Producer Mike Bickerton Sets Up The Debut of CANADA’S DRAG RACE: ‘This Show is For as Wide an Audience as Wants To Watch It’

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede Acclaimed producer Mike Bickerton has worked on all the biggest shows in the history of Canadian reality television, but he acknowledges there’s something unique about CANADA’S DRAG RACE. Simply put, with CANADA’S DRAG RACE, nobody ever suggests that anything needs to be scaled back, in any way, shape or form. “No, the volume dial only goes in one direction on this show – and that is up,” said the Canadian Screen Award-winning Bickerton, raising the stakes for the highly anticipated first episode, Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on Crave. Bickerton’s lengthy resume as a producer and director includes titles such as THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, MASTERCHEF CANADA, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA, and CANADIAN IDOL, among many others. But CANADA’S DRAG RACE – based on the format of worldwide phenomenon RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE – is both an exciting opportunity and a hefty responsibility, as Bickerton explained: Q: How do you walk the line between making a show for people who are very familiar with the franchise, and others who might be watching for the first time? MIKE BICKERTON: “We’ve had to figure out ways that we can sort of educate people about the show, without making the viewer who has seen every episode of DRAG RACE feel like, ‘Oh, they’ve slowed this down for people to catch up.’ So it’s a bit of a balance. Luckily, I think the three resident judges (Brooke Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and Stacey McKenzie) have really helped us bring that sort of idea to life.” Q: There’s certainly no opportunity here to slip in under the radar. A lot of eyes will be on this series right from the start. MIKE BICKERTON: “We don’t have the luxury of actually being a Season 1 show. We’ve had 12 seasons of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, not to mention RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE ALL-STARS, and RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE UK. Our audience is going to be expecting us to have worked out all the bugs, all the kinks, and deliver what they consider to be the 13th season of the show that they love so much. But I’m excited about that, because I feel our show delivers, from the look of it, to the content, to just everybody that we have on the team building the show. I’m really excited about our premiere.” Q: What considerations were made when coming up with the look of the show? MIKE BICKERTON: “I really wanted to honour the U.S. original, because that’s what I love as a fan of the show. I love that there’s a stage with a big proscenium behind it. I love that there is big, bright lighting. But I wanted to work in little nods, so that even in a still photo, you would know that this was on the CANADA’S DRAG RACE set. So I want it to be familiar, while still having some things that stand out.” Q: What are your emotions as the big debut finally approaches? MIKE BICKERTON: “This franchise started as a very ‘inside baseball’ look at a queer community and a very niche art form, right? But as it has blown up, I think more people understand that it isn’t just for queer people, it’s for everyone. That’s the reason why my niece loves the show as much as I do, because she sees these people who have this skill and this talent. This show really welcomes everybody into this world and pulls the lid off – or rather, pulls the wig off – these drag performers to show that there’s a real human under all that. What I appreciate most is that this show is for as wide an audience as wants to watch it. And I feel as if I have taken a Master’s Degree in DRAG RACE.” Q: Um, is that actually a university-accredited course? MIKE BICKERTON: “I don’t know. If it is, I’m sure there’s a really flashy cap and gown for graduation, possibly with a fake breast plate.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv