RuPaul’s Drag Race is kicking off 2024 by snatching Emmys and delivering stellar ratings for season 16.
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In a report by Deadline, season 16 debuted on January 5 with the best TV share for any season premiere in the history of the franchise, up 4% versus the previous season, according to live + three-day Nielsen data.
According to Nielsen, Drag Race was the top cable entertainment telecast of the day on that Friday within the 18-49 and 18-34 demos.
This comes after season 15 also delivered sound ratings for the franchise with the finale episode closing out the highest-rated season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in three years back in April.
Deadline also reports that season 16 marked the second for the long-running competition series at MTV after moving from VH1 last season, which likely has a lot to do with its ratings spike. The last time that the series switched networks — from Logo TV to VH1 — it saw a similar spike.
On January 7th, Drag Race Godmother RuPaul, won the Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program during the Creative Arts Emmys, making it the eighth consecutive win for the host who also is the record holder for the most wins by a person of color.
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“I’m so proud to be a part of this medium, you invited me to be a part of this. You are my family,” Variety reported after he won the trophy. He also thanked producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey of World of Wonder who have been with him since day one.
Drag Race, which was nominated for nine Emmys also won for Outstanding Picture Editing For A Structured Reality Or Competition Program during the Creative Arts ceremony and is up for Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Last year, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls broke Drag Race‘s four-year Emmy winning streak for Outstanding Reality Competition Program but it looks like Ru and the girls are set to reclaim that spot.
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In addition, MTV debuted 16th season of Drag Race on January 5 and according to Deadline, it marked the highest rated season premiere in six years for the franchise for the adults 18-49 demographic in the three-day viewing window, a notch up from season 15.
The new queens competing for season 16 include Amanda Tori Meating (Los Angeles, CA), Dawn (Brooklyn, NY), Geneva Karr (Brownsville, TX), Hershii LiqCour-Jeté (Los Angeles, CA), Megami (Brooklyn, NY), Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige (Miami, FL), Mirage (Las Vegas, NV), Morphine Love Dion (Miami, FL), Nymphia Wind (Taiwan/NY), Plane Jane (Boston, MA), Plasma (New York, NY), Q (Kansas City, MO), Sapphira Cristál (Philadelphia, PA), and Xunami Muse (New York, NY).
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs Fridays at 8 PM ET/PT on MTV.