Logo Greenlights Ninth Season of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Logo has greenlit a ninth season of its reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race, the network said Tuesday (July 19).

In addition, the network has also greenlit a new docuseries, Fire Island, produced by the husband/wife team of Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa.

RuPaul’s Drag Race, starring actor/producer RuPaul, is coming off a successful eighth season in which the series generated year-to-year ratings growth. The series also earned two 2016 Emmy nominations, including an Outstanding reality host nomination for RuPaul.

The network will also launch a new docuseries, Fire Island, which follows a group of young, New York City professionals who leave behind the stress of their big city lives and escape to the sun-soaked oasis of Fire Island, according to network officials.

“‘Fire Island’ is an exciting new addition to Logo’s slate and perfectly complements the stories our audience craves,” said Pamela Post, senior vice president of original programing for Logo. “We’re thrilled to give it a home alongside yet another incredible season of intense competition on RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.