Rhys Nicholson Joins RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race Down Under As Judge
Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson will be joining the hotly anticipated Stan Original Series聽in the prestigious third judge鈥檚 seat. Nicholson in true 2020/21 style via Zoom from his hotel room in Auckland, whilst in lockdown, spoke with Star Observer on Wednesday morning. Nicholson said he was 鈥渏ust so happy to be able to talk about if finally. It鈥檚 been like holding a little diamond in my chest for so long and having to lie to people鈥檚 faces about it鈥�.
The award-winning comedian will join host RuPaul and the forever iconic Michelle Visage on the main judging panel for the highly anticipated local version of the series. Taking us back to when he found out he landed his dream gig, Nicholson tells us, 鈥淚 had gotten a call that there was a list going around, and my agent was like 鈥榯his would be nice but let鈥檚 not hold our breath鈥� and I was like, ‘ok thanks for the support’. Then it just left my mind for a bit…鈥� pausing for a brief second, Nicholson adds that 鈥測ou dream of that kind of thing.鈥�
鈥淏ut then I got a call on a Sunday morning before 9 am from my agent, which usually means bad news. If you get a call at that time, it鈥檚 usually 鈥榳e are not doing this anymore鈥� but she called me to tell me they had offered me the job, and that Ru was aware of me somehow, and picked me off that list.鈥�
鈥淭he first time I met him properly, was on the mainstage when he said, 鈥榳elcome to the family鈥� and I was very aware that there were cameras on me, but then I just got to sit next to him for hours every day.鈥�
https://twitter.com/rhysnicholson/status/1366831347961012224
Nicholson, himself a huge fan of the show has also been going to drag shows around Sydney and Melbourne for years and said of him filling the coveted third judge’s seat on the show that 鈥渓et鈥檚 be honest, 聽there are other people who could have gotten it as well, but I think its maybe because I do a specific type of comedy that matches the show in a way.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 silly, and that鈥檚 not what people talk about with Ru Paul very much, that he is very fun. There are moments you will see in the season where he says, 鈥榳e are doing drag guys, just have fun鈥�. Comedians also have a strange connection to drag, because very similar to drag no comedian has become a comedian because everything has gone to plan.
鈥淚 think there’s something that makes you want to be a comedian, in the same way there’s something that makes you wanna be a drag queen. A similar kind of idea that I have something to say, and this is the way I鈥檓 going to put my views forward.鈥�
With the announcement everyone is waiting for- that is 辞蹿听RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race Down Under聽to be officially revealed at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade this Saturday night, we asked Nicholson what he thought set Australian drag apart, and made our local scene so unique, to which he replied without missing a beat.
鈥淲e do a very special thing here and that is that we don鈥檛 take ourselves very seriously and I think that鈥檚 why Ru and Michelle are obsessed with it. This is a broad generalisation, but I feel like a lot of American drag can be skewed towards female impersonation, whereas our club scene here is bonkers.
鈥淵ou can go to a drag show anywhere in this country and it鈥檚 not just going to be lip-syncing it鈥檚 going to be a full show, and it is maybe closer to stand up even, we have a rich tapestry here.鈥�
鈥淚 have seen some of the most bonkers, hand on heart, bawling my eyes out moments watching drag in clubs, probably because I was also pretty drunk, but I will say, without giving anything away, that things happened this series, there are some huge moments in this series, beautiful moments, where I will be tearing up on the runway.鈥�
We conclude our interview by reflecting on the year that has been, and what hopes Nicholson has for the future.
鈥淲e all watched drag shows on Zoom and we all did stand up shows on Zoom, but I cannot wait to be standing in a gay bar with a watered-down drink watching a drag queen at 2 o鈥檆lock in the morning, drunk and deciding if I should go home. But at the same time, I think drag is now more important than ever because aside from the escapism, it does provide a commentary on what鈥檚 been going on, it鈥檚 like a light-hearted reminder of how absolutely fucked things have been.鈥�
You can catch the live Queen ru-veal at the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday 6 March at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race Down Under聽to premiere 2021, only on Stan.
