RuPaul's Drag Race Gets Eighth Season Renewal

Logo "Ru-News" Hit Series "RuPaul's Drag Race" for Eighth Season and Announcement of Nationwide Casting Call

Seventh Season Premiere Delivers One of the Highest in The Franchise's History with Double Digit Ratings Growth

NEW YORK, NY – March 20, 2015 – Hot off the heels of the seventh season premiere of "RuPaul's Drag Race," Logo today announced the greenlight for an eighth season. The recent season premiere saw a ratings spike of nearly 20% from last season's kickoff among P18-49 and now ranks as one of the most watched debuts in the show's history. Continuing the upward trajectory, the second episode of the season outpaced the premiere by double digits. Production on the new season kicks off today with a nationwide casting call to seek out the fiercest queens across the land to compete in this genre-defining, battle royale of drag.

This success comes as Logo heads into its 10-year anniversary ranked as one of the fastest growing cable networks. After finishing 2014 with its most watched and highest rated year to date, this year is shaping up to shatter even more records with this current quarter pacing to be the network's highest rated in its history.

"Logo is like the Jay Z to my Beyonce," said Executive Producer, RuPaul. "I was a star before we met, but together we have raised the bar to new heights, and created a brand that has taken over the world."

"After a record breaking year of ratings and viewership, it's only fitting we would continue to rise with our first lady, RuPaul" said Chris McCarthy, GM of MTV2 and Logo TV. "From the cultural phenomenon of Drag Race, our partnership with the visionary Russell T. Davies, and the creation of a new documentary division, we are making Logo TV the home of today's most innovative storytellers."

The "RuPaul's Drag Race" premiere was followed by a special sneak peek of limited series "Cucumber" and "Banana," two scripted interconnected dramas from "Queer As Folk" and "Doctor Who' creator Russell T Davies, which garnered Logo's highest-rated premiere new series premiere in nearly two years. The two series will premiere on April 13 at 9pm and 10pm ET/PT.

Think you have what it takes to be "America's Next Drag Superstar?" Head HERE to start your application today. Good luck, and don't f*$k it up!

"RuPaul's Drag Race" is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Mandy Salangsang, Steven Corfe and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers. Chris McCarthy, Pamela Post and Tim Palazzola serve as Executive Producers for Logo.

For more information on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and sneak preview clips, go to LogoTV.com. For up-to-date "RuPaul's Drag Race" news and exclusives, join the "RuPaul's Drag Race" Facebook page or follow #DragRace conversation on Twitter at @RuPaulsDragRace. Follow along with live gifs from the show on Tumblr and additional content on the show's Instagram page.

Source: Nielsen; Live +3 premiere increase, Live +SD second episode; P18-49 unless otherwise noted, Nielsen Social Guide

ABOUT LOGO

Logo TV is a leading entertainment brand inspired by the LGBT community and reflects the creative class across television, digital and social platforms. Logo features one-of-a-kind personalities, shows, specials, and unique stories. Logo is part of MTV's network of brands including MTV, MTV2, MTV.com, mtvU, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.

ABOUT WORLD OF WONDER

Innovative production company World of Wonder is behind such entertaining hit series as "RuPaul's Drag Race" (Logo), "Million Dollar Listing" (Bravo), "#CandidlyNicole" (Vh1), "Big Freedia" (Fuse), "Friends to Lovers" (Bravo), and "Island Hunters" (HGTV). "RuPaul's Drag Race" (Logo) won the 2014 TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming. "Big Freedia" (Fuse) won the 2014 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program, and "Million Dollar Listing NY" (Bravo) was a 2014 Emmy® Award nominee for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program. World of Wonder has also created award-winning films and documentaries such as Inside Deep Throat, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Wishful Drinking, Monica in Black and White, and The Last Beekeeper, which won an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Nature Programming. Seven of their films have premiered at the Sundance Film festival including Becoming Chaz and Party Monster, the documentary and feature film starring Macaulay Culkin. Their most recent feature "I Am Britney Jean" (E!) offers an intimate look at Britney Spears' journey into residency in Las Vegas. World of Wonder has created a substantial digital footprint with its YouTube channel WOWPresents, along with an award-winning blog, The WOW Report. Co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey authored The World According to Wonder, celebrating 21 years of production, which can be found online at http://worldofwonder.net/. Randy and Fenton will be honored with the IDA Pioneer Award in December 5th, 2014, celebrating exceptional achievement, leadership, and vision in the nonfiction and documentary community.