AJ And The Queen

New to Netflix from Warner Bros. Television, and the mastermind behind a drag empire is "AJ and the Queen." RuPaul Charles ("RuPaul's Drag Race," et. al.) teams up with TV Writer/Creator Michael Patrick King ("Sex and the City," "2 Broke Girls," "The Comeback") in a 10-episode LGBuddyT journey on the road to his dreams, while running from his past. Newcomer Izzy G. plays AJ, a street-tough wisecracking kid, escaping a terrible life with a drug addict and prostitute for a mother.

At first glance of "AJ and the Queen" viewers will instantly notice that one of the most endearing things about this show is that at the times RuPaul is playing his most vulnerable, he's naturally shot. Photographed with all his natural beauty, much un-like the glitzy filters and blown-out spectrum of fluorescent colors as he's seen in "RuPaul's Drag Race." He needs to be celebrated for that, especially in this age of TV and LGBTQ entertainment when vulnerability is the last to be shown. "AJ and the Queen" dances between the lines of rough and heartfelt, and slapstick comedic. I feel it is much stronger in its comedic voice, and could grow stronger with its dramatic voice as it goes forward.

New to the TV world Izzy G as AJ might be a least-liked character, but that doesn't speak bad on Izzy's acting ability. This kid is not your Disney Channel pretentious do-all-good smarter-than-their-parents role. No. She counterbalances her time with being the loveable tough kid with the heart of gold, a la Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon" and a secondary antagonist for Ruby Red/Robert (Ru Paul) on his journey across the U.S. to rediscover who he is. Izzy delivers the goods as this no-nonsense youngster. I must admit I don't know how many drag queens would hold onto this kid (character) as long as Ruby Red does. I feel like many would just leave AJ on the side of the road as Ruby Red threatens to do so many times in the series. But he doesn't, and thus, the reason for our journey.

The topper on this road program romp is actor Michael-Leon Wooley who plays Louis, Ruby Red's best friend holding down the fort by watching his apartment in New York while he gone. Did I mention Louis is blind? A blind apartment watcher... now THAT'S funny. Wooley would be the only reason to watch the show if it had no other redeeming quality... but it does. Fans will get to see so many wonderful supporting cast members, which in my belief, are who carry this show to its most entertaining level. Many of your Drag Race regulars play alongside Ru as she goes from club to club (Jinx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio, Katya Zamolodchikova, and many more). Guests stars worth mentioning are Tai Carrere as "Lady Danger" and the easy-on-the-eyes Josh Segarra as "Damien." Both which act as Ruby's actual antagonists. Yes a bit over the top, but scenery chomping entertaining. Other co-stars and guest stars shine bright like a drag queen's sequin: Mario Cantone, Lynne Marie Stewart (Miss Yvonne from "Pee-Wee's Playhouse"), Adrienne Barbeau, Marc Singer, and more. Even the co-stars in this show are worth noting including Cathy Chang and Raymond Ma as Mr. and Mrs. Hong, Chinese restaurant owners having their domestic squabble; and Melissa Fosse-Dunne as Ruby Red's local fan who can barely tip a performance because she's saving up for her cat's medical bills. Hilarious.

The biggest room for improvement in Warner Bros. TV Winnebago wingding is the pacing of each episode. Although there are many LOL moments in the show, the editing seems LOOSER than one would hope for, therefore giving the show a bit of a logy feel, as if it's waiting for a laugh track that the viewer never hears. Each 45-minute to hour long episode could be cut back a bit, in the style of a half-hour one camera comedy, giving this lower budget show the energy boost it's so desperately needing.

I still put this in the success column for RuPaul. In an over saturated Drag Race market, he always runs the risk of beating his brand to a pulp with the same unscripted realty entertainment, yet "AJ and the Queen" delivers on a scripted level that is challenging for RuPaul, yet accomplishing.