January 2023 (2023-01-26) Naia Shewarma
Maria Cristina
  • ₱1,000,000
  • Title of "Filipino's First Drag Supreme"
  • One-year supply of Téviant Beauty cosmetics
2 10818 January 2024 (2024-01-18)7 March 2024 (2024-03-07)DejaMrs. Tan
Moi		TBA

Season 1 (2022–2023)

Drag is still kind of underground here, so I'm excited to bring the Filipino audience and let them see underground and see the scene that's happening and to fall in love with these queens and to be inspired by their creativity, to be in awe of their beauty and their transformations, and so it's going to be like a pageant.

— Manila Luzon, introducing Drag Den to Mega Entertainment. [14]

In July 2021, RuPaul's Drag Race alumna Manila Luzon exclusively told Entertainment Weekly about an upcoming project she is up to host and judge. [15] On 16 August 2021, Luzon partnered with TikTok and announced a casting call for the series. [16] The deadline for the casting call ended on 31 August 2021. [17]

On 17 November 2022, eight contestants were shown in the new trailer heading down the runway, [18] revealing the panel of judges, [19] and the date of the premiere episode. [20]

The first season premiered on 8 December 2022, through Amazon Prime Video. The contestants competed to become "Filipino's First Drag Supreme" and win ₱1,000,000. The season ran for eight episodes and concluded on 26 January 2023. Shewarma and Maria Cristina are the runners-up, and Naia was crowned the first season's winner. [21]

Season 2 (2024)

On social media, Amazon Prime Video joined the trend involving promotional material from the film Barbie (2023), and posted an image of a Manila Luzon doll-like figure. [22] On 14 April 2023, Manila Luzon and Rod Singh announced the renewal of the reality competition series and a casting call for season two on social media. The casting call was open until 30 April 2023. [23]

Throughout the month of December, ten contestants were shown in a new trailer with the panel of judges coming back, and the date of the season's first episode. [24]

The second season premiered on 18 January 2024, through Amazon Prime Video. The contestants competed to become "Filipino's Next Drag Supreme" and win ₱1,000,000. The season ran for eight episodes and concluded on 7 March 2024. Mrs. Tan and Moi are the runners-up, and Deja was crowned the second season's winner. [25]

Reception

Critical response

Ysmael Suarez from CNN Philippines mentions the series mainly focuses on the contestants' "growth before and during the competition" and that "no queen was put in a bad light, each having their clear strengths and defined perspective to Filipino drag." [26] Rafael Bautista from Nylon Manila describes the series "made an emphasis to highlight how diverse the Philippine drag scene is" and showcasing "viewers even more slices of local drag that go beyond location and gender." [27]

Accolades

The series was nominated for "Best Reality Show Entertainment" from the Asian Academy Creative Awards and "Best Reality Show Entertainment" by the Asian Television Awards. [28] Manila Luzon won both entertainment hosting categories from the Asian Academy Creative Awards and the Asian Television Awards. [29]

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)ResultRef.
Asian Academy Creative Awards 2023Best Entertainment Host [lower-alpha 1] Manila Luzon Won [30]
Best Non Scripted Entertainment [lower-alpha 2] Drag DenNominated
Asian Television Awards 2023Best Entertainment Presenter or HostManila LuzonWon [31]
Best Reality Show EntertainmentDrag DenNominated [32]

Discography

List of singles
TitleSeason
"May Kapa" 1
"Sustah" 2

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The series won both categories, National Winners and Grand Final Winners for the Philippines, awarded by the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
  2. ↑ The series won National Winners for the Philippines, awarded by the Asian Academy Creative Awards. They were nominated for the Grand Final Winners.

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References

  1. ↑ "Manila Luzon on hosting 'Drag Den Philippines': I'm excited to live my own RuPaul fantasy!". CNN Philippines . 15 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Drag Den Philippines to premiere on Prime Video tomorrow". CNN Philippines . 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Antonio, Josiah (17 November 2022). "Look: Meet the cast of 'Drag Den Philippines' season 1". ABS-CBN News . Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Street, Mikelle (17 November 2022). "Watch Manila Luzon's 'Drag Den' Trailer—Meet the Queens, Get All Deets". Out . Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Tunac, Hermes Joy (26 January 2023). "Naia is the first-ever Drag Supreme of 'Drag Den Philippines'". GMA News Online . Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Bautista, Rafael (16 December 2022). "Drag Den is a Filipino Drag Reality Show Worth Supporting". Nylon Manila . Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Franco, Kai (28 December 2022). "Dissecting "Drag Den": The Road to be the First-Ever Filipino Drag Supreme". Wonder. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Antonio, Josiah (17 November 2022). "Nicole Cordoves, Sassaa Gurl join 'Drag Den PH' judges' panel". ABS-CBN News . Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. ↑ Cruz, Dana (1 December 2022). "Catriona Gray confirmed to appear in 'Drag Den Philippines'". Inquirer Entertainment. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Arsua, Koji (22 December 2023). "Here's Everything You Need To Know About "Drag Den Philippines" Season 2". When in Manila. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "Place your bets! 'Drag Den Philippines' introduces its competing queens". Rappler . 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  12. ↑ Samonte, Jujiin (8 December 2022). "Get To Know Barbie-Q, The Trans Queen Of Drag Den". Mega Drag. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Samonte, Jujiin (24 January 2024). "Drag Den Season 2 Grand Opening Night Captures the Essence of Pinoy Queer Fun". Mega Drag. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "From Drag Kings To Trans Queens, Manila Luzon Welcomes All To Drag Den Philippines". Mega Entertainment. 1 December 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  15. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (21 July 2021). "'Drag Race' queen Manila Luzon says new 'Drag Den' series will 'take over the world'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  16. ↑ "Digital: Drag Den Philippines with Manila Luzon kicks off auditions on TikTok". Adobo Magazine Online. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Manila Luzon Wants To See You Get Your Drag On for Drag Den Philippines!". ClickTheCity.com . 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. ↑ Colcol, Erwin (19 November 2022). "Get Set! Here's the Cast of the Manila Luzon-Starring "Drag Den Philippines"". Preview Philippines. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  19. ↑ Cruz, Dana (17 November 2022). "Watch: 'Drag Den Philippines' introduces full cast in official trailer". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  20. ↑ Samonte, Jujiin (17 November 2022). "Drag Den Finally Has A Birth Date". Mega Drag. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  21. ↑ Mallorca, Hannah (26 January 2023). "Naia named as first-ever 'Drag Supreme' in 'Drag Den Philippines'". Inquirer Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Roque, Nika (13 April 2023). "Are we getting 'Drag Den Philippines' Season 2?". GMA News Online . Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  23. ↑ Pasajol, Anne (14 April 2023). "'Drag Den PH' renewed for season 2". Inquirer Entertainment. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Drag Den Philippines' season 2 to premiere in January 2024". Rappler . 1 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  25. ↑ Tunac, Hermes Joy (7 March 2024). "'Drag Den Philippines' reveals new Drag Supreme for Season 2". GMA News Online . Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Suarez, Ysmael (18 January 2024). "Why 'Drag Den's' second coming is crucial for Filipino drag". CNN Philippines . Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  27. ↑ Bautista, Rafael (26 January 2024). "With Drag Den 2, Manila Luzon is Going Bolder and Braver". Nylon Manila . Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  28. ↑ Arsua, Koji (29 September 2023). ""Drag Den" And "Drag You & Me" Win Big At The Asian Academy Creative Awards 2023". When in Manila. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Hicap, Jonathan (11 November 2023). "Nominees for 28th Asian Television Awards revealed". Manila Bulletin . Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  30. ↑ Enriquez, Em (10 December 2023). "Manila Luzon Wins Best Entertainment Host at the 2023 Asian Academy Creative Awards". Preview Philippines. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  31. ↑ Tunac, Hermes Joy (14 January 2024). "Manila Luzon of 'Drag Den Philippines' wins Best Entertainment Presenter at Asian TV Awards". GMA News Online . Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  32. ↑ Tunac, Hermes Joy (14 November 2023). "'Drag Den Philippines,' Manila Luzon nominated at 28th Asian Television Awards". GMA News Online . Retrieved 14 November 2023.

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