kind of almost unseen or unacknowledged, tv has totally transformed our lives. and ifound that, actually, it's the least respected genres in what i think is a pretty unrespected medium, television, that have had the most impact — like commercials and infomercials and televangelism and home shopping and public—access tv, which is basically do—it—yourself television. and we're going to come back to all of that, but i wanted to talk to you first about rupaul�*s drag race, because you're probably best known for that. it's a hugely successful show that's become, you know, a franchise, an empire. just for people who might not have watched it, just sum it up, how it works. it's a competition show to find the next drag superstar, and that's how it began. so it's a reality competition elimination show. but drag race, really, is a parody. at once, a celebration and a send—up of all other reality competition shows.