The Improvisation Challenge, or simply Improv, is one of the frequent challenges in the Drag Race franchise, primarily occurring as a Maxi Challenge, but sometimes also as a Mini Challenge.
The challenge is most likely inspired by comedic improvisation where comedy actors have to act "on spot" and make the audience laugh. Unlike in the Acting Challenge, the contestants do not receive lines to learn for their performance. Instead, they are given a short description of the type of character they are expected to play or they have to design the character completely on their own. An Improv Challenge can take place in various settings, but one of the most common types of Improv Challenges that occurred through the franchise is hosting or participating in television talk show parodies. Other types of Improv include political debates, improvising in reality show parodies or in various television segments. Snatch Game is a special type of Improv where contestants have to improvise by impersonating celebrities.
The challenge first debuted in the very first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and has since been adapted by majority of the series in the Drag Race franchise.
Challenge's Timeline[]
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||
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- █ The challenge never appeared in the season.
- █ The challenge appeared only as a mini challenge in the season.
- █ The challenge appeared in the season once.
- █ The challenge appeared in the season twice.
Drag Race Franchise[]
Thailand
Drag Race
Holland
España
Italia
France
Philippines
Canada vs The World
Sverige
Germany
Belgique
Other Series[]
Trivia[]
- Political challenge usually takes place every four seasons in sync with presidental elections in USA. In Seasons 4 and 12, it took place in a form of an improvised political debate, while in Season 8 in a form of a commercial.
- Coincidentally, all three winners of the political challenges, Sharon Needles, Bob The Drag Queen (along with Derrick Barry) and Jaida Essence Hall also won their seasons.
- Latrice Royale and Mayhem Miller both got eliminated in an Improv challenge twice.
- Season 11 and Season 12 are the only two seasons to have two Improv challenges. Coincidentally in both seasons, Episode 3 and Episode 9 were the episodes where the challenges were held.
- Manila Luzon has had the biggest placement differences on an Improv Challenge. She went from winning the one from Season 3 and getting eliminated on her second one on All Stars 1 and then winning again on her third one on All Stars 4.
- She is also the first one to win the Improv Challenge twice.
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| Maxi Challenges | Acting • Ball • Choreography • Commercial • Design • Girl Group • Improvisation • Lip Sync • Makeover • Music Video • Photoshoot • Rumix • Runway • Rusical • Singing • Snatch Game • Stand-Up (Roast) • Talent Show |
|---|---|
| Mini Challenges | Everybody Loves Puppets • Reading Challenge |