Well, how about gender-blind casting?

Over at the gay club xl on Tuesdays, Gary Hall -- who normally is the drag star Shequida -- plays Jessye Normous, a gigantic opera singer who needs to eat every 15 minutes and who bitches that "this is Hell's Kitchen, but there's no food!"

John Simone

"Everybody say 'love,'" RuPaul would exclaim, and I'd gamely obey, while grabbing her slender waistline for a glamorous pose like the one above.

Then we'd sashay/shantay to a whole other photo op, but not until Ru would sagely warn me:

"Don't write checks that your ass can't cash!"

Ah, the glory days.

It's great to see the drag queens in an elaborate show done in a high-tech setting, with state-of-the-art projections, a large stage, and cabaret seating.

It's what they deserve!

Dwayne was bumped from the show this week, but he says, "It's OK if you fail to win. In regards to the competition, I realized it, embraced it, and can move on with peace of mind."

And with this parting interview, given to yours truly.

By the way, I stayed away from negative questions about the reality show lifestyle, simply seeking to learn his drag secrets.

HeyMrJason Photography

Well, I'm living for Sherry's favorite variety shows of all-time, and she generously obliged me with them since we both love a high-concept theme Q&A.

Here they are, in Sherry's words. It's a variety show in itself!

No longer are they in love with wonderfully kinky CEOs, go-go boys, hairstylists, or big, scary pimps.

RuPaul, in fact, says the love of his life is a dude who lives on a ranch in Wyoming.

Andrew Werner

Miss'd America is the annual Atlantic City beauty pageant that has become way more enjoyable than tired, old Miss America.

(The latter has gals dressed weirdly like hos as they perform classical music and ballet. The former has drag queens in bugle beads and drop earrings doing fancy production numbers. And it's for charity!)

The Kinsey Sicks is the San Francisco-based drag troupe that specializes in spoofy tunes that add twisty, sometimes unclean thoughts to your most beloved traditional works of music.

In this lively clip, "America's favorite dragapella beautyshop quartet" zigzags through a bunch of Christmas standards while giving them some contemporary pop and draggedy-assed zing.